NOVEMBER 12th, 2023 PASTOR DON PIEPER
The Days Of Elijah 1 Kings 17:1-9, 10-24
“NOW I KNOW...!”
Our readings today are like a prequel in our series, The Days of Elijah. We do so love our prequels! Star Wars, Minions, X-Men and now this winter, Hunger Games! We love a good prequel. They help us understand the backstory of our heroes. Today's readings help provide us a bit of Elijah's back story. Here's what else you need to know: Since 922 B.C., Israel has been a divided kingdom. From God's perspective, they were now double the trouble. Israel in the north, and Judah in the south, are in stiff competition to see who can outdo the other in offending God. During the next two hundred years the northern kingdom would not be ruled by a single godly king, the worst of whom was Ahab, who's described in a tragic way: “Ahab did what was evil in the Lord's sight....” (1 Kings 16:30)
What did he do that was so evil? It's not what you'd expect. There's no mention of torture or oppression or even corruption. The evil of Ahab is viewed from a biblical perspective:
“As if it were not enough to live like Jeroboam, (who ignored God's laws), Ahab married the pagan princess, Jezebel, and (like her) began to worship Baal. First he built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria, then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.” (1 Kings 16:31-33)
Enter Elijah, God's faithful prophet, just arrived from Tishbite – (no, not a tick bit; it's Hebrew for 'hillbilly country'). No sooner does he show up then he confronts Ahab with some bad news, and a clear rebuke of his pagan worship: “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives – the God whom I worship and serve (unlike you) – there will be no rain for the next few years...” (1 Kings 17:1)
Notice how Elijah distinguishes himself from Ahab. It's an issue of worship. Elijah makes it clear that he worships the Lord, the God of Israel whereas Ahab worships the false god of Baal, which translated means, 'master' or 'husband'. It was believed that by fornicating with the female god, Ashter-oth, achieved by having sex with pagan prostitutes, you'd be guaranteed rain for the crops. To worship Baal was a blatant rejection of God, who's repeatedly identified in the OT as the true husband of Israel.
In contrast, Elijah, doesn't try to manipulate God but trusts in him, going wherever God sends him – first to Ahab, and later to the hostile land of Zarephath. “Elijah did as the Lord had told him...” (1 Kings 17:5)
He is all that Ahab is not. He worships the one true God and serves him by faithfully going where God sends him and telling others what God tells him to tell them, as he does here with the widow “Don't be afraid! Go ahead and cook that 'last meal'..., for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'There will be plenty of flour and oil until the time when the Lord sends rain again!” (1 Kings 17:13-14)
Elijah models his faith to her again upon the death of her son. He prays for God to restore her boy's life. The result is twofold: one, the birth of her faith. She shifts from referring to “the Lord your God” to her exclamation of new faith: 'Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and the Lord truly speaks through you!' and two, we catch a glimpse, a foreshadowing, of the resurrection to come! No other Old Testament prophet is so anointed: “See, your son lives again!” (1 Kings 17:23-24)
There are a number of insights we gain here. For One, we see that sin has serious consequences, not only on a personal basis, but also as it plays out on a national level. Not only is rainfall withheld, but so is God's word, as Elijah is sent to a foreign land. It's the result of their failing to listen and obey!
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Two, these stories reveal how God provides for those who serve him. We see this as Elijah is fed by ravens and again by the widow God sends him to. It's significant that God provides thru both natural and supernatural means in this story. Sometimes God provides for those in need by connecting us with them, as God does here with Elijah and the widow. You can be God's gift by so sharing!
Three, we see how faith involves a willingness and courage to take risks, to go where God sends us and to do things that are out of our comfort zone, such as Elijah's going to an evil king with a critical word, or eating the raven's food, or his being sent to a foreigner's home in the very heart of a country devoted to Baal worship. I doubt that's where he wanted to go! Likewise, “she went and did as Elijah said”, though it was clear that she had her doubts and fears that to do so would put her at risk. (1 Kings 17:15)
These stories press the question: how much risk-taking does your faith exhibit? Do you push yourself occasionally to step out of your comfort zone or only do what you like to do? Do you sometimes pray out loud, or forgive someone who's offended you, or encourage someone in their faith...?
The stories of Elijah reveal that an active faith in the living God involves risking discomfort, knowing that God loves us and goes with us wherever he sends us. “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!” (Joshua 1:9)
Four, these stories from underscore our calling to enter into worship of the one true God. As Jesus noted, “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship Him that way.” (John 4:23)
I remember when my niece was little her mother used to ask her, “Jenny, how big are you?” And then little Jenny, who at the time was knee high to a grasshopper, would raise her hands above her head and squeak out proudly, “I'm soooo big!” Translation: I'm huge! Don't mess with me!
It's not a scientific answer. You can't use it in every situation. For example, if your wife were to ask, Do my hips look big to you?, it's probably best not to answer, Yes, dear, your hips are sooo big'
Probably best not to go there. Still, it's worth asking about how you see God. That is, how big is your God? How big is Christ in your life? The way we live is in direct relation to how we see God and the problem for many of us is our view of God is too small. As a result, we're fearful of taking risks for God. When we have a chance to share our faith, we shrink back.
We resist being generous because our financial security may be threatened. We don't pray out loud because we're nervous how we may sound to others. We become slaves to what others think. When we shrink our God we tend to pray with little faith, serve without passion, and give without joy.
When I was in seminary a few of my classmates used to go to a bar that had a pool table where we'd play a righteous game of billiards. One time a fight broke out at the bar. An argument led to pushing and punches being thrown so we went over to help break it up. Unfortunately, I don't have much experience at that sort of thing. I missed the day that was covered in our pastoral care class.
“All right, you guys, cut it out right now! I'm serious!” works pretty well on four-year-olds in church who know you have access to their parents but with seasoned gladiators who are running in sizeable quantities of beer and testosterone, it's not so effective. Actually, it doesn't work on kids either.
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However, as we confronted these drunken thugs, a look of fear crept into their eyes, and they both quickly crept away. I was feeling pretty fearsome until I turned around and saw this bouncer dude standing behind us. He was huge! We affectionately called him Balrog...but not to his face. It was amazing how bold and outspoken we became...now that we had big, old Balrog in our corner...
“Yeah, and you better not let us catch you hanging around here again, (looking back), right?”
It's safe to say that if Balrog was in my corner 24-7 I'd have a vastly different approach to life.
Then again, I can't go around with Balrog beside me all the time. He'd frighten the kids/wife! Besides, I don't need him. I have one who's far greater than Balrog with me at all times. 'All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me,' he says. 'So go and make disciples, and lo I am with you always!' (Matthew 28:19-20)
I know that. I believe that but far too often my actions and attitude don't reflect that. All too often I shrink back when I should step out; I worry when I could pray; I cling when I could generously share; I remain quiet when I should speak up; I stay in the boat when I could walk on the water.
God's made us so that when we experience something awesome we have a need to express our wonder and delight. Our experience is incomplete until we can articulate it. When we see the sunrise over the sea, the spout of a whale, a baby's first steps something in our spirits demands to be expressed.
This truth is reflected in the story of a pastor who skipped worship to golf. The pastor had the game of his life, topped by his first and only hole-in-one on the 18th. Peter was upset. “I thought you were going to punish him,” Peter complained. 'I did,' God said. 'Who's he going to tell?'
We join in worshipping God because without it our experience and enjoyment of God are not complete. We worship God not because he needs it, but because we do. I need to worship because without it I tend to forget that I have a big God in my corner and tend to resort to fear & anger. I need to worship because without it I lose a sense of wonder and gratitude and plod thru life with blinders on.
In worship I use every tool at my disposal – Scripture, music, imagination, pictures, motion, memory – all to magnify God in my life. In worship I remember that reality is more than what I can see and touch. In worship I acknowledge that I look at a shrunken God on a regular basis, looking at him through the wrong end of the telescope. In worship I am reminded that ours is an awesome God. As Mary blurted out in praise and gratitude: “My soul magnifies the Lord!” (Luke 1:56)
In worship my perception of reality is sharpened. I come to see more clearly, trust more fully and love more sincerely. In worship I gain clarity. As the widow declared, “Now I know for sure...!” (1 Kings 17:24)
In C.S. Lewis' Prince Caspian, Lucy comes upon Aslan, the Christ-figure of the Narnia stories, after a prolonged absence and declares, “Aslan, you're bigger!”
“That is because you're older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” Lucy said.
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger!” So it is with us as well. Every time you step out of your comfort zone and take a risk for the Gospel, each time you trust God a bit more, God will get bigger and your worship will grow deeper.
What would that look like for you? God's in your corner. Be bold as you learn to trust him!
Like the widow's son, God is eager to bring to life that which is dead in and around you, that like his mother you may declare in the way you boldly live out your faith: “Now I know for sure!” (1 Kings 17:24)