The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 429

III. WHAT WERE ITS RESULTS? It is well to ask this question, for some forget that conversion is not the end, but the beginning. It is the entrance on the life of reconciliation a.nd obedience ; it is the door to sanctification and perfection, This con,ersion was (1) evidenced by- 1. Obedience. The law enjoined that the fa.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 punishnnmt. It has been objected against Elijah that, in the rnassacre of these 400 men, he displayed a sanguinary and revengeful spirit. But it would ha'l"e been strange if he, the restorer of the law, had ignored one of its 11rons1ons. ,ve should have suspected this conversion had the false prophets been spared. "This sacrifice was no less pleasing to God than that other.'' For the true con'l"ert sets himself to do God's will. Whatever grace and favour God may have showed him cannot release 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 reason why the false prophets were put out of the way was that they might no longer be able to tempt God's people. The convert mll be careful to a'l"oid all occasions 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 John 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. Blessin..J. After the conversion came the rain, and a renewal of prosperity :i.nd plenty (James 'I". 18). Not until the people had turned to Him with all.their hearts, could He "be jealous for his land, a,nd pity his people" (Joel ii. 12, 18). The drought, the punishment of apostasy, was removed on their repentance. Once more the tliirsty land drank in the grateful showers ; once more a plentiful rain refreshed God's inheritance, and the land brought forth its increase (James v. 18)- :i. 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 frnits of righteousness." Vers. 41--45.-E:ffectual Fervent Prayer. It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer i11:i.t Elijah is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From tlie long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James (v. 17, 18) to prove o.nd 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 righteoU8 man. The prayers of unrighteous men a.re sometimes be9rd (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, the Lord will not hear me" (Pso.. !xvi. 18). Common sense teaches that God is not likely to grant the requei:ts of impenitent rebels. " To the wickod God so.ith, What hast thou to do" with intercession? "Get thee to the prophets of thy father," &c. (2 Rings iii. 13). "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen" (Judg. x. 14). But "be will fulfil the desire of them that fear him" (Psa. cxlv. 19). 2. It waa the prayer of a man of like passions with us. We are not to think that Elias stood on a pedestal apart from the rest of bis kind. He is not pictured to us, ns are the beroes of so many biographies, e.s perfect. We are not sure that that great "day of Carmel" passed without sin. We a.re quite sure that he betro.ye_d fear and unbelief in lUB flight, impatience and discontent in the cles?rt .. Yet _his 11rayers availed much. Let us, therefore, though compassed a.bout with 1nfirm1ty, and stained with many &ins of ignorance and imperfection, come boldly to the throne of grace. 3. It was fervent. "He prayed with prayer" (1rpocuvx~ 1rpoc,,,v(aro), says St. James. Ilia atti\urle reveals its fervency-it was that of complete solf-11,bstrn.ction, of intense OB. :r.vm. 1-48,} THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 489