8-6-2015

Good Morning All!!

           1 Kings 18:29; “When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.”

       This is part of one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament.  This is part of the story of the prophet Elijah.  Elijah was called by God to preach in the land of Israel while Israel was ruled by the worst king and queen ever.  King Ahab and Queen Jezebel set the land of Israel to worship false idols.  They brought in Baal worship and Baal cults.  Elijah spoke again and again against this practice; God sent a drought and still they continued in their worship.

     Finally, there came the great showdown; 450 of the Baal priests against Elijah the prophet of God in a head to head battle.  Each was going to take turns trying to get their god to send down fire to consume a sacrifice.  The Baal priests cried and prayed and cut themselves all day long and, of course, nothing happened.  During the afternoon, Elijah taunted them, trash talking if you are into sports.  He told the priests that maybe their god was asleep or he went for a walk or he was in the bathroom so they should yell louder and maybe they could be heard.  They did this all day until the evening when our verse occurs and especially the second half of the verse is very telling.

    There was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention; there are fewer phrases that are sadder than this one.  Yet this is what happens when you listen to the false teachings of man.  This is what happens when you chase after the lies of the world.  This is what happens when money or power or fame become your god.  This is what happens when you let the thinking of sinful world become you thinking.  There will be a time when you desperately need help.  You will need comfort and hope.  You will need to be sure that you will conquer and defeat what is coming your way.  If you rely on your own skill and ability; whether you rely on your wisdom or the wisdom of the world; there will come a time when you call on these false pretenses and there will be no voice, no one will answer and no one will pay attention because there will be no one there.

    In verse 30, Elijah speaks for the Lord and gently speaks to the people and says, “Come near to me.”  These are the exact words God speaks to you every single day, “come near to me and I will give you rest.”  “Come near to me and I will give you peace.”  “Come near to me and I will fill you with hope.”  This is why Jesus came to the earth and walked among men as God Incarnate; to restore, to repair and to bring about the reconciliation of mankind back to God.  “Come near to me; I hear you.”  “Come near to me: I know your sorrow, I share your pain and I know the way that I will lead you through.”  So when no one answers or pay attention; know that our Lord and Savior does and through his love he offers you hope and peace.  Trust in his Word when it calls and trust in his mercy.

Father, the world turns away silent when my needs are greatest yet you are always there.  Give me the wisdom to always turn to you for my trials.  Lead me to trust in your loving kindness to see me through.  You are my rock O precious Savior in whose name I pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret