Title: Elijah's Solitude / 1 Kings 19:1 ..
Contents Elijah made 850 Baal. He made a plan to put a calf on the firewood, and instead of putting the fire on fire, he proposed to serve the god who burned the sacrifice as the true god.
The prophets of Baal were the first to try. Answer me, Baal. Answer me, Baal. I prayed with a loud voice, cut myself with swords and spears, and made blood flow. I cried like crazy for about six hours, but there was no answer and no effect.
Now it's Elijah's turn to try. The calf was angled on top of the firewood, and water was poured so that the firewood and the offering were wet. And pray before God.
Answer me, O LORD, I prayed earnestly to show them that the LORD is the true God. Elijah's prayer did not shout loudly, prayed for a long time, did not cry, did not get hurt, and did not go crazy like the prayer of the prophet Baal. And many people didn't even pray together. One man, Elijah, prayed quietly and earnestly. Fire came down from heaven and consumed both the sacrifice and the water. He showed all the people that the Lord is the true God.
Elijah captured all 850 Baal prophets and killed them by the brook Kishon. And I prayed before God and made the rain that had not come for 3 years and 6 months come again. It was Elijah who had the power to achieve such an exhilarating victory.
However, in the text, Elijah sat under a broom tree in the wilderness and wanted to die, but he was desperate and lonely and asked a question. Why have you worked hard for this? But the people of Israel broke the covenant they made with the Lord and tore down your altar, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left alive, and they want to kill me too. Let's find out why Elijah was so lonely and desperate in the text.
1. We did not seek the Lord in a small voice.
A terrifying strong wind ripped through the mountains and smashed the rocks. After that, an earthquake occurred. After that, God appeared in the still small voice of fire. What are you talking about? Elijah would be so frustrated because he thought that God was in a fire in a strong wind. We can see how miserable it is when we do not find God in the still small voice. You should not try to meet God in the place where you fought with Baal and worked with fire. We must meet the Lord in a small voice. Those who meet the Lord through the time of reverence and fellowship with the Lord will never be as frustrated and lonely as Elijah.
2. I was rather frustrated because of my zeal.
He was frustrated because he worked hard for God. We need to beware of the disappointment and frustration that come after a big job, and we have to beware of the worries and worries that come with work, and the loneliness that comes with success. Elijah's solitude came after success and great deeds.
In the case of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), Martha works hard outside to serve Jesus. He complains and complains about Jesus and his brother Mary. Why are you letting me work alone? Please help me. But the Lord rebukes you, why are you so anxious and troubled about so many things.
You must know that after many things comes anxiety, worry, complaints, and loneliness. It's when you can't hear a small voice. Mary listened to the voice of the Lord and gave her heart to the Lord. This is fellowship with the Lord. If Mary had only listened one-sidedly at the feet of the Lord, she would not have been able to please the Lord. And there would be no joy whatsoever. Through fellowship with the Lord, he found the meaning of life.
To put it simply, learning the word of the Lord without prayer and the act of praying without the word are one thing, and the more you do it, the more you need to know the discontent and pride inside you.
3. Only I am left (verse 10)
When he who fights for what is right thinks he is alone, he becomes lonely and proud. Solitude and pride are the same brother. It is that only I am righteous, only I am sincere, and only I cannot do it, and complaints and complaints arise. But to Elijah like this, you were not the only one who served God well, but there were 7,000 other people besides you, and there were 7,000 men who did a lot of work. It's worse than doing nothing. It is because the Christian work is not what I do, but what the Lord has done through me. No matter how much work we do, it cannot be said that only I did it, only I can do it. Besides me, 7,000 people can do it.
4. It is enough, O LORD (v. 4)
Elijah is saying that he has done his work, so there is no work anymore. But I don't know how much work to do after that (19:15-17). He tells Elijah that he has enough now, and that his work is over, and that a worthless life, a useless life, and only death are left. Where life can't be more miserable than this, I want to die when I feel like a useless person in this world. The world needs me as much as I can. But how stupid is it if you want to be lonely and die because you have nothing to do?
closing words
We must meet the Lord in His small voice. Work is not important, but fellowship with the Lord is important. We need to be freed from the tyranny of urgent matters and prioritize important matters. It is a godly new book with the Lord. Don't think that I'm the only one who works the most. There should not be 7,000 people of God besides me. Lots of work to do. You must participate. You have to work hard so that loneliness doesn't come.