Sermon Tone Analysis

Leader Guide ESV, Unit 13, Session 2

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Edited by Rev. Lex DeLong, M.A., Nov. 2022.

Summary and Goal

After his initial meeting with King Ahab, in which he declared a drought over Israel, Elijah appeared before Ahab again in 1 Kings 18.

In this meeting, Elijah arranged one of the most memorable showdowns in Scripture—a firefight on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal to prove once and for all who is the real God.

This boldness contrasts sharply with what we find in 1 Kings 19: the mighty Elijah melted with despair.

Here God showed Himself not only to be mighty but also merciful as He strengthened His servant in some very particular ways.

This portion of 1–2 Kings encourages us in knowing our God is the living God and the loving God.

Session Outline

++God moves the hearts of His [wayward] people to return to Him [whatever it takes](1 Kings 18:31-39).

++God [always] provides strength for His servant [people] to obey Him (1 Kings 19:5-8).

++God [continually] reveals a remnant [of hope] to His servant [people] to encourage him [them] (1 Kings 19:15-18).

Background Passage: 1 Kings 18–19

Session in a Sentence

God provides the strength and encouragement His people need to return to and stand up for Him.

Missional Application

Elijah was called, strengthened and encouraged as a prophet to proclaim the Word of the Lord to the rebellious and wordly nation of Israel.

In the same way we are called, strengthened and encouraged as children of God to proclaim the Word of the Lord to a rebellious and wordly society.

Ask:

What is your favorite movie with a “showdown”?

Many Westerns, like those with John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, climax with a dramatic gunfight at the end.

Or, Marvel movies, the Matrix, and Superman might come to mind.

Sometimes, against all odds, the outnumbered guy or group wins.

Sports movies, like Hoosiers, also tell classic stories of underdog victories.

The Bible contains showdowns, and in many cases, the underdog triumphs.

Of course, none of these were “underdog” stories in the strictest sense because God’s presence was with His people and fighting for them.

But from a human perspective—whether against enemies, observers, or at times even the people of God—the faithful rarely seemed positioned to win.

And yet, they did time and time again.

Ask:

What are some “showdown” stories that have already occurred in the biblical storyline up to this point?

(Moses faced off against mighty Pharaoh; Gideon and his army of three hundred won a shocking victory over the Midianites’ 120,000-man army; David and Goliath)

Summarize: After his initial meeting with King Ahab, in which he declared a drought over Israel, Elijah appeared before Ahab again in 1 Kings 18.

In this meeting, Elijah arranged one of the most memorable showdowns in Scripture, a real “David and Goliath” moment—a firefight on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the false prophets of Baal to prove once and for all who is the real God.

This boldness contrasts sharply with what we find in 1 Kings 19: the mighty Elijah melted with despair.

When these 2 chapter are combined, it is clear that God showed Himself not only to be mighty but also merciful as He strengthened His servant in some very particular ways.

This portion of 1–2 Kings encourages us in knowing our God is the living God and the loving God.

Point 1: God moves the hearts of His [wayward] people to return to Him [whatever it takes](1 Kings 18:31-39).

The contest Elijah proposed involved the real God sending fire from heaven to burn up a sacrifice.

The prophets of Baal went first but failed in their hours-long attempt to cause their god to act.

1 Kings 18:20-30 “So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel, and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

But the people did not answer him a word.

Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.“Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox, and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.

“Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”

And all the people answered and said, “That is a good idea.”

So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”

26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!”

But there was no voice, and no one answered.

And they limped around the altar that they had made.

27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god.

Either he is musing [thinking], or he is relieving himself [busy], or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”

These can be compared to some of the activities in which Baal is engaged in the Ugaritic texts.

When the goddess Anat comes to look for Baal, she is told he has gone hunting.

Ugaritic literature that portrays the death of Baal features the repeated strain that he needs to be awakened.

The classical source used by Josephus, Menander of Ephesus, reports that the Tyrian king, Hiram, contemporary of David, instituted the ritual for the awakening of Herakles (=Melqart, see comment on 16:31).

The mythology of the ancient world understood the gods to be involved in a variety of activities similar to those that engage human beings.

Though Elijah’s words are meant to be taunts, they are not unrealistic depictions of Canaanite beliefs.

The prophets of Baal would not have viewed his suggestions as ridiculous or unworthy of deity.

So these were not just meaningless taunts, they were meant to conjure thoughts of their own mythology about Baal and his interaction with people and their surroundings.

Verse 28 continued:

28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice.

No one answered; no one paid attention.

The word “oblation” or “evening” is not in the text, but is inferred by the Jewish sacrifice that would come at the end of the day.

The text simply says, “the time of the sacrifice.”

Next was Elijah’s turn.

Read 1 Kings 18:31-39 (DDG p. 21).

31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord.

And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood.

And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”

34 And he said, “Do it a second time.”

And they did it a second time.

And he said, “Do it a third time.”

And they did it a third time.

35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.

37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

DDG (p.

21)

Baal’s prophets prayed from morning till evening, but Elijah’s prayer was short and effective.

Prayer isn’t about length, volume, or eloquence but praying to the right God in genuine faith.

Furthermore, Elijah’s prayer was all about the glory of God, so he prayed for rebels to turn to God, to respond to the truth with repentance and faith.

· Elijah built an altar on Mount Carmel using twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel.

This was an act of reassembling what Ahab and Jezabel had torn down.

Elijah was calling the people to come back in repentance and unity to the covenant God.

· Elijah requested four jars of water be used to pour water three times on the burnt offering and on the wood.

This was significant for two reasons: 1) water was scarce and precious (especially at the top of the mountain) given the famine proclaimed by Elijah; 2) Elijah wanted everyone to know for sure that what was about to happen—fire burning up the soaked offering and altar—could only be explained by the power of God.

Ask:

What should Christians keep in mind and believe as they pray to God?

(God is good and He listens to His people; God does answer the prayers of His children; God’s glory is the most important subject in our prayers; we should pray to God for the repentance and faith of others; ask God to proclaim Himself to those we are with; ask for boldness to proclaim Him ourselves)

DDG (p.

21)

The fire from heaven was a sure sign that God accepted Elijah’s sacrifice.

God proved to everyone that He alone is God, He alone answers prayer, and He must be approached in a particular way: through faith and sacrifice.

In response to God’s show of fire, the people fell facedown and acknowledged God’s singular status as God—the only proper response to God’s power and grace.

· This story shows us God’s grace in inviting us to approach Him through faith and humility.

Praise God, today we get to approach Him through a better means—by the perfect sacrifice of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.