The Despair of Life (1 Kings 19:1-18)

Despair may not be a word that we use that commonly these days, as we often jump to speaking of depression. But despair conveys something of the fact that life’s storms have not passed and there is still something lingering.

Many of us know something of this, of how the despair of life comes at us from every direction. Most of the despair that we experience is also common to most of humankind — heartbreak, terrible health conditions. But in this text, we see despair of a rather unique kind. This is a despair that seems to cut off ultimate hope at its legs, and is a sort of divinely associated despair.

(A) Adversity and affliction in a fallen world (1 Ki 19:1-4)

Let us take a look at the context of 1 Kings 19. We are introduced to Ahab, a king of Israel and in 1 Kings 16:30-17:1, we read of how he “did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.” He took for himself Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians as his wife and served Baal and worshipped him (1 Ki 16:31), erected an altar for Baal (1 Ki16:32), and also offered up his firstborn in sacrifice (1 Ki 16:34).

In 1 Kings 17:1, we are introduced to Elijah, a prophet who brings to Ahab God’s word. He informs Ahab that there will be a drought as part of God’s judgement over the land. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah faces off against all of Baal’s prophets. Baal does not send down fire for the sacrifice. Elijah soaks his offering (1 Ki 18:30-35) before he prays and asks God to hear his prayer so that the people will know that He is God, and the people’s hearts will be turned back(1 Ki 18:36-37). God sends fire to consume the burnt offering (1 Ki 18:38) and the people saw it and fell to their faces (1 Ki 18:39). The prophets of Baal were also seized and slaughtered (1 Ki 18:40).

This whole incident is about revival. Rain and water also returns to the land in 1 Kings 18:41-46. God’s hand of judgement seems to be lifted.

In 1 Kings 19:1, we see that Ahab recounts all the events to Jezebel. How does she respond? Recall that she had just been told that her god and prophets failed, yet, she sends a threatening message to Elijah (1 Ki 19:2). There is something of the blindness of idolatry that makes us unable to see the reality of God and our sin. There is a tragic irony here.

Elijah is afraid and runs. He goes to Beersheba and left his servant there (1 Ki 19:3). Elijah went alone, a day’s journey, and sits under a broom tree in the wilderness (1 Ki 19:4). He journeyed far out and was alone, as a broom tree grows only in the wilderness.

Eliah asked that he might die (1 Ki 19:4). This might be surprising considering how he had just experienced a great victory. Yet, instead of confronting Ahab and Jezebel in confidence, he bolted and even left his servant, to head out to the wilderness alone. This gives us a glimpse of his fear. His faith, however strong, was clearly conflicted. He seems to be like one without a hope, without a promised land. And these emotions arise in someone who is one of faith.

The Bible also gives us clues as to the source of his emotions. This is not someone with a lot of self-pity, or who is not farsighted enough to understand the wider vision. This is a response of one who had great hopes and incredible expectations that when disappointed, results in great despair. In 1 Kings 18, we saw that throughout the drought, Elijah had been faithfully bringing news of God’s judgement on His people for the past 3.5 years. He warned them about God’s judgement, watched as people suffered under God’s heavy hand of judgement and he longed that the people will turn and lived. He longed for revival and repentance to sweep the land, for the king to act like the king and for the people to live under godly authority. He might have wondered if he had failed again, and whether God’s covenantal judgement will be on His people again. Has nothing changed?

Paul writes something of this intense emotion in 2 Corinthians 1:8. The Bible gives us the vocabulary to grapple with life, adversity and affliction in a fallen wold.

How does a world outside of God deals with despair? How should Christians respond? This text shows us that the first step is to lament and go to God. Elijahs faith was being challenged, but his cries were directed to God. He is entrusting even his own life to God’s hand. He recognises that God is big enough, real enough to hold him. Lamentation — bringing your griefs to God — is also an act of faith.

(B) Provision and presence amidst a despairing world (1 Ki 19:5-14)

Elijah went to sleep and behold, an angel came, touched him and said to him “Arise and eat” (1 Ki 19:5). He sees that there was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water, and Elijah ate, drank and slept again (1 Ki 19:6). THe angel came to him a second time and told him to arise and eat again, for there was a great journey before him (1 Ki 19:7).

We see how God meets him in his need. Elijah had been on the run and must have been tired from the journey, and God provides for him food and drink. See God’s tender care! He sends a messenger who provides food and drink and also directs him to it!

This meal of cake baked on hot sons and a jar of water was also the first miracle he worked in 1 Kings 17:8-16. This meal for Elijah in 1 Kings 19 is a reminder, therefore, of God’s provision to him.

These verses also remind us of the everyday means of grace that we have in eating, drinking and sleeping. We may not think too much of these ordinary actions until we realise how poorly we function without these actions. The Psalms are full of these reminders about the blessings that these actions provide us with — Psalm 3:5. There is a supernatural grace to these ordinary routines and movements. It is good for our hearts and minds to bear these things and to remember them. The sleep that we have, the awaking to life, the everyday nourishment are things that are meant to call us to remember the God who is the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (Jas 1:17). He gives us every good and perfect gift.

In the second conversation, the angel tells Elijah that there is a great journey before him. Elijah still had to do something. God meets, provides and also empowers Elijah for the task ahead. All of this provision is to bring Elijah to Horeb, the mount of God (also known as Sinai) (1 Ki 19:8). Elijah makes a 40 days and 40 nights journey to this place. Recall how Moses was at Mt Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights were he met God. While Moses met God, the people turned into idolatry and turned away from God by making for themselves a Golden Calf. Moses please and interceded on behalf of this people. Horeb is therefore the mountain where God made covenant with His people.

God brings Elijah to this place and initiates a conversation with him (1 Ki 19:9). This is a God who invites his people to speak their mind and meet with Him. Elijah comes forth with an indictment (1 Ki 19:10) and we see something of the anger that he has.

How does God respond to Elijah’s lament and what is God revealing to Elijah about Himself? God is seen or felt but not known n the wind nor was He in the earthquake (1 Ki 19:11-12). God is not known in such spectacular show of force. This text makes it very clear where God is not.

Where is God known instead? Elijah hears a low whisper, or a thin silence (1 Ki 19:12). When he heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out, expecting to meet God (1 Ki 19:13). There, a voice comes to Elijah (1 Ki 19:13b). God is where His word is. The God who can summon a wind to tear a mountain, and shake the whole earth delights to make Himself known to us. He also delights to make His purposes known in His word, and He accomplishes these things in and through His word.

And it is important that Elijah knows this! There is some irony here too, for Elijah, the man of God who has been bringing His word to His people must now consider for himself how God makes Himself known. Where is God known? In His word.

God invites Elijah to share with Him again. What does it mean that the God of the universe, with all power and might, has allowed us, in His grace, to know Him through His word? Do you know Him through His word? His word gives us the language that we need for lamentation. His word is a treasure trove and contains all that we need for life and godliness. If we struggle in our despair, we have a bountiful resource in His word that we can pray and work out our struggles. The Psalms are full of them. We should familiarise ourselves with these things.

If we know the God who has made His purposes clear in the person of Jesus, then we will be able to sing the words in the song , “What’er my God ordains is right”:

My Father’s care is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all
And so to Him I leave it all

As 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 tells us, the only way we can have such confidence is if we build our lives on His word. His word has been given for our good and joy, and as we hide His word in our hearts, they provide us comfort and hope when the dark days come.

However, we see that Elijah is still stuck in his despair (1 Ki 19:14). What comfort it is that God does not rush Elijah along!

(C) Purpose and people in a redeemed world (1 Ki 19:15-18)

God tells Elijah to continue on his journey and tells him what to do (1 Ki 19:15-18). God suddenly speaks of something pertaining to the region, the nation and personal, prophetic thing office. God is telling Elijah that His covenantal purposes will continue. There is beauty in recognising that God is the covenant making and keeping God. He is the LORD who will fulfil all His purposes for the good of His people. His plans for this world, for His people and to continue to bring them His word will advance.

In His grace, He is also able to fold this despairing prophet into His covenantal, redemptive plans. This is the big God that we need. This is the God that takes the broken and assures them that His plans will carry on.

How can the covenant-making and keeping God be ok with a people that are like this? He continues with His covenantal plan because He will fulfil His covenantal purposes to their fullness. He will make a people for their possession!

And we have the incredible privilege os seeing how this redemption has been accomplished. God’s people waited and waited until the arrival of Jesus, the perfect prophet. He brought God’s word in perfection and bore all of the despair of the world. He comes to make all things right.

It is with this big picture in mind that we are meant to go about our lives and process our circumstances and situations that we face. We are to remember how God keeps His word at every step of the way and He folds us into His people. See 1 Kings 19:18. To the lonely, despairing prophet, God is kind to let Him know that he is not alone. God has always been about making a people for His own possession. The gates of hell, wicked Ahab and Jezebel will not prevail against them. God’s purposes and plans will prevail.

Paul also says something similar in 2 Corinthians 1:11. He encourages the Corinthians to continue to pray for the ministry and others. God has designed and prepared for His people to gather, and to gather in the local church. This is where we are meant to be too! Not a single one of us is meant to work out our Christian life, and the despair that we may face in life alone.