2023-Jan-29 10:00

Liturgy

  • Preservice Song: Ps. 100 : 1, 2, 3, 4
  • *Votum & Salutation
  • *Opening Song: Ps. 135: 1, 2, 10
  • Ten Words of the Covenant
  • Prayer
  • Song of Response: Ps. 141: 1, 2, 3
  • Reading of Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-40
  • Song of Preparation: Ps. 135: 6, 7, 8
  • Reading of the Text: 1 Kings 18: 21, 29, 37-40
  • Ministry of the Word: The Lord confronts his apostate people on Mt. Carmel: choose this day whom you will serve.
    1. The people’s answer: silence
    2. Baal’s answer: silence
    3. The LORD’s answer: fire
  • *Song of Response: Ps. 115: 2, 3, 8
  • Thanksgiving Prayer
  • Offertory: Mustard Seed
  • *Song of Closing: Hymn 70: 1, 2, 3, 4
  • *Benediction

Ministry of the Word: The Lord confronts his apostate people on Mt. Carmel: choose this day whom you will serve.

1. The people’s answer: silence

  • The location where the prophet Elijah meets the prophets of Baal is not random. Mt. Carmel is near Sidon, an important location in the context of Baal. It is where Jezebel came from, bringing the worship of Baal with her. This is the area where the power of Baal should be at it's highest.
  • Mt. Carmel today is a beautiful location; but at that time it was desolate and barren. This shows the lack of Baal's power; no rain falls here.
  • Elijah accuses the people of wavering between God and Baal; of "sitting on the fence".
  • Why are there 450 prophets of Baal, and no-one in Israel finds a problem with this?
  • When Elijah confronts the people of Israel, they are silent.
  • What do our lives show? Would we remain silent? Would we remain on the fence?

2. Baal’s answer: silence

  • Elijah mocks the 450 prophets of Baal as they spent all morning calling upon Baal to bring down fire; Elijah says they are not trying hard enough. They cut themselves and were covered in blood; they were dedicated to Baal. But there was no answer from Baal. There was no lightning or fire from Baal to start the alter on fire.
  • Sometimes, like the prophets of Baal, our best intentions are not enough.
  • This was a time of desperation for the people. There was a drought and the people were starving.
  • Baal was not there for the people. Baal was a false god.

3. The LORD’s answer: fire

  • Now it is Elijah's turn.
  • Contrast Elijah versus Baal. Elijah is humble. Elijah offers one quick prayer. With every other false god, it was the people claiming the god. They were worshipers of Baal. But with God it is different. We are people of God. We belong to God. Not the other way around.
  • And God responds. He sends fire that quenches the alter, and burns it up. God leaves no doubt.
  • How do the people respond? No longer are they silent. God turned their hearts around. They fell down, worshiping the Lord and praising Him. Now they respond in faith, acknowledging God.
  • But the story does not end here. It ends with the prophets of Baal being rounded up and executed. This is in accordance with the Old Testament laws; that any who lead the people astray from the Lord are to be put to death.
  • How do we respond to this? Are we responding in faith to the Lord? Are we abandoning the false gods we worship? The alternative is a path to death.