"If It Is of the Lord, Then Follow" - Sermon for November 3, 2019

Should you put God to the test? Deuteronomy 6 clearly says no, but Malachi 3 says that the children of Israel should do just that, by seeing how God responds abundantly to faithful tithing. In today’s sermon, Rev. Tom describes how one prophet tested God, in a competition against hundreds of other prophets of false idols – with stakes far higher than any season of “American Idol”. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel at a time when the Hebrew faith was at one of its lowest points ever, under the reign of the sinful King Ahab and in the midst of a devastating drought. Elijah’s triumph was complete, a flawless victory. This cemented his legacy as a prophet without equal. But as Rev. Tom explains, on this All Saints Sunday, we should remember the many people in our lives whose achievements were not overwhelming successes, but little acts of kindness. These people – whether softly singing to us in a time of distress, or teaching us lessons of responsibility – are the everyday heroes who spread the love of Jesus – not through astonishing acts of fire that end a drought for an entire nation, but through simple acts that nourish our faith and bring the soft rains of compassion to a single person in need. (Bible reading - 1 Kings 18:17-39 NRSV)

1 Kings 18 Glossary

Ahab

Ahab was the ninth king of the northern kingdom of Israel since Jeroboam I, the son and successor of Omri, and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon (9th century BC). The Hebrew Bible presents Ahab as a wicked king, particularly for condoning Jezebel's influence on religious policies, among other evil deeds.

Elijah

Elijah (or the Latinized Elias), meaning “My God is Yahweh]”, was according to the Books of Kings, a prophet and a miracle worker who lived in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab.

Baals or Baalim

Any of various local fertility and nature gods of the ancient Semitic peoples, considered to be false gods by the Hebrews. A false god or idol.

Jezebel

Daughter of Ithobaal I of Sidon and the wife of Ahab, King of Israel, according to the Book of Kings. Jezebel, along with her husband, instituted the worship of Baal and Asherah on a national scale. She ruthlessly sought to purge the prophets of Yahweh from Israel.

Asherah

Ancient West Semitic goddess, consort of the supreme god.

Mount Carmel

The name is derived from the Hebrew kerem (“vineyard” or “orchard”) and attests to the mountain's fertility even in ancient times.