Category: 1 Kings

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Elijah’s great victory and subsequent collapse is the setting for his dramatic meeting with God at Horeb or Mount Sinai. It is the still small voice that speaks to Elijah. He goes and obeys the Word of the Lord. What WORD should you be carrying out today?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, we would be people who fear You, who greatly delight in Your commandments.

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”

This question comes from the Lord twice (the first time it is the WORD, the second time the LORD).

Elijah answers the same, both times,

“… And I, even I only, am left,”

Elijah has come to a point we all circle around at times. He’s at the end, ebbing low, down in the pit.

These cares he takes and casts on the Lord. He is feeling a bit sorry for himself.

How does the Lord answer Elijah?

Not in the wind, nor the earthquake, not in the fire.

Instead the Lord is in the low whisper, the still small voice.

We often find it easier to listen to the big earth-quaking fire-raging noisy word.

But our Lord God often speaks to us in the still and small voice.

God answers Elijah with a pin-prick to the self-righteous-sorry bubble (it is also an encouragement for Elijah).

There are seven thousand more people in Israel who have not bowed the knee to Baal!

We are not alone. Jesus is always building His church, each of us a living stone.

We are not alone. We are part of God’s family, His people under His rule.

We are not alone. Our rest and comfort, our rescue and redemption, our foundation and shelter, our shield and defender – It is our Lord God!

He is with us!

* Father in Heaven,

Thank You that You never leave us, You never forsake us.

Please continue to make us more like Jesus each day.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

At the end of the third year there is the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The title Baal means Lord. The question was which god is God? The question for us today is: is my god (my understanding of god) the true God? or a Baal?

SJA Notes

* Lord God, we will give thanks to You with our whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

“How long will you go limping between two different opinions?”

Important events happen on mountains.

Here we see nine-hundred and fifty false men versus one man of God’s truth.

All the people of Israel gathered, and Ahab the bad king was there.

You can imagine it might be a bit daunting.

Elijah stands firm in his assurance, that blessed assurance that he was God’s and God is SOVEREIGN.

Elijah calls the people out, he calls out Ahab – Make a decision!

Stop trying to have a foot in both camps, decide who you will follow.

Joshua, many generations earlier had called the people in like manner,

“… Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

We have the same decision to make today.

Are we limping between opinions?

Do we see something that glitters in the ideologies of the world, perhaps dipping into a few good things about all the different religions, including what Jesus offers?

You cannot serve two masters, you definitely can’t serve many.

There is only on way. One truth. One life.

It is Jesus, always Jesus. Him and Him alone.

* Father God, Sovereign and Mighty Lord,

We come before You today, please aright our hearts and minds, set them toward You.

Thank You for Jesus, that in Him alone is life, and life to the full.

What a God You are!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

God sends His prophet with a call to repentance before He sends His judgment. His people need to hear His word first and foremost. This prophet has come to call the people back to the faith of Abraham, back to God’s covenant with Israel made through Moses. The drought mirrors the state of God’s people and is His first word to them.

SJA Notes

* Holy God in Heaven, You the LORD send forth from Zion Your mighty scepter, so that you might rule in the midst of Your enemies.

“Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, ‘O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.'”

Three times!

Elijah stretches himself out on the child three times and cries to the Lord – Please save the boy!

The Lord listens to Elijah. The boy’s life is saved.

It is good to dwell on the “three times” repeated action.

Three times Balaam tries to curse Israel but instead blesses them (Numbers 24).

Three times Jesus goes and prays in the garden (Matthew 26).

Three times Peter denies his Saviour (Matthew 26).

Three times Pilot asks the crowd what Jesus has done to deserve death (Luke 23).

Three times after Jesus defeats death and comes back to  life He asks Peter “Do you love me?” (John 21).

God answered Elijah’s prayer, listening to his voice.

We can be encouraged that God does listen!

He loves us so much that he brought us as enemies into His family, rebel sheep brought back into the fold.

Praise God, the Good Shepherd!

* God Almighty, Creator and Sustainer,

Thank You for caring for us, watching over us.

Thank You for breathing new life into us.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.