2nd Sunday after Pentecost, 2010

 

 

 

After the reign of Solomon, the kingdom was split into north and south. While the sons of David continued to reign on the throne in Judah, the throne in Israel was always up for grabs. It was usually taken by military might. When Omri took the throne in the north, he established Samaria as the capital. Like the northern kings before him, he promoted the false priesthood and the false worship at the false temples in Dan and Bethel. When he died, he was said to be the most evil of all the kings that preceded him. Not to be out down by his father, Ahab was even worse. Ahab’s claim to fame was the formal establishment of the worship of Baal in the kingdom.

 

Now keep in mind that the people of God were constantly tempted to worship in the way of their contemporaries. That is why the LORD forbade them to worship in that style. But at this juncture the confession of Yahweh as their God was replaced with the false confession of Baal as their God. Baal was declared to be the storm-god. He was falsely credited with the control of the weather. Supposedly, he brought the rain when the people pleased him.

 

Thus, it is no wonder that as soon as Ahab is introduced as the new king who formalized Baal worship, immediately Elijah is introduced as the prophet of Yahweh. Verse one of First Kings chapter seventeen states, " Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”" (1 Kings 17:1, ESV) As the king turns to Baal for rain, Elijah is sent by the True God who rains on the just and the unjust. The Law comes down like a hammer. Judgment is served out. It is as if Elijah said, “There will be no rain in the land. And just try and see if Baal, the so-called god of thunder, can help you out in your day of trouble.”

 

Like a laser guided missile, Eljiah marks the target and the judgment of God is unleashed. This should have been a wake call to the people of God. They should have recalled the word of God that was given to them by Moses. Deuteronomy chapter eleven states that as the people continue to listen to the voice of Yahweh, loving Him, and serving Him, that He would give them the rain for their land and the people shall have an abundance of food. However, the LORD declared, “Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 11:13-17, ESV) As soon as the Promised Land didn’t seem very promising, the people of God should have turned to the LORD of the promises inquiring why the blessings have left them.

 

In this text we learn that the people of God despised His word and preaching. They did not hold His word sacred. They refused to gladly hear and learn it. From passages like this we are warned about how easy it is to neglect the voice of God. When the voice of God is neglected, the means of grace that God has established are replaced with alternative forms of worship. Inevitably, false forms of worship lead to a false confessions of who God is and what He has done. The northern kingdom began falsely worshiping Yahweh and then ended up falsely worshiping Baal. Unless we continue to cling to the prophetic scriptures, we too will fall. It is in these writing that the LORD assures us of the institution of His means of grace. If we look elsewhere, we will go hungry and thirsty.

 

Now it is in this context of the drought and famine that Elijah is sent to a Gentile woman. This is not just any woman, but a widow with only one son. To Ahab Elijah was sent to bring a message of judgment. He receives what he deserves in his realm. He gets a famine. The food runs out. To the widow in Zarephath Elijah was sent to bring a message of hope. She receives what she does not deserve in her house. She gets an abundance of food. The food does not run out.

 

Here again we learn that the prophets are not all gloom and doom. Instead, they are sent in order to give God’s Word. They distribute law and gospel. To the hard hearted, the law is delivered like a hammer. To the troubled in heart, the promises of God are given with no end. As Ahab is secure in his devotion to Baal, the widow is left with no hope of life during the famine. To Ahab, the heavens are shut and the earth becomes like bronze. To the widow, jars of flour and oil overflow. The widow begins to learn that the eyes of all look to Yahweh and He opens His hand and provides food for every creature.

 

In today’s Old Testament reading, the widow of Zarepheth begins to learn that the LORD not only sustains life, but He is also the source of life. Her son becomes ill to the point of death. With the finality of death before her eyes, her own mortality is brought to her attention. She feels that the prophet Elijah has come to bring judgment. She says, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” She doesn’t quit get it. The prophet came for her benefit. He came to give her the word that brings life and not death. As she remembers her sin, the LORD does not count that sin against her. Like this widow, we are constantly learning to number our days and understand that the ultimate purpose of the word of the LORD is to bring life where there is death. As we listen to His voice, the Holy Spirit continues to instill in us a desire to gladly hear and learn.

 

From this text, we should learn that the law brings the knowledge of sin. In the remembrance of our sin, we recognize the reality of death. The wages of sin is death. Yet, the LORD gives to us His gospel which brings the knowledge of forgiveness for the sake of Jesus. In the remembrance of Jesus, we recognize the reality of life which is the free gift of God.

 

As Elijah holds God’s word sacred, his faith is manifest in his prayer to God. Elijah cried out to the LORD saying, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”" (1 Kings 17:20-21, ESV) Now we see the prophet acting as the mouth piece for the widow. He teaches us to pray to the LORD trusting in His promises to hear us and act upon our needs. The LORD listens to Elijah and life is given back to the boy. Then the woman can hear the voice of God from the lips of Elijah saying, “See, your son lives.” (1 Kings 17:23, ESV) In response the woman declares, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” (1 Kings 17:24, ESV)

 

In today’s gospel text, Jesus raises the son of a widow. Whereas, Elijah prayed to the LORD to raise the son, Jesus Himself raised the son of the widow. Elijah points to Jesus who is the word of God. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Just as Elijah was sent to the widow to bring life and not death; so too, Jesus was sent to us to bring us life where there is death. The words from the mouth of Jesus bring life.

 

Jesus does not come to merely remind us of our sins and then deliver us over to death. Rather, He calls us to the altar to remember Him. He says, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” He is the One who takes our sins away. He has instituted this sacrament as a means through which we receive His grace. He gives to us His life giving body and life giving bread to eat and drink. He is restoring our bodies and our souls. 

 

We continue to learn that the word of the LORD is true. Throughout our days we hold His word sacred. We learn that just as Jesus is compassionate upon the widow, He is compassionate upon us. Throughout our lives we hear the voice of Jesus declaring that He is the Resurrection and the Life.  Then on the day of resurrection, we’ll hear His voice calling us out of the tomb. Those who believe in Him, even though they die, they shall live. Amen.