The people join issue with him: It is well spoken,1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:24. Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. 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. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. ESV - to please their deity, as Herodias did Herod, and so to obtain their request. 4. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, Now come to me. So they gathered around him, and Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. What he said we are not told; but, 1. Their perishing thus is the using, as the apostle speaks of them (Colossians 3:22), was to intimate the utter abolition of them after a little while, Hebrews 8:13. That wanting to get rich inevitably causes such destruction? Such was Elijah's zeal, no doubt, against the idolatry of Baal, and such his compassion to his people, that he thought it long to be thus confined to a corner; yet he appeared not till God bade him: "Go and show thyself to Ahab, for now thy hour has come, even the time to favour Israel." Once we remember that the Jews saw idolatry as the ultimate sin that put one outside the community of faith, we can hear the full force of Pauls words. 32Elijah used these stones to rebuild the altar in honor of the Lord. I see nothing, he said. But his corruptions got the better of his convictions, and he was glad to get clear of him, as Felix of Paul, when he dismissed him, and adjourned his conference with him to a more convenient season. Go tell your master that I am here., 9Then Obadiah said, What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? This was not as a morning cloud, which passes away (though Israel's goodness was so), but one that produced a plentiful rain (Psalms 68:9), and an earnest of more. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. Elijah, like himself, boldly returned the charge upon the king, and proved it upon him, that he was the troubler of Israel,1 Kings 18:18; 1 Kings 18:18. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. He ordered his servant to bring him notice as soon as he discerned a cloud arising out of the sea, the Mediterranean Sea, which he had a large prospect of from the top of Carmel. In the book of Acts, we read a most interesting and revealing number. VI. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals. 6So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. 1416). He stood by them, and patiently heard them for so many hours praying to an idol, yet with secret indignation and disdain; and at noon, when the sun was at the hottest, and they too expecting fire (then if ever), he upbraided them with their folly; and notwithstanding the gravity of his office, and the seriousness of the work he had before him, bantered them: "Cry aloud, for he is a god, a goodly god that cannot be made to hear without all this clamour. These Jezebel aimed to extirpate, and put many of them to death, which was as much a public calamity as a public iniquity, and threatened the utter ruin of religion's poor remains in Israel. "But there was no voice. The wind began to blow, and soon a heavy rain began to fall. That word occurs again in verse 26b when the prophets of Baal are desperate trying to get their god to answer them: "'O Baal, answer us!' But there was no voice, and no one answered. Those halt between them that are unresolved under their convictions, unstable and unsteady in their purposes, promise fair, but do not perform, begin well, but do not hold on, that are inconsistent with themselves, or indifferent and lukewarm in that which is good. (Mark 6:20). 4. 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." Obadiah feared God greatly; Ahab had sold himself to work wickedness; and both discovered their character by the manner of their address to the prophet. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. And the people answered him not a word. Surely you think he is talking or meditating (as the word is) or he is pursuing some deep thoughts, (in a brown study, as we say), thinking of somewhat else and not minding his own matter, when not your credit only, but all his honour lies at stake, and his interest in Israel. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. Elijah on Mount Carmel 26 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. In fact, the New Testament teaches that money and greed are often the loudest and most appealing idols seeking to steal our attention. 3:24). Transfers the title of honour he gave him to Ahab: "Call him thy lord, not me;" that is a fitter title for a prince than for a prophet, who seeks not honour from men. Yet his guilty conscience gave him little reason to hope for it, but, rather, to fear some other more dreadful judgment. Moses's altar and Solomon's were consecrated by the fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used. Indeed, giving back to God and to his people is part of our DNA, a sign of our family resemblance to our generous Creator. Jesus reminds us that when we try, we risk devoting ourselves to money and hating him (see Luke 16:13). Each would take a bull and place it on their own altar. He maketh fire come down from heaven in the sight of men and so deceiveth them,Revelation 13:13; Revelation 13:14. Joseph and Daniel were preferred because there were none so fit as they for the places they were preferred to. In the end, Those who make [idols] will end up like them, as will everyone who trusts in them (Ps. Ahab had made diligent search for him (1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 18:10), had offered rewards to any one that would discover him, sent spies into every tribe and lordship of his own dominions, as some understand it, or, as others, into all the neighbouring nations and kingdoms that were in alliance with him; and, when they denied that they knew any thing of him, he would not believe them unless they swore it, and, as should seem, promised likewise upon oath that, if ever they found him among them, they would discover him and deliver him up. 43Then Elijah said to his servant, Go and look toward the sea.. The prophets kept shouting louder and louder, and they cut themselves with swords and knives until they were bleeding. There was a heavy rain: Gods word through Elijah was proved true. Prophets should be called seers, and shepherds, and watchmen, and ministers, rather than lords, as those that mind duty more than dominion. [3.] If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. He himself retired to pray (for though God had promised rain, he must ask it, Zechariah 10:1), and to give thanks for God's answer by fire, now hoping for an answer by water. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And nothing can't answer you when you call out to it! They could say nothing to justify themselves, and they would say nothing to condemn themselves, but, as people confounded, let him say what he would. Their greedy hearts created other gods out of every coin in their coffers. When Jezebel cut off God's prophets God cut off the necessary provisions by the extremity of the drought. In it, Elijah, the prophet of Gd, puts to the test what was at the time perceived as the most supreme and powerful of all the godsBaal. That man that is true to his God will be faithful to his prince. 21Elijah approached the people and said, How long will you not decide between two choices? 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. He that will thrive must rise betimes. Elijah's Trial of the False Prophets; the Destruction of Baal's Prophets. What is the story of Elijah and the prophets of 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. III. 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. Blessed are those that have not seen what they saw and yet have believed and been wrought upon by it more than those that saw it. And they did it the third time. It was strange that so wicked a man as Ahab would prefer him to it and continue him in it; certainly it was because he was a man of celebrated honesty, industry, and ingenuity, and one in whom he could repose a confidence, whose eyes he could trust as much as his own, as appears here, 1 Kings 18:5; 1 Kings 18:5. III. The edification of the people: "That they may know that thou art the Lord, and may experience thy grace, turning their heart, by this miracle, as a means, back again to thee, in order to thy return in a way of mercy to them.". There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. 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. Why did Elijah kill the prophets of Baal? The sad state of Israel at this time, upon two accounts:--. 1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. Note, Those who profess religion should study to recommend themselves to the esteem even of those that are without by their integrity, fidelity, and application to business. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. It does not appear that either the increase of the provision or the raising of the child had caused him to be taken notice of at Zarephath, for then Ahab would have discovered him; he would rather do good than be known to do it. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Does the Bible encourage the practice of Lent? This happened seven times. He is there in the presence of Ahab, the 450 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of the groves and a company of people from all Israel. To Christians this is a. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, Elijah? Had it been true that he was the troubler of Israel, Ahab, as king, would have been bound to animadvert upon him. "In reconcilable differences (says bishop Hall) nothing more safe than indifferency both of practice and opinion; but, in cases of such necessary hostility as betwixt God and Baal, he that is not with God is against him." The god who answers by setting fire to his wood is the true God.. (2.) You have gone after the Baals. 2. 5. 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. 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? And he said, Go again seven times. ly. [3.] 2. The service of God and the service of sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts, these are the two thoughts which it is dangerous halting between. See Luke 1:16; Luke 1:17. 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. How senseless, how brutish, were they in their addresses to Baal! And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. Pray to your god, but dont start the fire.. hear us, O Baal! God will provide himself fire. 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. if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, "Shout louder, for he is a god! It is a chapter in which are many things very observable. He causeth vapours to ascend, and maketh lightnings for the rain; for this rain he did both. Those that slighted and hated his counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers. He sent the rain in torrents. Elijah is not the Achan: "I have not troubled Israel, have neither done them any wrong nor designed them any hurt." He fitted up an altar. Who has required these things at your hands? Hence we read of those that hide themselves in the top of Carmel,Amos 9:3. All these parables point in the same direction: money wants our worship. While Baal worshipers went hungry during the drought, God fed Elijah meat and bread delivered to him daily by carrier ravens (see v. 6). His new conquest will be lost if he do not look about him quickly." He ordered abundance of water to be poured upon his altar, which he had prepared a trench for the reception of (1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 18:32), and, some think, made the altar hollow. 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. Turn them again to the Lord God of hosts, from whom they have revolted, and all will be well quickly; this must be Elijah's doing. He also brought them food and water.) Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves (1 Kings 18:28) Context: 1 Kings 18:27-28 New International Version (NIV) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. We become increasingly committed to a lifestyle of an abundance of possessions. Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, since there are many of you; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it ." So they took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, hear and answer us." English Revised Version We need 2 cookies to store this setting. V. The return of the mercy of rain, at the word of Elijah, 1 Kings . 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. 18During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain. 2So Elijah went to meet Ahab. Bread and water were now scarce commodities, yet Obadiah will find a competence of both for God's prophets, to keep them alive for service hereafter, though now they were laid aside. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Prove that you are the God of Israel and that I am your servant. What was the result of this fair trial. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. Yahweh would have none of it. To demonstrate that he was neither ashamed of, nor afraid for, what he had done, though he knew how Jezebel would resent it, but durst venture himself in the midst of his enemies, as being confident of the Divine power and protection. (Poole), ii. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? This great good man used his power for the protection of God's prophets. Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves? Elijah would endeavour to convince their judgments, and no doubt it was by special warrant and direction from heaven that he put the controversy between God and Baal upon a public trial. Showdown on the mount The Contemporary Parallel New Testament with KJV, NIV, NKJV, NASB, and more! Note, It bodes well to any people when God calls his ministers out of their corners, and bids them show themselves--a sign that he will give rain on the earth; at least we may the better be content with the bread of affliction while our eyes see our teachers,Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 30:21. When Jezebel was killing the Lords prophets, I hid a hundred of them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. Ahab and the people expected that Elijah would, in this solemn assembly, bless the land, and pray for rain; but he had other work to do first. The servant went and looked. 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. It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them. No, he waives the prescription, and enters upon the merits of the cause:--"There can be but one God, but one infinite and but one supreme: there needs but one God, one omnipotent, one all-sufficient. The Baalites are forced to give up their cause, and now it is Elijah's turn to produce his. Elijah, in answer to him, [1.] But every bit of ourselves we give to our stuff we snatch away from our true King. Nothing creates more trouble to a land than the impiety and profaneness of princes and their families. First, the Lord was the true God and men were to worship Him. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. 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. Thou employest me; Lord, make it appear that thou dost so;" see Numbers 16:28; Numbers 16:29. Excerpted from "Practicing the King's Economy: Honoring Jesus in How We Work, Earn, Spend, Save, and Give," by Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt and Brian Fikkert. Article Images Copyright , The Real Reason Israel Worshiped Baal (It Wasn't Just a Pretty Statue), Michael Rhodes, Robby Holt, and Brian Fikkert. By this time there was no food in Samaria. Though he expected an answer by fire, yet he came near to the altar with boldness, and feared not that fire. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 2. How deaf Baal was to them. God expressly forbade his worshippers to cut themselves, Deuteronomy 14:1. (2.) Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. And he said, Do it the third time. So Elijah issued a challenge. Three years and a half's famine would not bring them back to God. But God made them know the contrary, for the famine continued till Baal's prophets were sacrificed, and so great a scarcity of water there was that the king himself and Obadiah went in person throughout the land to seek for grass for the cattle, 1 Kings 18:5; 1 Kings 18:6. 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. Community answers are sorted based on votes. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Note, The worship of idols is a most ridiculous thing, and it is but justice to represent it so and expose it to scorn. Even Christ and his apostles were thus misrepresented, Acts 17:6. Idolatry is an economic issue. This was the way they worshiped, Douay-Rheims Bible So they cried with a loud voice, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till they were all covered with blood. You and your fathers family have made all this trouble by not obeying the Lords commands. Not only some Israelites worshipped God and others Baal, but the same Israelites sometimes worshipped one and sometimes the other. 3. [4.] Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. 33Elijah put the wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. Giving is what we do best; the air into which we were born. Giving signals and solidifies our allegiance to and dependence on God and his kingdom. 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