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1 Kings Chapter 17

By Bro David Petersen

Below are a few lines by a popular contemporary Christian artist named Toby Mac. If you have Christian teenage children today they probably listen to Toby Mac. The song is titled "The Slam". See if you can tell who the song is referring to.

The Slam (by Toby Mac)

They came from the cites and towns all around,

to see the longhaired preacher from the desert get down.

Waist high in water, never short on the words,

he said "Repent, the kingdom of heaven can be yours".

But he stopped in the middle of his words and dropped,

down to his knees and said "Behold the Lamb Of God".

"He's the one, the slam, don't you people understand?"

"Your'e staring at the Son, God's reaching out his hand."

Of course the song refers to John The Baptist. I have heard other songs that are popular with young people today that are about John. The question here is not whether you like contemporary Christian music or not. The question is: What is it about John that fascinates young people and commands their respect?

He is a non-conformist. He wears skins on his back and lives off the land.

He isn't corrupted by society. He's for real. He isn't motivated by the things that society has to offer. Things that don't satisfy. He doesn't care about driving a nice car, or living in a nice house or a college education. His lifestyle demonstrates that purity.

He's intense. He's not lukewarm. He drops to his knees and shouts "Behold the Lamb Of God".

He has a direct and cutting message: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand".

He sees things different from the way the rest of society sees them. Don't you people understand? You're staring at the Son, God's reaching out his hand.

He's all about Jesus.

The Calling

Sometimes God chooses people who seem to be the exact opposite of what is required for a particular job. They don't seem to qualify for the position by human standards. He chose a man (Moses) who couldn't speak to go and speak to Pharoh. He chose a boy (David) to fight a giant, fishermen to spread the gospel through the whole world.

But sometimes God chooses and prepare people for a job who are uniquely qualified for their calling. For example, during the first century God chose a man to carry the gospel which was Hebrew in its origin to a gentile world. He chose a man who was Jewish but who had grown up in a gentile city. He was fluent in both Hebrew and Hellenistic culture. That man was Saul of Taursus who became Paul the Apostle.

In a similar way, God needed a man to confront Israel in a time of great sin. He needed a zealous and bold man, an intense, direct man who was willing to stand up to corrupt authorities, a man who could suffer persecution as an outcast.

The Spirit And Power Of Elijah

Elijah was a type or picture of John The Baptist. In Luke 1 the angel Gabriel told John's father Zacharias that John would go in the spirit and power of Elijah.

Luke 1:13-17
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John The Baptist was to be such a man as Elijah was. You don't find him living in a palace and wearing fine clothes. He is not at the temple engaging in trade with the money changers. Instead you find him in the deserts of Judea wearing clothes made of camel's hair, and sporting a leather belt around his waist. He lived off the land. His food was locusts and wild honey. John even dresses like Elijah as shown below in 2 Kings 1.

2 Kings 1:6-8
6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

John's work was similar to Elijah's. He faced a very dark period in Israel's history. As Jesus told the chief priests and temple captains in the garden of Gethsemene "But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Luke 22:53.

Like Elijah, John preached a message of repentance and reformation to a very dark, corrupt and degenerate age. He was bold and zealous in reproving sin and witnessing against it even in its extreme form, and was hated and persecuted for it by a Herod and his Herodias, as Elijah was by an Ahab and his Jezebel. John was also empowered in his work, as Elijah was, by a divine spirit and power, which crowned his ministry with wonderful success.

The main point of comparision is found in Luke 1:16: " And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God." Compare this to Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18:37: "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."

17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

Tishbe


Scholars are uncertain as to the exact location of the town of Tishbe. The general consecus is that it was in Transjordan [trans JORE dahn]-a large plateau east of the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, and the Arabah. The term Transjordan is not used in the NKJV, KJV, or RSV, but the general area is often called "beyond the Jordan" (Gen 50:10-11; Deut 3:20; Judg 5:17; Isa 9:1; Matt 4:15; Mark 3:8). The KING'S HIGHWAY (Num 20:17; 21:22) crossed the entire length of Transjordan from north to south.

GILEAD

[GILL ee ad] (mound of stones)-the name of three men, two mountains, and one city in the Old Testament:

1. A son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh (Josh 17:1). He founded a tribal family, the GILEADITES.

2. A mountain region east of the Jordan River 915 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level. Extending about 97 kilometers (60 miles) from near the south end of the Sea of Galilee to the north end of the Dead Sea, Gilead is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) wide. It is bounded on the west by the JORDAN River, on the south by the land of Moab, on the north by the YARMUK River, and on the east by the desert.

The Jabbok River divides Gilead into two parts: northern Gilead, the land between the Jabbok and the Yarmuk, and southern Gilead, the land betwen the Jabbok and the Arnon (Josh 12:2). The term Gilead, however, came to be applied to the entire region of Israelite TRANSJORDAN (Deut 34:1).

This lush region receives an annual rainfall of from 71 to 81 centimeters (28 to 32 inches). Thus, much of it is thickly wooded today, as it was in Absalom's day (2 Sam 18:6-9). Many fugitives fled to this region for safety. Jacob fled to Gilead from Laban his father-in-law (Gen 31:21). The Israelites who feared the Philistines in King Saul's day fled here (1 Sam 13:7), as did Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:8-9) and David (2 Sam 17:22,26) during Absalom's revolt. Gilead also contains rich grazing land (1 Chron 5:9-10).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers).

The tribe of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh were from Gilead but that does not prove that Elijah was from one of those two tribes. He could have relocated there from another area.

The Name Elijah

The name Elijah means "Jehovah is my God". And it spoke a message of the true God of Israel to Elijah's contemporaries. Jehovah was the one who sent him and who would back up his word. It is Jehovah to whom Elijah would bring Israel back to.

The Mystery Of Elijah

There is mystery associated with Elijah. He seems to come on the scene out of nowhere. There is no history given about him, no geneaology. The scripture doesn't even say for sure what tribe he is from. After giving his brief prophecy, he disappears into the wilderness just as quickly as he came. The king has his men searching all over the region for him. They can't find him but then he reappears seemingly out of thin air.

Not Dew Nor Rain

The shutting up of the heavens was a direct challenge to the very dominion of the false god Baal on his own turf (as it were). One of Baal's titles was "god of the storm". As such Baal was believed to be responsible for providing rain for the crops. This is one aspect of his role as the fertility god. By shutting up the heavens, the LORD's prophet showed that Baal was impotent and that the LORD was the only omnipotent living God.

Bible Numerology

Another interesting aspect of these passages on Elijah is that they are full of Bible numerology. When I say numerology, I am not referring to some secret code embedded in the text or anything silly like that. We find that in the Bible certain numbers hold plain significance that is readily observable.

Notice for instance that:

  1. Elijah laid himself 3 times on the widow's son to raise him from the dead (1 Kings 7:21). If there is ever a number associated with resurrection it will always be the number 3. Jonah was 3 days and nights in the belly of the great fish. Christ arose from the dead on the third day. Jesus raised 3 persons from the dead during his earthly ministry.
  2. The number 3 is also associated with divine judgment: MENE, TEKEL, PERES (Daniel 5:25-28).
  3. Elijah built an altar with 12 stones ( 1 Kings 18:31).
  4. Elijah had the people take four barrels of water and soak the burnt offering that was consumed by the LORD's fire from heaven soaked with water 3 times. (1 Kings 18:34).
  5. Elijah had his servant look toward the sea for the coming storm 7 times. (1 Kings 18:44).
  6. The LORD reserved seven thousand prophets in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal or kissed him (1 Kings 19:18).
  7. Elijah went 40 days in the strength of the food that the angel gave him ( 1 Kings 19:8).
  8. Elijah found Elisha plowing with 12 yoke of oxen (1 Kings 19:19).
  9. Three companies of 50 men went to bring Elijah down from the mountain.
  10. Being urged on by the prophets, Elisha reluctantly sent men to search for Elijah for 3 days after he had gone to heaven in a whirlwind (1 Kings 2:17).


2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

  1. He was hidden not to protect himself but to keep him from being a blessing to the LORD's people who were being chastized. Blessings through instruction and intercession. This is similar to the situation in Revelation chapter 15 where the wrath of God is being poured out on the earth. No one was able to enter into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. And so no intercession could be made for those on earth.
  2. When the woman, the church, is driven into the wilderness, care is taken that she be fed and nourished there, time, times, and half a time, that is, three years and a half, which was just the time of Elijah's concealment. See Rev 12:6,14.
  3. God's catering service: the ravens.
    1. Why didn't God have Obadiah or an angel care for Elijah on this occasion?
    2. "Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat." Job 38:41.
    3. "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?Luke 12:24.
    4. Ravens: Definition
      In the Bible, raven is a catch-all term for crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, and jays. All were considered unclean by the Jewish people (Lev 11:15). With a wingspread of about 1 meter (three feet), the raven is the largest member of this family.

      Ravens are scavenger birds that will eat almost anything. Their harsh cry has probably contributed to their reputation as birds of ill omen. Since they have keen eyes and strong wings, this may explain why the first bird Noah sent from the ark was a raven (Gen 8:7). These birds were also known for their practice of pecking out the eyes of a body-a quick way to determine whether their meal was actually dead! (Prov 30:17).

      The Bible indicates that God feeds even young ravens (Job 38:41). Jesus used a similar example to illustrate God's care (Luke 12:24). Because God sent ravens to feed the prophet Elijah, ravens are also associated with God's protective care (1 Kings 17:4,6). Solomon brought the expression, "black as a raven," into common use (Song 5:11).

    7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
    8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
    9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
    10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
    11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
    12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
    13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
    14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
    15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
    16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Christ never went among the Gentiles except once into the coast of Sidon:
Matt 15:21-28
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Luke 4:25-26
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

There was no shortage of widows in Israel at this time. So why did the Lord send Elijah to help a Sidonian widow? The teaching here according to what the Lord said in Matthew 15 and Luke 4 is that God would bring salvation to the gentiles.

The Sidonian Widow

  1. Was in a position to receive more than to give.
  2. Had faith to obey the word of the LORD.
  3. Was charitable and generous.
  4. Denied herself to depend on the divine promise.
  5. The meal and the oil multiplied, not in the hoarding, but in the spending.
  6. "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." 2 Cor 9:10.


17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
18 And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

 

The Book of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles
Introduction | 1 Kings 1 | 1 Kings 2 | 1 Kings 3 | 1 Kings 4 | 1 Kings 5 | 1 Kings 6-7 | 1 Kings 8 | 1 Kings 9 | 1 Kings 10 | 1 Kings 11 | 1 Kings 12 | 2 Chronicles 13 | 1 Kings 13 | 1 Kings 14 | 1 Kings 15 | 2 Chronicles 15 | 1 Kings 16 | 1 Kings 17 | 1 Kings 18 | 1 Kings 19 | 1 Kings 20 | 1 Kings 21 | 1 Kings 22

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