The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 396

our consideration-I. A mes1tmg6'1' from a/Msaken Goel,, and II., A message /<>'I' an apostate people. I. A MESSENGER FROM A FORSAKEN Goo. Ahab was congratulating himself on the success of bis policy. It had been greater than he could have expected. The old faith and fervour of the veople had died out so completely that they were quiet under the bold introduction of Baal and Ashtoreth. The Sidonians were linked with the kingdom of Israel against Syria. Scarcely a protest bad been beard against these political and religious movements. Suddenly there appeared before the king and queen, perhaps as they were enthroned in their ivory palace, Elijah the Tishbite ; rough in appearance, as he was bold in utterance. Above the ordinary height, of great physical strength, a girdle round his loins, and a sheepskin cloak over his brawny shoulders, his long thick hair streaming down his back, he was even in appearance a memorable man ; and there was something very startling in this his sudden dash into the royal presence, to thunder out his curse, and the rebuke which no doubt preceded it. His appearance may be compared to the flash of lightning that for a moment makes everything which was before in darkness vividly distinct. Some points are worthy of note. 1. 'l.'he obscwrity of his origin. The Tishbite means the II converter," and would fitly describe his work. The endeavour to discover a town of such name in Palestine appears to have failed. The phrase, "from the residents of Gilead," does not necessarily imply that he was an Israelite. He may have been an Ishmaelite or a heathen by birth. It was designed that obscurity should thus hang over his origin. To the people he would seem to come all the more directly from God. The human element was over- shadowed by the Divine. Show the mightiness of secret forces in nature, in thought, and in the kingdom of God. 2. The signs of his fitness. A. rough man was needed to do rough work. The settler in the backwoods wants the strong sharp axe to effect 11 clearing, before more delicate implements are required. Elijah bad his constitutional strength and courage foatered by his surroundings. Gilead was a wild, unsettled country compared with Ephraim and Judah. Instead of stately .palaces and flourishing towns, it boasted tent villages and mountain castles; and desperate and frequent were the fights with surrounding freebooters. (See 1 Chron. v. 10, 19-22. Compare with it II Rob Roy," chap. xix.) The Gileadites were to Israel what the Highlanders, a century back, were to the Lowlands. Amid scenes of conflict, of loneliness, probably of poverty, this strong character was moulded. Compare with Moses in Midian, with John the Baptist in the wilderness. Goll gives each servant the right training for the service appointed for him both on earth and in heaven. 8. The secret of his strength. His name, Elijah, and his formula, 11 as the Lord God of Israel liveth," indicate it. A.n overpowering conviction tlrnt Jehovah lived, that He was near, that He was the God of this people, and tlmt He would assert His supremacy over all false gods is implied in the verse. This is the secret of spiritual strength in all ages. The disciples were weak when J esns was on the mount of transfiguration, strong when He returned; they were despondent after th_e crucifixion, exultant at Pentecost. The revelation of God's presence and power 1s what all Churches now need. 4. The completeness of his consecration. "Before whom I stand." This he said, not with a sense of God's nearness only, nor ot His favour, but to express that he was the Lord's consecrnted servant, through ~hom and by whom he might do what He willed. Standing is an attitude of attention, expectancy, readiness. So in ancient Scripture servants are repre- sented as all standing looking towards the king, with loins girded, eyes intent, ready to do his will. Note: ·we cannot stand before the Lord until we hnve knelt before Him in penitence and humility and prayer. This Elijah had done in Gileacl. II. A MESSAGE FOR AN APOSTJ.TE PEOPLE. 11 There shall not be rain nor dew these years, but according to my word." We assume here the credibility of miracles and content ourselves with indicating the suitability of this to its purpose. l. This was revealecl, in prayer. Elijn,h had "prayed earnestly that it might not rain" (James v.) He felt that such 11 chastisement would move the hearts of the people, and turn their thoughts towarJs God, as it ultimately did. The prayer wns the offspring of God's Spirit. The human utterance was the echo of the Divine  408 'rllE FmsT .:BOOR OF KINGS. [oH. xvn.,1-24,