why did the prophets of baal cut themselves

It was strange that so good a man as Obadiah would accept of preferment in a court so addicted to idolatry and all manner of wickedness. We dont know exactly why it was important to God for Elijah to reach Jezreel first; perhaps it was so that he would be the first to tell Queen Jezebel. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. [2.] Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. " By afternoon, worshippers of Baal were cutting themselves up and ripping off their clothes, writhing in unspeakable suicidal frustration.When he called on them to shout and wake up . By this time there was no food in Samaria. The people must be brought to repent and reform, and then they may look for the removal of the judgment, but not till then. 10 million Ukrainians without power because of Russia. Even Christ and his apostles were thus misrepresented, Acts 17:6. Go tell your master that I am here., 9Then Obadiah said, What wrong have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? For less than $5/mo. The prince of the power of the air, if God has permitted him, could have caused fire to come down from heaven on this occasion, and gladly would have done it for the support of his Baal. And now, 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. "As long as God keeps bringing me stories that I can honor him with, to me, it doesn't matter what genre they . Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals. 6So each one chose a part of the country to search; Ahab went in one direction and Obadiah in another. hear us, O Baal! Those that slighted and hated his counsels would gladly be beholden to him for his prayers. 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. Joseph and Daniel were preferred because there were none so fit as they for the places they were preferred to. 1. (1.) Paul declares that greed is idolatry, that to be greedy is to worship other gods (see Col. 3:5; Eph. 5Ahab said to Obadiah, Lets check every spring and valley in the land. 2. The long drought was over, and it was demonstrated that the prayers of Elijah both withheld the rain and then subsequently brought the rain. All the people agreed that this was a good idea. Worship, after all, is an economic issue. 35So the water ran off the altar and filled the ditch. A deceived heart had turned them aside, they could not deliver their souls by saying, Is there not a lie in our right hand? 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. 20So Ahab called all the Israelites and those prophets to Mount Carmel. 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. 5. He mentions this, not in pride or ostentation, but to convince Elijah that though he was Ahab's servant he was not in his interest, and therefore deserved not to be bantered as one of the tools of his persecution. I have followed the Lord since I was a boy. He cast himself down on his knees upon the earth, in token of humility, reverence, and importunity, and put his face between his knees (that is, bowed his head so low that it touched his knees), thus abasing himself in the sense of his own meanness now that God had thus honoured him. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesnt find you, he will kill me! (1.) No one answered; no one paid attention" (v. 29 ESV).. Carmel had neither tabernacle nor temple; it was a great way distant from the ark of the testimony and the place God had chosen; this was not the altar that sanctified the gift; yet never was any sacrifice more acceptable to God than this. His parables tell of farmers destroyed in the midst of their prosperity because they hoarded wealth and failed to be rich toward God (see vv. 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. Now Elijah shows them the absurdity of this. Great blessings often arise from small beginnings, and showers of plenty from a cloud of a span long. These were the 450 prophets of Baal; the 400 prophets of the groves (who, some think, were Sidonians), though summoned (1 Kings 18:19; 1 Kings 18:19), yet, as it should seem, did not attend, and so escaped this execution, which fair escape perhaps Ahab and Jezebel thought themselves happy in; but it proved they were reserved to be the instruments of Ahab's destruction, some time after, by encouraging him to go up to Ramoth-Gilead, 1 Kings 22:6; 1 Kings 22:6. "In reconcilable differences (says bishop Hall) nothing more safe than indifferency both of practice and opinion; but, in cases of such necessary hostility as betwixt God and Baal, he that is not with God is against him." Elijah on Mount Carmel 26 And they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, shouting, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no sound, and no one answered as they leaped around the altar they had made. [2.] Baal's 450 prophets worked themselves into a frenzy, cutting themselves, dancing, and chanting to their god. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. He put himself into a strange posture. [1.] His interview with Ahab himself, 1 Kings 18:17-20. a. There are those who trouble Israel by their wickedness, whom the conservators of the public peace are concerned to enquire after. He withdrew to a strange place, to the top of Carmel, which was very high and very private. Moses's altar and Solomon's were consecrated by the fire from heaven; but this was destroyed, because no more to be used. The prophets of Baal try first, but in vain, with their god. 5:3). Does the Bible encourage the practice of Lent? Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . It is said that Baal was the son of a god called el. Elijah told him to go and look again. What would be some verses from the Bible to save a marriage? Has the book of Amos been fulfilled or is it a reference to end times? Then he dug a ditch around the altar that was big enough to hold about thirteen quarts of seed. Elijah might have looked for rain seventy times seven times, and not have seen it, if he had not thus begun his work at the right end. 2. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? 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. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. "I love Jesus and it is the honor of my life to get to portray him," he said. Then he said, Do it a third time, and they did it the third time. 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. Pray to your god, but dont start the fire.. 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. Note, It bodes well to any people when God calls his ministers out of their corners, and bids them show themselves--a sign that he will give rain on the earth; at least we may the better be content with the bread of affliction while our eyes see our teachers,Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 30:21. The prophets of Baal, as criminals, are seized, condemned, and executed, according to law, 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 18:40. If the Lord is the true God, follow him, but if Baal is the true God, follow him! But the people said nothing. 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. Trust ye not in lying words, saying . This writing has come about a few days after The Test - 2002 and the Latter Rain, and adds greater clarity to what can be expected in the latter rain. They covet the precedency, not only for the honour of it, but that, if they can but in the least seem to gain their point, Elijah may not be admitted to make the trial. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention. 1. Share Jesus reminds us that when we try, we risk devoting ourselves to money and hating him (see Luke 16:13). We may request cookies to be set on your device. The purpose of the prophet's request was to demonstrate who was the true God that deserved the people's dedicated worship. 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, There are many of you, so you go first. Was John the Baptist conceived via an immaculate conception? In a truly horrific passage, Jeremiah writes that our worship of idols consumes not only our flocks and herds but also our sons and daughters (Jer. They allow the proposal to be fair and unexceptionable "God has often answered by fire; if Baal cannot do so, let him be cast out for a usurper." Click on the different category headings to find out more. He tells Elijah what great search Ahab had made for him and how much his heart was upon it to find him out, 1 Kings 18:10; 1 Kings 18:10. Baal was chief of the Canaanite gods. Mauled by Money: The Cost of Economic Idolatry, The Bible also teaches us that the wages of our economic idolatry is death. When we shall see the doctrine of the individual responsibility of each Christian fully felt and carried out into individual action. He repaired this altar with twelve stones, according to the number of the twelve tribes,1 Kings 18:31; 1 Kings 18:31. V. The return of the mercy of rain, at the word of Elijah, 1 Kings . If we, in sincerity, offer our hearts to God, he will, by his grace, kindle a holy fire in them. 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. 115:8 NET). V. Elijah soon obtains from his God an answer by fire. But the primary attraction to Baal wasnt a pretty statue; it was an economic promise. While Baal worshipers went hungry during the drought, God fed Elijah meat and bread delivered to him daily by carrier ravens (see v. 6). The servant went and looked. Thats why Jesus warned his followers to watch out for all kinds of greed (see Luke 12:15). 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. We are fairly put to our choice whom we will serve,Joshua 24:15. Jeremiah 2:11. English Revised Version He is there in the presence of Ahab, the 450 prophets of Baal, 400 prophets of the groves and a company of people from all Israel. And he said, Go again seven times. ly. He went in quest of grass, and found him from whose word, at God's mouth, he must expect rain. And he said, Do it the third time. There was one very good man, who was a great man at court, Obadiah, who answered his name--a servant of the Lord, one who feared God and was faithful to him, and yet was steward of the household to Ahab. Community answers are sorted based on votes. Turn them again to the Lord God of hosts, from whom they have revolted, and all will be well quickly; this must be Elijah's doing. Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal - During the third year without rain, the LORD spoke his word to Elijah: "Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain." So Elijah went to meet Ahab. We may be sure it was not made necessary to qualify him for preferment that he should be of the king's religion, that he should conform to the statues of Omri, or the law of the house of Ahab. The Lord preserved Elijah's life for a reason. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. e. Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you: This was a word of faith from Elijah to Ahab. The prophets may have hoped that their actions would bring rain and end the drought. 40Then Elijah said, Capture the prophets of Baal! Based only on the sighting of a cloud that was as small as a mans hand, he knew a torrent was on the way. See how wonderfully God raises up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in difficult times, even where one would least expect them. There was a heavy rain: Gods word through Elijah was proved true. St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament: Pocket Edition - Slightly Imperfect, St. Joseph New Catholic Version New Testament: Pocket Edition. a. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The priests of Baal would pray to their god, and Elijah would pray to his God. God immediately answered him by fire, 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Kings 18:38. By this time there was no food in Samaria. Like madmen they cut themselves in pieces with knives and lancets (1 Kings 18:28; 1 Kings 18:28) for vexation that they were not . (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.) 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. Report But every bit of ourselves we give to our stuff we snatch away from our true King. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Why did Elijah kill the prophets of Baal? 34 And he said, Do it the second time. But when we worship the idol of money, when our lives are oriented primarily toward earning, getting, and keeping, we become deformed, reflecting not the image of Yahweh, Lord of heaven and earth, but money, the god of me and mine. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. God and Elijah were honoured, 1 Kings 18:21-39. Behold the bullock and the wood; but where is the fire?Genesis 22:7; Genesis 22:8. But God made them know the contrary, for the famine continued till Baal's prophets were sacrificed, and so great a scarcity of water there was that the king himself and Obadiah went in person throughout the land to seek for grass for the cattle, 1 Kings 18:5; 1 Kings 18:6. You can also change some of your preferences. 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. But humans cannot serve two kings. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. A little cloud at length appeared, no bigger than a man's hand, which presently overspread the heavens and watered the earth, 1 Kings 18:44; 1 Kings 18:45. VI. Note, 1. 4When Jezebel was killing all the Lords prophets, Obadiah hid a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. Deuteronomy 14:1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Rain is the river of God,Psalms 65:9. Note, Though the answer of our fervent and believing supplications may not come quickly, yet we must continue instant in prayer, and not faint nor desist; for at the end it shall speak and not lie. Elijah ran on foot before him. God's ministers should make it appear that, how great soever they look when they deliver God's message, yet they are far from affecting worldly grandeur: let them leave that to the kings of the earth. Providence ordered it so, that Ahab might, with his own eyes, see how bad the consequences of this judgment were, that so he might be the better inclined to hearken to Elijah, who would direct him into the only way to put an end to it. Elijah was no priest, nor were his attendants Levites. Bread and water were now scarce commodities, yet Obadiah will find a competence of both for God's prophets, to keep them alive for service hereafter, though now they were laid aside. 23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. They just added Baal worship to their insurance policy. 46The Lord gave his power to Elijah, who tightened his clothes around him and ran ahead of King Ahab all the way to Jezreel. 2. 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 29The afternoon passed, and the prophets continued to act like this until it was time for the evening sacrifice. However, it is put to this experiment, "Let each side prepare a sacrifice, and pray to its God, and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God; if neither shall thus answer, let the people turn Atheists; if both, let them continue to halt between two." This will, by no means, justify those who ridicule the worshippers of God in Christ because the worship is not performed just in their way. 3King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the kings palace. IV. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. Note, The worship of idols is a most ridiculous thing, and it is but justice to represent it so and expose it to scorn. Mention is made of God's calling their father Jacob by the name of Israel, a prince with God (1 Kings 18:31; 1 Kings 18:31), to shame his degenerate seed, who worshipped a god which they saw could not hear nor answer them, and to encourage the prophet who was now to wrestle with God as Jacob did; he also shall be a prince with God. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Note, Early piety, it is to be hoped, will be eminent piety; those that are good betimes are likely to be very good; he that feared God from his youth came to fear him greatly. I will prepare the other bull, putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. God demands no more from us than he can make out a title to. And all the people came near unto him. I. Elijah sent Ahab to eat and drink, for joy that God had now accepted his works, and that rain was coming; see Ecclesiastes 9:7. Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. No one who was present that day missed the point. If the ruler said you were not there, Ahab forced the ruler to swear you could not be found in his country. They worshipped God to please the prophets, but worshipped Baal to please Jezebel and curry favour at court. The Bible states that during the encounter with Elijah the prophets of Baal, "And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them." ( 1 Kings 18:28 ) Where Do We See God's Power over Baal? They prayed to Baal from morning until noon, shouting Baal, answer us! But there was no sound, and no one answered. Then let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set fire to it. Their perishing thus is the using, as the apostle speaks of them (Colossians 3:22), was to intimate the utter abolition of them after a little while, Hebrews 8:13. 1. 17When he saw Elijah, he asked, Is it youthe biggest troublemaker in Israel?, 18Elijah answered, I have not made trouble in Israel. They likely continued going to church, paying their tithes, and saying a prayer or two now and againespecially on holidays. Answer The account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal is recorded in 1 Kings 18. Obadiah saluted him with great respect, fell on his face, and humbly asked, Art thou that my lord Elijah?1 Kings 18:7; 1 Kings 18:7. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. Showdown on the mount i. God will first prepare our heart, and then cause his ear to hear, will first turn us to him, and then turn to us,Psalms 10:17; Psalms 80:3. 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. IV. When they saw the fire consume both the burnt offering and the entire altar, they answered, " The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God " (1 Kings 18:39). 2. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he bowed down to the ground and said, Elijah? Of course, most Israelites probably didnt totally reject Yahweh, the God of Israel. In the myth, Baal returns to life when the rains come. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. When we read about the Israelites worshiping the god Baal in 1 Kings 18, we tend to think of them developing a preference for wooden idol images. 18During the third year without rain, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: Go and meet King Ahab, and I will soon send rain. 2So Elijah went to meet Ahab. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley, where he killed them. We become increasingly committed to a lifestyle of an abundance of possessions. The people join issue with him: It is well spoken,1 Kings 18:24; 1 Kings 18:24. 4. Israel being thus far reformed that they had acknowledged the Lord to be God, and had consented to the execution of Baal's prophets, that they might not seduce them any more, though this was far short of a thorough reformation, yet it was so far accepted that God thereupon opened the bottles of heaven, and poured out blessings upon his land, that very evening (as it should seem) on which they did this good work, which should have confirmed them in their reformation; see Haggai 2:18; Haggai 2:19. He takes it for granted that Elijah would again withdraw (1 Kings 18:12; 1 Kings 18:12): The Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee (as it is likely he had done sometimes, when Ahab thought he had been sure of him) whither I know not.

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