GOD REVEALS TO ELIJAH
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) God reveals to Elijah
(Text: 1 Kings 19:11-18)
i) 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:11-18 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) Elijah knew that the still small voice belonged to God. He realized that God doesn't reveal himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for God only in something big (rallies, churces, conferences, highly visible leaders) may be to miss him because he is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. Are you listening to God? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for his guidance. It may come when you least expect it.
b) God asked Elijah to anoint three different people. The first was Hazael, a king of Syria. Elijah was told to anoint an enemy king because God was going to use Syria as his instrument to punish Israel for its sin. Syria brought Israel's external punishment.
c) Israel's internal punishment came from Jehu, the next man Elijah was to anoint. As king of Israel, Jehu would destroy those who worshiped the false god Baal.
d) The third person Elijah was told to anoint was Elisha, the prophet who would succeed him. Elisha's job was to work in Israel, the northern kingdom, to help point the people back to God. A this time, the southern kingdom was ruled by Jehoshaphat, a king devoted to God.
e) In 1 Kings 19:18, kissing Baal meant kissing some object representing him to show loyalty to him.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) God reveals to Elijah
(Text: 1 Kings 19:11-18)
i) 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:11-18 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) Elijah knew that the still small voice belonged to God. He realized that God doesn't reveal himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for God only in something big (rallies, churces, conferences, highly visible leaders) may be to miss him because he is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. Are you listening to God? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for his guidance. It may come when you least expect it.
b) God asked Elijah to anoint three different people. The first was Hazael, a king of Syria. Elijah was told to anoint an enemy king because God was going to use Syria as his instrument to punish Israel for its sin. Syria brought Israel's external punishment.
c) Israel's internal punishment came from Jehu, the next man Elijah was to anoint. As king of Israel, Jehu would destroy those who worshiped the false god Baal.
d) The third person Elijah was told to anoint was Elisha, the prophet who would succeed him. Elisha's job was to work in Israel, the northern kingdom, to help point the people back to God. A this time, the southern kingdom was ruled by Jehoshaphat, a king devoted to God.
e) In 1 Kings 19:18, kissing Baal meant kissing some object representing him to show loyalty to him.
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