The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 390

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Elijalb. In this sudden manner the Tishbite is introduced., upon which Bishop Hall remarks, " He comes in with a tempest who went out with a whirl- wind." And Lamartine says, "RecaUing his life and his terrible vengeance, it seems as if this man had the thunder of ·the Lord for a soul, o,nd that the element in which be was borne to heaven was that in which he was brought forth." Let us consider- I. Hrs PRESENCE. 1. It is awful in its vagueness. (1) It was of the in- habitants of Gilead-" The hard, stony region," south of the river Jabbok. This was one of the wildest parts of the Holy Land. The awful scenery of that district harmonized well with the ruggedness of the spirit of this prophet. John the Baptist first appeared in a wilderness. Out of a wilderness Jesus came up when He entered upon His public ministry (Ma.tt. iii 1; Luke iv. 1, 14, 15). (2) He is distinguished as the Tishbite. Calmet says Tishbe was a city beyond Jordan in the tribe of Gad, and in the land of Gilead. Gesonius, from Ilelandi, mentions Tishbe as '·' a town of Napthali." Could there have been two Tishbes; and were the words '' Of the inhabitants of Gilea.d" added to distinguish? (8) "The Tishbite," we incline to think, was a name of office or com.rn.ission. It designates Elijah as the Converter (1:J~n from :J~ to turn). In this he resembled John the Baptist, whose commission also was to preach repentance. (See Matt. ri. 18, 14; :x:.vii. 12; Luke i. 17.) When Elijah comes again "before the coming of the great and dreadful da.y of the Lord," it will be in his character of Tishbite or Converter, viz., "to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.'' (See Matt. iv. 5, G). 2. It ia awful also in its intensity. (1) His name (H'1 1?t() some interpret to be, "My God Jehovah is he," others, "God is my strength." In either case it reminds us of God, and God is the very centre of all reality. (2) Elijah brings us into the very presence of God also by the manner in which he announces himself. "AB Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand." In this way also the angel Gabriel announced himself to Zacharias, and that too when he revealed the coming of the Baptist. (See Luke i 19.) It is probable Elijah, like John the Baptist, also was a priest, and the expression under review may intimate this. (Compare Deut. :x:.. 8.) A.bout 940 years after this, Elijah, with Moses, in a remarkable manner stood, in the presence of Jehovah, in the mount of transfiguration (Matt. :x:.vii. 1-3). (3) This declaration of the living God was appropriately timed. For the calves or young bulls of Jeroboam, and the bulls and goats of Sidon established through the iufluence of Jezebel, had so occupied public attention that He was forgotten. Lamentable is the substitution of death for life I His FAITH. 1. It is bold, in its assertion. (1) "There shall be neither dew nor rain." The material elements which mechanically produce dew and rain were worshipped by the Phoenicians, and now by the Israelites, while the God t.lia.t made them was forgotten. Is not this the very error of moder11- atheistic physicists? They worship B11.al, ABhtoreth, and ABhere under other no.mes, and ridicule faith and prayer. But Elijah asserts the lwvn,g God ¥ eupetjor to ~(fture, wl40 will OD. XVII, 1-24.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.