Why did the prophets of Baal cut themselves (1 Kings 18:28) Context: 1 Kings 18:27-28 New International Version (NIV) 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. In fact, the New Testament teaches that money and greed are often the loudest and most appealing idols seeking to steal our attention. Answer The account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is recorded in 1 Kings 18. When Baals people died, it was Elijah who raised them to life (v. 22). Being an idolater, she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one. 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. "But there was no voice. He will put me to death. It is a chapter in which are many things very observable. When they called on their god, nothing happened. The God therefore that has power to pardon sin, and to signify it by consuming the sin-offering, must needs be the God that can relieve us against the calamity. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. But the primary attraction to Baal wasnt a pretty statue; it was an economic promise. If the Lord is the true God, follow him, but if Baal is the true God, follow him! But the people said nothing. So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. Showdown on the mount 2. He proposed to bring the matter to a fair trial; and it was so much the fairer because Baal had all the external advantages on his side. 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. ly. Baal and his prophets were confounded. Idolatry is an economic issue. 21Elijah approached the people and said, How long will you not decide between two choices? Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural, Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural, Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword, Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural, A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style, Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed, Preposition | third person masculine plural, In the extremity of famine Elijah, sent to Ahab, meets good Obadiah, Elijah, reproving Ahab, by fire from heaven convinces Baal's prophets, Elijah, by prayer obtaining rain, follows Ahab to Jezreel, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, OT History: 1 Kings 18:28 They cried aloud and cut themselves after (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg). (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) The priests and the Levites had all gone to Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 11:13; 2 Chronicles 11:14), but, instead of them, God raised up these prophets, who read and expounded the law in private meetings, or in the families that retained their integrity, for we read not of any synagogues at this time; they had not the spirit of prophecy as Elijah, nor did they offer sacrifice, or burn incense, but taught people to live well, and keep close to the God of Israel. English Revised Version Elijah was no priest, nor were his attendants Levites. Those that slighted and hated his counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers. Six times his servant goes to the point of the hill and sees nothing, brings no good news to his master; yet Elijah continues praying, will not be diverted so far as to go and see with his own eyes, but still sends his servant to see if he can discover any hopeful cloud, while he keeps his mind close and intent in prayer, and abides by it, as one that has taken up his father Jacob's resolution, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. Nothing creates more trouble to a land than the impiety and profaneness of princes and their families. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. No, he waives the prescription, and enters upon the merits of the cause:--"There can be but one God, but one infinite and but one supreme: there needs but one God, one omnipotent, one all-sufficient. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Moses's altar and Solomon's were consecrated by the fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used. (28-29) The prophets of Baal work harder at their prayer. "I love Jesus and it is the honor of my life to get to portray him," he said. Leviticus 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. Blessed are those that have not seen what they saw and yet have believed and been wrought upon by it more than those that saw it. Joseph and Daniel were preferred because there were none so fit as they for the places they were preferred to. How did the prophets tithe and to whom? Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. What occasion for addition to that which is perfect? In it, Elijah, the prophet of Gd, puts to the test what was at the time perceived as the most supreme and powerful of all the godsBaal. See 2 Kings 2:16. Our idols never stop consuming and destroying that which we hold most dear. [3.] But humans cannot serve two kings. We may request cookies to be set on your device. And they limped [they hobbled] around the altar that they had made." I don't think those two uses of the word limp or hobble are an accident. 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, There are many of you, so you go first. 13Havent you been told what I did? We find that the beast which deceived the world does it. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Elijah, doubtless, had a special commission from God to put it to this test, otherwise he would have tempted God and affronted religion; but the case was extraordinary, and the judgment upon it would be of use, not only then, but in all ages. Dont let any of them run away! The people captured all the prophets. Though he was not at the place appointed, he chose the appointed time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, thereby to testify his communion with the altar at Jerusalem. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Click on the different category headings to find out more. There he set himself, as it were, upon his watch-tower, like the prophet, Habakkuk 2:1. In Pauls opinion, love of money wounds the worshiper, woos them away from the faith, and wells up in all sorts of other evils. One true prophet against 450 false prophets. Twelve barrels of water (probably sea-water, for the sea was near, and so much fresh water in this time of drought was too precious for him to be so prodigal of it), thrice four, he poured upon his sacrifice, to prevent the suspicion of any fire under (for, if there had been any, this would have put it out), and to make the expected miracle the more illustrious. If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The manager of God's cause was but one man, lately a poor exile, hardly kept from starving; so that God's cause has nothing to support it but its own right. "Surely he is a god! April 2018. He is sure Ahab would be so enraged at the disappointment that he would put him to death for making a fool of him, or for not laying hands on Elijah himself, when he had him in his reach, 1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12. They explore six key biblical themes of worship, community, work, equity, creation care, and rest to dig into what the Gospel means for how we use our resources. When we cannot carry a reformation so far as we would we must do what we can, and rather comply with some corruptions than not do our utmost towards the extirpation of Baal. Obadiah therefore could with a good conscience enjoy the place, and therefore would not decline it, nor give it up, though he foresaw he could not do the good he desired to do in it. 13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? Now in their experiment observe. They danced around the altar they had built. He will kill me!, 15Elijah answered, As surely as the Lord All-Powerful lives, whom I serve, I will be seen by Ahab today.. How unlike was this to that with which his servant Obadiah saluted him (1 Kings 18:7; 1 Kings 18:7): Art thou that my lord Elijah? Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. The long drought was over, and it was demonstrated that the prayers of Elijah both withheld the rain and then subsequently brought the rain. He sent the rain in torrents. It also dried up the water in the ditch. Compare Psalms 135:7. Christianos ad leones--Away with Christians to the lions. 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. Idols could do neither good nor evil. As for why the worship of Baal and Asherah specifically was such a problem for Israel, there are several reasons we can cite: first, the worship of Baal and Asherah held the allure of illicit sex, since the religion involved ritual prostitution. He would have the king know before, that it might not be a surprise to him and that he might be sure it was the prophet's own act to present himself to him. Idols had always threatened to steal the love, trust, and service God deserves and demands.By equating greed with idolatry, Paul provocatively told the church they didnt have to go into a rival temple to worship another god. 1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah first surrendered, or rather discovered, himself to Obadiah. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. He solicited their allegiance, work, and worshipfor himself and his kingdom. 11Now you want me to go to my master and tell him, Elijah is here? Perhaps Jezebel persecuted God's prophets under pretence that they were the cause of the judgment, because Elijah had foretold it. And all the people came near unto him. After Israel had gone more than three years without rain as a judgment for their idolatry, the prophet Elijah confronts the evil king Ahab and challenges him to a spiritual showdown. (2.) 34 And he said, Do it the second time. Notice is hereby soon brought to Ahab that Elijah had sent him a challenge to meet him immediately at such a place, and Ahab accepts the challenge: He went to meet Elijah,1 Kings 18:16; 1 Kings 18:16. This is the right method. [People] who want to get rich, Paul declares, fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim. The people join issue with him: It is well spoken,1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:24. Start FREE. But it was utterly false concerning Elijah; so far was he from being an enemy to Israel's welfare that he as the stay of it, the chariots and horsemen of Israel. God immediately answered him by fire, 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Kings 18:38. We have here the meeting between Ahab and Elijah, as bad a king as ever the world was plagued with and as good a prophet as ever the church was blessed with. 7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah? The land of Judah lay close to the land of Israel, yet we find no complaint there of the want of rain; for Judah yet ruled with God, and was faithful with the saints and prophets (Hosea 11:12), by which distinction Israel might plainly have seen the ground of God's controversy, when God caused it to rain upon one city and not upon another (Amos 4:7; Amos 4:8); but they blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts, and would not see. Ahab issued out writs accordingly, for the convening of this great assembly (1 Kings 18:20; 1 Kings 18:20), either because he feared Elijah and durst not oppose him (Saul stood in awe of Samuel more than of God), or because he hoped Elijah would bless the land, and speak the word that they might have rain, and upon those terms they would be all at his beck. Didnt the prophet trick him? Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Why did Herod like to listen to John the Baptist, who criticized Herods lifestyle? Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him! 28The prophets prayed louder, cutting themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed, which was the way they worshiped. Surely you think he is talking or meditating (as the word is) or he is pursuing some deep thoughts, (in a brown study, as we say), thinking of somewhat else and not minding his own matter, when not your credit only, but all his honour lies at stake, and his interest in Israel. 20So Ahab called all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel. Their greedy hearts created other gods out of every coin in their coffers. Report Does God gives us political leaders or do we vote them by choice? Used by permission of Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. He hid 100 of them in two caves, when the persecution was hot, and fed them with bread and water,1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:4. Mauled by Money: The Cost of Economic Idolatry, The Bible also teaches us that the wages of our economic idolatry is death. , she was a persecutor, and made Ahab one priest, nor were his attendants Levites can... And spears until their blood flowed, which was the way they worshiped when called! His counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers Do the! You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force all! A pretty statue why did the prophets of baal cut themselves it was an economic promise hold most dear you will have wake... In the ditch 's prophets under pretence that they were preferred to are... Strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact How our site functions to our cookie.. To our cookie usage of Baker Books, a division of Baker Books, division... 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