The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 403

"Give us this da.y our da.ily bread." Tread faithfully the path of duty, and "He that ministereth seed to the sower will both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Cor. ix. 10).-W. Vers. 17-24.-Li/e from the Dead. The miracles wrought by Elijah or associated with hie name were for the most part of the nature of severe judgmellts, and present the person of the lowly prophet in a stem and terrible light before us. But the two miracles that mark the opening of his career were miracles of mercy, and show that there was another aide to his character, one that was tenderly sympathetic and humane. Having at first brought hope and a new lease of life to the starving mother and her child, he now lifts the dark shadow of death from off the desolated home and turns its sorrow into joy. This narrative has a peculiarly pathetic interest, and is suggestive of lessons that touch the deepest realities of human life. It naturally divides itself into two parts, in which we see (1) the sadness of death and (2) the joy of restoration. I. THE SADNESS OF DEATH. That the child was really dead we cannot doubt. " There was no breath left in him." The gleam of hope in the poor widow's condition was suddenly beclouded, and a strange, yet not altogether unnatural, revulsion of feeling took possession of her breast. Thus does an unexpected cafamity, especially perhaps when it takes the form of personal bereavement, often work for a while a sad change in the attitude of the soul 1. It darkens the whole horizon of life-quenches the light of other joys. The abundance of meal and oil, and the honour of the prophet's presence are as nothing while the child lies dead in the house. There are sorrows which seem utterly to blot out the sunshine cf one's existence, and to be aggravated rather than relieved by the joys that accom- pany them. 2. It creates resentment against the supposed, or perhaps the real, author of it. "What have I to do with thee, 0 thou man of God?" 'l'he prophet, who had proved himself so beneficent a friend, is regarded as an enemy. 3. It is a severe test of one's faith in God. This woman, it may be, was in an inter- mediate state of mind between blind devotion to the old idolatries and the full acceptance of the faith of Israel. How rude a check did this event seem to give to her progress into clearer light I Thus is the faith of men often sorely tried by the adversities of life. This is part of their Divine purpose, The "fiery trial" seems "strange at first, but the meaning and reason of it are revealed afterwards." Happy they whose faith, in spite of the severe strain put upon it, holds fast to the living Goel-too deeply rooted in the soul to be tom up by any sudden sweeping blast. 4. It awakens the sensB of sin. "Art thou come to me to bring my sin to remem• brance ? " It is significant that the thought of her own sin should be her .first thought. The calamity brought this to her remembrance because it seemed to her a sign of God's remembrance of it. Learn tha.t though particular afflictions are not always to be connected with any particular transgression as their cause (John ix. 2, 3), yet all sorrow must be traced ultimately to its source in moral evil. It is a truo instinct that leads us to think of our sins in times of adversity. Whenever afiliction comes to us it should produce tenderness of conscience and call forth the prayer, " Show me wherefore thou contendest with me,'' in order that if there be any secret wrong in ourselves that dema.nds this severe discipline we may lrnve grace to fight against it and cast it out. IL T1IE JOY OF RESTORATION. The behaviour of Elijah is beautifully expressive of his deep human sympathy, and also of the intimacy of the l'elation between himself and God as a. man of prayer and the instrument of the Divine energy. Having special regard to the nature and effect of this miracle of restoration, observe that--1. It is typical of thB beneficent ministry of Christ. In Him the power of God ea.me, as it never ha.d before, into healing contact with the frame of our diseased and dying humanity. He took our nature upon Him that He might effectually cure its infirmities and sicknesses. " Virtue " continually went forth from Him. He wns the grea.t health-restorer and life-giver j and as all the healing ministries of former ai;tes had anticipated His ooming, so all true philanthropy 414: THE FIRST BOOK OF RINGS. Los. xvu. 1-24.