PRAYER FOR A NATION
930 years before Jesus came into the world there was a struggle between religion and government.
The
heads of government (who were kings) did not get along with the prophets in the
nation of
Kings were interested in military security, economic expansion, and a high standard of living.
The prophets were interested in keeping the people faithful to God.
Governments formed treaties with other nations and the prophets viewed these treaties with suspicion.
IN THE BOOK OF FIRST KINGS, ESPECIALLY CHAPTERS 17-18, THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE.
A. To fully appreciate this struggle I want to highlight some of the material from these two chapters.
B. The 17th chapter of 1st Kings begins with a confrontation between king Ahab and Elijah.
C. The prophet Elijah said that it would not rain for a long time, and this prediction was right.
D. 1 Kgs. 17:7b says that there was no rain anywhere in the land.
E. The 18th chapter opens by saying that after a long drought Elijah was ready to see the king.
i). To appreciate this meeting we need to think about King Ahab’s position.
ii). His job was to insure economic security.
iii). Kings wanted high living standards for their people and economic expansion.
iv). A lack of water for several years would destroy a nation’s wealth and prosperity.
v). This
had happened in
vi). Notice 18:2-5.
vii). Ahab ruled over a kingdom that faced severe problems.
viii). The last person he wanted to see was this prophet.
ix). The king’s country was not prospering.
x). This ruler, as we will see shortly, blamed Elijah for the problems.
2. The writer tells us things were so bad the king himself went out to look for water and grass (v. 6).
A. When the ruler of a country goes out to personally look for supplies, things are bad.
B. The opening verses in 1 Kgs. 18 present a situation that was desperate.
C. While the king and his helper were looking for grass and water Elijah appeared.
D. This prophet said, “Tell the king I have returned” (verses 7-8).
i). The helper (who was Obadiah) was not too enthused about the prophet’s request.
ii). Obadiah knew king Ahab was very angry with Elijah.
iii). King Ahab had used search parties find the prophet.
iv). He made foreign kings swear they were not harboring Elijah (verse 10).
v). Ahab’s kingdom had suffered so badly he had tried to apprehend the prophet.
vi). In spite of Obadiah’s concerns, Elijah’s presence was made known to King Ahab.
3. The Bible says the king was not too happy to see the prophet. Verse 17.
A. The king could have met the prophet with a humble and contrite spirit.
B. He could have said, “I’m glad you are here. I have sinned, I’m sorry; please help.”
C. Instead this man turned to the one who could help him and attacked him.
D. The description troubler of Israel is interesting.
E. The noun comes from a verb that means alienation from society or God because of a terrible act.
i). In other words, Ahab charged Elijah with causing Baal (a false God) to stop giving water.
ii). Ahab believed that Baal to help to give rain but Elijah had stopped him.
F. Elijah wasn’t one to back down. He said the king was responsible for his troubles.
G. The prophet said, “The problem is you and not me.”
H. Elijah even had enough courage to challenge the king – verse 19.
4. THE
INFORMATION IN THE REST OF THIS CHAPTER IS A FAMOUS BIBLE STORY.
A. There were false prophets who served Baal. The prophets were gathered together.
B. Elijah then issued another challenge, and this one was to the people (verse 21).
C. He said, “How long go ye limping between the two sides.”
D. The prophet said, “Make a choice. Follow God or follow Baal.”
E. When the people didn’t answer God’s spokesman issued a third challenge.
i). This is in verses 23-24.
ii). The false prophets got to go first.
iii). They took an animal and began to call upon their god (Baal).
iv). They called from morning to evening (verse 26).
v). They even jumped around the altar they had made and called out but there was no action (26b).
vi). When it was about lunchtime (“noon”, verse 27), Elijah made a suggestion.
vii). Verse 27.
viii). The servants of Baal “cried aloud” verse 28.
ix). They began to cut their bodies (28b) to get the attention of their god.
x). Those who believed in Baal believed he delighted in the smell of fresh blood (Richards, 117).
xi). The worshippers were so desperate they even prophesied (verse 29).
xii). When evening came there was no answer.
F. The people had received many chances.
G. They had a full day to access their god but they were unsuccessful.
H. They were even offered their choice of which sacrifice to use (verse 25).
I. Thus, the false worshippers could not say, “We had a bad sacrifice and it was rejected.”
J. Elijah’s proposal even gave the false prophets another supposed edge.
K. Baal was known as the god of storms and lightning.
L. If any god besides Jehovah could consume a sacrifice it should have been Baal.
M. Elijah gave plenty of time and chances to the opposition and after they failed it was turn.
N. Elijah took twelve stones (verse 31) and he built an altar (verse 32).
O. A trench was made around this altar.
P. The prophet placed wood on the altar and cut the animal sacrifice into pieces.
Q. He then commanded that jars of water be filled.
R. He wanted the wood and the sacrifice to be watered.
S. He then gave this command (verse 34).
i). The altar and the sacrifice were doused with water three times.
ii). The trench that was made was also filled with water (verse 35).
iii). Then Elijah prayed – verses 36-37.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS LESSONS FROM THIS ACCOUNT, AND SIX OF THESE WILL BE GIVEN FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
1. We find that the prophets of Baal prophesied.
A. Today some claim to prophesy.
B. When people today make this claim we are expected to immediately believe them.
C. If we do not believe those who make this claim we are treated as ungodly and hard hearted.
D. 1 Kgs. 18 shows that not all prophecy (or claims of prophecy) comes from God.
2. A majority is not necessarily right—this is a second lesson from 1 Kgs. 18.
A. Elijah stood against 450 other people who were religious.
B. Some in our day say, “How can you be right and so many other religious people be wrong”?
C. The answer is in 1 Kgs. 18. Sheer numbers do not make a religion right.
D. Those on the side of truth may be small in number but they are approved in the sight of God.
E. It’s better to be by ourselves or with a few others than with 10,000 on the side of wrong.
3. A third lesson relates to what has been called political correctness.
A. The politically correct thing to do in Israel was to follow Baal.
B. This is what the king and queen did.
C. This is what most of the Hebrew people did.
D. However, Elijah took a stand against the politically correct thing to do.
E. When the common practices of his day violated the word of God he said, “No. I oppose that.”
F. He challenged and rejected what was wrong.
G. This is a wonderful lesson for our day and time.
4. Lesson number four.
A. Some are very serious about their religious beliefs but this will not save them.
B. The prophets of Baal were sincere in what they believed.
C. These men were willing to come forth and call upon their god.
D. They willingly called upon him for a day. They worshipped.
E. They offered a sacrifice to him. They even cut themselves and bled a lot because they believed.
F. In our day and time people can be just as sincere but sincerity does not make something true.
G. Sincerity is also not a test or basis for salvation.
5. A fifth lesson is found in verses 30-32. Elijah rebuilt the altar.
A. He started to restore the right type of religion.
B. He turned people back to the system given by God.
C. This should be our goal as Christians. We want to “restore” Christianity to what the Bible says.
D.
We must point people towards the concept of a New Testament church &
New Testament
Christianity.
6. The 6th point of application is the one I really wish to stress.
A. Elijah prayed for the nation.
B. His homeland had slipped away from God and the prophet prayed about the matter.
C. Verse 37 says he wanted the people’s hearts turned back to God.
D. We are about 3000 years removed from Elijah’s time, but isn’t this prayer appropriate?
E. Isn’t it time to pray, and pray earnestly, that our nation will turn back to God?
Someone may say, “That’s a good idea but there is a lot of opposition.”
“It will not be easy to turn things around.”
This is true, and the same was also true for Elijah.
This man prayed for his nation and he showed a great miracle.
We cannot perform a miracle. Even if we could, this is not the ultimate answer.
After Elijah prayed and performed a miracle there were still problems.
Notice the first two verses in 1 Kgs. 19:1-2.
Elijah was notified that within 24 hours he would be dead.
Those in power didn’t want any changes.
The governing officials wanted to keep things as they were.
They were willing to use murder to keep the status quo.
Elijah became discouraged and fled.
Elijah became discouraged and he left the battle, at least for a while.
We need Christians who will pray for our nation and take a hands on approach.
Our efforts will not be appreciated by some.
We can do at least a few of the things done by Elijah.
Will we pray for our nation like Elijah prayed for his?
Will we help restore New Christianity in our world?
Will we refuse to do what is politically correct when what society wants conflicts with the Bible?
Elijah was a servant of God and the same can be true for us.