1 Kings

1222 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Short note on prophet Elijah

1 Kings

Introduction

In 1 Kings 18-19 we are introduced to one of the most magical men in the Bible, and to one of the greatest miracles. Along with Moses and Jesus, Elijah is among the great miracle workers of the world. Elijah used miracles to bring Israel up out of shambles, if just for a moment. He also showed extreme faith and perseverance in the face of great odds. But the true character of Elijah lies in his name, which literally means, “Yahweh is my God (Anderson 246).”

Prelude to The Contest

In order to understand chapters 18 and 19 of 1 Kings, one must get some background on its main character. In 1 Kings 17, we are first introduced to Elijah. At the time, Israel is at one of its lowest points. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were not only endorsing the worship of Baal; they were trying to wipe out all worship of Yahweh (Stafford 388). In addition, one of Ahab’s men rebuilt the city of Jericho, which is strictly forbidden in Joshua 6:23. Out of this defiance of Yahweh rises the prophet Elijah. In a rejection of Baal, the god of weather, he proclaimed that “…there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word (1 Kings 17:1).” Because of this proclamation, Elijah had become a wanted man. It is at this point that we see the first sign of the relationship between Elijah and Yahweh. Yahweh tells Elijah to flee east of the Jordan, and for the next three years he lives a life on the run (Stafford 388).

The Contest

With the events of 1 Kings 17 as our background, we can now look to chapters 18 and 19. After three years in the desert, Yahweh tells Elijah to go to Ahab. On his way, Elijah meets one of Ahab’s servants, Obadiah. Obadiah was a devout follower of Yahweh, and had sav...

... middle of paper ...

...prophet of Yahweh.

The final scene in 1 Kings 19 gives us a good picture of what kind of man Elijah is. Instead of being scared of Jezebel for personal reasons, he explains that he is afraid that if he dies, so will Yahweh’s spirit. He is only concerned about placing Yahweh into the hearts of the people. This is what Elijah had done throughout his life. From when we are first introduced to him, Elijah had tried to guide the Israelites in the right direction. His contest with Ahab is his surpreme test of his faith, and he wins it with flying colors. All in all, Elijah shows us what we all can do if we just believe and have faith in God.

Works Cited

Anderson, Bernhard W. Understanding the Old Testament. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Stafford, Tim. The Student Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.

Show More
Related

  • Review of Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Elijah - a man who comes in from the countryside to be in town for the trial. He condemns evolution and sells Bibles, even though he does not know how to read or write.

    Read More

  • Elie Chapter 5 Analysis

    263 Words  | 1 Pages

    Before Elie’s hometown got invaded, he was extremely religious. He used to pray and feel the presence of God all around him causing him to shed tears of joy and even began

    Read More

  • The Charismatic Age: First-Century Galilee

    1918 Words  | 4 Pages

    Among Jewish peasantry at the time of Jesus were two distinct types of prophets: the action prophets, who "led sizable movements of peasants from the villages of Judea in anticipation of God's new, eschatological act of liberation," and the oracular prophets, who delivered oracles of either judgment or deliverance (185). The former, as illustrated by the case of Theudas, appea...

    Read More

  • All the Kings Men

    488 Words  | 1 Pages

    All the King’s Men, written by Robert Penn Warren, is set deep in the south during the 1930’s. This is a story of the rise and fall of a political titan. Willie Stark comes from poverty to become the governor of his state. He forces his enemies into submission by blackmails, repeated threats, and bullies them. He creates a series of liberal reforms that lay heavy tax burdens on the rich and lifts the money issue off of the poor farmers. His foil character Sam MacMurfee persistently searches for way to ruin the career of Willie Starks. Sam MacMurfee has thugs and powerful political allies deep in his pockets. The two characters remind the reader of corrupt figures in politics such as the famous Boss Tweed.

    Read More

  • king

    1948 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg address,” the two men employ rhetorical strategies in order to show the public the need for a better world. Two men from different backgrounds and different times both advocate for equality. Although Abraham wrote the Gettysburg Address way before Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech, the two speeches are connected through semantics and rhetoric. King and Lincoln both use the same strategies in the making of their speeches. A hundred years and about three wars fall between the two speeches and yet they still are advocating for the same thing in a similar way.

    Read More

  • God of Jealous Grace

    964 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ice his revulsion and gruesome plan of action to King Ahab. When King Ahab heard Elijah he began humbling himself and repenting by fasting and weeping (1 Kings 21: 27). Because of King Ahab’s drastic change, God showed mercy on him and delayed the repercussions of his reign for another generation (1 Kings 21:28-29). This passage also reveals the extreme jealousy and unreasonableness of God. He considered King Ahab to be one of the most evil rulers of Israel because he and his wife worshipped the gods that she had known all of her life. The descriptions of how the Lord would do abolish them (1 Kings 21:19-16), illustrate a god that should be feared. While God shows mercy on King Ahab because he repents, YHWH’s strong desire for justice is also withheld in this passage as the execution of His judgement was not eliminated but rather suspended for a generation to come.

    Read More

  • History of the Old Testament of the Bible

    3004 Words  | 7 Pages

    Studying the Old Testament is not as straightforward as some may think. Being able to recall stories of the Bible does not necessarily mean you have a thorough grasp on the history of Israel and the surrounding nations. Some people read and discuss the Bible without a solid understanding of the history and social issues that were going on at the time. Being able to relate to the stories in the Bible and struggle with some of the same problems faced by the people in the Bible gives you a greater appreciation for the works in the Bible. I feel that having a firm understanding of all the related history of Israel gives a student of the Old Testament a far greater understanding of why these stories are in the Bible and what was meant to be learned from them. In this paper I give brief, yet significant, explanations of the Old Testament from the death of King David to the Maccabean revolt.

    Read More

  • The Real King

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    artistic vision can account for King's journey out of the Mississippi Delta, through the roadhouse joints of

    Read More

  • Anointed King

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    Within Shakespeare’s play Richard II there are many questionable and untrusting characters. Truth and duty are only illusions within the play. Lust for power and control override the order of England and its ordained king. It’s believed that it is by the will of God that Richard is king. No mortal man can come between what God has set before them as rule. The final decision is God’s and the only way that God’s choice can be changed is by God himself, and no one else. God takes the Garden of Eden from Adam, and like Adam, England is taken from Richard. It is questionable if Bolingbroke acts against God’s will or through God’s will. Richard is king, and though a sad choice, he has been ordained by God as king and ruler of England. It is not for his followers to decide if he is to be replaced by someone that they feel would be a better caretaker of the “garden';. In Richard II , by overtaking the crown and replacing Richard with Bolingbroke, society is going against its own belief that Richard is ordained by God. From an Englishman’s point of view it could be argued that God is somewhat responsible for the state that England is in, because they believe Richard was chosen by God. Within Richard II , God is believed to be forsaken so that England can become a great kingdom again, and this is done in hope that Richard’s wrongs can be made right by Bolingbroke.

    Read More

  • Good and Evil Actions in Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    The goodness of God is shown through the actions of Jeremiah. At the beginning of...

    Read More

  • Isaiah Chapter 10

    2399 Words  | 5 Pages

    After God abandons Assyria as His rod at the end of Isaiah chapter 10, in the beginning of Isaiah chapter 11, God will raise up a shoot from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). This shoot from the stump of Jesse is personified as He and this Person is endowed with the Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah 11:2. He will provide justice for all. His reign will be characterized with righteousness and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:3-5). This reign of righteousness and faithfulness leads to many profound impacts and drastic changes to the whole creation. The hostilities between predators and preys, b...

    Read More

  • the prophets

    1615 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the book of Malachi he finds the Israelites once again growing indifferent to their spiritual commitments, neglecting duties to the temple, as well as skirting worship and righteousness. Malachi reprimanded them however he did not leave them without hope. Malachi forecasted the coming promise of Elijah who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Malachi was the last prophet of God until John the Baptist. The motive for declaring the return of Elijah was to instill hope to let the people know that God was in control.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Moses In The Quran And The Bible

    1632 Words  | 4 Pages

    However, there are few differences in the accounts of his life between the Quran and the Bible. One is the adoption of Moses into the palace. In the biblical account, pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses but in the Quran, the wife of the pharaoh adopted him. Similarly, the order of plagues and the nature of plagues that afflicted the people of pharaoh in the Quran and the Bible differ. In conclusion, despite these minor differences, the Quran and biblical accounts of the role, life, purpose, and figure of Moses are similar with several lessons, which can help us become better people in our society.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Attitude To Worship In Jehoshaphat's God

    1755 Words  | 4 Pages

    This account records a remarkable story in which the King of Israel (Jehoram) seeks the counsel of Elisha because Mesha the King of Moab waged war against him. Jehoram calls on the help of Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom to join him in allegiance to fight against Mesha. As they go after him they get lost in the wilderness with no food or water for themselves or their cattle. In their dilemma Jehoshaphat asks “is there not here a prophet of the Lord that we may inquire of the Lord by him?” (2 Kgs 3:11). A servant recommends Elisha and as such all three kings go to Elisha for

    Read More

  • Reflection Paper On The Prophets

    1460 Words  | 3 Pages

    Back in Abraham’s day, God promised him that he would make a great nation for him. From that promise, two beginnings of messianic prophecy would take shape. One would emphasize the glorious future of the Kingdom of Israel, and the other would speak to the coming work of the Messiah, portraying him not as a reigning king but as a suffering servant who would be slain on behalf of his people.

    Read More

More about 1 Kings

Open Document