T HE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S (6) When the brook dries up, water can be brought out of the rock. (7) The meal in the barrel was worth more than a barley loaf in the hand. (8) “ Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.” 1. Elijah. The name means “ Jeho vah my Strength.”— Comp. Bible. The Tishbite. This prophet is intro duced as abruptly as Melchisedec, his b i r t h , parents COMMENTS FROM and call to the MANY SOURCES prophetic office Keith Ii. Brooks being alike unre corded. H e is supposed to be called the Tishbite from Tisbeh, a place east of Jordan.— J. F. & B. Before whom I stand. It is not hard to stand before Ahab if we are standing right before God.— Johnson. Shall not be dew. There are two hy draulic methods of inflicting punish ment: God can turn on the water and God can shut off the water.—Bennett. v. 3. Hide thyself.. He had been in the full blaze of the court. He had spoken with the office of authority. He had done that which lifted him above the plane of ordinary men. He was on a height where it was easy to lose his balance and forget to look aloft to the height from which his power had come. The Lord would have him in the place of seclusion.—Haldeman. There is a time to be in evidence and a time to lie low.— Cole. God hides His own when necessary (Ps. 31:20).— Sel. God called David to go to the back side of the desert, but the back side of the desert may be the front door of heaven.— C. H. M. ’ v. 4. I have commanded. God makes preparations for His own in advance.— Sel. Feed thee there. Where did God feed His prophet by the ravens? In the place of retirement. It is there that He reveals Himself most fully to His people.—Waddell. v. 6. The ravens brought. Unlikely caterers. They would naturally devour his meal. Ravens feed on insects and carrion, yet here they brought Elijah his meat. Some bring the Bread of life to others, who themselves take up with that which is not bread. Ravens could bring but little and broken meat, but Elijah, was content with such things as
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he had and thankful ttfe was fed. Ravens neglect their own young and do not feed them, yet when God pleases, they feed His prophet.— Echoes. Morning and evening. Note that God serves but two meals a day.— Crabill. v. 7. Brook dried up. Are you sif ting by a drying brook, wondering what will happen when the last drop goes? If you are in God’s plan, all is well (1 Pet. 5:7; Ex. 14:13).— Torrey. In re viewing his life, this experience at Cherith is seen to be one of the crises by which Elijah was led forward to the crowning triumph of Carmel. God still withdraws His former mercies to lead His people on to greater things. When those streams which, often nour ished life dry up—-the streams of human love, of material prosperity— then we learn that God has some better thing for us. If, like Elijah, we press on from faith to faith, we shall find our selves, also, moving from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from glory to glory.—Holden. v. 9. Arise, get thee. Elijah was not told to leave until the channel was actually dry. So God often makes us wait His time beside a diminishing rivulet;.—McIntosh. There is danger at all times of our getting propped up by circumstances, thinking that our faith is strong. We need fresh testings to keep us awake. We are too apt to rest in the gift and forget the Giver.— Davis. To Zarephath. The word means “ Smelt ing Furnace” and it - was doubtless a place where much dross was taken out of Elijah. There is many a man who can stand the test of Ahab’s court or even of the drying brook, who fails ut terly when it comes to the test of home life.— Torrey. A widow woman. God had one better place than a drying brook— in the home of a nameless widowiii-Maclaren. Zidon. Elijah be came the first prophet to a Gentile. Note that Christ’s only visit to a Gentile was in Zidon (Matt. 15:21).—Comp. Bible. v. 10. Behold, a widow. Meeting, at his entrance into the town, the very woman who was appointed by divine providence to support him, his faith was severely tested by learning from her that ■her supplies were exhausted and she was preparing her last meal for herself and her son.— Jamieson. v. 12. I have not a cake. These con ditions were neither accidental nor con tradictory. The Lord was behind them. He was, by these very conditions, ask-
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