prophets and kings-第21节
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〃If thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God； to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes；〃 the Israelites had been warned； 〃thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass； and the earth that is under thee shall be iron。 The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust： from heaven shall it come down upon thee； until thou be destroyed。〃 Deuteronomy 28：15； 23；24。
These were among the wise counsels of Jehovah to ancient Israel。 〃Lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul；〃 He had commanded His chosen people； 〃and bind them for a sign upon your hand； that they may be as frontlets between your eyes。 And ye shall teach them your children； speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house；
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and when thou walkest by the way； when thou liest down； and when thou risest up。〃 Deuteronomy 11：18； 19。 Plain were these commands； yet as the centuries passed； and generation after generation lost sight of the provision made for their spiritual welfare； the ruinous influences of apostasy threatened to sweep aside every barrier of divine grace。
Thus it had come to pass that God was now visiting His people with the severest of His judgments。 The prediction of Elijah was meeting with terrible fulfillment。 For three years the messenger of woe was sought for in city after city and nation after nation。 At the mandate of Ahab； many rulers had given their oath of honor that the strange prophet could not be found in their dominions。 Yet the search was continued； for Jezebel and the prophets of Baal hated Elijah with a deadly hatred； and they spared no effort to bring him within reach of their power。 And still there was no rain。
At last； 〃after many days；〃 the word of the Lord came to Elijah； 〃Go； show thyself unto Ahab； and I will send rain upon the earth。〃
In obedience to the command； 〃Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab。〃 About the time that the prophet set forth on his journey to Samaria； Ahab had proposed to Obadiah； the governor of his household； that they make thorough search for springs and brooks of water； in the hope of finding pasture for their starving flocks and herds。 Even in the royal court the effect of the long…continued drought was keenly felt。 The king； deeply concerned over the outlook for his household； decided to unite personally with his servant in a search for some favored spots where
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pasture might be had。 〃So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it： Ahab went one way by himself； and Obadiah went another way by himself。〃
〃As Obadiah was in the way； behold； Elijah met him： and he knew him； and fell on his face； and said； Art thou that my lord Elijah？〃
During the apostasy of Israel； Obadiah had remained faithful。 His master； the king； had been unable to turn him from his allegiance to the living God。 Now he was honored with a commission from Elijah； who said； 〃Go； tell thy lord； Behold； Elijah is here。〃
Greatly terrified； Obadiah exclaimed； 〃What have I sinned； that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab； to slay me？〃 To take such a message as this to Ahab was to court certain death。 〃As the Lord thy God liveth；〃 he explained to the prophet； 〃there is no nation or kingdom； whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee： and when they said； He is not there； he took an oath of the kingdom and nation； that they found thee not。 And now thou sayest； Go； tell thy lord； Behold； Elijah is here。 And it shall come to pass； as soon as I am gone from thee； that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not； and so when I come and tell Ahab； and he cannot find thee； he shall slay me。〃
Earnestly Obadiah pleaded with the prophet not to urge him。 〃I thy servant；〃 he urged； 〃fear the Lord from my youth。 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord； how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave； and fed them
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with bread and water？ And now thou sayest； Go； tell thy lord； Behold； Elijah is here： and he shall slay me。〃
With a solemn oath Elijah promised Obadiah that the errand should not be in vain。 〃As the Lord of hosts liveth； before whom I stand；〃 he declared； 〃I will surely show myself unto him today。〃 Thus assured； 〃Obadiah went to meet Ahab； and told him。〃
In astonishment mingled with terror the king listened to the message from the man whom he feared and hated； and for whom he had sought so untiringly。 Well he knew that Elijah would not endanger his life merely for the sake of meeting him。 Could it be possible that the prophet was about to utter another woe against Israel？ The king's heart was seized with dread。 He remembered the withered arm of Jeroboam。 Ahab could not avoid obeying the summons； neither dared he lift up his hand against the messenger of God。 And so； accompanied by a bodyguard of soldiers； the trembling monarch went to meet the prophet。
The king and the prophet stand face to face。 Though Ahab is filled with passionate hatred； yet in the presence of Elijah he seems unmanned； powerless。 In his first faltering words； 〃Art thou he that troubleth Israel？〃 he unconsciously reveals the inmost feelings of his heart。 Ahab knew that it was by the word of God that the heavens had become as brass； yet he sought to cast upon the prophet the blame for the heavy judgments resting on the land。
It is natural for the wrongdoer to hold the messengers of God responsible for the calamities that come as the sure result of a departure from the way of righteousness。 Those
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who place themselves in Satan's power are unable to see things as God sees them。 When the mirror of truth is held up before them； they become indignant at the thought of receiving reproof。 Blinded by sin； they refuse to repent； they feel that God's servants have turned against them and are worthy of severest censure。
Standing in conscious innocence before Ahab； Elijah makes no attempt to excuse himself or to flatter the king。 Nor does he seek to evade the king's wrath by the good news that the drought is almost over。 He has no apology to offer。 Indignant； and jealous for the honor of God； he casts back the imputation of Ahab； fearlessly declaring to the king that it is his sins； and the sins of his fathers； that have brought upon Israel this terrible calamity。 〃I have not troubled Israel；〃 Elijah boldly asserts； 〃but thou； and thy father's house； in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord； and thou hast followed Baalim。〃
Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke； for grievous sins have separated the people from God。 Infidelity is fast becoming fashionable。 〃We will not have this man to reign over us；〃 is the language of thousands。 Luke 19：14。 The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression； the trumpet does not give a certain sound。 Men are not cut to the heart by the plain； sharp truths of God's word。
There are many professed Christians who； if they should express their real feelings； would say； What need is there of speaking so plainly？ They might as well ask； Why need John the Baptist have said to the Pharisees； 〃O generation of vipers； who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
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come？〃 Luke 3：7。 Why need he have provoked the anger of Herodias by telling Herod that it was unlawful for him to live with his brother's wife？ The forerunner of Christ lost his life by his plain speaking。 Why could he not have moved along without incurring the displeasure of those who were living in sin？
So men who should be standing as faithful guardians of God's law have argued； till policy has taken the place of faithfulness； and sin is allowed to go unreproved。 When will the voice of faithful rebuke be heard once more in the church？
〃Thou art the man。〃 2 Samuel 12：7。 Words as unmistakably plain as these spoken by Nathan to David are seldom heard in the pulpits of today； seldom seen in the public press。 If they were not so rare； we should see more of the power of God revealed among men。 The Lord's messengers should not complain that their efforts are without fruit until they repent of their own love of approbation and their desire to please men； which leads them to suppress truth。
Those ministers who are men pleasers； who cry； Peace； peace； when God has not spoken peace； might well humble their hearts before God； asking pardon for their insincerity and their lack of moral courage。 It is not from love for their neighbor that they smooth down the message entrusted to them； but because they are self…indulgent and ease…loving。 True love seeks first the honor of God and the salvation of souls。 Those who have this love will not evade the truth to save themselves from the unpleasant results of plain speaking。 When souls are in peril； God's ministers will not
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consider self； but will speak the word given them to speak； refusing to excuse or palliate evil。
Would that every minister might realize the sacredness of his office and the holiness of his work； and show the courage that Elijah showed！ As divinely appointed messengers；
