Monday Musings #48, May 27, 2024
“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by” (I Kings 9:11, 12).
Mt. Horeb was a sacred spot for the nation of Israel. Moses had received God’s law there and put in place an order of worship (Deut. Ch. 5). I think Mt. Horeb must have been to the nation of Israel something like the city of Philadelphia is to the United States. The first Continental Congress met there in Carpenters’ Hall from Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774, and put together our first constitution. Their meeting was in response to the British government’s coercive actions, including the British Navy’s blockade of Boston Harbor and the Intolerable Acts passed by the Parliament of Great Britain in response to the Boston Tea Party. The meeting took place in secret so the British wouldn’t know that the colonies were uniting. Twelve of the 13 colonies were represented; only Rhode Island was absent.They joined later.
As Elijah stood on Mt. Horeb, God sent revelations of His power. First there was a tremendous wind storm, strong enough to break huge rocks off the mountain. But the Lord was not in the wind storm. Next there was an earthquake, but the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake either. Then came a fire, but God was not in the fire…. “but after the fire a still small voice spoke to Elijah: “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and behold, the Lord walked by….”
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (I Kings 19:13, 14)
God recognizes Elijah’s weariness, but he has one more assignment for him. “The Lord said to him, ‘Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.'”
Finally God told Elijah some good news: He had 7,000 people in Israel who had not bowed to Baal! They were silent, probably many in hiding, but they remained faithful to Israel’s God! God always has a remnant who are faithful to Him. In nations today where the Bible is a banned book, people risk their lives to translate the Scriptures into languages that have never had a Bible. Pray for God’s protection for the translators and their families who, like Elijah, face opposition. Pray also for our nation as our churches need a new outpouring of God’s Spirit.
Personal notes: A sunny, spring day in Springfield, MO after thunderstorms passed through early in the night. My problems continue, especially being forgetful. So I write more things down, then forget where I wrote them! The chapel service here at MV on Sunday night was a real Pentecostal meeting! Folks praying in the altar and in the audience for each other. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). Let the standard be raised in our churches as the Holy Spirit brings revival and renewal! Thanks for your prayers, notes, cards,–all the loving things so many of you have done for me. May Our Father reward you richly. Peace, love, joy…jwb
Out of Church Tales 