Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
1 Kings Ch.18 / 22 Ch.s
1KI:18
* Elijah sends Ahab notice of his coming. (1-16) Elijah meets
Ahab. (17-20) Elijah's trial of the false prophets. (21-40)
Elijah, by prayer, obtains rain. (41-46)
#1-16 The severest judgments, of themselves, will not humble or
change the hearts of sinners; nothing, except the blood of Jesus
Christ, can atone for the guilt of sin; nothing, except the
sanctifying Spirit of God, can purge away its pollution. The
priests and the Levites were gone to Judah and Jerusalem, #2Ch
11:13,14|, but instead of them God raised up prophets, who read
and expounded the word. They probably were from the schools of
the prophets, first set up by Samuel. They had not the spirit of
prophecy as Elijah, but taught the people to keep close to the
God of Israel. These Jezebel sought to destroy. The few that
escaped death were forced to hide themselves. God has his
remnant among all sorts, high and low; and that faith, fear, and
love of his name, which are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, will
be accepted through the Redeemer. See how wonderfully God raises
up friends for his ministers and people, for their shelter in
difficult times. Bread and water were now scarce, yet Obadiah
will find enough for God's prophets, to keep them alive. Ahab's
care was not to lose all the beasts; but he took no care about
his soul, not to lose that. He took pains to seek grass, but
none to seek the favour of God; fencing against the effect, but
not inquiring how to remove the cause. But it bodes well with a
people, when God calls his ministers to stand forth, and show
themselves. And we may the better endure the bread of
affliction, while our eyes see our teachers.
#17-20 One may guess how people stand affected to God, by
observing how they stand affected to his people and ministers.
It has been the lot of the best and most useful men, like
Elijah, to be called and counted the troublers of the land. But
those who cause God's judgments do the mischief, not he that
foretells them, and warns the nation to repent.
#21-40 Many of the people wavered in their judgment, and varied
in their practice. Elijah called upon them to determine whether
Jehovah or Baal was the self-existent, supreme God, the Creator,
Governor, and Judge of the world, and to follow him alone. It is
dangerous to halt between the service of God and the service of
sin, the dominion of Christ and the dominion of our lusts. If
Jesus be the only Saviour, let us cleave to him alone for every
thing; if the Bible be the world of God, let us reverence and
receive the whole of it, and submit our understanding to the
Divine teaching it contains. Elijah proposed to bring the matter
to a trial. Baal had all the outward advantages, but the event
encourages all God's witnesses and advocates never to fear the
face of man. The God that answers by fire, let him be God: the
atonement was to be made by sacrifice, before the judgment could
be removed in mercy. 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 from the calamity. God never
required his worshippers to honour him in the manner of the
worshippers of Baal; but the service of the devil, though
sometimes it pleases and pampers the body, yet, in other things,
really is cruel to it, as in envy and drunkenness. God requires
that we mortify our lusts and corruptions; but bodily penances
and severities are no pleasure to him. Who has required these
things at your hands? A few words uttered in assured faith, and
with fervent affection for the glory of God, and love to the
souls of men, or thirstings after the Lord's image and his
favour, form the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man,
which availeth much. Elijah sought not his own glory, but that
of God, for the good of the people. The people are all agreed,
convinced, and satisfied; Jehovah, he is the God. Some, we hope,
had their hearts turned, but most of them were convinced only,
not converted. Blessed are they that have not seen what these
saw, yet have believed, and have been wrought upon by it, more
than they that saw it.
#41-46 Israel, being so far reformed as to acknowledge the Lord
to be God, and to consent to the execution of Baal's prophets,
was so far accepted, that God poured out blessing upon the land.
Elijah long continued praying. Though the answer of our fervent
and believing supplications does not come quickly, we must
continue earnest in prayer, and not faint or give over. A little
cloud at length appeared, which soon overspread the heavens, and
watered the earth. Great blessings often arise from small
beginnings, showers of plenty from a cloud of span long. Let us
never despise the day of small things, but hope and wait for
great things from it. From what small beginnings have great
matters arisen! It is thus in all the gracious proceedings of
God with the soul. Scarcely to be perceived are the first
workings of his Spirit in the heart, which grow up at last to
the wonder of men, and applause of angels. Elijah hastened Ahab
home, and attended him. God will strengthen his people for every
service to which his commandments and providence call them. The
awful displays of Divine justice and holiness dismay the sinner,
extort confessions, and dispose to outward obedience while the
impression lasts; but the view of these, with mercy, love, and
truth in Christ Jesus, is needful to draw the soul to
self-abasement, trust, and love. The Holy Spirit employs both in
the conversion of sinners; when sinners are impressed with
Divine truths, they should be exhorted to set about the duties
to which the Saviour calls his disciples.