Sermon Study for June 9 th, 2013-3 rd Sunday After Pentecost! 1 Kings 17:17-24 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son? 19 Give me your son, Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, O Lord my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die? 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the Lord, O Lord my God, let this boy s life return to him! 22 The Lord heard Elijah s cry, and the boy s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, Look, your son is alive! 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.
I. Background: A. This incident occurs early in the career of Elijah the prophet. Some of the big events in his life were still in the future. Keep them in mind, as you see Elijah himself grow in his trust in God. Compare this example to where Elijah would be later on Mt. Carmel where God would prove his power and the futility of man-made gods. B. Elijah s ministry seemed to be one always on the run - a ministry full of suffering and trials. C. Elijah would not always be a model example of faith = he had his doubts, his worries, and his complaints but God would work through him to accomplish amazing things in Israel. D. There would be no more rain in Israel - the famine brought Elijah and this family together. God had a plan even in the worst of circumstances.
II. The Trees: ה ב י ת ו י ה י ] ו י ה י א ח ר ה ד ב ר ים ה א ל ה ח ל ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ח ל יו ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו נ ש מ ה ו י ה י א ח ר and it happened after (Qal imf Vav 3s) Elijah had been provided for in the desert by the Kerith Ravine by the ravins. When that ran out, he had been housed and provided for by the widow at Zarephath. Now the next line of the saga continues.
ה ב י ת ו י ה י ] ו י ה י א ח ר ה ד ב ר ים ה א ל ה ח ל ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ח ל יו ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו נ ש מ ה these ה ד ב ר ים words, these things took place (Mpl) to be ill, to ח ל ה be empty, to lack, remorseful, to do penance (QPerf3ms ) Hard to translate this word in the context. NIV choses to not translate the word. After God had provided for the family and had preserved them, it perhaps would seem a bit of a plot twist to then have the son get so sick that he s about to die. The context of the word to lack, or be empty is an interesting picture considering the famine they were enduring.
ה ב י ת ו י ה י ] ו י ה י א ח ר ה ד ב ר ים ה א ל ה ח ל ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ח ל יו ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו נ ש מ ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ה ב י ת ו י ה י ח ל יו son of the woman (ms & fs) owner of the house (fs & ms) and his sickness became (Qal imf Vav, 3ms & ms3ms) Benjamin = Son of my right hand The Son is not identified or the woman by name. But nevertheless they go down in history as being witnesses to the extraordinary grace of the Almighty God.
ה ב י ת ו י ה י ] ו י ה י א ח ר ה ד ב ר ים ה א ל ה ח ל ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ח ל יו ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו נ ש מ ה very strong, hard, firm until which not left in him Nifil,Perf, 3fs ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו
ה ב י ת ו י ה י ] ו י ה י א ח ר ה ד ב ר ים ה א ל ה ח ל ה ב ן ה א ש ה ב ע ל ת ח ל יו ח ז ק מ א ד ע ד א ש ר ל א נ ו ת ר ה ב ו נ ש מ ה breath, נ ש מ ה life, spirit The boy did not make it. But it sets up the account for the most spectacular of miracles and showings of God s mercy and love even in this case to foreigners. In the context that s huge because God was in some ways not showing his favor to his own people at the time. PPT And it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became ill, and his sickness became very severe until which his spirit was not left in him.. Thoughts:
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב and she ו ת אמ ר said Qal Imf Vav 3fs א ל א ל י הו מ ה ל י ו ל ך to Elijah (My God) what do you to me? The play on Elijah s name in the context. In a way, Elijah was God s representation on earth at the time. Elijah had power that was given to him by God to prove his message.
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב א יש ה א ל ה י ם ב את א ל י man of God (did) you come to me (QalPerf2ms ) The word for God the woman uses is the word the Jewish people used to describe God s almighty power. This is not the tetragrammaton here. The woman s first thought was that Elijah had brought this disaster upon her and her family. Isn t that often our reaction when things are going well to forget to thank God but as soon as something goes wrong we re ready to pounce on him.
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב to ל ה ז כ יר remember (hifil -to remind) Hifil Inf Construct א ת ע ו נ י the sin, the guilt (fs1s) my sin and to kill ו ל ה מ ית Hifil Inf Construct my son א ת ב נ י (ms1s) The woman perhaps out of guilt or shame assumes that Elijah was there to punish her for some past sin. We should not read too much into the context here to figure out what sin she was guilty of.
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב PPT And she said to Elijah, What do you man of God to me? Did you come to me to remind (me) of my sin and to kill my son?
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו ו י אמ ר א ל יה and he said to her (Qal Imf vav 3ms) (Particle + Prep 3fs) give to ת נ י ל י me (Qal Imv fs) Hebrew poetry and prose like parallelism. Sometimes you ll find acrostic patterns especially in the Psalms. The prophet Elijah does not answer her accusation but simply takes immediate action. Sometimes actions speak louder than words? The word to give is Natan/ Nathan.
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו your son א ת ב נ ך (ms2fs) and grasp ו י ק ח הו him, captured, carried (Qal Imf vav 3ms3ms Notice how the woman does not question Elijah. She simply allows him to take her son. How easily do we turn things over to our God when we have challenges? Elijah knew exactly what to do. He had confidence in his God. Was this simply because he had seen God already provide and protect him, perhaps? But maybe we can give Elijah more credit.
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו from her מ ח יק ה lap ms3fs and he ו י ע ל הו lifted him, and he went up with him (Hifil Imf vav 3ms3ms The word has the idea of she was enclosing her son in the front of her body where loved ones (infants and animals) are pressed closely. I think we can all imagine the sorrow of this woman. (Story of infant funeral on rez)
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו the upper א ל ה ע ל י ה room (fs) א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם where he was inhabiting, staying, living (Qal Part ms) he laid ו י ש כ ב הו him down (Hifil, impf, vav 3ms3ms) upon his ע ל מ ט ת ו bed (fs3ms)
1 Kings 17:19 א] ו י אמ ר א ל יה ת נ י ל י א ת ב נ ך ו י ק ח הו מ ח יק ה ו י ע ל הו א ל ה ע ל י ה א ש ר הו א י ש ב ש ם ו י ש כ ב הו ע ל מ ט ת ו PPT And he said to her, Give to me your son, And he grasped him from her lap and went up with him to the upper room where he was staying and laid him down upon his bed. 1 Kings 17:20 ע ל ה א ל מ נ ה ([ ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל ה י ה ג ם א ת ב נ ה א ש ר א נ י מ ת ג ו ר ר ע מ ה ה ר ע ו ת ל ה מ ית and he ו י ק ר א cried out, called out (Qal impf 3ms)
1 Kings 17:20 ע ל ה א ל מ נ ה ([ ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל ה י ה ג ם א ת ב נ ה א ש ר א נ י מ ת ג ו ר ר ע מ ה ה ר ע ו ת ל ה מ ית to the א ל י הו ה LORD and he said ו י אמ ר (Qal impf vav 3ms) LORD my י הו ה א ל ה י God also ה ג ם Here the tetragrammaton is used. The word LORD in the OT signifies the God of free and faithful love = Jehovah or Yahweh. From the root verb I am. Elijah calls to the LORD and acknowledges his power and authority over life and death.
1 Kings 17:20 ע ל ה א ל מ נ ה ([ ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל ה י ה ג ם א ת ב נ ה א ש ר א נ י מ ת ג ו ר ר ע מ ה ה ר ע ו ת ל ה מ ית ע ל ה א ל מ נ ה א ש ר א נ י מ ת ג ו ר ר to the widow who I m staying with (Hitpolel part ms) Elijah also echoes the thought of the woman, that God must have done this. How often don t we try to make bargains with God or give him advice when things don t go our way? Shouldn t this woman be rewarded for taking care of me? is basically the question that Elijah is asking isn t he? Shouldn t we be rewarded for doing things for God?
1 Kings 17:20 ע ל ה א ל מ נ ה ([ ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל ה י ה ג ם א ת ב נ ה א ש ר א נ י מ ת ג ו ר ר ע מ ה ה ר ע ו ת ל ה מ ית ה ר ע ו ת ל ה מ ית א ת ב נ ה to do wickedness, inflict damage (Hifil Perf, 2ms) to kill her son (Hifil Inf Cons) Does God inflict wickedness or damage? What do we say to someone who seems like their luck has run out? At the end of the day, God has ever right to bring to life and to end life. His timing and plans are not always what syncs up with ours. PPT And he cried out to the LORD and he said, LORD my God, Have you also inflicted this damage upon the widow who I m staying with to kill her son?
1 Kings 17:21 ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה ][ ו י ת מ ד ד ע ל ה י ל ד ש ל ש פ ע מ ים ע ל ק ר ב ו נ פ ש ה י ל ד ה ז ה א ל ה י ת ש ב נ א and he ו י ת מ ד ד stretched (Hitpoel, imf, vav, 3ms) upon the ע ל ה י ל ד child (ms) ש ל ש פ ע מ ים ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה three times (fpl) and he called out to the LORD (Qal Imf 3ms) Why does Elijah do this? Is Elijah still relying on his own worldly based cures or is this something else? What is the significance of three times?
1 Kings 17:21 ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה ][ ו י ת מ ד ד ע ל ה י ל ד ש ל ש פ ע מ ים ע ל ק ר ב ו נ פ ש ה י ל ד ה ז ה א ל ה י ת ש ב נ א ו י אמ ר י הו ה א ל ה י and he said, Lord my God give back ת ש ב נ א please! (Qal Imf, 3fs Jussive) נ פ ש ה י ל ד ה ז ה the life of the child (fs + ms) upon his ע ל ק ר ב ו inner parts (ms3ms) Repeats his plea but this time turns to God and asks him to restore the child s life. In our prayers we can be bold and ask for anything according to God s will. Nothing too big or small.
1 Kings 17:21 ו י ק ר א א ל י הו ה ו י אמ ר י הו ה ][ ו י ת מ ד ד ע ל ה י ל ד ש ל ש פ ע מ ים ע ל ק ר ב ו נ פ ש ה י ל ד ה ז ה א ל ה י ת ש ב נ א PPT And he stretched out upon the child three times and he called out to the Lord and he said, LORD my God, give back please the life upon his inner parts of the child. 1 Kings 17:22 23»D BæΩ D @ @ñω: W Vø øh P < HõΩ D >ø Y Sæ N: Y Ω Z @Ω@>êΩ D Hµ8 H @ VΩ : >ñ @> DP L YΩ D @22 }[ ו י ק ח א ל י הו א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה ה ב י ת ה ו י ת נ הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו ו י ש מ ע י הו ה And the LORD heard (Qal Imf 3ms) God acts upon the prayer of Elijah. God always knew what was going to happen.
1 Kings 17:22 23»D BæΩ D @ @ñω: W Vø øh P < HõΩ D >ø Y Sæ N: Y Ω Z @Ω@>êΩ D Hµ8 H @ VΩ : >ñ @> DP L YΩ D @22 }[ ו י ק ח א ל י הו א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה ה ב י ת ה ו י ת נ הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו ב ק ו ל א ל י הו the voice of Elijah (ms) life) and (the ו ת ש ב returned (Qal imf, vav, 3fs) Verb links to the life the life of נ פ ש ה י ל ד the boy (fs + ms) upon his ע ל ק ר ב ו inner parts God did exactly what Elijah requested.
1 Kings 17:22 23»D BæΩ D @ @ñω: W Vø øh P < HõΩ D >ø Y Sæ N: Y Ω Z @Ω@>êΩ D Hµ8 H @ VΩ : >ñ @> DP L YΩ D @22 }[ ו י ק ח א ל י הו א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה ה ב י ת ה ו י ת נ הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו and he lived ו י ח י (Qal imf, vav, 3ms) ו י ק ח א ל י הו And Elijah took (Qal Imf vav, 3ms) the boy א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה and descended from the upper room the house ה ב י ת ה (ms) It s that simple. The son was alive and well again. No need for extraneous detail. A miracle had taken place.
1 Kings 17:22 23»D BæΩ D @ @ñω: W Vø øh P < HõΩ D >ø Y Sæ N: Y Ω Z @Ω@>êΩ D Hµ8 H @ VΩ : >ñ @> DP L YΩ D @22 }[ ו י ק ח א ל י הו א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה ה ב י ת ה ו י ת נ הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו ו י ת נ הו ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך and he gave him to his mother (Qal Imf, 3ms3ms) and he said to her (Qal vav 3ms) see, your son (is) alive. Could you imagine the sight of this joyful reunion? The mother one minute thought she had lost her so and the next he s back in her arms alive and well.
1 Kings 17:22 23»D BæΩ D @ @ñω: W Vø øh P < HõΩ D >ø Y Sæ N: Y Ω Z @Ω@>êΩ D Hµ8 H @ VΩ : >ñ @> DP L YΩ D @22 }[ ו י ק ח א ל י הו א ת ה י ל ד ו י ר ד הו מ ן ה ע ל י ה ה ב י ת ה ו י ת נ הו ר א י ח י ב נ ך ל א מ ו ו י אמ ר א ל י הו PPT And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah and the life of the boy returned upon his inner parts and he lived. And Elijah took the boy and descended from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother and he said to her, Look your son (is) alive!
1 Kings 17:24 א יש א ל ה ים ע ת ה ז ה י ד ע ת י כ י {[ ו ת אמ ר ה א ש ה א ל א ל י הו א ת ה ו ד ב ר י הו ה ב פ יך א מ ת פ ו ת אמ ר ה א ש ה א ל א ל י ה ו and the woman said (Qal, Imf vav, 3fs) To Elijah now this ע ת ה ז ה Hebrew loves the vav constructions to further the events of a story along. And this happened, and he said, and they did, and she replied. I know י ד ע ת י (Qal Perf, 1s) כ י א יש א ל ה ים that a man of God Before the woman may have known that Elijah was a man of God but now she knows by experience that Elijah is a man of the God.
1 Kings 17:24 א יש א ל ה ים ע ת ה ז ה י ד ע ת י כ י {[ ו ת אמ ר ה א ש ה א ל א ל י הו א ת ה ו ד ב ר י הו ה ב פ יך א מ ת פ ו ד ב ר י הו ה the Word of the LORD from your ב פ יך mouth (ms2ms) What this prophet speaks is directly from the LORD. This miracle did not happen because of Elijah but because of the LORD. א מ ת truth The Word of the LORD contains no fallacies. We can have 100% confidence in what God tells us in his Word. PPT And the woman said to Elijah, Now (after) this I know that you are man of God and that the Word of the LORD from your mouth (is) truth.
III.Some random thoughts: A.We have a habit of complaining that God is not being fair with us. We look around at people living in sin and think of them as living it up out of control and getting away with it. Then when problems occur in our lives we complain to God saying he s not being fair because we ve done so much for him. We deserve to have him pay it forward to us. B.How do you see ourselves, our members playing the victims when it comes to suffering and trials? C.How can even the worst possible circumstances be used as a place for evangelizing? How have we sometimes looked for just the right opportunity for talking about God with someone when the opportunity is starring us in the face? D.Go back to the examples of where it seemed like God was taking it out on people because of sin. Hurricanes, disasters, etc. Sometimes get people talking this way.
E.How do we rationalize things with God when it comes to him being fair with us? How does this rationalization also lead to bargaining with God? F.How is this miracle less about the raising of the child and more about God s grace to us? G.What was the truth that hit the mother of this child? The truth she had been missing before the miracle took place? H.This text is one that is easy just to tell the story of the poor woman, her son, and Elijah. You might even approach it by looking at the story from their different perspectives, and then look at it from God s perspective. I. You can play on the idea At Least It s Not Raining! IV.Law/Gospel: A.Specific law - malady - We often fail to put our fear, love, and trust in God in all things. Instead we try to figure them out on our own.
B.Gospel justification: God does everything to make us whole again. God s Word is powerful and it can take even a cold lifeless body or a cold dead heart and make it alive once again. C.Gospel sanctification: Once we know the truth we need to make sure others know it. V.Theme and parts: A.At Least it s Not Raining! 1.How we think God should treat us 2.How God does treat us better than we deserved