CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.—
1 Kings 18:41. Sound of abundance of rain—The cause of the curse of drought being now removed, the blessing came quick.
1 Kings 18:42. Cast himself down upon the earth—Betook himself to prayer. This kept him from becoming elate, and indicated his deep concern for the mercy of God to come upon the stricken land.
1 Kings 18:46. Hand of the Lord—Supernatural energy, and a Divine ecstacy. Entrance of Jezreel—Where Ahab had a summer palace (1 Kings 21:1).—W. H. J.
HOMILETICS OF 1 Kings 18:41-46
SUGGESTIVE PHASES OF THE PRAYING SPIRIT
I. It is quick to perceive the indications of coming blessing (1 Kings 18:41). “There is a sound of abundance of rain.” To the keen, sensitive ears of the prophet, the splash of the long-wished for rain was already falling on the parched soil, and roaring along the hitherto empty torrent beds. He heard in reality, or by anticipation, the gentle wind sighing through the forest of Carmel, and waving the tree tops which have been poetically spoken of as so many bell summoning this lone worshipper to prayer: and in the East the wind is the precursor of the approaching shower. A certain Polish Jew, whose great musical genius raised him to eminence and wealth, had become so familiar with the different kinds of wood of which he made his flutes and reeds when in the capacity of a poor shepherd, that he knew every tree of the forest by the peculiarity of its sound. So, long practice in prayer sharpens every sensibility of the soul, and familiarizes it with the faintest indications, unheard by other ears, of the nearness and character of advancing benedictions.
II. It seeks retirement (1 Kings 18:42). “Elijah went up to the top of Carmel.” Leaving Ahab to take his meal at the place where the sacrifice had been consumed, the prophet ascended not quite to the highest elevation, as appears from his words to his servant (1 Kings 18:43), but to a point little below the highest, whence the sea was not visible. He needed to retire only a short distance to the West, and there, on the slope just below the summit, sequestered by bushes and trees, such as are still to be found there, he could pour out his heart to God in secret. Devotion needs times of quietness and solitude in order to store up spiritual strength for the bustle and conflict of life. How often is it said of the great prophet of mankind that “he went up into a mountain apart to pray!” And all who would catch his spirit and tone, in however humble a degree, must seek it in private communion (Matthew 6:6).
III. It has ever some special subject for personal supplication. Elijah had prayed before that it might not rain, and a prolonged period of drought and famine was the answer. But now the great burden of his prayer was for the rain that had been so long withheld (James 5:17-18).
1. This supplication was intensely earnest. “He cast himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees” (1 Kings 18:42), by this unusual attitude indicating the extraordinary intensity of his prayer. The highest results of prayer can be attained only by fervent, agonising efforts. The greatness of the blessing sought stimulates the urgency of the petitioner.
2. This supplication was persevering (1 Kings 18:43). “Go again seven times.” There was spiritual discipline here. Delaying is not denying. The blessing is withheld, partly to certify the fact that it comes from God, to show the necessity of hourly dependence, and to teach that, whatever apparent difficulties there may be in the way, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Six times the messenger returned with the disappointing intelligence, “There is nothing”; but the Tishbite’s faith was undaunted; he had unswerving confidence in the prayer hearing God. Though he had the definite promise of God that rain should be sent (1 Kings 18:1), and had caught with prophetic instinct the precursive sign of its coming (1 Kings 18:41), yet he continued pleading with unabated earnestness. Persevering prayer wins the victory.
IV. It is privileged to witness substantial answers to prayer (1 Kings 18:44-45). “A speck at length darkens the distant heavens.
Comes a vapour from the margin, blackening over heath and holt,
Cramming all the blast before it, in its breast a thunderbolt.
It is the first that has been seen for three years and a half. It is abundantly visible in a sky which too clear, like a too beautiful cheek, tells there is surely something wrong. It rises higher and higher—it becomes broader and broader—it moves with amazing celerity. The glow of the sunset is lost in gloom. Long raven wings are extended all over the hill. The banks of the Kishon put on a ghastlier hue. It breaks; and there, amid a hoarse thanksgiving murmur from the forest around, rains down the grateful deluge—token that the prayers of the bent prophet have been graciously heard, and that his victory over Baal is now, in fire and water, visibly complete.” Few of God’s praying people but can refer to some period in their history when their prayers were answered with overwhelming copiousness.
V. It is the best preparation for active and important service (1 Kings 18:46). Divinely directed and divinely upheld, Elijah, instead of resting after the excitement and fatigues of the day, girded up his loins, and ran in advance of the king’s chariot, which was no doubt driven at speed, the entire distance of at least sixteen miles to the entrance of Jezreel. He thus showed himself ready to countenance and uphold the irresolute monarch, if he would turn from his evil courses, and proceed to carry out the religious reformation which the events of the day had inaugurated (Speaker’s Comm.). The stern and fiery-spirited prophet was, after all, a faithful and obedient subject; though severe in matters of religion, he was constitutional and loyal in matters of state. His aim was, not to injure king or people, but to defend and restore the worship of the God of Israel. Praying and working must never be disjoined. The best work is done by him who prays the best.
LESSONS:—
1. Some characters would have no greatness at all if it were not for their spirit of prayer.
2. Prayer should not be less, but more, earnest because of the evident approach of the answer.
3. Prayer is absolutely essential for efficiency in all Christian work.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
1 Kings 18:41-46. The rain. In this incident Elijah reaches the great crisis of his life. It was to him a time of suspense and anxiety. He would wonder whether God would now hear him by sending rain, as He had recently done by sending fire. If God should answer him this time, then his great work would be accomplished, and he should experience the joy of success. It was for this hour he had been living during the last few years. This was to be the crowning point of his life—that point in which the past and the future meet—when his soul would be filled with anxiety and concern as to the issue. Such were the feelings with which Elijah for the second time ascended Carmel to seek the manifestation of God’s presence and power. Notice—
I. The object of his faith. To procure rain for the parched land Let us learn from his example to keep a clearly defined object before our faith. With regard to God—His fatherhood, His mercy and love, His nearness to us and readiness to help: with regard to our life—the conquering of sinful temper or passion, the increase of holiness and devotedness to God: with regard to our work—in the family, in the Sunday school class, in the pulpit.
II. The means by which he sought this object. The attitude of prayer. He might have been tempted to have left God to fulfil His own promise, but he did not. His faith was operative, and led him to pray earnestly. True faith will always influence us to labour and pray for its object. III The encouragement he received. “A sound of abundance of rain.” This was an indication of God’s nearness to him, and a token that his prayer would be answered. This sound, in all likelihood, was heard only by himself. And so is it ever with the man who has strong faith in God, and who lives in close union and intimate fellowship with Him. He has visions of God unseen by others. It is by such tokens that he is sustained and stimulated in the work God has given him to do.
IV. The discouragement he met with. “There is nothing.” He hoped for intelligence of the clouds rising and bearing in their bosoms the plentiful showers; but there was no sign of them. The discouragement came to Elijah from the servant and the circumstances of the case; not from God—from Him he received encouragement and stimulus. Like the prophet, we receive discouragement every day from men and from circumstances. From men and things we receive constant disappointment; but from God we receive no disappointment—He never fails.
V. The perseverance he manifested. “Go again seven times.” Many a one would have grown weary on being told by the servant two or three times, “There is nothing.” But Elijah was not to be turned aside from his object by having to wait. He continues to watch and pray. While doing so he was the object of conflicting influences, of a discouraging and encouraging character; but by the assistance of the latter he was enabled to overcome the former, and to persevere. Like him we are exposed to the two classes of influences, but we are encouraged to persevere.
VI. The success realized. “There was a great rain.” Though he had to wait, yet God heard him. Who can imagine the feeling of joy that would rush into the prophet’s heart as he received the answer to his prayer? His character as a true prophet would be established, and God would be honoured by the steadfastness and perseverance of His servant.—The Study and Pulpit.
1 Kings 18:41-42. Wretched man! He was no more touched by the great, heart searching events of the day, than if he had witnessed an interesting but very long play, after which refreshment is most welcome, and food tastes well. Yet where are not such Ahab souls to be found? Ah! woe to you who permit the strongest evidences, the most powerful appeals to conscience, and the most touching works of God, to glide before you like a magic-lantern before your eyes: you enjoy it a little, perhaps, but you bring home from the churches and meetings nothing except some complaints over the long divine service, or some matter for lively conversation or self-satisfied criticism, and a good appetite for the meal that now follows, and a gay looking forward to the pleasures and enjoyment which the evening of the Sabbath day will bring you. Who has greater cause than Ahab to seek solitude, fall down upon his knees and say, God be merciful to me, and blot out my sins after Thy great mercy, and make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us (Psalms 51:3; Psalms 90:15). But of all this, not a word. The rain alone was of importance to him, not the Lord and His mercy. How many like-minded ones in our day!—Krummacher.
1 Kings 18:41. The sensitiveness of faith.
1. Is on the alert for answers to prayer.
2. Is conscious of the nearness of great blessings.
3. Prepares the soul for the reception and use of heavenly visitations.
4. Gives additional urgency to prayer.
—No ears but Elijah’s could as yet perceive a sound of rain: the clouds were not yet gathered, the vapours were not yet risen, yet Elijah hears that which shall be. Those that are of God’s counsel can discern either favours or judgments afar off. The slack apprehensions of carnal hearts make them hard to believe that as future which the quick and refined senses of the faithful perceive as present.—Bp. Hall.
—Glad and grateful must that moment have been to the many thousands of Israel, when the gasping earth that had for three long years suffered in dumb agony, drank in the refreshing flood of God; when the true church, who had beheld in that sky of brass and these furrows of iron the visible tokens of the Divine curse, now witnessed the heavens unfolding their black, inky scroll, with the joyful tidings that the curse was removed! Can we participate in this joy in a loftier spiritual sense? Do we see the curse of sin taken away; God propitiated; and from the rain with which He is filling the pools, are we drawing all needful supplies for our parched souls? If we are drooping and desponding; if our cry is, “My flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is”; we again echo Elijah’s words, “Get thee up, for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” Our privileges are many. The spirit of God is ever and anon moving “on the tops of the mulberry trees.” The small clouds have been rising, and copious showers have fallen. Go, get thee, like Elijah, get thee to the oratory, pray that the cloud may spread, that it may stretch across the heavens!—Macduff.
1 Kings 18:42-43. Elijah praying. We propose to consider the conduct of Elijah as suggestive of important lessons to the people of God in reference to a subject which claims their utmost solicitude, namely, the descent of spiritual blessing, the coming of a gracious rain upon the church and the world. Mark—I. The circumstances by which Elijah’s prayer is distinguished.
1. The place to which he resorted. He “went up to the top of Carmel.” It was a place of privacy, retirement, seclusion. Hence we read of those who did “hide themselves in the top of Carmel” (Amos 9:3). It is by secret prayer manifestations of power and blessing are secured, and revivals ushered in. “Come! my people! enter into thy chambers, and shut thy door about thee!” “Enter into thy closet,” &c. (Matthew 6:6).
2. The attitude he assumed. “He cast himself down upon the earth,” &c. Indicative of reverence, humility, fervour. Our prayers should be thus distinguished. Think of the majesty of the Being we address; the disparity existing between ourselves and Him; the infinite importance of the blessings sought (Isaiah 6:3; Genesis 19:27; Exodus 3:5).
3. The faith which he exercised. That for which Elijah prayed, God had promised (1 Kings 18:1). The promise of God is faith’s warrant. Prayer is the condition, the promise, the encouragement (Ezekiel 30:3-7). Elijah believed God; hence he “said to his servant, Go up now, and look toward the sea,” whence clouds and vapours usually arise. Oh! how unlike Elijah have we frequently been! How does his conduct proclaim, “Have faith in God.”
4. The perseverance he manifested. Six times he sent his servant up the hill, and he sees nothing, brings no good news to his master; yet Elijah continues praying. Like his father Jacob, his conduct says, “I will not let thee go unless Thou bless me.” (See 1 Kings 17:21; Psalms 80:5-7; Psalms 90:13-16.) Delays are not denials. “Though the vision tarry, wait for it.” Send your prayers up the hill of Zion, not seven times, but seventy times seven. Though the cloud cannot be seen, the promise can.
“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
And looks to that alone.”
II. The success with which Elijah’s prayer was crowned.
1. And it came to pass at the seventh time (44, 45). The cloud was small at first; but it was the precursor of “a great rain.”
2. Every succeeding age has supplied examples equally remarkable. The disciples in the “upper room”; Cornelius at Cæsarea; Paul and Silas at Philippi; Peter in prison, &c.
3. Other instances besides those which the inspired record supplies—e.g., the Reformation of the sixteenth century; the Wesleys at Oxford; the Revival in America and Ireland in 1857; personal history. You prayed till you could praise—the blessing came, &c. III. The encouragement which Elijah’s servant, and that of past ages, supplies to the church of the present day. Seen in the unchangeable character of God. “I am the Lord, I change not.” What He was to Elijah on Mount Carmel, He is to us.
2. The unalterable efficacy of prayer. It is still the way of approach, the medium of success, the hand which moves the arm which moves the world.
3. The immutability of God’s promises. The great rain which is to precede the world’s harvest is the subject of explicit promise (see Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:29; Psalms 72:6-8; Numbers 14:21).—The Lay Preacher.
1 Kings 18:42. The worldly and the religions spirit—a contrast.
1. The worldly spirit finds relief in festivity; the religious spirit in prayer.
2. The worldly spirit is but temporarily affected by the most imposing spectacles of divine power; the religious spirit bows in reverence and humility before God.
3. The worldly spirit is more intent in looking for temporal results; the religious spirit for spiritual reformation.
1 Kings 18:43-44. All that while is the prophet in his prayers, neither is any whit undaunted with that delay. Hope holds up the head of our holy desires, and perseverance crowns it. If we receive not an answer to our suits at the sixth motion, we may not be out of countenance, but must try the seventh. At last a little cloud arises out of the sea—a handbreadth. So many, so fervent prayers cannot but pull water out of heaven as well as fire: those sighs reflect upon the earth, and from the earth reflect upon heaven, from heaven rebound upon the sea, and raise vapours up thence to heaven again. If we find that our prayers are heard for the substance, we may not cavil at the quantity. From how small beginnings have great matters arisen! It is no otherwise in all the gracious proceedings of God with the soul. Scarce sensible are these first works of His spirit in the heart which grow up at last to the wonder of men and applause of angels.—Bp. Hall.
1 Kings 18:43. “There is nothing.” A common verdict.
1. Of the world concerning the church. 2. Of the church concerning the world.
3. Of the disappointed worshipper concerning idolatry.
4. Of the baffled inquirer concerning infidelity.
5. Of the surfeited votary concerning pleasure.
—Oftentimes we look in vain, and yet see nothing of the comfort of the Lord, nothing of His help and salvation. He leaves us awhile prostrated in dust and misery, does not at once, hearkening and comforting, raise us up, but appears as if the voice of our crying reached Him not. But if we do not lose our confidence in Him, if we re double our prayers and entreaties, He will not let us be ashamed (Isaiah 49:23). He will comfort, help, and hearken to us at His own, the best time. A man must not weary of prayer, even though it appears to him useless (Jeremiah 18:1; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:1).—Menken.
—“Go again seven times.” Here was an act of faith on Elijah’s part, and on that of his servant, and also a prophecy. The cloud, which promised the long expected rain, appeared at the seventh time. The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been compassed seven times, on the seventh day (Joshua 6:15-20). Naaman was cleansed after he had washed seven times (2 Kings 5:14). There are seventy-seven generations from Adam to Christ.—Wordsworth.
1 Kings 18:44-45. All the merciful works of God seem small and unimportant in the beginning, but thence they are seen to be nobler and greater in the end. Let the man rejoice who sees even so much as a little cloud of divine mercy and peace arising upon the horizon of his life! The time approaches when this cloud will cover his whole heaven. When the hour strikes, help comes in with mighty power; and, to put thy mistrust to shame, it must come unexpectedly.—Lange.
1 Kings 18:44. “There ariseth a little cloud like a man’s hand.” The gradual development of the greatest good.
1. In the world of nature.
2. In the world of mind.
3. In the spiritual sphere.
4. In the aggregate of national life.
5. In the conversion of the world to Christianity.
1 Kings 18:46. Divine strength.
1. Increases the capacity for physical endurance.
2. Makes us willing to occupy the humblest position to gain over the morally weak.
3. Prepares us for future obedience and service.
—The picture of the fleet runner is suggestive to the Christian of many profitable thoughts, and chiefly of this, that loyalty to God is simply “running in the way of His commandments.” And with this let nothing interfere. Let us run in the right spirit, stripped of every encumbrance, with concentration of purpose, in humble reliance on God. Elijah-like, in the way, His strength and support shall never be wanting; for, “the hand of the Lord” shall be on us; and then, in the end, we shall have, what at least at Jezreel Elijah had not, the chaplet of glory to crown our brow. There is an old eastern tale of the swift Persian Shatirs. To one his sovereign had promised the hand of a princess if he accomplished in running a certain feat. Girt as tightly as possible, when to stoop was death, he ran for miles like a gazelle in front of the royal train. Alarmed at his success, and fearing the promise would have to be kept, the monarch dropped his whip; but, scarce pausing in his progress, the adroit, skilful runner picked it up with his foot. Next the monarch dropped his ring, and finding that that he could not recover with his foot, the runner exclaimed, “O King, you have broken your word, but I am true to the last”—stooped to the ground, picked up the ring with his finger, gave a deep groan of pain, fell down, and expired. But with God and the runner in the Christian race there is no deceit. He who has said, “So run that ye may obtain,” will confer the mark of the high calling of God on the humblest who reaches the goal at the last.—Howat.
—Elijah, a true shepherd, he goes after the lost sheep, and leaves them not when he sees the wolf coming; but the Lord, who is neither weary nor faint, giveth power and strength to the faint, and to them that have no might, so that no way is too far, no toil too heavy.