In The Dark Times: 1 Kings 19:1-18
The Dark After the Light - 1 Ki 19:1–2Daring Deeds and Death Threats
Elijah had just wrought 2 great miracles before the King Ahab and the people of Israel on Mt. Carmel. First, he called down fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice that was laid upon the altar of God. Second, he prayed for rain after a 7 year drought and God sent it that very afternoon. On the power of those miracles he called for capital punishment of the prophets of Baal who used human and especially child sacrifices to worship their God.
Elijah had to believe that after such miracles Israel and the royal house of Ahab and Jezebel would repent. The nation would destroy their idols and return to worshipping Jehovah the one true God. But that is not what happened at all.
Instead we read in 1 Kings 19:1–2. 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
Elijah hit a three-stage crisis in his life. Nationally, spiritually and personally everything seemed to crash at the same time.
Nationally his country was morally bankrupt, corrupt, idolatrous and hypocritical. Proclaiming that Jehovah is God but not changing any idolatrous practice or immoral lifestyle.
Personally, he saw himself as a failure, the great miracle working prophet of Israel, a man that God had used to show more miracles than any other man since Moses and yet those miracles or perhaps his leadership as a prophet had not resulted in a true revival within Israel.
And spiritually he was simply spent, he was emptied out. He had been on the run from Ahab and Jezebel for 7 years, the same seven years that had brought a terrible famine in Israel, he had lived as an outlaw hiding out with a widow and her son, consisting mainly on nothing more than ground meal and olive oil.
Finally, after all those years, the Lord says its time o put in motion the great battle of faith on Mt. Carmel, there was a great, undeniable victory. The fire of God fell from heaven, the sacrifice was miraculously accepted by God and then 850 child sacrificing prophets of Baal had been slain, the rains returned and Elijah receives … not thanks from the King, not a revival from the people but instead an oath of death from the evil Queen Jezebel, the real power behind the throne of Israel.
1 Kings 19:2-3 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
What kind of shape do you think you would be in, after all that?
Darkness Grows – 1 Kings 19:3-4
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Driven to Despair
Elijah had to get away. Some say he ran out of fear. I used to think that, but then I wondered why a man who God had protected and provided for to the point that the kings servant, was sure that the Spirit would simply take him up and away.
I’m sure there had to be some fear, but I think Elijah “went for his life” as the Bible says, not so much out of fear but out of a need to restore, reclaim and reestablish his life, it purpose, its meaning, and his relationship with his God.
I’m not sure exactly why Elijah ran, but we do know where he ran, all the way out of northern Israel into the southern kingdom of Judah to Beersheba, which is on the southern border of Judah just before you enter the Negev wilderness. There he leaves his servant, perhaps in his mind because he would no longer need a servant.
When he got into the wilderness he sat down under a Juniper or broom tree and basically said, I can’t handle any more, LORD, take my life; for I am not better than my fathers. They failed and I have failed. He was stating the condition he was in. Time to quit trying, give up and turn it all over to the Lord. He would either act on Elijah’s behalf or ignore Elijah and let him die, in the wilderness sitting under a broom tree.
Darkness Delayed - 1 Kings 19:5-8
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Driven By Divine Guidance
In vs. 5-6 First mention in all of history of angel food cake. And I think it had a different recipe because it gave him strength for a 40 day hike into the wilderness.
On a more serious note God sent his angel to strengthen Elijah. The Bible often refers to Jesus in his preincarnate state, his form before he came to earth as a baby, as “The Angel of the Lord.” We aren’t given any more details but I can tell you this when you need strength to carry on, Jesus will be there to supply it.
Remember what he promised the apostle and us in John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Who knows he might even bring divine Angel food cake.
Now Elijah, goes on a soul restoring journey, a quest to reclaim his life. It turns out that the trip to Mt. Horeb or Mt. Sinai, the mountain of God was not 40 days away. We are not told why it took 40 days but I think it was so that Elijah went to find solitude as he also went for his life.
Darkness of A Cave - 1 Kings 19:9-10
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Elijah Alone In the Dark
In that darkness, Elijah’s despair, his depression had grown worse. Now in his mind’s eye he believes all the prophets are slain, he is the only one left and yes they want to kill him as well.
Then God intervenes…
Darkness Yield’s To A New Day - 1 Kings 19:11-13
And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
God’s Light Of a New Day
Isn’t this a famous scene? Elijah in the cave despondent, depressed, down-trodden to the point of quitting the office of prophet and his own life. BTW Elijah never considered suicide, he, just like Job asked God to let him die, but he nor Job never contemplated taking their own life, nor would they ever consider it.
Now, for the second time God asks him “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
I think you have to look at God’s question in to parts. First, What are you doing? Why aren’t you active, why aren’t you doing what you are supposed to be doing as my prophet? The answer you are looking for, the restoring you are looking for will not come by hiding in a dark cave. Its time to get moving again Elijah.
Secondly, the end of the sentence, “What are you doing here?” Why are you in this place at this time? What purpose are you serving here in the wilderness away from Israel where I have placed you?
His answer is the same as when God asked the first time, 1 Kings 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Much of what Elijah said was colored by his depression. It was bad in Israel but not as bad as he was stating it now.
Not all the children of Israel had forsaken the covenant there were some faithful people left one of them was the Kings servant Obadiah who God had used to same 100s of other true believers. And of course, this meant that Elijah was not the only one left as God is going to tell him in just a moment.
Nevertheless, it is how Elijah felt in the present darkness he was covered by.
God’s Plan For A New Day - 1 Kings 19:15-18
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
The new plan consisted of 4 actions.
First Go! You can’t stay here in a dark cave and hope to overcome your situation or serve your God, your country or your own life.
Second Anoint a new king in Syria. This would cause civil war in Syria and Ben-Haddad who had been such an enemy would be killed and Hazael would reign.
Third anoint Jehu, Ahab’s chariot driver to be King in Israel. This would begin the destruction of the house of Ahab and the end of Baal worship through Jezebel.
Fourth, Anoint Elisha, to be prophet in your place. Elijah would see his prayer request granted and God would take his life, flying him to heaven in a fiery chariot and Elisha the farmer’s boy would take up his mantle and become the new Prophet of God in Israel.
God’s Light In a New Day For Us.
Let me apply Elijah’s situation and God’s solution to our own times of darkness.
Like Elijah’s time, this is a dark time for our nation.
Yes we used to be a nation built on Christian principles but that is no longer true. The great majority of people in this country are religious atheists. That is they are either outright agnostic and atheists denying God’s existence and certainly his right to rule in their lives or they are religious but their religion is no better than a pale atheism. It denies God’s very word, calls God a liar and God’s people agents of hatred.
Because most people don’t really believe in God our nation which was built on the principles of morality found in God’s word is falling apart. Families are a minority, true churches are dying and false worship in the form of mindless emotionalism and false prophet worship is growing like a malignant disease.
It’s easy to find ourselves in the dark. And though there is only one possible choice in the upcoming presidential election, that person will not lift this kind of darkness. That person is covered in darkness as well.
Like Elijah we may feel a failure in our work, our calling or our purpose in life.
Especially as we get older and look back and realize I never envisioned myself here not in my 40s, 50s 60 or 70s.
When I look back I think I don’t even know who that kid was but it sure isn’t me now.
And like Elijah we may feel that spiritually we are running on empty, we are spent due to the harsh events, the painful experiences, the brokenness we have endured.
Sometimes, many times it is only by hanging on by our fingernails that we made it through. Only by the skin of our teeth are we still here. Events can overwhelm us and our spirit is the shock absorber of our life and it seems like we need new shocks.
I have asked you to pray for my friend, Pastor Rudy Rios who has faithfully served for over 25 years in the same church, his first church Temple Baptist in Texas City, Texas. His first and only grandchild just barely a toddler is in the hospital with serious health issues. How does your spirit handle things like that?
And yet as Christians we all have and will again. But it can and often does leave us feeling like Elijah, alone in the darkness telling God how bad this darkness is. And it is bad. You don’t get out of the darkness by pretending it isn’t dark. You just get further lost in the cave.
So what did God tell Elijah that pulled him out of his darkness and can I apply it to my own dark times.
First, remember God’s instruction, Get out of the cave!” Elijah had to get out of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.
Nothing will change unless you step out of the darkness and listen to the Lord. The worst thing any of us can do is choose to stay in the dark. The dark feeds on itself and grows even dark. You can’t stay in the dark, you can’t stay in the cave.
And when you go out remember that God wasn’t in the great wind, the terrible earthquake or the roaring fire. God was in the still small voice. Here is God’s still small voice found in His perfect, complete and all sufficient word, The Bible.
Choose to get out of the dark and when you do turn to God’s still small voice as he speak through the Holy Spirit from His word into your spirit and begins for you the light of a New Day.
Second, Remember God’s question, asked twice to emphasize its importance, “What are you doing here?” Where is your action, your doing? You can’t stay idle and get out of the dark. You must get busy, you must get doing.
And secondly what are you doing here. Look where you are at. A dark cave is no place to find light. Look where you are at in your physical location, your emotional location and especially your spiritual location. If you are in a dark place you need to move to a place where there is light. Alcoholics don’t turn their life around while sitting in a bar. Sinners don’t turn their life around sitting with a bunch of sinner.
Go where there is light. The light of God’s people, presence and power. You know where that is? Right where you are right now. Go to church not for an emotional hit but for a real dose of the light of God.
Third, Remember God’s solution. Do something in the lives of others. he told Elijah to do four things, Go and then anoint 3 people.
The go part you need to do, but the anoint part isn’t going to be received very well by your family and friends. They’ll probably ask you why you aren’t using that olive oil on a salad instead of their heads. So maybe look for another application here.
It really is about serving, in this case serving the Lord and serving others. By choosing Elisha, Elijah took on a successor and he became a mentor. Everywhere that Elijah now went Elisha went with him. He taught by example, he taught by instruction, he taught by his actions and Elisha became as great and in some case a greater prophet than Elijah.
Want to come out of the darkness in your own life? Then find someone you can help, or teach, or be a blessing to as a parent, a grandparent, a friend, a church member, or as a child of God.
Being a blessing by serving and helping others takes the light that God has sparked in you and fans it into a torch that you then can pass on to others.
Jesus’ Last Lesson - John 15:11-19
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
That is the New Testament equivalent of what we just read from the OT account of Elijah’s darkness.
The darkness of the world’s hate is overcome by loving others and obeying the Lord. It not hard to understand, though in the deepness of the dark it will always seem hard to do.
Conclusion
Don’t stay in the dark.
If you in the dark today spiritually, then come to the light of Jesus Christ. John 1:4 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Take that life and light and then do what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
If you find yourself in the dark, and we all do sooner or later, then take the light of God’s Word, the light of Jesus Christ and stand on that hill and be a light to others for him. If you do that then the darkness can never overcome that light.
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