Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: 1. Kings 19,1-13a. Oculi

Saturday, March 26, 2022

1. Kings 19,1-13a. Oculi

1. Kings 19,1-13a 1822

Oculi 27

Archippus, relative of St. Paul. Colossians 4,17

20. Marz 2022

1. ℣ Mine eyes are ever toward Yahweh:

℟ for He shall pluck my feet out of the net (Psalm 25,15).

O our Lord Jesus Christ, when our sins make us sick, let us well remember how You died upon the tree of the holy cross and have taken upon Yourself all of our debts and paid them in full. Amen. (Wenn meine Sünd’ mich kränken selk 412,1 Justus Gesenius 1646).

2. »Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword (870 bc). Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying: „So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.“ Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and went and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying: „It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.“ And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an Angel touched him and said to him: „Arise and eat.“ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the Angel of Yahweh went again a second time and touched him and said: „Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.“ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he went to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the Word of Yahweh drew near to him, and He said to him: „What are you doing here, Elijah?“ He said: „I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.“ And He said: „Go out and stand on the mount before Yahweh.“ And behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a Low Whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there appeared a Voice to him and said: „What are you doing here, Elijah?“«

3. As 1. Kings 19 opens, the Prophet Elijah is on the run and hiding. He had bested the 450 prophets of Baal in Israel at Mt. Carmel; the prophets of Baal were all dead soon thereafter. (1. Kings 18). This angered King Ahab (8. king of Israel from 874-53 bc), and it infuriated his wife Jezebel (from Sidon, Lebanon; אִיזֶבֶל where is the prince; d. 850 bc); she issued orders for Elijah to be killed in retaliation to Elijah’s actions. Ahab and Jezebel were responsible for instituting Baal worship on a national scale in Israel (the 10 Tribes), and for violently getting rid of the prophets of Yahweh. Now Jezebel wanted revenge on Elijah.

4. Elijah fled to Judah, and then hid in the wilderness. He wanted to die. He thought he was the only one left in Israel who worshipped Yahweh. The king and queen wanted him dead. Elijah decided it was better to simply die and leave this wicked world.

5. How often have you felt like Elijah? It seems like you are the only one left who cares about Yahweh. The world and those around you seem intent on persecuting your faith and not having a scare for true, godly righteousness. Man’s inhumanity to manis rampant; violence seems to be the norm; wars and rumors of war sound forth loudly once again. Is there hope for this wicked world? Does anyone still worship Jesus? Is it best that the world devour itself and we simply greet the joy of eternal Paradise? That’s how Elijah felt, and he is one of the greatest prophets of all times.

6. How does Yahweh comfort him? Elijah takes a nap, and when he awoke an angel had prepared a meal for him to eat. He took another nap, then awoke and ate again. Yahweh first dealt with Elijah’s physical needs. He was exhausted and hungry; this can often make despair or depression worse, so Yahweh gives Elijah the needed sleep and nourishment he needed to strengthen his physical body. Then Y deals with Elijah’s spiritual needs. You are not alone Elijah. I, Yahweh, am with you, and there are still 7000 in Israel who worship Me. There is strength and encouragement in community that gathers in the Name of Yahweh. Finally, Yahweh gives Elijah a task, because his work isn’t complete. An important task of a prophet was to anoint the king who has Y’s favor. Elijah is told to anoint a new king for Syria and also a new king for Israel (1. Kings 19,15-18). Then he is told to anoint his prophetic successor, Elisha (1. Kings 19,19). Elijah is encouraged: he isn’t alone, Yahweh is still working in this fallen world and His gospel will continue to be proclaimed.

7. Lent is similar to these days in Elijah’s life in 1. Kings 19 where he fasted 40 days after Yahweh spoke to him. Elijah had despaired that all was lost in Israel, but Yahweh gave him another 20 years of prophetic ministry throughout Israel before he was assumed into heaven. During Lent we repent, reflect and renew. Throughout this 40 days of preparation, Yahweh is strengthening us with His gifts. We gather together for worship, and we are encouraged. We are not alone. Yahweh is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34,18).

8. Saint Patrick’s prayer captures this quite well:

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise. (St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer cf. lsb 604 Patrick 372-466)

This is most certainly true.

9. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippines 4,7). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Almighty Father, Eternal God, for us You sent Your Son and let Him suffer the pain of the cross, so that He might drive away from us all the terror of the evil foe. Move us to joyfully give thanks for His suffering through which we have received forgiveness of sins and redemption from eternal death; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Die pommersche Kirchen-Ordnung und Agenda, 288.2; Stratman 35).

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Saturday, March 26, 2022

1. Kings 19,1-13a. Oculi

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