Elijah, fleeing for his life and confronted with God’s presence, is asked a simple, haunting question: “What are you doing here?” Perhaps a question we each ought to consider. Both “What are we doing? As well as “What are we doing here? These are questions not just for worship, but for each and every day. God accompanied Elijah through both the greatest and darkest days, and continues to walk with us wherever we are as well.
Worship this week: Saturday at 5:0o p.m. in the Chapel
Sunday at 8:30 a.m. — Traditional Worship
9:30 a.m. — Sunday School and fellowship
10:30 a.m. — Contemporary Worship
November 9 -10, 2013
1 Kings 19:1-18
Key Verses: “Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces 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 sound of sheer silence.”
1 Kings 19:11b-12
Time: 900 BCE
Background: When King Ahab of Israel married Queen Jezebel, he ceased worshiping God alone. Instead, he worshiped his new wife’s god, Baal. This angered God, and God sent many prophets, including Elijah, to warn King Ahab of God’s wrath. But King Ahab and Queen Jezebel remained faithful to Baal, killing God’s prophets. Elijah made a show of God’s power to the prophets of Baal and then killed them. An angry Jezebel swore to kill Elijah.
Elijah fled and fell into despair, believing his life was coming to an end. He complained to God, asking that God end his life. But God remained faithful. God sent Elijah to a cave on a mountain, where Elijah experienced a great wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But it was in the following silence that Elijah experienced God. God promised Elijah protection and directed him to 7000 faithful followers who continued to worship God, strengthening Elijah’s resolve.
Community: What false gods has culture taught us to worship? What could your community of faith do to be God’s voice in the midst of competing voices?
At Home: What false gods capture your attention? Let go of one idol this week and spend that recovered time worshiping God.
Read This Week:
Monday, Nov 11, Elijah Ascends to Heaven, 2 Kings 2:1-12
Tuesday, Nov 12, Elisha Succeeds Elijah, 2 Kings 2:13-18
Wednesday, Nov 13, Elisha Performs Miracles, 2 Kings 2:19-25
Thursday, Nov 14, Elisha and the Widow’s Oil, 2 Kings 4:1-7
Friday, Nov 15, Elisha Heals Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-19
Saturday, Nov 16, Jezebel’s Violent Death, 2 Kings 9:30-37
Next Week: Sunday, Nov 17, Amos, Amos 1:1-12; 5:14-15, 21-24
