Sunday Sermons
Burned Out
Burned Out
“Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly;
yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:30-31).
“Every zealous Christian eventually faces circumstances that threaten his or her ability to continue. When the stress and strain of fighting for what’s right seems to exhaust you, burnout is likely on the horizon. Burnout is the gradual process by which a person detaches from work or meaningful relationships in response to prolonged stress” (Lifelong Zeal, Philip Shumake p. 68).
If Elijah was hoping that Ahab and Jezebel would give up their idolatry (1 Kings 19:1-2), he was in for a disappointment. Over half of her personal prophets had been wiped out, the common people had been convinced that Baal was powerless, but Jezebel remained defiant. In fact, Jezebel was even given an eyewitness account of what had happened from her own husband, but she refused to bow before Jehovah, rather she vowed to kill Elijah.
Discouragement after a Miracle
The miracle recorded in the previous chapter was, like any miracle, huge! Yet after such a clear demonstration of God’s power directly from heaven, Elijah is fearful and very discouraged. If you wonder how anyone could get discouraged so quickly after a miracle just ponder the following: All of us have been stunned when people read a clear verse in Scripture and then argue otherwise or walk away unimpressed. How much more stunning and discouraging when God directly intervenes in this world and people walk away unchanged, still defiant and unimpressed.
Elijah then travels from Jezreel to Beersheba (95 miles to the south), which was the southern boundary of the Promised Land. Here Elijah left his servant, which may signify that Elijah fully intended to never come back, had resigned as God’s prophet, or wanted to be all alone. Having made a day’s journey into the wilderness (maybe 15 miles) he sat down under a juniper tree and requested that God would take his life. What follows is a clear picture of Elijah’s depressed state:
- “I am not better than my fathers”:19:4
In the past it seems that Elijah had very high hopes (just like all young preachers) for change among sinners, and that through his preaching the nation would repent and Baalism would cease, yet now he feels that he has failed and has accomplished no more than those prophets who had preceded him. “In three short verses the writer had totally changed the flow of the story. Victory seems to be transformed into defeat, the brave prophet into a cowering refugee, and the victory over death and Baal into an opportunity for death to reassert itself through Jezebel’s oath to take Elijah’s life (House p. 222). “Elijah can look only on the dark side of things; he falls asleep, not wishing to wake up in the morning” (Vos p. 121). Discouragement and depression can quickly follow upon a great victory of success. Elijah may have been expecting God to strike Jezebel dead or that she would be so stunned by what had happened on Mount Carmel that she would either convert or be the one running for her life. Like Elijah, so often we want evil overthrown in one magnificent stroke of judgment, and we are stunned when evil people seem to survive.
God’s Mercy: 19:5-6
For the moment God is patient with Elijah, He first feeds Elijah and allows Elijah to catch up on some needed sleep. Often people are far more receptive to correction once they have rested and have had something to eat.
Back to The Foundation: 19:8-9
“Since the Hebrew definite article is used in verse 9, ‘the’ cave, it may be that it was the same cave in which Moses hid when God appeared to him on this same mountain” (Dilday p. 219) (Exodus 33:21-23). Here God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here”. The words do carry the sting of a rebuke, but God is also giving Elijah the opportunity to pour out what is in his heart.
The Heart is Poured Out
“When you pray to God, you must be respectful. Part of being respectful is telling the whole truth. With reverence lay it out all before the Almighty God. His listening ears long for truthful words from His children. Knowing that He hears you and sees your trouble will begin to provide relief” (Shumake p. 70).
God Acts in More Than Just One Way: 19:11-13
God does have different ways of dealing with people. It seems that the point that God is trying to get across to Elijah in these verses is that God does not always act in a spectacular and dramatic way. Most often, God’s program is carried forward through the voice that speaks through His prophets. “Elijah had come to bask in the glow of the spectacular. He may have fully expected that because of what had been accomplished at Mount Carmel, Jezebel would capitulate and pagan worship would come to an end in Israel—all through his influence. God does not always move in the realm of the extraordinary. To live always seeking one ‘high experience’ after another is to have a misdirected zeal. The majority of life’s service is in quiet, routine, humble obedience to God’s will” (Gaebelein p. 148). “Surely, God could have swept the wicked house of Ahab to oblivion with a mighty wind, opened the gates of hell with a single earthquake (Numbers 16:23-35), or scorched Ahab’s throne with a terrible fire (Genesis 19:24,25). He did not; but did this mean that Elijah had failed? That God’s word had returned void? By no means: the still small voice, like leaven in meal, was at work. A stray arrow would find its mark through a seam in Ahab’s armor; Jezebel’s defiled body would become dog food” (Winters p. 145). The “gentle blowing” should remind us of the powerful nature of God’s spoken word (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12-13; Luke 16:31). God does have other ways of dealing with the problems of history.
Important Work Is Waiting: 19:15-16
“God’s answer to Elijah’s plea begins with ‘go’. Yes, Elijah had been through difficulties, but it was not time to quit. When God directed Elijah to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, it ensured that Elijah would not have to continue this battle alone” (Shumake p. 70). One of the best ways to bring someone out of depression is to give them something to do. Elijah wanted to die, but God still had work for him to do. Hazael would wreck havoc in the Israel (2 Kings 8:12). with extraordinary violence, Jehu would bring down the entire house of Ahab, including throwing Jezebel to the dogs (2 Kings 9:30-35),destroying all the descendants of Ahab (10:1-7), and butchering the remaining false prophets (10:18-28). God had already selected His executioners or instruments of judgment to punish Ahab and Israel for their sins. God would judge the wicked but in His own time and His own way. Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha were each to wield swords, though in very different ways (Whitcomb p. 61). “The threefold commission was singularly interrelated (17). Jehu’s work would supplement that of Hazael, that is, any who fell to Israel to escape Hazael’s purge would be dealt with by Jehu. In turn those who survived Jehu’s slaughter must face the spiritual judgment of Elisha” (Gaebelein p. 151).
You are Not Alone: 19:18
Things are never quite as bad as they might seem. Elijah was not the only one left, the way might be narrow (Matthew 7:13-14), but there are a number of faithful people on that narrow way. Such should have reminded Elijah that God’s word cannot be silenced, the power of God’s message cannot be stopped, and His word will find good and honest hearts (Luke 8:15). In every age, there will be the faithful remnant which refuses to bow to the pressures of an ungodly world (Romans 11:1-5; 12:1-2). “Even when God is using you out front, you are not alone. The elder who must counsel a lamb under attack is not alone. The student or employee who must stand for Jesus while surrounded by worldliness is not alone. Today there are thousands of faithful saints all over the world, both young and old, who are laboring continually. You are not alone” (Shumake p. 71).
Incredible Days Ahead
The rest of the book of First and into Second Kings reveals that Elijah went on to do some amazing things in the days after this event. He will confront Ahab about Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21), with dramatic results. Ahab will repent! (1 Kings 21:27-29). Then in 2 Kings chapter 1, he taught Ahaziah to turn to God in sickness, not to idols. After being such a great mentor to Elisha, he will finally be lifted up to heaven in a blazing-chariot. Let each one of us make good use of the great days ahead in which the Lord’s work will be done.
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
