The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 462

servant in safety, and might have abode himself in safety had he not acted under the promptings of inspiration to proceed alone into the wilderness. (S) Alone with God he asks to die. (1) The Hebrew phrase is, " He requested/or his life that he might die." There ie life in death to the righteous. (2) "It is enough." This is the language of disappointment. He looked for better fruit of his ministry than he found. He thought, Surely this demonstration on Carmel will extinguish idolatry; but he finds Jezebel swearing against his life, and apparently in a position to carry out her purpose. "Now, 0 Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." I am no more useful here than they have been who are gone hence. Let me join them. II. THE ANSWERS GIVEN TO IT. 1. They come in the form of physical refresh- ment. (1) Elijah's prayer was evidently uttered under the influence of physical exhaustion and discomfort. His sitting under the "juniper" is mentioned, not to suggest that he derived comfort from an ample shade, but rn.ther to show how little shelter he could find. The word (cn-i) is construed ns in the text by the Hebrews, by Jerome, and the VuJgate; yet it is rather the genista (broom), a shrub with yellow flowers which grows in the deseri, and which has its name (from cn-i to bind) from the toughness or tenacity of its twigs, which were used for withes. Not only was he wayworn with hie journey and exposure to the sun, but faint nlso for want of food and drink. (2) The answer came to bis prayer, therefore, in tlle bless- ing of refreshing sleep. Out of this also he was seasonably aroused by an Angel to find a cake on the coals (as bread is sometimes baked in the East) and a cruse of water at his bolster. God knows our frame, pities ns, and makes due allowance for our frailties. When we :find our spirits in o. morbid slnte let us look to olll· health. Hygiene may come, even to the soul, as an angel of God. 2. They came to him in spiritual blessing. (l) The refreshment which Elijn.h received was supernatural in its source. The bread and water came to him with the worcl and touch of the Angel-Jehovah (i1H11 ,~,r.,). This was no common angel, but one of the Persons of the Godheo.d. (2) It was supernatural also in its effects (ver. 8). In these he is brought intimately into association with Moses o.nd Jesus. (Compare Exod. xxxiv. 28; Deut. ix. 9, 18; Mo.tt. iv. 2.) It is o.lso noteworthy how theso tllree o.ppear in glory together on the holy mount. (See Luke ix. 30, 81.) Tlle spiritual life we derive from God's word is set forth in the mystery of the manna which for forty years nourished the people of God in this wilderness. It is also set forth in that new life of Jesus in which after His resU1Tection He appeared to His disciples during forty dayo. (See Rom. vi 11; Go.I. ii 20.)-J. A. M. Vers. 9-18.-Elijah, at Horeb. Elijo.h went in tbo strength of the refreshment he had received from the Angel-Jehovah a forty days' journey to Horeb. He wns now on holy ground. It wo.s the "mount of God" on which Moses had seen the Angel-Jehovah in the bush, and was within sight of Sinai, memoro.ble for tlle giving of the lo.w. On Horcb he lodges in o. cave, perhaps the very recess from which Moses witnessed the Shechino.h (see Exod. :xxxii. 22), nnd here becomes the subject of Divine communico.tions o.nd revelations. Consider now- I. His INTERCESSION AGAINST ISRAEL. 1. Observe the occasion. (1) The question came to him by the word of the Lord, "What doest thou here, Elijah? '' In answer to tbis he lll'god what Paul calls his "intercession ago.inst Isro.el" (Rom. xi. 2, 8). Wherever we are it behoves us to ask ourselves what business we have here. Everywhere onr first business is to glorify God. (2) This qnestion is thought to suggest tllat Elijo.h might have been more profitably employed elsewhere. But tlicl be not come here after receiving superno.turnl strength from God Himself expressly for this journey? (Sae vers. 7, 8.) (8) Rather must we not look upon his journey in the light of o. parable, showing how God o.bo.ndons those who refuso to be reformed? (Compo.re J er. ix. 2.) In tbis view we co.n see how Elijah acted in "faith" in this journey; for Po.ul seems to allude to him in Ilebrows xi. 38. 2. The matter of the accu,sation. (1) The view now given harmonizes with this the substance of which is tho prophet's grent jealousy for tho Lord Gotl of host 0 '. whoso honolll' ho.cl been outraied by the n11ostasy of the children of Isrncl. Ileui 472 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [ce. xix. 1-21.