The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 446

living flame which kindled all things round it-wood, stones, dust, water. We cannot test God in His own way without receiving an answer which will lift from the heart's depths the cry, "The Lord, he is God." IV. THE JUOGMENT OF THE FALSE PROPHETS. The manifestation of God's glory is the hour of sin's overthrow.-J. U. Vera. 41-46.-The return of blessing. I. ELIJAB's ASSURANCE OF Goo's MERCY. "Tllere is a sound of abundance of re.in," but it was only as yet a sound in the prophet's ear. 1. The ground of the assurance. (1) God had promised (ver. 1), He would therefore fulfil His word. (2) 'The preliminary work which He had sent him to do was accomplished. The people's heart was turned. Their sin was washed a.way. The curse would surely, then, be also removed. We build a. still mightier trust on God's consistency. "He that spared not his own son," &c. 2. The use he made of it. " He said unto Ahab," and through him to all Israel, '' Get thee up," &c. The work of the believer is to comfort God's people, and strengthen their expectation of good. II. His PREVAILING WITH Goo. 1. The assurance of God's mercy does not exclude prayer. "Ahab went up to eat and drink," but "Elijah went up to the top of Carmel." The worldling may expect good and know nothing of supplication; not so with the man of God. Expectation is but encouragement to prayer. The desire that the blessing might come at once and cause the seed of faith to spring up in tbe people's hearts, made eo.rnest prayer more necessary to Elijah tban tbe re- freshment which his body craved. 2. The utter lowliness of the true 1vorshipper. "He cast himself down upon the earth." His face was hid. The man wbo stands neo.rest God is the lowliest of all God's worshippers. 3. Bis importnnity. He did not cease till his prayer was granted. Again and age.in was the servant sent till the small cloud was seen. III. His ATTEMPT TO PREVAIL WITH M!N. 1. His message to Ahab (" Prepare," &c.) showed his care JOT the king. He was a foe to the sin, but not to the mnn. 2. He honoured him. He "ran before Ahab to the entrance of J ezreel." The mighty prophet became the e1ring king's servant. The ministers of God must seek to win the sinful as well as to smite their sin. Hatred and contempt will neither advance God's oause nor man's well-being.-J. U. Vers.1-46.-Elijah antl tho Prophets of Baal. Elijo.h is now prepared for his work. He who had sent him into the desert now commands him to enter into open conflict with idolatry. God makes Hie will known to him in two ways. I. BY AN INWARD IMPULSE. II. THROUGH His MEETING WITH THE YOUNG OBADIAH, the protector of the prophets, and the faithful servant of God in the midst of the impure court of Ahab. Let it be ours to seek such a twofold assurnnce of the will of God. Let us not rest satisfied with an inward impulse, lest we be led a.stray by an illusive mysticism ; let us watch also the indications of Providence. The wisdom tbat cometh down from nbove is not a blind leading; it can give o. reo.sona.ble explano.tion of its motives. It learns to road the will of God at once in the book of the heart and in tbat of Providence. In his decisive interview with Ahab, Elijah shows us how we are to contend with the idolatry which is always at the root of every doctrine hostile to God. 1. The first element of strength is his manly and indomitable co1trage. To the king's insolent question, "Art thou he that troublctb Israel? " he replies, "I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy fatber's house, in tbat ye hnve forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Bao.lim" (ver.18). Ho only will be victorious in the battle for the right who does not fear to denounce, without flinching, the sin of his people, and to say, like John the Baptist to the mighty ones, whother in the realm of society or of science, " It is not lawful for thee " (Matt. xiv.) Wherever sin is, the witness for truth and righteousness must first strike home to the conscience before attempting to convince tbe mind. 2. Everything in the language of Elijah breo.thee a full ass1trancc of victory. He knows that ho has on his side that strength of God wbich he has proved. To believe that we shall be 456 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [cu. XIX. 1-1&1.