with God's messenger. The. character- istics of men of God are courage, obed- ience and faith. Those who obey are eared for, guided, fed and taught of God.
with one full sweep the worship of God. He had taken for a wife Jezebel, the daughter of the King of Zidon, a priestess of Baal. Images of Baal and Ashtaroth were erected everywhere. Heathen altars and temples were built throughout the land, and smoke from every hill told of heathen sacrifices. Lust and licentiousness prevailed. The school of the prophets was closed and the faithful were persecuted. The na- tion had been carried away by fanati- cism, and the measure of iniquity was full. God's Messenger. Elijah means Jehovah, my God. He was raised in the mountains of the wild country east of the Jordan. He was prepared by a wilderness life, as was Moses, Ex. 3:1; John the Baptist, Matt. 3:1-4 and Paul, Gal. 1:17. He stood be- fore the Lord, Luke 1:19, 20; Jer. I: 4-10. He appeared before the King without warning, startling him with the suddenness of his message, and as sud- denly disappeared. God's Message. Elijah issued a note of warning. God had told Israel that when they de- parted from the old paths judgment would follow. Lev. 26:19, Deut. 11: 15-17. The heavens were to be locked up and the people were to have oppor- tunity to test their false gods. Ths message was given in a bold and fear- less manner. God never leaves His people in ignorance concerning His pur- pose. Faith in His word and faithful- ness to His command will always insure His blessing, but departure from His Word will be followed by disaster. God's Method. The servant is worthy of His hire. God never sends a man on his own charge. Gen. 28:10-16; Num. 6:18-20; Isa. 41:10-13. God works along natural lines. He used the ravens—the unclean bird—to feed the prophet; then He used the widow. Elijah was in an enemy's country, living from hand to mouth for many months, but it was God's hand. He learned the lesson of sweet submis- sion to God's will. The widow enter- tained the stranger and received the heaven-promised reward. She was pre- served and had the joy of fellowship
LESSON XY. Sunday, October 9th, 1910. Elijah Raising the Dead. I Kings 17:17-24.
The home of the widow was Elijah's abiding place for a year, when a severe test was thrust upon them. They had learned to trust in God for the daily portion of oil and meal, and it must have been sweet indeed to have the daily bread from His loving hand. One day the son of the widow was suddenly stricken and died. She attributed the affliction to some sin. It was custom- ary, and often is now, to look upon dis- ease and death as a judgment for sin, John 9:2, 3; 11:4. The voice of con- science speaks in the midst of sudden d : saster and brings to remembrance our sing. She does not mean to reprove Elijah, but she recognizes him as God's man and the death as something out of the ordinary. 1'or a year they had sweet fellowship, now the awful shadow was upon the home. What was it? Some particular sin, or sin in general? She stands face to face with God—a sinful heart and a dead son. What were the thoughts of her own unworthiness and the worthiness of Elijah? The Prophet's Faith... " H e carried him up into a l o f t ." A new experience awaits Elijah. He is alone with the dead boy. The Spirit of God was upon him, 2 Kings 2:9-15. This act of Elijah's was a wonderful testimony to his confidence in God. He knew God. He believed God. Acts 27:35, Deep, daily experience with God are calculated to increase our confidence in His ability and willingness to do for us. The Prayer of Fsith. "And he cried unto the Lord." Here is a marvelous scene. Never had mortal man made such a prayer. Deeply distressed for the widow, stirred in his inmost soul, he dares to demand
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