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<< 1 Kings 18: Elijah's Sacrifice >>
 CAN you show me on the map where Mount Carmel runs out into the sea? and do you know the great plain of Esdraelon which reaches away towards the east to the three mountains, Tabor, Little Hermon, and Gilboa? You see the brook Kishon winding through the meadow and going out by the narrow pass between Mount Carmel and the hills of Galilee to the sea. Near this pass the ridge of Mount Carmel ends in a bold head facing the east.
Let us climb the mountain to this place. The top is a cliff. Under this is a broad lap of green, and just below is a fine spring of water, which they say is never dry. From the green lap you look out over the whole broad plain and to the hills and mountains which border it like the shores of a lake all about. High in the north is Mount Hermon, white much of the year with snow. The great meadows are green, or checkered with the colors of the ripening crops. Here and there is a little town, and eighteen miles away in a straight line across the meadows is Jezreel on the lowest slope of Mount Gilboa. Behind you is the cliff which makes the top of Carmel. I must send you to the top of it to look the other way. Towards the west you see a long stretch of the Mediterranean. Let us sit down and look out upon the plain of Esdraelon and the Kishon, and away to Jezreel and Gilboa, while we talk about Elijah and read the story of the sacrifice which he offered here.
Ahab and Jezebel were king and queen in Samaria; and they had another home over yonder in Jezreel. Jezebel had taught the people to worship Baal the sun-god, and the images of Ashtoreth, and she had caused all the prophets of the Lord that she could find to be killed. Some had been saved, hidden in a cave. The king had sent to all the lands about to find Elijah, but in vain. There had been no rain for three long years. Springs and brooks were dried up, the grass was gone and the cattle were dying.
It was now that Elijah came at the Lord's command from his hiding place. He called the people together to Mount Carmel, to this very place where we are sitting, where there had been an old altar of the Lord which had been thrown down. There should be a sacrifice here. First the priests of Baal, who were many, should prepare a bullock on an altar and pray to Baal to send fire to burn the offering. Then Elijah would prepare a bullock and pray to the Lord, and "the God that answereth by fire, let him be God."
Now let me read the story while you look out upon the plain. When it speaks of pouring water on the sacrifice, you think of this spring near by. When it speaks of slaying the prophets of Baal by the Kishon, you remember the stream at the foot of the mountain; and there is a hill by its bank that is still called "the hill of the priests." When the servant is sent up to look towards the sea, you think of the top of the cliff above you with its wide view to the west. When we read how Elijah ran before Ahab's chariot to the gates of Jezreel, as the sky was black with with coming rain, you look across the plain, these twenly miles, and wonder at the strength which was given to the prophet by the Lord, and you know how rain would soften the ground and stop the king's chariot, as it stopped the chariots of Sisera long before.
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. 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? 18:8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. 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. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 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. 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: 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. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. 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. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me.
And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 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: 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. 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. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 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. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 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. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.---1 Kings XVIII.
Author: William L. Worcester 1904
Spiritual Correspondences
Spiritual Meaning
1 KINGS XVIII
1And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
I. It is of the Divine Providence, that after a succession or states, and when the church is is fully vastated, Revelation is made through the Word to those in the corrupted church; and there is also influx of Divine Truth from the Lord, with temptations, impending,
2And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
2 And hence this Revelation is made when the man of the church is in great need of the knowledges or truth and good.
3And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:
3. Also the corrupted church has external conjunction with those who are in charity, and who administer good; and these have conjunction with the Lord, by obedience, faith and love.
4For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
4. For it happens that when faith without charity rejects the truths of the Word, charity protects them, and this cornpletely : although, at the end of the church, those in charity and faith are in obscurity; but yet they receive from the Lord through charity, the good and truth suited to to their state.
5And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
5· And even the corrupted church desires, by putting forward the appearance of good, and by the study of the Word, as to its interior and exterior truths, to secure for itself scientifics, or the knowledges of external truths, so that its intellectual, rational, and natural powers may be supported.
6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
6. But the wicked, and the good do this from different motives; for the former act from the love of dominion or the pride of intellect, while the latter act from the love of good and truth for its own sake.
7And 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?
7. And consequently they who are in good, in searcbing the Word, first perceive its essential truth concerning the Lord, and acknowledge it, and humble themselves before it, although it may not appear in all ,its clearness.
8And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
8. But the Lord reveals Himself to such, and commands them to proclaim the truth even to the corrupted church.
9And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
9. Nevertheless the good, in the corrupted church, are in fear lest they should betray the truth, and lest good should be rejected through the rejection of truth.
10As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
10. And as they know that all life is from the Lord, with whom is the union of good and truth, or of the Divine and the Human, they also discern that self-love only seeks the truth to pervert or destroy it, supposing it can be discovered in merely human states of affection and intelligence; and that, failing in this, they resolutely conflrrn themselves in the denial and rejection of the truth.
11And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
11. Wherefore those in good can hardly conceive that, without injury, Divine Truth can bemade known to the wicked.
12And 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.
12. And they fear that, when, separated from the truth and in their state of desolation, they attempt to announce it, its essential life will appear wanting to them, and that it will not appear to the understanding of the corrupted church; so that, consequently, good will be rejected; when yet a state of good derived from truth confirmed, is the saving principle in the church, producing obedience in its successive development.
13Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
13. And surely it is known to the Lord, who is the Word that when faith without charity rejects Divine Truths, then they are all preserved among those who are in charity, and that fully, although in a state of obscurity, and with love and faith according to their state!
14And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
14. And why therefore should the truth be revealed, and thus the Word be opened as to its
essential spirit and life, when this might lead to the rejection, not only of the truth but of good also?
15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
15· But it is perceived from the Word, nevertheless, that, as all good is from the Lord who is omnipotent; and Divine Truth proceeds from Divine Good, Revelation must certainly be made at the end of the church.
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
16. And this Revelation is made through those who are in charity to the corrupted church. Also the corrupted church expects this Revelation, which is the coming of the Lord.
17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
17. But notwithstanding, when the truth is revealed, it is misunderstood and condemned as heretical by the corrupted church.
18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
18.While yet Divine Truth united with Divine Good in the Word, cannot cause dissension in the church; but the evils of self-love, both actual and hereditary; as well as the false principles derived from those evils.
19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
19. For which reason it is necessary that the Spiritual Church should be collected, visited, and judged, at the Coming of the Lord, by means of the Word, so that the truth may be declared, and evil and falsity condemned, especially the evils and falsities, from faith alone.
20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
20. And this gathering together is effected when evil prevails; and where the evil and the good, in the intermediate state, are alike in the zeal of their faith.
21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
21. But Divine Truth, or the Word, reveals to all in the church, that man cannot continue in the intermediate state, or undecided as to truths or falsities; and that Divine Love, as the origin of Divine Truth, should be worshipped, or on the contrary, the Love of Self. Common perception, however, is, on this point, in uncertainty as yet.
22Then 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.
22. But it is the dictate of Divine Truth, united to Divine Good, and thus of the Human made Divine, or of the Divine Human, that it is one, and the origin of all truth from good, although rejected in the church; while falsities from evil have totally vastated the church, being so abundant as to leave little remains.
23Let 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:
23. And therefore now, the state of the good and of the evil, as to their natural affections, is to be explored; and this takes place, during judgment, first with the wicked, who are let into their own natural loves, in perfect freedom: subordinate powers being arranged in order under the ruling love; while each acts from the merit of his own good, or as from himself he yet being forbidden to ascribe to himself Divine Love. Also the same process is to take place with the good.
24And 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. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
24. Moreover the wicked, in the prcocess of judgment offer their worship through the falsities of their evils; while the good worship the Lord by means of Divine Truths ; but that, alone is true worship, into which Divine LOve can flow, and with which can be in harmony: and this is acknowledged in the church from common perception.
25And 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.
25. It therefore follows that it is the dictate of Divine Truth, or the Word, to those who teach falsities from self-love, that they should allow free play to their natural affections, bringing them into agreement with their internals; for they are not in good; also that they should worship from falsities, but not ascribe Divine Love to themselves.
26And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
26. The effect of which is, that the natural affections of the wicked are set at liberty, by Divine permission; that these are brought into agreement with their internals; and that they worship from the falsities of self-love, in successive states of ardour; but neither Divine Love nor Divine Truth are manifested to them. On the contrary they are excited to profane their worship by fanaticism.
27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
27. So that they come into the highest ardour of their selfish love; and then the truth appears to excite their falsities; for they think of the Divine as needing to be urged, or that he reflects, takes rest, is instructed, or is merely natural, and needs rousing as an ordinary man.
28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
28. But their falsities are violent from their own evils; for their evils bring punishment of themselves through falsities interior and exterior; and thus they do violence to charity, and are completely vastated.
29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
29. Nevertheless they continue to teach their falsities until the church is consummated; but they have no longer a genuine affection for good, a definite intelligence of truth, or a life of good and truth.
30And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
30. But, on the contrary, Divine Truth or the Word strongly influences those who are in good, and they are also attracted by Divine Truth in the process of judgment. And with them the worship of the Lord is preserved.
31And 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:
31. For the Divine Word contains all truths of such a quality that they are adapted to the states of the natural man, in order that from being natural he may become spiritual, by conflict against evil and by victories over it, and thus acquire a new quality.
32And 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.
32 . And the true worship of the Lord, by those who are in good, is effected by these truths, which are derived from love or charity, and lead to it; also there is a receptacle in the natural man for truths, where the conjunction of good and truth can take place---namely, the human understanding.
33And 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.
33. While the good of merit, or obedience to truths, as from self, and the natural affections in their freedom, are, by the Lord, through the Word, duly arranged and subordinated to the ruling love of good; and there is at the same time, by man's free action, the conjunction of these affections with truths.
34And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
34. And this conjunction is effected not only as to inmost things, but also as to things interior, and things external; and thus completely as to all affections.
35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
35. So that the whole man, in tlie judgment, is known to worship the Lord from truths grounded in good, and this in all fulness, both as to the will and the understanding, or as to the interiors and as to the exteriors.
36And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
36. And it therefore follows that, in the process of judgment, when the real quality of man's life is made known and manifested, there is with the good, as well as with the wicked, a nearer approach of Divine Truth, and thus an opening or the Word, disclosing the whole process of the Lord's Glorification, as to celestial things, as to spiritual things, and as to natural things; and thus as to the essential truths, that the DIVINE HUMAN alone is to be worshipped; that the Word is Divine; and that the Glorification of the Lord, as well as the regeneration or man, is according to the Word and by means of the word.
37Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
37. And this openIng of the Word is accompanied, on the part of the good, by a closer conjunction both as to good and as to truth, with Divine Love united to Divine Truth in the Divine Human, and thus by a state of full receptivity from love.
38Then 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.
38. The effect of which is that Divine Love now flows in freely, and conjoins itself with man's consecrated natural affections, with his obedience as from self, with all his truths from the Word, and with his sensual delights; so that, in short, there is complete and full conjunction of Divine Love with Divine Truth, or of the will with the understanding, in the regenerated soul;
39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
39. And hence, too, complete humiliation before the Lord, who is acknowledged from the heart and with the understanding to be God not only as to His Divine but also as to His Human
Nature;
40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
40. Whence there is perception from the Word that all falsities from self-love are to be rejected; and, by the power of Divine Truth, they are therefore rejected to the extremes of the mind, and their rejection is confirmed.
41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
41. At the coming of the Lord in the Word, the church is elevated, and perceives that good and truth are to be appropriated according to the state; and mankind generally are sensible of a stronger influx through heavenfrom the Lord,
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
42. And hence religion revives; there is a stronger appetite for good and truth; the Word is more highly esteemed in the church and there is a fuller conjunction of interior things with exterior.
43And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
43. Also the natural man is elevated, first as to the understanding, to the contemplation or Divine Truth in general, but without perception; and secondly as to the will in a state of holy obedience.
44And 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. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
44. Whereupon some degree of perception is granted, and the man of the church obscurely apprehends the letter of the Word wherein Divine Truth is in its power because in ultimates. And hence there is a farther elevation of the natural mind, and the perception that temptation is at hand.
45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
45. For the natural effect of this state of the church is, that doubts and obscurities as to Divine Truths arise, evil influences begin to operate, and temptation as to truths follows. But all this is conducive to the progress of the spiritual church.
46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
46. And Divine Love is omnipotent by Divine Truth; for truth in conjunction with good with the man of the church is now active, and by truth, or by the Word, is he led at the commencement of a New Dispensation.
Author: Rev. HENRY MACLAGAN (1905)
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