Dedicated to my Dad...Happy Father's Day!

by Berit Price

Soli Deo Gloria

Elijah was a prophet, foretold he'd return
Spoken of by Malachi, our hearts he would turn
“Before that glorious day with these Sealing Keys I hold
I will gather Israel back into the fold!”

Elijah’s great, prophetic mission would endure
Translated to heav’n - like Moses - to confer- ..
to - Peter, James and John, the power he possessed
Binding earth to heav’n that mankind might be blessed

Elijah tells the story of the stern prophet
Suddenly appeared this ‘Tishbite’ on the set
Went before the King, he boldly defied Ba’al:
Local deity of rain, lightning and hail

“By my word alone will rain fall in the land (1 Kings 17:1)
Thy counterfeit Priests can’t elements command”
Elijah’s fiery zeal was equal to the task
Of shattering false gods which Israel came to bask

Elijah sealed the heav’ns to bring about famine
He had been provoked by their idolatrous sin
With his Priesthood pow’r he chastised Israel
Ahab and his people the Prophet did warn well

Powerful King Ahab - affected such disgrace
By marrying a ‘princess’ - from a pagan place
Jezebel, now Queen, her dad was King Ethbaal:
A murderous imposter - his fraud-throne she doth hail

This Phoenician harlot brought the very worst
Of idol’trous worship, Israel became cursed
Corrupted courts of Ahab on the grandest scale
He became her puppet, promoting Priests of Baal

Prophets of Jehovah, refuge once had found
In the Northern Kingdom; now it was unsound
Baal’s Priests, four-fifty (450), four hundred, Ashtoreth
Supported at her table; the Lord’s she ordered death

Jezebel alleged herself a prophetess
In her pagan guilds, crept graven compromise
To advance their stations, many were beguiled
Rationed: morals not ostensibly defiled

Soon her evil sway began to take its hold
“We’ll adopt an idol or two into our fold
Where’s the harm in that?” They’d pridefully defend
“Enlightened liberalism (syncretism) like ours one should commend!”

This was utter breach in their contract with the Lord
“No gods have before me, Israel now has whored”
Idol worhipping filled God with jealousy
“I must needs divorce you for this adultery”

Generations past, the first commandment wrought...
constant struggle; Moses, the golden calf had fought
Though the 12 tribes yielded to past idolatry
True God was still worshipped, deuter’nomic’ly

Israel’s royal line found Ahab in a pod
with Kings who’d done evil in the sight of God
Treaties made by Kings David & Solomon
foolishly paved way for all things Phoenician

Solomon unwisely set a precedent
He promoted nuptials out of covenant
And allowed their foreign idols in his court
Isn’t any wonder all’d soon God abort!

Privileges and Duties of Kings in Israel
Wealth & wives aplenty, these did not entail
Kings were to regard the torah as their guide;
Evidence of regal glory, lay aside

Wise King Solomon, his actions did defy
Torah’s regulations, “I will multiply...
Foreign royal wives & concubines galore...
And be not perverted by all this amour!

But it came to pass, when Solomon was old,
His wives turned away his heart as was foretold
Shifted his allegiance, the Covenant defied
This would cause the Kingdom of David to divide

Solomon had led the Israelites to sin
Idol worship wore God’s patience very thin
Mocked their own Deliv’rer, who had, the Canaanites,
Driven out before the chosen Israelites

Conditions for protection annulled as they partook
In the sins of heathens, and their God, forsook
Why preserve His Kingdom, who broke the Covenant,
He who forged it, had se - vere judgement now sent

The Lord stirred up advers’ries against Solomon:
Enemies sought vengeance for his father’s sin
And the heavy yoke, the taxes and the tolls
of this despot King caused sliding in the polls

Solomon’s division is reflected in
Israel’s disunion; Prophets judged their sin
Successively grew worse, the climax finally reached:
With Elijah’s voice, King Ahab he impeached

Bad as were the problems - of the former Kings
Ahab added to them, upped the sufferings
Of the Lord’s annointed; hence the atmosphere...
Reached a hostile crescent never so severe

Jezebel blacklisted all of God’s prophets
Plotted on Elijah who escaped her threats
Guided to a brook near Jordan in God's care
God commanded ravens to feed Elijah there

Soon the brook dried up, and food was want to grow
God spake: “In Zarephath, of Sidon is a widow
She will there sustain you”, it was thus foretold:
Meal barrel and cruse miraculously flowed

Readily she gave him her last meal’s meat
O-be-di-ence rendered reward doubly sweet
Her increase of faith did equal recompense
Of increase in substance, God’s own providence

Jezebel’s ploys God had cleverly unfurled
Honor puts God on the weak things of the world
In her own homeland, God for Elijah found
A humble hiding place, this harlot to confound

When this kindly widow’s sick son lost his breath
She was deeply troubled; her sin caused his death?
Elijah in his chamber, thrice prayed this refrain:
“Let this chi-ild’s soul, come into him again”

Then the young boy’s life was graciously restored
Miracles do follow those who trust the Lord!
Often others God will use to meet our needs
Strengthening our faith, all wisdom God exceeds!

God’s voice in the 3rd year of his sojourn came
“Show thyself to Ahab, his god I will shame”.
On his journeying through dry Samaria
Met Ahab’s house gov’nor, good Obadiah...

Told to search for brooks and founts in the dry-spell
He hoped to find grass, their - flock’s hunger to quell
A servant of the Lord, one hundred he did save...
Prophet’s of Jehovah, hid them in a cave

Elijah urged this servant: “report me to thy lord”
Great fear fell on him for this did strike a chord
He’d searched for Elijah, scoured the kingdoms ‘round
They had made him oath Elijah was not found

Elijah hushed his fears and promised as he spake
“Before the King I’ll go this day for heaven’s sake!”
The servant did announce and the King to him did go
“Art thou he that troubleth Israel, I must know!”

Elijah to the King answered “What a foolish tale!
Forsaking the commandments in favor of false Baal
Your sinful polices were the reason drought was sent
Might have been prevented but you would not repent”

“Gather me all Israel - unto Mount Carmel
Summon Baal’s prophets to be there as well
There we’ll have a contest, between the Lord and Baal
He who sends fire reigns, follow Him who doth prevail!”

Elijah was the only Prophet of the Lord
Ba-al’s were 450 (four-fifty), not to be ignored!
Stacked the cards in favor of his enemies;
Gave home field advant-age, as an added tease

Baal was the ‘Sun-god’ who surely would send fire
Went first while the sun shone, wouldn’t this inspire!
Cut their bullock up and laid it on the wood
Called on Baal for fire, but Baal misunderstood!

Continued in this vein from morning until noon
Elijah mocked them grimly, his words did impugn
They were in a frenzy, sarcastic jokes had spurred
Lanced themselves, leapt wild, their cries were undeterred

Still no sign by ev'ning, no answer nor regard
Elijah stepped up next, his God would soon bombard!
12 stones gathered up, God’s alter to restore (1 Kings 18:30)
Symbolizing 12 tribes unified once more!

Made a trench about the alter to contain
The equivalence - of - seed to measure twain
Put the logs in order, the bullock pieces, laid,
down upon the wood as Isra-el surveyed

Twelve barrels of water, on the alter poured
"Turn their hearts to Thee", Elijah God implored
That their seeds of faith might saturated be
by Thy Word - the wa-ter - in this analogy

The Lord poured down great fire, consumed the sacrifice...
The wood, the stones, the dust, but that would not suffice
The fi-re licked the water in the alter’s trench
Blazing mightily, the water could not quench!

Routing of false prophets to occur anon
Slai-in by decree beside the brook Kishon
Conveyed their blood to sea, they: ‘let not one escape'
Land no more defiled by child off'rings nor rape

Elijah to the King spake "Get thee to thy tent
Comfort take for rain will abundantly be sent’;
Elijah to the top of Mount Carmel did go
Knelt and prayed that God would cause the rain to flow

Sent his servant to go look towards the sea
He said "There is nothing"; Seven times sent he
Finally a little cloud appeared at length
Looking like a man’s hand, Elijah did gain strength!

We must not the day of small things e’er despise
Small beginnings often great blessings arise
Answers come not quickly, faint not nor give o’er
Fervently press on, great blessings He will pour

Soon the little cloud spanned ‘fore their very eyes
Spreading o’er the heav’ns, expanding o’er the skies
The Prophet said to Ahab: "Prepare thy chariot
Hasten to thy home, the rain to stop thee not

Heav’n grew black with clouds and rain in the meanwhile
Ahab proved again to be son of Be-li-al
Rode to Jezre-el - in his - royal chariot
Elijah ran ahead like a proletariat

Still, displayed respect for the monarch as he ran
Humbly served the King just as a loy'l footman
In all civil matters, honored royalty
Zeal only roused by their idolatry

Strengthened by the Lord to run this marathon
All along the torrent of River Kishon
Girded up his loins and laid aside all weight (Heb 12:1)
Unimpeded, finally, reached Jezre-el’s gate!

To be continued...