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eous idea that it was too far for the people to go all the way to Jerusalem at the appointed times. They could just as well worship in Shechem, in the central part of the land. But there is no substitute for God’s ap pointed way of worship and service. And 'he never asks too much of any of His followers. 2. “ And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life" (19:3). The trouble with Elijah was that his eyes were on a wicked woman and her evil' threats instead of on the Lord and His almightiness. Like Peter, he fastened his eyes on the waves instead of on the Lord of the waves. Elijah’s fit -of weakness occurred shortly after an experience of great inspiration on Mt; Carmel. It is often so with God’s children. Periods of unusual blessing are frequently followed by periods of peculiar testing. The only way to be sure of standing is to keep “looking unto Jesus.” 3. "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life" (v. 4). When tired, lonely, and discouraged, it is easy to say with Elijah, “It is enough.” But it is not for the servants of the Lord to make this statement. Let the Lord say when it is enough. How thank ful Elijah should have been that God did not answer his prayer! Some prayers are not worthy of being an swered in the affirmative. If this prayer had been answered, Elijah would have died under a cloud, a de feated man. 4. "And the Lord said unto him. Go, return on thy way . . . and . . . anoint Hazael to be king" (v. 15). Instead of accepting Elijah’s resignation as His servant, the Lord reassigned his commission and sent him back into service. There is , great encourage ment in this for every servant of God. When weakness and fear overtake the Christian, God’s grace reveals itself by reassurances of usefulness in the Lord’s vineyard. The Lord considers our human frailty and gives His fal tering followers opportunities for new beginnings. Golden Text Illustration P salm 34:3 There is a beautiful custom among the .herdsmen in the Alps. The instant the sun disappears and while its last rays are still glimmering on the sum mits of the mountains, the herdsman who dwells highest up the mountain takes his horn and trumpets forth, “Praise God the Lord.” Immediately all the herdsmen in the neighborhood take their horns and repeat the words, “Praise God the Lord.” This continues for some minutes, while on all sides the mountains echo, the praises of God. A solemn stillness follows, and every one offers his silent prayer on bended knee.—Modern Cyclopedia of Illustrations.
LESSON FOR MAY 13 The Tragedy of the Northern Kingdom 1 K ings 12 to 22; 2 K ings 1 to 10; 15; 17:6-8
sulted in the destruction of four hun dred and fifty prophets of Baal. The notable miracle of fire coming down from heaven and consuming the well-watered sacrifice, and the conse quent destruction of the prophets of Baal, made no impression for good upon either Jezebel or Ahab. They were deaf to every message that would lead them to repentance. The action of Elijah so angered Jezebel that she determined to slay him. When Elijah heard of this intention, he arose and fled (19:1-4). Utterly discouraged, Elijah hastened into the wilderness and asked that God would allow him to die. God rebuked the prophet for run ning away from his place of testi mony (vs. 13b, 14). He told him of His purpose to remove Ahab, and also to provide a companion for Elijah (vs. 15-18). God assured him that, while things looked black from the outside, nevertheless there were seven thou sand in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. But, in spite of the seven thousand, there was constant down ward progress in the kingdom. III. T he C ause of the T ragedy (2 K i . 17:7, 8) Disobedience, rebellion, and idola try were the threefold cause of the tragedy. The people of Israel forgot the God who had brought them out of Egypt and “feared other gods.” Therefore Jehovah allowed them to become captive to Egypt once again. From this captivity they never have recovered fully, nor will they be per fectly restored until Jesus Christ comes again to earth. Not only did they disobey God’s commands, but they also walked after “the statutes of the nations” (R.V.)— the pagan nations which God had driven out long before when He brought Israel out of Egypt. To add to their wickedness, they also walked after the self-made statutes of the kings of Israel, forgetting the statutes given them by God. God would have us beware of all disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry: in the individual and in the nation. Points and Problems 1. "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem" (1 Ki. 12:28). It is never too much for man to do what God wants him to do. His will is not grievous nor His way hard (cf. Prov. 13:15). God had made it clear that His worship was to be centralized in Jerusalem. As an excuse to cover up his desire to serve hie own selfish in terests, Jeroboam put forth the erron
ILESSON T E X T : 1 KI. 12:26-30; 19:1-4; 13b-18; 2 Kings 17:7, 8. GOLDEN T E X T : “ O magnify" the Lord with me, arid let us exalt his name to gether” (Psa, 34:3).- . DEVOTIONAL READING: Amos 5:6-15. Outline and Exposition V T he B eginning of the T ragedy (1 Ki. 12:26-30) B ECAUSE of Solomon’s Sinfui- ; ness the kingdom was divided .and Jeroboam became ruler of the northern - portion, -called Israel. God promised to build a sure house for Jeroboam if he would obey the voice of the Lord (cf; 1 Ki. 11:9-13, 29-35, 38). One of the basic commandments of the Lord was that His people should go up to Jerusalem at least three times each year to worship in the place where ■the name of God had been established (cf. Deut, 16:16). But Jeroboam was afraid that his peo ple would gradually be weaned away from him if they went to Jerusalem that often (vs. 26, 27). He mistrusted the promise of God and thought to prevent any possible loss by taking things into his own hands. He therefore built two altars, one at Bethel in the south, and one at Dan in the north of his kingdom. Then he told his people that it was too bur densome for them to go to Jerusalem, and they could worship God before these altars which he had set up. The people readily fell in with the sug gestion and “went to worship” before each of these altars (v. 30). But “this thing became a sin,” and ever after ward Jeroboam is referred to as “the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.” It was the building of these two al tars that constituted the beginning of the tragedy in the northern kingdom- II. . T he P rogress qf the T ragedy (19:1-4, 13 b -18) After Jeroboam died, his son Nadab began to reign, and things went from bad to worse. After two years Nadab was murdered by Baasha who took the throne and reigned twenty years. When he died his son Elah reigned for two years,, but was murdered by Zimri who reigned only a week and then committed suicide. Then Omri, captain of the army, seized the throne. He “did worse than all that were be fore him” (cf. 16:25). When he died his son Ahab came to the throne. Ahab married idolatrous Jezebel and introduced Baal Worship throughout the land. In Ahali’s day God raised up Elijah to witness against the idolatry in the nation and this ministry re
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