Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from 1 Kings 19. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- This description of the mood and mental and spiritual condition of Elijah is rather interesting. We would assume that a great prophet like Elijah would never suffer depression and almost despair. But this is where Elijah was at.
- Just prior to this, Elijah had announced to King Ahab the end of a major drought. He then challenged the king to assemble the prophets of Baal – some 450 of them, all supported by King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel.
- Elijah proposed a challenge – involving the burnt offering of a bull. The contest was between God and Baal – as to which one would light the offering on fire. God did – and Baal could not, for he doesn’t exist; he is a false god.
- After God had demonstrated that He alone is God, Elijah ordered the execution of the prophets of Baal, and all were killed. This was the proper biblical law for idolators and for those who rejected the only True and Living God! Queen Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, and a very evil woman, had supported the prophets of Baal and was enraged at this, and swore that she would do the same to Elijah within 24 hours. Apparently this latest cynicism and utter hatred of God spun Elijah into his despairing stupor.
- We also have times when it looks like things are crumbling around us! We have times when it looks like nothing changes the ascendant power that unbelievers seem to have. There are times when we also may want to just give up.
- Note that God does not leave His prophets or His people alone when we are depressed and misperceiving our circumstances. He simply asks Elijah: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” And I am certain that God is interested also in what we are doing here – why we are here to worship, what we are doing in our lives, and perhaps why we are doubting or lacking courage or without direction. We acknowledge that:
I. Life Can Get Us Down
A. We Can Grow Weary And Tired Of Being Jealous For God, In The Midst Of So Many Who Hate And Despise Him
Text: “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken you covenant and thrown down you altars.”
B. The Unbelieving World May Seem To Have The Upper Hand
Text: “They have killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
C. We May Be Tempted To Become Weak And Cynical, And Vulnerable To Capitulating To Evil
Epistle: “You were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. . . The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.”
D. We May Even Be Tempted To Join In Violence Against God’s Enemies
Gospel: “His disciples, James and John, when they saw that the Samaritans would not receive Jesus, said: ‘Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But He turned and rebuked them.”
Statement: When in such dire conditions, the Lord will surely come to us and ask: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE.” We know that we are His children, and that He has instructed us as to what we are to do. We are to be living in repentance and faith in His gracious mercy and forgiveness. We are to be studying and keeping His Word. We are to be following Him, and making disciples for Him.
Application: We all have our times when we are not really all that interested in learning more of God’s Word, and being challenged by it. But God does not leave us in our lethargy and stupor. He is gentle. He does not come in a mighty wind, or an earthquake, or a huge fire. Rather, He comes to us in the sound of a low whisper! So it is with us to this day. And in a whisper, His voice is always encouraging us, always picking us up. For as we see:
II. God Is Always In Charge – No Matter What Things May Look Like
A. He Retains a Remnant Of His Dear Children Forever
Text: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’”
B. These Faithful Believers Are Free – We Are Under Grace Not Law, Led By The Spirit
Epistle: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. . . . If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. . . . I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
C. These Believers Are Free To Live By The Spirit, Crucifying The Flesh And Never Looking Back
Epistle: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Gospel: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
D. And God Is Always Raising Up New Leadership
Text: “The LORD said to Elijah, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.”
Statement: I suppose one could also conclude that Elijah was experiencing “burn-out,” perhaps because he was getting older. Often we become despondent and despairing because we think that we have to do it all alone, because no one else out there will do it. These are perhaps pious feelings but they are based on a mistaken notion. God is able to do anything, including perking us up with renewed energy and power, and also replacing burnt out leaders.
Application: But I would suggest that Elijah and we would do better to realize this before we burn out! There is no question that the time for us to do the heavy lifting and really hard work of the church and ministry will come to an end. But as Jesus said: “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” [John 9:4] If we know that “God is working in us both to will and do of His good pleasure” [Phil. 2:13], and if we know that “we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He has foreordained that we should be walking in them” [Eph. 2:10], and if we know that we only have the time God ordains for us to be working, and this is not forever, then perhaps we will not reach the burned out and depressed condition of Elijah, but will be able to remain cheerful in our service to God!
Conclusion: It must have been somewhat amusing to Elijah, when he was taken out this world by a fiery chariot of God and not by some assassin hired by Jezebel! I have always been amused that her threat, as an autocratic tyrant, was never fulfilled. She never even got close to following through. And after the fiery chariot took Elijah to heaven, Jezebel met the violent and disgusting end that God arranged for her.
These are things we must also remember as we struggle through life in this world. God is still in control of all things and He will work all things together for our great good and blessedness.
He comes to us even today and asks, in the low whisper of His Word: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” Hopefully, the answer He gets from us is “Your good and gracious will, O Lord.” Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.