why did the prophets of baal cut themselves
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Elijah ran on foot before him. Ahab rode in his chariot, at ease and in state, 1 Kings 18:45; 1 Kings 18:45. 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. Because our material possessions so often seduce us into worshiping them like gods, they pose possibly the preeminent threat to worshiping Jesus. Elijah's God was neither talking nor pursuing, needed not to be either awakened or quickened; while he was yet speaking, the fire of the Lord fell, and not only, as at other times (Leviticus 9:24; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1) consumed the sacrifice and the wood, in token of God's acceptance of the offering, but licked up all the water in the trench, exhaling that, and drawing it up as a vapour, in order to the intended rain, which was to be the fruit of this sacrifice and prayer, more than the product of natural causes. 3. Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Haggai 2:18; Haggai 2:19. He then solemnly addressed himself to God by prayer before his altar, humbly beseeching him to turn to ashes his burnt-offering (as the phrase is, Psalms 20:3), and to testify his acceptance of it. Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. hear us, O Baal! Thither all Israel must come, to give Elijah the meeting; and the prophets of Baal who were dispersed all the country over, with those of the groves who were Jezebel's domestic chaplains, must there make their personal appearance. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. [3.] He sent fire from heaven. Idolatry is an economic issue. In the book of Acts, we read a most interesting and revealing number. Yahweh would have none of it. Micah 6:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? After Israel had gone more than three years without rain as a judgment for their idolatry, the prophet Elijah confronts the evil king Ahab and challenges him to a spiritual showdown. He repaired this altar with twelve stones, according to the number of the twelve tribes,1 Kings 18:31; 1 Kings 18:31. II. 2. 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? That Elijah could have made such a run is assured in the Arab runners could easily cover one hundred miles in two days. (Patterson and Austel), 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. (2.) 4. He hid 100 of them in two caves, when the persecution was hot, and fed them with bread and water,1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . 5:3). God reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets; and yet, without a revelation, we may foresee that when man's judgments run down like a river God's mercy will. He also recognized, though, that people in his day faced a new, subtler, and perhaps even stronger temptation: to treat money as an idol like Baal, an idol to worship as a god to get what they wanted. He fitted up an altar. Stop for a moment. Let it for ever be looked upon as a point adjudged against all pretenders (for it was carried, upon a full hearing, against one of the most daring and threatening competitors that ever the God of Israel was affronted by) that Jehovah, he is God, God alone. I would have healed Israel, but they would not be healed. Had it been true that he was the troubler of Israel, Ahab, as king, would have been bound to animadvert upon him. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. He proposed to bring the matter to a fair trial; and it was so much the fairer because Baal had all the external advantages on his side. The long drought was over, and it was demonstrated that the prayers of Elijah both withheld the rain and then subsequently brought the rain. 2 And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. [2.] He mentions this, not in pride or ostentation, but to convince Elijah that though he was Ahab's servant he was not in his interest, and therefore deserved not to be bantered as one of the tools of his persecution. Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:--. How did the spirit of God move upon the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2? We dont know exactly why it was important to God for Elijah to reach Jezreel first; perhaps it was so that he would be the first to tell Queen Jezebel. Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army. Compare Mark 9:38; Mark 9:39; Matthew 21:30. 2. 6:9). And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. He takes it for granted that Elijah would again withdraw (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12): The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee (as it is likely he had done sometimes, when Ahab thought he had been sure of him) whither I know not. 43Then Elijah said to his servant, Go and look toward the sea.. Pray louder! he said. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! What he said we are not told; but, 1. i. Compare Psalms 135:7. No one answered; no one paid attention (v. 29 ESV). 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 17When he saw Elijah, he asked, Is it youthe biggest troublemaker in Israel?, 18Elijah answered, I have not made trouble in Israel. I incline to this because we find, when they came together, Elijah, knowing what Ahab wanted him for, appointed him to meet him on Mount Carmel, and Ahab complied with the appointment, though Elijah took such a way to revoke the sentence and bless the land as perhaps he little thought of. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. 1. Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? God's ministers should make it appear that, how great soever they look when they deliver God's message, yet they are far from affecting worldly grandeur: let them leave that to the kings of the earth. What was the result of this fair trial. April 28 2020 Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Ahab had continued fasting all day, either religiously, it being a day of prayer, or for want of leisure, it being a day of great expectation; but now let him eat and rink for, though others perceive no sign of it, Elijah, by faith, hears the sound of abundance of rain,1 Kings 18:41; 1 Kings 18:41. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Nothing creates more trouble to a land than the impiety and profaneness of princes and their families. The prophets may have hoped that their actions would bring rain and end the drought. Share Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Money becomes a spiritual power that too often uses us rather than the other way around. We are fairly put to our choice whom we will serve,Joshua 24:15. As he had shown the tenderness of a father to the sons of the prophets, so he showed the reverence of a son to this father of the prophets; and by this made it appear that he did indeed fear God greatly, that he did honour to one that was his extraordinary ambassador and had a great interest in heaven. Thou employest me; Lord, make it appear that thou dost so;" see Numbers 16:28; Numbers 16:29. How sharp Elijah was upon them, 1 Kings 18:27; 1 Kings 18:27. Providence ordered it so, that Ahab might, with his own eyes, see how bad the consequences of this judgment were, that so he might be the better inclined to hearken to Elijah, who would direct him into the only way to put an end to it. They allow the proposal to be fair and unexceptionable "God has often answered by fire; if Baal cannot do so, let him be cast out for a usurper." Jeremiah 2:11. 10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. Like fools, they leaped upon the altar, as if they would themselves become sacrifices with their bullock; or thus they expressed their great earnestness of mind. (2.) 41Then Elijah said to Ahab, Now, go, eat, and drink, because a heavy rain is coming. 42So King Ahab went to eat and drink. 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. The purpose of the prophet's request was to demonstrate who was the true God that deserved the people's dedicated worship. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. To this fair proposal of the case, which Elijah here makes, the people knew not what to say: They answered him not a word. Help us purchase electrical generators for churches. Christianos ad leones--Away with Christians to the lions. 2. Baal promised the rains, so God sent a drought at the word of his prophet (see 1 Kings 17:1). 15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to day. If Ahab had paid the respect to Elijah that he deserved he would have taken him into his chariot, as the eunuch did Philip, that he might honour him before the elders of Israel, and confer with him further about the reformation of the kingdom. We may well imagine what a terror the fire struck on guilty Ahab and all the worshippers of Baal, and how they fled from it as far and as fast as they could, saying, Lest it consume us also, alluding to Numbers 16:34. 44The seventh time, the servant said, I see a small cloud, the size of a human fist, coming from the sea., Elijah told the servant, Go to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot ready and go home now. Elijah's Trial of the False Prophets; the Destruction of Baal's Prophets. Baal's 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. Let it go on therefore to a trial. Joseph and Daniel were preferred because there were none so fit as they for the places they were preferred to. But every bit of ourselves we give to our stuff we snatch away from our true King. Having built his altar in the name of the Lord (1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:32), by direction from him and with an eye to him, and not for his own honour, he prepared his sacrifice, 1 Kings 18:33; 1 Kings 18:33. The prophets of Baal went first. He does not insist upon their relation to Jehovah--"Is he not yours, and the God of your fathers, while Baal is the god of the Sidonians? They cut themselves and cried out to Baal for hours, but 1 Kings 18:26 says, "There was no voice; no one answered." Their god was a non-entity, a nothing. At the same time Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bent down to the ground with his head between his knees. V. The return of the mercy of rain, at the word of Elijah, 1 Kings 18:41-46. And all the people came near unto him. There was one very good man, who was a great man at court, Obadiah, who answered his name--a servant of the Lord, one who feared God and was faithful to him, and yet was steward of the household to Ahab. And the people answered him not a word. 19Now tell all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Through Elijah, God declared that Baal couldnt deliver the goods and his people couldnt have it both ways. He pleads that he did not deserve to be thus exposed, and put in peril of his life: What have I said amiss?1 Kings 18:9; 1 Kings 18:9. 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. Elijah told him to go and look again. 4. We left the prophet Elijah wrapt up in obscurity. Though he was not at the place appointed, he chose the appointed time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, thereby to testify his communion with the altar at Jerusalem. How unlike was this to that with which his servant Obadiah saluted him (1 Kings 18:7; 1 Kings 18:7): Art thou that my lord Elijah? (1.) Let us see if he speed better. Behold the bullock and the wood; but where is the fire?Genesis 22:7; Genesis 22:8. ESV - According to one ancient Canaanite myth, the father of Baal slashes his chest, arms, and back upon learning of his son's death. "Shout louder!" he said. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times, even where one would least expect them. Elijah sought not his own glory but in subserviency to God's, and for his own necessary vindication. The Lord preserved Elijah's life for a reason. 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. There are those who trouble Israel by their wickedness, whom the conservators of the public peace are concerned to enquire after. They explore six key biblical themes of worship, community, work, equity, creation care, and rest to dig into what the Gospel means for how we use our resources. 7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Click on the different category headings to find out more. It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? THE PROPHETS OF BAAL,THE PROPHETS OF ASHERAH,AND THE LATTER RAIN. We may be sure it was not made necessary to qualify him for preferment that he should be of the king's religion, that he should conform to the statues of Omri, or the law of the house of Ahab. If Jehovah be the true God, Baal is a false God, to whom these Israelites had revolted, and seduced others to the worship of him; and therefore, by the express law of God, they were to be put to death, Deuteronomy 13:1-11. And they did it the second time. But, since Ahab invites him not to ride with him, he will run before him (1 Kings 18:46; 1 Kings 18:46) as one of his footmen, that he may not seem to be lifted up with the great honour God had put upon him or to abate in his civil respect to his prince, though he reproved him faithfully. Roumie said he was drawn to both "The Chosen" and "Jesus Revolution" because of their scripts and characters, which "spoke to his heart.". Does My Passion Mean That I'm Being Called? Above two years he had lain hid with the widow at Zarephath, after he had been concealed one year by the brook Cherith; so that the third year of his sojourning there, here spoken of (1 Kings 18:1; 1 Kings 18:1), was the fourth of the famine, which lasted in all three years and six months, as we find, Luke 4:25; James 5:17. 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. Pursuant to this order we have here, I. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. The prince of the power of the air, if God has permitted him, could have caused fire to come down from heaven on this occasion, and gladly would have done it for the support of his Baal. In fact, the New Testament teaches that money and greed are often the loudest and most appealing idols seeking to steal our attention. Elijah, in answer to him, [1.] We need 2 cookies to store this setting. He would have the king know before, that it might not be a surprise to him and that he might be sure it was the prophet's own act to present himself to him. Tyrants and persecutors, in their passion, are often unreasonably outrageous, even towards their friends and confidants. Is it really you, master?, 8Yes, Elijah answered. 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. You and your fathers family have made all this trouble by not obeying the Lords commands. Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or . He will put me to death. Yet his guilty conscience gave him little reason to hope for it, but, rather, to fear some other more dreadful judgment. When we cannot carry a reformation so far as we would we must do what we can, and rather comply with some corruptions than not do our utmost towards the extirpation of Baal. The people, as the jury, gave in their verdict upon the trial, and they are all agreed in it; the case is so plain that they need not go from the bar to consider of their verdict or consult about it: They fell on their faces, and all, as one man, said, "Jehovah, he is the God, and not Baal; we are convinced and satisfied of it: Jehovah, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:39; 1 Kings 18:39), whence, one would think, they should have inferred, "If he be the God, he shall be our God, and we will serve him only," as Joshua 24:24. They likely continued going to church, paying their tithes, and saying a prayer or two now and againespecially on holidays. Even in those bad times, when the calves were worshipped and the temple at Jerusalem deserted, yet there were some good people that feared God and served him, and some good prophets that instructed them in the knowledge of him and assisted them in their devotions. 1621), of rich men sent to hell for their failure to let go of their wealth for the sake of their neighbor (see Luke 16:1931), and of eternal judgment declared on the basis of ones willingness to share with those in need (Matt. In the myth, Baal returns to life when the rains come. They prayed to Baal from morning until noon, shouting Baal, answer us! But there was no sound, and no one answered. Elijah did not interrupt them, but let them go on till they were tired, and quite despaired of success, which was not till the time of the evening sacrifice,1 Kings 18:29; 1 Kings 18:29. He bids Obadiah go and tell the king that he is there to speak with him: Tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is forth-coming, 1 Kings 18:8; 1 Kings 18:8. 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Does My Passion Mean that I 'm Being called Acts, we read a most interesting and revealing..