prophets and kings-第22节
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e courage that Elijah showed！ As divinely appointed messengers； ministers are in a position of awful responsibility。 They are to 〃reprove； rebuke； exhort will all long…suffering。〃 2 Timothy 4：2。 In Christ's stead they are to labor as stewards of the mysteries of heaven； encouraging the obedient and warning the disobedient。 With them worldly policy is to have no weight。 Never are they to swerve from the path in which Jesus has bidden them walk。 They are to go forward in faith； remembering that they are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses。 They are not to speak their own words； but words which One greater than the potentates of earth has bidden them speak。 Their message is to be； 〃Thus saith the Lord。〃 God calls for men like Elijah； Nathan； and John the Baptistmen who will bear His message with faithfulness； regardless of the consequences； men who will speak the truth bravely； though it call for the sacrifice of all they have。
God cannot use men who； in time of peril； when the strength； courage； and influence of all are needed； are afraid to take a firm stand for the right。 He calls for men who will do faithful battle against wrong； warring against principalities and powers； against the rulers of the darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness in high places。 It is to such as these that He will speak the words： 〃Well done； good and faithful servant； 。 。 。 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord。〃 Matthew 25：23。
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Chapter 11
Carmel
Standing before Ahab； Elijah demanded that all Israel be assembled to meet him and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth on Mount Carmel。 〃Send；〃 he commanded； 〃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。〃
The command was issued by one who seemed to stand in the very presence of Jehovah； and Ahab obeyed at once； as if the prophet were monarch； and the king a subject。 Swift messengers were sent throughout the kingdom with the summons to meet Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth。 In every town and village the people prepared to assemble at the appointed time。 As they journeyed toward the place； the hearts of many were filled with strange forebodings。 Something unusual was about to happen； else why this summons to gather at Carmel？ What
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new calamity was about to fall upon the people and the land？
Before the drought； Mount Carmel had been a place of beauty； its streams fed from never…failing springs； and its fertile slopes covered with fair flowers and flourishing groves。 But now its beauty languished under a withering curse。 The altars erected to the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth stood now in leafless groves。 On the summit of one of the highest ridges； in sharp contrast with these was the broken…down altar of Jehovah。
Carmel overlooked a wide expanse of country； its heights were visible from many parts of the kingdom of Israel。 At the foot of the mount there were vantage points from which could be seen much of what took place above。 God had been signally dishonored by the idolatrous worship carried on under cover of its wooded slopes； and Elijah chose this elevation as the most conspicuous place for the display of God's power and for the vindication of the honor of His name。
Early on the morning of the day appointed； the hosts of apostate Israel； in eager expectancy； gather near the top of the mountain。 Jezebel's prophets march up in imposing array。 In regal pomp the king appears and takes his position at the head of the priests； and the idolaters shout his welcome。 But there is apprehension in the hearts of the priests as they remember that at the word of the prophet the land of Israel for three years and a half has been destitute of dew and rain。 Some fearful crisis is at hand； they feel sure。 The gods in whom they have trusted have been unable to prove Elijah a false prophet。 To their frantic cries； their
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prayers； their tears； their humiliation； their revolting ceremonies； their costly and ceaseless sacrifices； the objects of their worship have been strangely indifferent。
Facing King Ahab and the false prophets； and surrounded by the assembled hosts of Israel； Elijah stands； the only one who has appeared to vindicate the honor of Jehovah。 He whom the whole kingdom has charged with its weight of woe is now before them； apparently defenseless in the presence of the monarch of Israel； the prophets of Baal； the men of war； and the surrounding thousands。 But Elijah is not alone。 Above and around him are the protecting hosts of heaven； angels that excel in strength。
Unashamed； unterrified； the prophet stands before the multitude； fully aware of his commission to execute the divine command。 His countenance is lighted with an awful solemnity。 In anxious expectancy the people wait for him to speak。 Looking first upon the broken…down altar of Jehovah； and then upon the multitude； Elijah cries out in clear； trumpetlike tones； 〃How long halt ye between two opinions？ if the Lord be God； follow Him： but if Baal； then follow him。〃
The people answer him not a word。 Not one in that vast assembly dare reveal loyalty to Jehovah。 Like a dark cloud； deception and blindness had overspread Israel。 Not all at once had this fatal apostasy closed about them； but gradually； as from time to time they had failed to heed the words of warning and reproof that the Lord sent them。 Each departure from rightdoing； each refusal to repent； had deepened their guilt and driven them farther from Heaven。 And now； in this crisis； they persisted in refusing to take their stand for God。
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The Lord abhors indifference and disloyalty in a time of crisis in His work。 The whole universe is watching with inexpressible interest the closing scenes of the great controversy between good and evil。 The people of God are nearing the borders of the eternal world； what can be of more importance to them than that they be loyal to the God of heaven？ All through the ages； God has had moral heroes； and He has them nowthose who； like Joseph and Elijah and Daniel； are not ashamed to acknowledge themselves His peculiar people。 His special blessing accompanies the labors of men of action； men who will not be swerved from the straight line of duty； but who with divine energy will inquire； 〃Who is on the Lord's side？〃 （Exodus 32：26）； men who will not stop merely with the inquiry； but who will demand that those who choose to identify themselves with the people of God shall step forward and reveal unmistakably their allegiance to the King of kings and Lord of lords。 Such men make their wills and plans subordinate to the law of God。 For love of Him they count not their lives dear unto themselves。 Their work is to catch the light from the Word and let it shine forth to the world in clear； steady rays。 Fidelity to God is their motto。
While Israel on Carmel doubt and hesitate； the voice of Elijah again breaks the silence： 〃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
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I will call on the name of the Lord： and the God that answereth by fire； let him be God。〃
The proposal of Elijah is so reasonable that the people cannot well evade it； so they find courage to answer； 〃It is well spoken。〃 The prophets of Baal dare not lift their voices in dissent； and； addressing them； Elijah directs； 〃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。〃
Outwardly bold and defiant； but with terror in their guilty hearts； the false priests prepare their altar； laying on the wood and the victim； and then they begin their incantations。 Their shrill cries echo and re…echo through the forests and the surrounding heights； as they call on the name of their god； saying； 〃O Baal； hear us。〃 The priests gather about their altar； and with leaping and writhing and screaming； with tearing of hair and cutting of flesh； they beseech their god to help them。
The morning passes； noon comes； and yet there is no evidence that Baal hears the cries of his deluded followers。 There is no voice； no reply to their frantic prayers。 The sacrifice remains unconsumed。
As they continue their frenzied devotions； the crafty priests are continually trying to devise some means by which they may kindle a fire upon the altar and lead the people to believe that the fire has come direct from Baal。 But Elijah watches every movement； and the priests； hoping against hope for some opportunity to deceive； continue to carry on their senseless ceremonies。
〃It came to pass at noon； that Elijah mocked them； and
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said； Cry aloud： for he is a g
