<“Elijah: A Still, Small Voice
Click Above to Listen!
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. FEAR REPLACES FAITH
A. FOREBODING
I Kg 19:1-2 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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.”
1. TALE
2. THREAT
B. FLIGHT
I Kg 19:3-4a Then he was afraid, and arose and ran for his life until reaching Beersheba in Judah. Leaving his servant there, he went alone a day’s journey into the wilderness and sat down under a broom tree.
1. TERROR
2. TOTALLY ALONE
C. FATE
I Kg 19:4 He asked that he might die, saying, “It’s enough. YHWH, take my life now, for I’m no better than my fathers.”
1. TOXIC
2. TIRADE
II. FATIGUE REPLACES FERVOR
A. FOOD
I Kg 19:5-8 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jug of water. And he ate and drank and slept more. The angel of YHWH came 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, then went in the strength of that meal forty days and forty nights to Horeb [Sinai], the Mount of God.
1. TLC (Mk 6:31; Acts 15:27)
2. TIME (Jer. 29:11)
B. FRICTION
I Kg 19:9-10 There he came to THE cave and stay in it. Behold, the Word of YHWH came to him, asking, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He said, “I have been very jealous for YHWH, 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.”
1. TEACHING (Ex 33:22)
2. TEST
III. FIGHT REPLACES FRUSTRATION
A. FRIGHT
I Kg 19:11-12 YHWH said, “Go out and stand on the mount before YHWH.” And behold, YHWH passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before YHWH, but YHWH was not in the wind. After the wind an earthquake, but YHWH was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but YHWH was not in the fire. After the fire the sound of a low whisper.
1. TRUST
2. TRIAL (Zech 4:6)
B. FAVOR
I Kg 19:13-14 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And again, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He said, “I have been very jealous for YHWH, 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.”
1. THEOLOGY
2. TREMBLING
IV. FAITHFULNESS REPLACES FEAR
A. FORCE
I Kg 19:15-17 And YHWH said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.
1. TASK
2. TURNING
B. FIDELITY
I Kg 19:18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
1. THOUSANDS
2. TEAM