1 Kings 18

This was not only mirum, but miraculum: Christ taking flesh is a mystery we shall never fully understand till we come to heaven, when our light shall be clear, as well as our love perfect. Branch 4. From hence, God manifest in the flesh, Christ born of a Virgin, a thing not only…

So that an idol is nothing, vanity is ascribed to it (Jeremiah 14:22), we do not acknowledge it to be a God. But this is to make God to be a God to us, when we do, ex animo, acknowledge him to be God (1 Kings 18:39). All the people fell on their faces, and said, The Lord he is t…

But though some deserve no honor, yet such as are faithful, and make it their work to bring souls to Christ, are to be reverenced as spiritual fathers. Obadiah honored the Prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18:17). Why did God reckon the tribe of Levi for the firstborn (Numbers 3:12)?

She did not only give him her breast milk, but the sincere milk of the Word. Season your children with good principles early, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth (1 Kings 18:12). When parents instruct not their children, they seldom prove blessings.

Hereby God is known to be the true God, in that he hears prayer. (1 Kings 18:37) Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that the people may know that you are the Lord God. 2. Because God only can help.

The most serious holy men are misrepresented to the world as indiscreet and factious. The prophet Elijah was counted the troubler of Israel (1 Kings 18:17). And Luther the trumpet of rebellion.

Pliny saith, the water-courses of Rome are the worlds wonder; but behold here a Sacred Water-course of Gods mercy, this is a sweet wonder; Mercy can overcome a sinful people, it can save a Nation in its Climacterical year. We read that the fire of the Lord fell, and licked up th…

With every one of these God was pleased to talk and commune as a friend; such honor was God pleased to put on these his faithful servants, and when the people had provoked God, and God's wrath was already gone out against them for their crying sins, their prayers were so effectu…

Here the heathens use vain repetitions that they may move God: There the Scribes and Pharisees make long prayers that they may deceive men, and devour widows' houses. This text says, They think they shall be heard for their much speaking; just as Baal's priests (1 Kings 18:26).…

He that troubles you] the Church is troubled three ways: 1. by false doctrine. Thus Ahab troubled Israel (1 Kings 18:18), and the false Apostles trouble Galatia. 2. By wicked example: thus Achan troubled Israel (Joshua 7:25).

It was the sin of Achan that troubled the Jews (Joshua 7:25). It was the sin of Ahab that troubled Israel (1 Kings 18:18). The sin of false apostles that troubled the Galatians (Galatians 5:10).

Such were the Prophets of Baal, in whose name expresly they prophesied, and whose Assistance they invocated. They called on the name of Baal, saying, O Baal hear us, 1 Kings 18, 26, 27, 28. Many of these were slain by Elijah, and the whole Race of them afterwards extirpated by J…

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of them that have pleasur therein, Psalm 111:2 Not that I think it feasible to sound the depth of Providence by our short line, Psalm 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and your path in the great waters, and your footsteps are not known; but…

2. The hand of God signifies the Spirit of God, in the mighty actings and workings of it; so a Spirit of prophecy is called the hand of God, Ezekiel 1:3, The hand of the Lord was there upon me; and Ezekiel 37:1, The hand of the Lord was upon me, that is, the Spirit of the Lord,…

And sometimes the Scripture uses ironical taunts. Thus in that bitter sarcasm of Elijah to the priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:27), he mocked them, and said, "Cry aloud; for he is a God." Which kinds of ironical speeches are so far from being intended to create error in the minds of…

They had houses built, where they used to dwell together; and therefore those at Jericho being multiplied, and finding their house too little for them, desired leave of their master and teacher Elisha, that they might go and hew timber to build a bigger; as you may see, 2 Kings…

Let us take heed of any hand in such an evil as this; but let us know that it is our honor, and will be great advantage to us, to appear for to be helpful, and comfortable unto the Servants of God in their sufferings; to be Obadiahs, Ebedmelechs, to the Prophets of the Lord. Oba…

No man but a frantic, furious, desperate wretch will beat himself. Two sorts of men are in Scripture noted to cut and lance their own flesh, idolaters, as the Baalites (1 Kings 18:28), and demoniacs, as he that was possessed with a legion of devils (Mark 5:5). Such are they who…

The centurion commends this duty in the example of his servants, who every one of them did what their master commanded them to do (Matthew 8:9). It is further commended in the examples of Abraham's servant, Elijah's servant, and many others (Genesis 24:9; 1 Kings 18:43). Note ho…

To hallow, and to sanctify, is to set apart from common use; and so to sanctify the name of God, is to use it in a separate manner, with that reverence and respect which is not used to anything else. So that when we pray, that God's name may be hallowed or sanctified, we desire,…

1. Charging weakness upon God, as if many words did help him to understand their meaning, or to remember their petitions the better. Hence that practice of Baal's priests (1 Kings 18:26): they called on the name of Baal from morning till night; O Baal, hear us. They were repeati…

As Jotham brings in the trees that went forth to anoint a king over them (Judges 9:8). Neither such sharp and piercing ironies as we find used by holy men in Scripture (1 Kings 18:27). As Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a God, either he is talking, etc.

He had a true godliness, or a filial awe of God which kept him from sin, and the temptations whereby it might insinuate itself into his soul. So Obadiah, Ahab's Steward, is described to be a man that feared God greatly (1 Kings 18:3), and of one Hananiah it is said (Nehemiah 7:2…

The Lord abominates the practice, he that knows and fears the Lord should abhor it with detestation. Thus plainly dealt Elijah with Ahab (1 Kings 18:18): It is you and your father's house that have troubled Israel, because you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and foll…

Such ministers, and such preaching as answer their desires and please their palates, that they and their sins and all may go to heaven together, this they like very well of: itching ears must be scratched, not buffeted. You know what he said to Elijah, Are you he that troubles I…

God usually carries the chiefest of the expressions of his providence by way of contrariety, and cross means in common apprehension, and the course of things, that he might silence the pride of all flesh, and the forgery of all [illegible], who are the professed enemies of his g…

God calls several of his servants at sundry times, some young, some old, some in their tender, some in their riper years, there is no season excepted; he that is the God of all times, can, and will do his own work at any time: Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child (2 Timothy…

Or it is dead (Ephesians 4:19): conscience is deadened and insensible; the habit of sinning has taken away the sense of sinning. Thus the sickness of sin has gone over the whole soul, like that cloud which overspread the face of the heavens (1 Kings 18:45). Sickness debilitates…

The greatest grace was once little; the Oak was once an Acorn; the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy; the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoking flax: Grace, like the waters of the Sanctuary, riseth higher: If then the least Embryo and seed…

Thus did Abraham, Genesis 18. 19. I know Abraham, that he will command his children, and his household, and they shall keep the way of the Lord. Children are young plants, which must be watered with good education, that they may with Obadiah, fear the Lord from their youth up, 1…

1st Commandment: You shall have no other gods, etc. He breaks this commandment: who does not know the true God (Jeremiah 4:22); who denies God in his heart by denying his presence, justice, mercy, etc. (Psalm 14:1); who hates God and shows it by disobedience (Exodus 20:5; Romans…

Jesus Christ showed love to his enemies. We read of the fire licking up the water, 1 Kings 18:38. It is usual for water to quench the fire, but for fire to dry up and consume the water, which was not capable of burning, this was miraculous!

The most convenient doctrine that some professors are acquainted with. This lukewarm temper Christ hated; he was sick of them, and loathed their indifference: 'I wish,' said he (verse 16), 'you were either cold or hot'; an expression of the same force as that in 1 Kings 18:21, '…

The temptation must represent Christ, as a none-such for rough dealing, and the tempted a none-such for misery. Elias must say (1 Kings 18:20), I, even I only, am left alone, and they seek my life (Psalm 22:4). Our fathers trusted in you, they trusted in you, and were delivered…

But now in case the conscience alone had been pricked, why then a man, by his good will, would come no more to such men as have wounded him, and it will be a burden to him, if by his calling he be forced to live under such a ministry: Elijah's ministry wrought upon Ahab, to caus…