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Commentary on "Elijah's and Elisha's Mantle"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 2: Sunday, May 1, 2011 - "A Still Small Voice"

 

Overview

Shortly after Elijah had killed all the false prophets of Baal, apparently at the end of the very same day, he was threatened by Jezebel, became afraid and ran for his life. He expresses the wish to die. Instead of responding directly to this, God sends an angel who feeds him and rebuilds his physical energy with enough strength to travel forty days to Mount Horeb.

Here, we have the account of the great wind, the earthquake and fire followed by “a still small voice”. For the full story, turn to 1 Kings chapter nineteen.

 

Observations

When a person is sanctified, that is, set apart by God it is the actions and power of God in the life of a person that we should focus on. In this episode in Elijah’s ministry as God’s prophet to an idolatress nation, we see a faithful loving God who upholds and strengthens him. God is fully upholding his anointed at all times, not just in those ‘mountain top’ experiences such as when Elijah displayed the courage to confront King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.

Instead of responding to Elijah’s desire to die God allows him a chance to sleep and get some rest, I Kings 19:5. Then, an angel is there with food and drink to resupply his physical needs. By sending Elijah on the journey to Mount Horeb, God is clearly in control and directing Elijah’s life. Only after Elijah arrives at the mountain does God gently ask the question; why are you here? Instead of directly responding to Elijah’s words, God demonstrates that dramatic moments of ‘wind, earthquake, and fire’ are not just when he is working out his plan for his chosen people. Rather, Elijah should be looking for ‘the still small voice’ and know that is where God is most active, 1 Kings 19:11-13. Elijah now realizes he is truly on holy ground in the presents of God and covers his face. He is humbled that he, an ordinary sinner is covered only with the righteous mantle of God while God is speaking directly to him.

God then gives Elijah instructions to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria, the enemy of Israel. Then, he is to anoint Jehu to be the next king of Israel. Finally, he is to seek out and anoint Elisha to be his replacement as God’s prophet, I Kings 19:15-17.

In response to Elijah’s earlier cry that he is the only one in Israel who has not forsaken the covenant of God, God ends this discourse by encouraging Elijah with the knowledge that there are still 7000 in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal.

 

Summary

  1. When examining the actions of Elijah during this time of his life we should be less concerned with his failings and be greatly encouraged that the matter of central importance is that God was in control at all times. God never abandons his anointed, those who he has sanctified by his own righteousness. Even as God asks Elijah twice why he is in this place he gently leads Elijah out of his despair.
  2. The lesson to learn and remember from this account is that while there are moments of dramatic spiritual highs in our lives, God is always at our side and speaking to us with a ‘still small voice’ even when we find ourselves in the ‘low moments’ of our life.
  3. God’s wrath is reserved only for those who do not repent of their wickedness.

 

GO TO DAY 3

 

Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 16, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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