prophets and kings-第24章
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with bread and water？ And now thou sayest； Go； tell thy lord； Behold； Elijah is here： and he shall slay me。〃
With a solemn oath Elijah promised Obadiah that the errand should not be in vain。 〃As the Lord of hosts liveth； before whom I stand；〃 he declared； 〃I will surely show myself unto him today。〃 Thus assured； 〃Obadiah went to meet Ahab； and told him。〃
In astonishment mingled with terror the king listened to the message from the man whom he feared and hated； and for whom he had sought so untiringly。 Well he knew that Elijah would not endanger his life merely for the sake of meeting him。 Could it be possible that the prophet was about to utter another woe against Israel？ The king's heart was seized with dread。 He remembered the withered arm of Jeroboam。 Ahab could not avoid obeying the summons； neither dared he lift up his hand against the messenger of God。 And so； accompanied by a bodyguard of soldiers； the trembling monarch went to meet the prophet。
The king and the prophet stand face to face。 Though Ahab is filled with passionate hatred； yet in the presence of Elijah he seems unmanned； powerless。 In his first faltering words； 〃Art thou he that troubleth Israel？〃 he unconsciously reveals the inmost feelings of his heart。 Ahab knew that it was by the word of God that the heavens had become as brass； yet he sought to cast upon the prophet the blame for the heavy judgments resting on the land。
It is natural for the wrongdoer to hold the messengers of God responsible for the calamities that come as the sure result of a departure from the way of righteousness。 Those
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who place themselves in Satan's power are unable to see things as God sees them。 When the mirror of truth is held up before them； they become indignant at the thought of receiving reproof。 Blinded by sin； they refuse to repent； they feel that God's servants have turned against them and are worthy of severest censure。
Standing in conscious innocence before Ahab； Elijah makes no attempt to excuse himself or to flatter the king。 Nor does he seek to evade the king's wrath by the good news that the drought is almost over。 He has no apology to offer。 Indignant； and jealous for the honor of God； he casts back the imputation of Ahab； fearlessly declaring to the king that it is his sins； and the sins of his fathers； that have brought upon Israel this terrible calamity。 〃I have not troubled Israel；〃 Elijah boldly asserts； 〃but thou； and thy father's house； in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord； and thou hast followed Baalim。〃
Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke； for grievous sins have separated the people from God。 Infidelity is fast becoming fashionable。 〃We will not have this man to reign over us；〃 is the language of thousands。 Luke 19：14。 The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression； the trumpet does not give a certain sound。 Men are not cut to the heart by the plain； sharp truths of God's word。
There are many professed Christians who； if they should express their real feelings； would say； What need is there of speaking so plainly？ They might as well ask； Why need John the Baptist have said to the Pharisees； 〃O generation of vipers； who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
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come？〃 Luke 3：7。 Why need he have provoked the anger of Herodias by telling Herod that it was unlawful for him to live with his brother's wife？ The forerunner of Christ lost his life by his plain speaking。 Why could he not have moved along without incurring the displeasure of those who were living in sin？
So men who should be standing as faithful guardians of God's law have argued； till policy has taken the place of faithfulness； and sin is allowed to go unreproved。 When will the voice of faithful rebuke be heard once more in the church？
〃Thou art the man。〃 2 Samuel 12：7。 Words as unmistakably plain as these spoken by Nathan to David are seldom heard in the pulpits of today； seldom seen in the public press。 If they were not so rare； we should see more of the power of God revealed among men。 The Lord's messengers should not complain that their efforts are without fruit until they repent of their own love of approbation and their desire to please men； which leads them to suppress truth。
Those ministers who are men pleasers； who cry； Peace； peace； when God has not spoken peace； might well humble their hearts before God； asking pardon for their insincerity and their lack of moral courage。 It is not from love for their neighbor that they smooth down the message entrusted to them； but because they are self…indulgent and ease…loving。 True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls。 Those who have this love will not evade the truth to save themselves from the unpleasant results of plain speaking。 When souls are in peril； God's ministers will not
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consider self； but will speak the word given them to speak； refusing to excuse or palliate evil。
Would that every minister might realize the sacredness of his office and the holiness of his work； and show the courage that Elijah showed！ As divinely appointed messengers； ministers are in a position of awful responsibility。 They are to 〃reprove； rebuke； exhort will all long…suffering。〃 2 Timothy 4：2。 In Christ's stead they are to labor as stewards of the mysteries of heaven； encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient。 With them worldly policy is to have no weight。 Never are they to swerve from the path in which Jesus has bidden them walk。 They are to go forward in faith； remembering that they are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses。 They are not to speak their own words； but words which One greater than the potentates of earth has bidden them speak。 Their message is to be； 〃Thus saith the Lord。〃 God calls for men like Elijah； Nathan； and John the Baptistmen who will bear His message with faithfulness； regardless of the consequences； men who will speak the truth bravely； though it call for the sacrifice of all they have。
God cannot use men who； in time of peril； when the strength； courage； and influence of all are needed； are afraid to take a firm stand for the right。 He calls for men who will do faithful battle against wrong； warring against principalities and powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness in high places。 It is to such as these that He will speak the words： 〃Well done； good and faithful servant； 。 。 。 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord。〃 Matthew 25：23。
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Chapter 11
Carmel
Standing before Ahab； Elijah demanded that all Israel be assembled to meet him and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth on Mount Carmel。 〃Send；〃 he commanded； 〃and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel； and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty； and the prophets of the groves four hundred； which eat at Jezebel's table。〃
The command was issued by one who seemed to stand in the very presence of Jehovah； and Ahab obeyed at once； as if the prophet were monarch； and the king a subject。 Swift messengers were sent throughout the kingdom with the summons to meet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth。 In every town and village the people prepared to assemble at the appointed time。 As they journeyed toward the place； the hearts of many were filled with strange forebodings。 Something unusual was about to happen； else why this summons to gather at Carmel？ What
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new calamity was about to fall upon the people and the land？
Before the drought； Mount Carmel had been a place of beauty； its streams fed from never…failing springs； and its fertile slopes covered with fair flowers and flourishing groves。 But now its beauty languished under a withering curse。 The altars erected to the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth stood now in leafless groves。 On the summit of one of the highest ridges； in sharp contrast with these was the broken…down altar of Jehovah。
Carmel overlooked a wide expanse of country； its heights were visible from many parts of the kingdom of Israel。 At the foot of the
