1 Kings 19 – Elijah’s Depression and Call
Elijah showed great courage before Ahab at Mt. Carmel. He witnessed God’s provision by the brook, in the widow’s home, in the years of famine, in the fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice, the rain, and he even outran Ahab. But when he was faced with death from the queen Jezebel, he became discouraged, afraid, and ran into the desert. He was mentally, physically and spiritually exhausted. He was depressed. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed for his life to end.
God restored the prophet back to his ministry. He provided for him by giving him much needed rest and sleep under the juniper tree. God knew Elijah’s physical needs should be cared for before his spiritual needs.
The angel of the Lord came to Elijah. This angel was probably the Savior Himself who came to personally minister to the prophet. The angel spoke to him telling him to get up and eat. After the angel spoke to him a second time, he ate and drank and became strengthened. Still running, he traveled for 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave for the night.
The Lord came to Elijah and ask him where he was going. Elijah was still focused on himself and his failures. The Lord ignored him and told him to come out of the cave and to stand before the Him. Elijah experienced the presence of the Lord when rocks shattered and a dreadful earthquake occurred followed by fire. All this then a gentle whisper followed. Elijah then knew it was the God.
God is all-powerful and can do what He wants and speak to us the way He wants. He could have appeared to in the wind or the fire or the earthquake, but it’s His kindness, mercy, compassion, love that draws us in. Here the tender nature of God is revealed. God still speaks to us in that still small voice. He speaks to us through our conscience, which is the Holy Spirit convicting us. He speaks to us through His inspired Word. Scripture is alive and powerful and is God breathed. His voice is not audible, but in the words of Scripture. It’s sharper than a two-edged sword. It’s also in the sermons preached and taught. Listen to His voice and be restored like Elijah.
Principle: It’s God’s tenderness, kindness, mercy, compassion, and love that draws us in.
The Lord asked him what he was doing there. God knew he needed something to do to focus on something other than himself. He needed to get on with what God wanted him to do. Elijah was told to go back the way he came and anoint Hazael king over Aram, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed him as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazel and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. God encouraged Elijah telling him He had reserved 7,000 in Israel who did not bow to Baal. Elijah did as God commanded.
God provided Elijah with a friend and assistant, Elisha. Elijah found Elisha plowing in the field and commissioned him to ministry. Elisha followed with no questions asked.
Depression is very common today. There were many great men in OT times who knew this awful feeling. We all struggle with external and internal pressures because we live in a broken world. Elijah was more like us than you could imagine – fear, discouragement. Like Elijah we get depressed and feel like we cannot go on. James 5:17 says, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours”. These are times when Satan attacks us, because he knows we are vulnerable. The devil knows the right time to attack us with depression. He attacks us when our bodies feel tired and have no energy, when are spirits are low, and when we least expect it. When we are depressed, we are unable to see the facts of our situation.
At times like these we know we can turn to God for help. Go to a quiet place and prepare to meet with Him. He comes to us when all is quiet. He can help us see our life as it really is. He provides help and friendship of other Christians. Sometimes He knows all we need is a good sleep and good food. God always gives us what we need just as he did Elijah.
Principle: God always works to restore and renew our lives.
1 Kings 20-21 – Grace to a Rebellious King
God sent armies against Ahab’s kingdom to draw His people back to Himself. God also sent him an unnamed prophet with a message declaring God would give victory over Ahab’s enemies so the people would know that He is God. Ahab followed God’s direction and he won victory over his enemies twice. These victories were completely underserved. Still Ahab had no gratitude. He doesn’t praise God for the Lord’s victories. He continued rejecting God and became angry and resentful. He chose to not repent even though God continued to reach out to him through prophets.
Naboth was a land owner near the palace of Ahab and Ahab desired to have his vineyard. Ahab offered to trade it for another piece of land or pay Naboth for the vineyard. Naboth declined because this land was his ancestral inheritance. Acting out of selfishness Ahab continued to serve himself, not God. He pouted because he didn’t get his way and refused to eat. Jezebel took control. She plotted against Naboth and ordered that he be murdered. Jezebel and Ahab abused their power and caused Naboth’s death and stole his vineyard. Ahab and Jezebel were self-centered and evil. They would face serious consequences and disgrace for their hardened hearts.
Elijah heard from the Lord what they had done. He confronted this wicked king and queen and charged them with crimes of murder and theft. The Lord would punish them for what they had done. Ahab would pay by bringing disaster on him and consume his descendants and take away all his support. As for Jezebel, her end would be horrible and disgraceful - wild dogs would eat her. When Ahab heard these words, he humbled himself before God. Then God decided He would not bring these judgements in his lifetime, but on his house in the days of his son. This shows the power of prayer and humble repentance. God was giving Ahab mercy.
“There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife.” – 1 Kings 21:25. Ahab’s sin was not only because of the sin itself, but because by his permission his wife stirred him up to do it. This reminds me of what God said to Adam in the Garden of Eden: “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it’”. – Genesis 3:17. Sounds to me like God hold husbands who follow their wives into sin to a special accountability.
Principle: God is perfectly loving and perfectly just.
This week’s attribute of God is He is Provider. He provides for everyone and every creature He has made. God provides for the weak and faithful people like Elijah. He also continues to reach out to the obstinate and the underserving like Ahab. He offers hope and calls us to trust Him.
Another attribute of God is He is Just. He is also loving and fair. A judge must punish sin because it wouldn’t be fair to allow someone to break the law and not be punished. In the same way, God must punish sin.
Note: Kings of Israel are coded in Orange and Kings of Judah are coded in Blue for the purpose of clarity.
Next time we will continue our study of Kingdom Divided with 1 Kings 22. Hope to see you here. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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