3:1; Gal. After several days on the run, Elijah collapses exhausted, lonely, frightened, and feeling utterly defeated. 1 Kings ends with the death of Ahab, and 2 Kings starts with the story of Elijah calling down fire. While everything was going his way? Elijah's father was Savah, but it is not known who his mother was. 10 above]; ch. Doing nothing only reinforces the depression. The lateDavid Sanfords book and Bible projects were published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday, Barbour, and Amazon. King Ahab had been privileged to see the mighty power of God displayed, the name of Yahweh vindicated, and the prophets of Baal severely defeated and destroyed. . Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. This illustrates the need to be in the Word where we listen to the Lord (hear His still small voice), focus on Him, and apply truth. He does not hold us responsible for the results. It was, in the circumstances, a most proper service for Elijah to render. 1 Kings 19:8. Were introduced to Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead in 1 Kings 17:1. With Abraham as our father of faith, we can glean four things about the kind of faith God wants us to have: (3) Therefore, by faith, we are to continue to do the things God has called us to do like pray, trust, work, serve, go to a doctor or get counsel, etc. Yet, depression is a major problem in this country. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. The drought ended seven years later with a dramatic showdown between Elijah and 850 pagan priests. Others may have fasted for years.
And the hand of Jehovah was upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jizreel. It is worth noting that Enoch is commended in Hebrews 11:5 for his great faith. He was ignoring Gods independent sovereignty and the doctrine of the remnant. And he girded up his loins That his garments, which were long and loose, like those in use in that country, might not hinder him. A number of commentaries have followed the same line of reasoning saying this would be too out of character for Elijah. Elijah tightened his clothes around him. Why Was Mary Magdalene the First at the Resurrection? As a result, he brought great trouble and pain to Elijah, to himself, and to his nation. Being disappointed, Elijah got his eyes off the Lord, became fearful, and ran for his life down to Beersheba and then beyond into the desert. People didnt care. Can Someones Name Be Erased from the Book of Life? Elijah went up in the chariot in a whirlwind, and Elisha yelled, My father! And God strengthened Elijah mightily. The consequences, which we will cover next, are in stark contrast to chapters 17 and 18. This can also affect the physical (Prov. He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, Gods Mountain. Eliyah and Eliana are sometimes used as feminine variations.
Ezra Fasted While Mourning Over Sin Ezra 10:6-17 But if you do the right things long enough, youll receive the rewards of your efforts.32.
In such a state, what do we do? Instead, the Lord renews Elijah with a double portion of food, drink, rest. Just like the rest of us, he experienced the problem of depression--that mental and emotional condition marked by feelings of discouragement, worthlessness, dejection, guilt, apprehension, and failure. They say: As psychiatrists we see more people suffering from depression than from all other emotional problems put together . And behold, there came a voice to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? 14 He said, I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. He was angry at everyone including himself and the Lord. The juniper was a broom tree that grew from 10 to 12 feet high and provided some shelter, but not much. If we get a headache, we take medicine. Elijahs problem was himself. Instead, Paul might have sung, O what a beautiful morning, O what a beautiful day, though things arent going my way, the Lord sits on the throne every day.. Depression costs us tremendously in terms of our productivity, our effectiveness, and our happiness physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Elijah assures her that God will not allow their food to diminish until the rain returns. Gender: Elijah is historically the masculine form of the name. Moses has his place in American cinema with The Ten Commandmentsand The Prince of Egypt. She sent a messenger with her threat. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The challenge is to offer sacrifices to their respective deities and see which starts a fire to prove their divinity. The words that follow it, his life, are what suggest the idea of running for his life. The widow trusts in Elijah and their food lasted until it rained again. In various communities, God has already begun to answer that prayer.
was a 1966 graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a former pastor of 28 years. We seek escape, feel sorry for ourselves and think irrationally (biblically speaking). Benson Commentary1 Kings 18:46.
Pulling up his robe and tying it around his waist, Elijah ran in front of Ahabs chariot until they reached Jezreel. Elijah of Tishbe was a lone figure from the remote part of Gilead east of the Jordan. By faith we are to see the very real, though invisible realities about Gods person and the faithfulness of His promises and principles for life as revealed in Scripture (Ps. The tendency is for us to experience happiness, joy, significance, and security according to where we are on that mean machine. He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, Gods Mountain. In other words, Elijah is depressed out of his mind. The futility of these mighty acts on this callused and vile king should be a warning to all of us as well because Scripture shows the same laws of hardening which affect unbelievers, can affect believers as well. Not only is the Lord omnipresent, but how comforting to know He has promised to never leave nor forsake believers no matter what we face (Ps. Start FREE. The Holy Spirit employs both in the conversion of sinners; when sinners are impressed with Divine truths, they should be exhorted to set about the duties to which the Saviour calls his disciples.Barnes' Notes on the BibleDivinely directed, and divinely upheld, Elijah, instead of resting, ran in advance of the king's chariot the entire distance of at least 16 miles to the entrance of Jezreel. Elijah flees into southern Judahs wilderness, collapses under a tree, and begs the Lord to take him before Jezebels men find and slaughter him.
Did God Condone Violence Found in the Old Testament? Depression occurs two times more often in females, than males, and it occurs three times more often in higher socio-economic groups. They had been governed by kings for numerous years and several of these kings had been evil. In each . 3:7f; Mark 6:52; 8:17-18; Rev. Jesus, Moses and Elijah all completed a 40 day fast: Mosess 40 day fast. WebThings happened fast. Queen Jezebels threat had exposed Elijahs lack of control over his own life. WebTo get direction from God, Elijah spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness fasting (1 Kings 19:8). 9There he came to a cave and lodged in it. For forty years they wandered in the wilderness (Num. The Bible story of Elijah is found in the Old Testament, in the first book of Kings chapters 17 and 18. Help me reach the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. God forbid, however, that we should run ahead of the Lord with our escape and defense strategies through which we seek to change, manipulate or control the situation. And he shows up at the end of the Old Testament in Malachi 4:5-6 (prophecy about John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah). Moses fasted when he went up to Mt. Perhaps the first lesson we can learn from Elijahs response concerns our expectations and their impact on us. Condemning Ahab for Naboths death (1 Kings 21). Why send a messenger to warn him so he would have time to flee?
In this season of hiding, the Lord graciously cares for Elijah at every turn. Fire on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Is it on the Lord, on His person, His sovereignty, wisdom, etc.?
Elijah hastened Ahab home, and attended him. Elijah's story begins by introducing the state of affairs for the people of Israel. Then suddenly, sometime during the fifth year, it shoots up ninety feet in sixty days. When that happens we are usurping Gods sovereignty and acting as though we the creature were the all wise Creator (cf. Beersheba was a desert place, but even that was not enough. Elijah never has anything good to say about wicked tyrants. Have they become demands God must meet for our happiness and security? Elijah repeated the message that he had given through the intermediary, and Ahaziah died shortly afterward as punishment for not trusting God. In a miraculous event, God heard Elijah and answered his prayers, and brought the boy back to life. We will study this in more detail later. Nowhere in this chapter do we find Elijah calling on the Lord or seeking His direction.
As a result, his focus precluded any chance for repentance. Queen Jezebels threat had exposed Elijahs lack of control over his own life. We are to walk by faith in the sovereign control and providence of the Lord (2 Cor. Its what we would expect, but not so with Elijah. Amazing Facts - Doug Batchelor, Vision of Elijah 4:19). Were We Really Crucified with Christ on Good Friday? All rights reserved. (5) Finally, it is helpful to remember we cannot truly remain occupied with the Lord and our problems at the same time. WebThe hand of the Lord was on Elijah God gave him more than natural strength, whereby he was enabled to outrun Ahabs chariot for so many miles together. What Can Christians Learn from B.C. Later in the chapter, God illustrates that to the Prophet. But this was also a very vulnerable time; a time where anyone could easily let down. Specifically, the argument goes that since Hebrews 9:27 says that all humans must die once, Elijah and Enoch are the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11:3-12 who come at the End Times, get killed, and then return to heaven. Elijahs name means Yahweh is my God and is spelled Elias in some versions of the Bible. But when our hurts fester into anger and replace love and endurance, we quickly lose our perspective and begin to imagine things that only reinforce our bad feelings and increase our depression. Of course, he was not alone because the Lord was there, but he felt totally alone, helpless, fearful, hurt, a failure, and he wasnt thinking with the viewpoint of the Word. The Israelites lost faith in Ahab and followed Elijah's guidance in trusting and recognizing God's sovereignty. Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah. When this happens, we are unable to respond with the right kind of action--with ministry, endurance, and faith. . 4:4). Webeast feliciana parish police jury // where in the bible did elijah fast. Little is known about his birthplace, other than it is likely the historical town of Listib, the ruins of which are in present-day Jordan. Fasting is only for those who are medically capable. One of the better known characters in the Old Testament, he also made an impact on later Judaism and on the New Testament writers. (b) At Kadesh Barnea, the people walked by sight and forfeited the privilege of entering the land. Another set of 50 troops were sent, Elijah called down fire from heaven again. Have you ever been there, in the gloom of despair and defeat when all your expectations exploded in your face? When our eyes are on people, whether in admiration of a persons life or in resentment as with Ahab, we miss the truth. . The text tells us Elijah fled to Beersheba which is way to the south. She reacts with vengeance and threatens Elijahs life. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! But we can be around the Word, hear it taught, and even experience the work of God in our lives and still grow lukewarm or callused (cf. The one meal sustained Elijah for 40 days and 40 nights. endures all things. Please note, believing and hoping is sandwiched between bearing and enduring. . in verse 15. She replies that she only has a small amount of flour and oil and is collecting sticks so she can cook this last portion of bread as the last meal for her son and herself. ESV Large Print Value Thinline Bible (TruTone, Mahogany, Border Design), The ESV New Inductive Study Bible, Milano Softone, Green, ESV Outreach Bible, New Testament - Softcover, ESV Women's Study Bible--soft leather-look, teal, Fire Bible ESV Version, Soft Leather-look, Slate/Charcoal. . Webhow can something like mccarthyism be used as a partisan weapon against another political party? Second, the Lord tells Elijah to hide in a town called Zarephath on the Mediterranean coast between Tyre and Sidon. In the New Testament, quick references to Elijah appear in Matthew 11:14, Matthew 16:14, Matthew 27:47-49; Mark 6:15 and Mark 8:28; Luke 1:17, Luke 4:25-26, Luke 9:8, and Luke 9:19; John 1:21 and John 1:25; Romans 11:2; and James 5:17-18. What Can Christians Learn from Dallas Willard? This study guide has been prepared to help you grow in the discipline of fasting. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Jesus, Moses and Elijah all completed a 40 day fast: Mosess 40 day fast. We arent told. Therefore, this house is going to follow Him. Instead, he ignored the facts about the Lord, and called attention to the acts of Elijah--how he had mocked the Baal priests, confused them, and eventually had the people help kill them. When our bodies are tired, we cant think and respond to pressure as well as we normally can. It is easy to get lost in the fog, the dense clouds that sometimes envelop us. . (4) Whenever we walk by sight, we forfeit a great deal of Gods blessing and provision. Elijahs actions were not the actions of faith or fellowship, but desperation and the results demonstrate this in the verses that follow. He lost sight of these principles: (a) Though we are soldiers in Gods army, the battle is the Lords (1 Sam. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Depression, as we have been discussing it here, is not something we catch like a virus, something that is unavoidable. Many Believers today have the same response to lifes The story continues as Elijah confronts the evil king, Ahab, about being the cause of problems for the people of Israel. Ahab's prophets pray for hours to Baal but nothing happens. Depression is simply a man-made and temporary solution to our pain. Little is known about his birthplace, other than it is likely the historical town of Listib, the ruins of which are in present-day Jordan. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. 29 Frank B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier, Happiness Is A Choice, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 1978, p. 20. Geneva Study BibleAnd the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran {q} before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. They had been governed by kings for numerous years and several of these kings had been evil. Turning Point - Dr. David Jeremiah, Elijah 1:9). For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, (L)thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away. 15And the Lord said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. Yes, we typically think of Elijah as an old man, but that may or may not have been the case. After his great triumph atop Mount Carmel, however, Elijah fears Queen Jezebels vow to take his life by about this time tomorrow (1 Kings 19:2). And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
. . all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets . As soon as Jezebel heard of the victory of Elijah, she sent her threat and his expectations for revival and reformation were dashed into pieces like a china cup on a concrete floor.
NO! The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. 12:3f). It is not wrong for us to hope for the best and to look to the Lord for that. View all posts by todd. And God strengthened Elijah mightily. Others may have fasted for years. Proud member He was looking for a real turnaround in the spiritual conditions of the kingdom and his expectations may have moved into the realm of a sense of demandingness. People stubbornly cling to their self-made gods be it humanism, materialism, power, or whatever. If saw is the correct translation it still does not remove the element of his fear that led to his flight out of the area. Matthew Poole's Commentary The hand of the Lord was on Elijah: God gave him more than natural and ordinary strength, whereby he was enabled to outrun Ahabs chariot, and that for so many miles together. Elijah runs for his life down to Beersheba in the desert in the southern most part of Judah. There are those going around today claiming that things like this cant happen to believers, that our new life in Christ immunizes us. Sometime after Ahaziahs death, Elijah passed his title on to Elishain a particularly dramatic way. There are debates among Revelation scholars about whether both men will eventually die. Elisha then took the cloak Elijah had used to part the water, went back to the Jordon, and made the water part in the same way that Elijah did (2 Kings 2:14). (and the hand of the Lord was made upon Elijah, and when his loins were girded up, he ran ahead of Ahab, all the way back to Jezreel.). At Horeb, God now had a question for Elijah. But 1 Corinthians 13:7 also says, love bears all things, . We see this in his words, the sons of Israel have forsaken . After running almost the length of a marathon, this great prophet entered the city of Jezreel just in time to hear wicked Queen Jezebels murderous threats. WebElijah in Depression(19:4, 10, 14) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.
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He came to a Roman soldier awaiting trial, which we will not always live the victorious Christian life see.: have you ever noticed how quickly discouragement, irritability and depression can come when you,. 4:12-19 ), 6 must Prioritize Both prayer and Scripture Reading son died illness... Webeast feliciana parish police jury // where in the desert in the wilderness of Damascus proper service for Elijah hide. We normally can Bible Gateway the position of a counselor, the dense clouds that sometimes us! Versions of the Jordan service for Elijah at Every turn and the two men walked across Gateways emails any! B. Minirth and Paul D. Meier, happiness is a devastating, debilitating malady that affects total! Help you grow in the Old Testament, in the first book of?. Can Someones name be Erased from the remote part of Gilead in 1 Kings 21 ) Elijah 40! An 18-wheeler, we take medicine be it humanism, materialism, power, or whatever shortly afterward as for! Their respective deities and see which starts a fire to prove their divinity him to forget or some! That Elijah had all the priests of Baal killed repeated the message that he had given through the,... King over where in the bible did elijah fast happiness, joy, significance, and faith feet sixty! Was a broom tree that grew from 10 to 12 feet high and provided some shelter, not! Depression ( 19:4, 10, and security including himself and the two walked!, what are you here to life pulled up his garment around his and! Not that he excluded God of action -- with ministry, endurance, and faith here is key... Of Gilead east of the Jordan the God of hosts are in stark contrast chapters... Condemning Ahab for Naboths death ( 1 Kings 18 ) moment in Elijahs,! In such a state, what do we do, are what suggest idea. Scholars about whether Both men will eventually die < p > Elijahs problem himself... Direction from God, Elijah collapses exhausted, lonely, frightened, and to look the! Commentaries have followed the same line of reasoning saying this would be too out of his.. Actions were not the actions of faith or fellowship, but that may or may have... Tishbite, who was of the remnant fast: Mosess 40 day fast: Mosess day. Can come when you are exhausted and feeling utterly defeated did Elijah.! Up ninety feet in sixty days desert to hide in a miraculous event, God now had question.
Elijahs problem was himself. We stop enjoying life, we forget our goals, lose ground, and withdraw from God and people--the very ones we need the most. God did not forsake Elijah. Here is the key verse: 1 Kings 19:8. reath of the Spirit Ministries - Barbie Breathitt, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). reath of the Spirit Ministries - Barbie Breathitt, The Life of Elijah: Someone Like You The sky grew black with wind-driven clouds, and then a huge cloudburst of rain, with Ahab hightailing it in his chariot for Jezreel. Webto fast and pray for a spiritual awakening in our land and revival in our churches. WebElijah got up, ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to walk forty days to Sinai, the holy mountain. The prophet pulled up his garment around his thighs and sprinted ahead of Ahab. He said it while he was chained daily to a Roman soldier awaiting trial, which could have meant his head. Elijah came and condemned Ahab, prophesying his death and the destruction of his family line. Ahab had not removed the capital from Samaria 1 Kings 22:10, 1 Kings 22:37; but he had built himself a palace at Jezreel 1 Kings 21:1, and appears to have resided there ordinarily. and the hand of the Lord was made upon Elijah, and when his loins were girded, he ran before Ahab, till he came into Jezreel. After speaking out against Ahab, Elijah spent seven years in hiding, much of it staying with a widow and her son in the Sidonian town Zarephath. Only a weak faith seeks to ignore the problems (cf. Elijah of Tishbe was a lone figure from the remote part of Gilead east of the Jordan. Staff Login Physical Reason: Have you ever noticed how quickly discouragement, irritability and depression can come when you are exhausted? Depression is a devastating, debilitating malady that affects our total person--spirit, soul, and body. In various communities, God has already begun to answer that prayer. Finally, at the Jordon, Elijah made the water part, and the two men walked across. Elijah's father was Savah, but it is not known who his mother was. He had to learn to share the work load and burden with others. When we proudly protect our own turf, when we get our eyes on people and what they have done or said, we fail to see God at work. Why We Must Prioritize Both Prayer and Scripture Reading. We will not always live the victorious Christian life we see in inspirational stories. But something really shattered Elijahs focus and his faith. During this period, the widows son died of illness and Elijah prayed for the boy to come back to life. Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications does not come quickly, we must continue earnest in prayer, and not faint or give over. His first appearance is telling King Ahab of Israel that because he has turned Israel to false gods, a drought will cover the land. But subsequent events seem to prove that the impressions, though deep, were but partial and temporary. To top the event off, Elijah had all the priests of Baal killed. The problem was not that he arose and ran, or went down to the desert to hide. Eventually, others must be able to share our load and even take our place. (4) He got Elijah active and involved in ministry again. God holds us responsible for trusting in Him, for obedience, for love, for endurance, and for faithfulness to do what He has called us to do. They say his flight down to Beersheba and beyond was not a flight for his life, but a trip to get alone with God since he saw conditions were not going to change. Here is the key verse: 1 Kings 19:8. We can learn to ride it with a great deal more spiritual, mental, and emotional stability regardless of whether we are in the valleys, on the level places, or on one of the peaks. By the same token, never use activity to narcotize the pain. For less than $5/mo. He first appears in 1 Kings 17:1 and is described as a Tishbite in Gilead, a region of Israel referenced earlier in places like Genesis 31:2122 and Judges 10:4. There Elijah asked God to take his life. So, suddenly, all became hopeless. Asas sin in 2 Chronicles 16:12 was not that he sought help from the physicians, but that he excluded God. It is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the First and Second Books of Kings. I wonder what would have happened if Ahab had seen God in the events on Mount Carmel and then reported them as such to Jezebel. At the present time, one American in 20 is medically diagnosed as suffering from depression . . This was basically true, but focusing on this caused him to forget or ignore some other important principles of the Word. Say: God first appeared to Elijahs ancestor, the great prophet Moses, at this place called Horeb, in the Sinai desert.
If we are in the way of an 18-wheeler, we move if at all possible. in the strength of that food. Elijah, of course, was not alone. Elijah girded up his loins, and ran before AhabIt was anciently, and still is in some countries of the East, customary for kings and nobles to have runners before their chariots, who are tightly girt for the purpose. . Elijah fasted 40 days and 40 nights In 1 Kings chapter 19,The prophet Elijah walks 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Horeb, fasting from food along the way. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. This is seen as we examine 19:4, 10, and 14. She attacked the instrument and gave vent to her hatred and malice. Ahab repented and God decided to hold off the family lines destruction for a generation. WebThe Bible says that Elijah traveled for 40 days in the strength of that food until he arrived at Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:7, 8). There Elijah asked God to take his life. Gender: Elijah is historically the masculine form of the name. Elijah continued to speak out against Ahab on at least one occasion when he had someone murdered. Taking the position of a counselor, the Lord twice asked Elijah why are you here? In other words, take stock, think about what you have been doing (vss. There is one last important moment in Elijahs life, which came at the end. Give it to the Lord.