1 Kings 19:1-21 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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God's Gentle Voice
Comments for Study 16

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Outline

MAPS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
A MAP OF THE DIVISION OF CANAAN
A MAP OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS TIMELINE
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS
A TIMELINE OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY

I. Elijah's Fear and Depression (1-8)

>1. Why did Elijah run for his life to the wilderness? (1-3)

* 1 Kings 19:1-3 "Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,"

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Elijah the Discouraged Prophet

* See a painting depicting the discouraged prophet Elijah. This study card is now in public domain.

>What was his request to God? (4)

* 1 Kings 19:4 "while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."

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>Why is it that those who refuse to accept the truth deliberately make the righteous feel this way? (Matt. 10:22)

* Matthew 10:22 "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

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>2. What miracle had Ahab told Jezebel? (18:22-24, 28-29, 38)

* 1 Kings 18:22-24 "Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire--he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."

* 1 Kings 18:28-29 "So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention."

* 1 Kings 18:38 "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench."

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>Why would she see the truth and ignore it? (Rom. 1:18-25)

* Romans 1:18-25 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen."

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>3. How did God comfort Elijah? (5-6)

* 1 Kings 19:5-6 "Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again."

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Elijah Nourished by an Angel

* See a wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right depicting Elijah being nourished by an angel. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>After receiving new strength where did he go? (7-8)

* 1 Kings 19:7-8 "The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God."

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>Why? (Ex. 3:1, 12, 34:4-7)

* Exodus 3:1 "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God."

* Exodus 3:12 "And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

* Exodus 34:4-7 "So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation."

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II. The Lord's Love for His Prophet (9-18)

>4. How did Elijah feel while thinking about the spiritual condition of Israel? (10, 14)

* 1 Kings 19:10 "He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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."

* 1 Kings 19:14 "He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken 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."

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>How does this explain why he was compelled to go to Mt. Sinai? (11-12)

* 1 Kings 19:11-12 "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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."

* Psalm 105:3-4 "Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."

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>5. How did God reveal himself to Elijah? (9, 13)

* 1 Kings 19:9 "There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

* 1 Kings 19:13 "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?"

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Elijah Feed by Angel

* See a painting depicting the prophet Elijah being feed by an angel of the Lord by The Providence Lithograph Company. This study card is now in public domain.

>In what respect is God's response different from what Elijah had thought?

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>6. What new direction and mission did God give to Elijah? (15-17)

* 1 Kings 19:15-16 "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. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet."

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>Why? (17)

* 1 Kings 19:17 "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."

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>How did God remind Elijah that he was not alone? (18)

* 1 Kings 19:18 "Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel--all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him."

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III. The Call of Elisha (19-21)

>7. What did throwing one's cloak over another symbolize? (19)

* 1 Kings 19:19 "So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him."

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>What request did Elisha make of Elijah? (20)

* 1 Kings 19:20 "Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

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>Why?

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Elisha Calling by the Elijah

* See a painting depicting the calling of the prophet Elisha. This study card is now in public domain.

>Did Elijah refuse this request?

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>8. How did Elisha respond? (21)

* 1 Kings 19:21 "So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant."

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>Why? (Ex. 24:5)

* Exodus 24:5 "Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD."

* Leviticus 9:3-4 "Then say to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb--both a year old and without defect--for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.'"

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>9. What do you learn from the dramatic calling of Elisha? (Luke 9:61-62)

* Luke 9:61-62 "Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

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>10. In what sense was the calling of Elisha different from Elijah's previous ministry? (3)

* 1 Kings 19:3 "Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,"

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