The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 427

III. WHAT WERE ITS RESULTS? It is well to ask this question, for some forget that conYersion is not the end, but the beginning. It is the entrance on the life of reconciliation and obedience ; it is the door to sanctification and perfection, This con'\"ersion was (1) evidenced by- 1. Obedience. The law enjoined that the fe.lse prophet should be put to death (Dent. xii. 1-11). The sin of seducing the Lord's people was so heinous that it merited a capital punishment. It has been objected against Elija.h that, in the massacre of these 400 men, he displayed a. sanguinary and revengeful spirit. But it would have been strange if he, the restorer of the law, had ignored one of its provisions. ,ve should have suspected thi8 oonversion had the false prophets been spared. "This sacrifice was no less pleasing to God than that other.'' For the true con.ert sets himself to do God's will. Whatever grace and favour God ma.y have showed him ca.nnot relea.se him from the discharge of duty. He must still "keep the commandments" if he would enter into life (Matt. xix. 17). Obedience is the touchstone of conversion (Luke vi. 46; John xiv. 21). 2. Watchfulness. No doubt one rea.son why the false prophets were put out of t.he wa.y wa.s that they might no longer be able to tempt God's people. The convert will be careful to avoid all occa.sions of sin; he will cut off the right hand that causes him to offend. He will keep himself that the wicked one touch him not (1 Jolm v. 18). If strong drink has been his snare, he will abstain; whatever his besettin!;' sin, he will put it away. But (2) it was followed by- 3. Blessing. After the conversion came the rain, and a renewa.l of prosperity nnd plenty (James v. 18). Not until the people had turned to Him with ell.their hearts, could He" be jealous for his land, and pity his people" (Joel ii. 12, 18). The drought, the punishment of apostasy, was removed on their repentance. Once more tb.e tliirsty lnnd drank in the grateful showers ; once more a plentiful rain refreshed God's inheritance, and the land brought forth its increase (James v. 18)- n picture this of the blessings which attend the reconciled soul. " Rivers of living waters.'' " The water of life freely.'' " The fruit of the Spirit.'' " The peaceable fruits of righteousness.'' Vers. 41-45.-E_ffectua,l Fervent Prayer. It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer tl.i:lt Elija.h is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From the long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James (v. 17, 18) to prove and illustrate the proposition that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much in its working" (ver. 16, Revised Version). His prayers for drought are not mentioned by our historian, but his prayer for rain may not unreasonably be supposed to be referred to in the account of vers. 42-45. Let us notice its more prominent features. 1. It was the prayer of a righteous man. The prayers of unrighteous men are sometimes heard (Luke xviii 14; 2 Chron. xxxiii. 19), but only their prayers for grace and pardon. The intercessions of the wicked for others are of no avail, any more than the prayers of the impenitent for themselves. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, ihe Lord will not hear me" (Psa. lxvi. 18). Common sense teaches that God is not likely to grant the requests of impenitent rebels. "To the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do" with intercession 'l "Get thee to the prophets of thy father,'' &c. (2 Kings iii 13). "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen" (Judg. x. 14). But "he will fulfil tl.ie desire of them that fear him" (Psa. oxlv. 19). 2. It was the prayer of a man of like passions with us. "\Ve are not to think that Elias stood on a pedestal apart from the rest of his kind. He is not pictured to us, ns are the lrnroes of so many biographies, as perfect. We are not sure that that great "day of Carmel" passed without sin. We are quite sure that he betraye_d fear and unbelief in Lis flight, impatience and discontent in the clesert. Yet his prayers availed much. Let us, therefore, though compassed about with infirmity, and stained with many &ins of ignorance and imperfection, come boldly to the throne of grace. 3. It was fervent. "He prayed with prayer'' (,rpotrEvx,j ,rpotTTJlJEaro), says St.Ja.mes. llis uliiturle reveals its fervency-it wa.e that of complete eolf-abstrA.ction, of intense 0B, 11.VlII, 1-46,] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 489