Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving
To Thyself, and still believing
Till the hour of our receiving
Promised joys with Thee
(Thomas Kelly)
1 King 19:1-14 ESV
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God. There he came to a cave and lodged in it.
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.
Elijah is my champion; for God he fearless stood.
Against all odds, he took on Baal with power from his God.
Great victory was won upon the mount of confrontation.
The power and might of heaven’s God brought judgment to His nation.
Lord, work in me Elijah’s boldness, and, for you, his love.
Elijah is my brother, for I fear the things he feared.
The queen of wickedness spoke threats, assuring harm was near.
Despite God’s great display of righteousness sent from above,
Isaiah took the threats to heart and ran to find a cove.
Lord, take away my fears, whether from devils or from man.
Elijah is my model, showing how to cling to God;
Opened wide his failing heart while laying on the sod.
Despite his pain, he looked for God in wind and fire and rumbling.
The Lord provided food and rest for strength to keep from stumbling.
Lord, in my deepest, darkest times, when all within is failing, remind me that you are all I need.
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
(Prayer for Proper 7, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
O Jesus, I Have Promised
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
