“ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.” 1 Kings 16:29-33 NLT
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 2 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” 5 So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” 1 Kings 17:1-7 NLT
Lord God of Israel and Judah,
Nearing the end of 1 Kings You Lord, introduced us to Your servant Elijah and the King of Israel Ahab and his wife Jezebel. No sign of tolerance from the King for You he prefers licence to sin. And further more persecution and suffering and a determination to wipe out those who worship You, God. We meet those who are vehemently anti You God. And they hate Your followers as much as You. Its the same today sometimes.
But there is Elijah. Sent to confront Ahab with a very harsh message, years of drought. He survives that and You tell him to hide. You protect him and miraculously feed him. He must have been afraid for his safety and wondering how he would manage in a drought as he fled. He could not have dreamed the solution! You do call us to difficult situations and You do give us time out to recover. You sometimes surprise us with how You answer our prayers! And sometimes we need to learn which battles our ours and which to leave alone. When to press on and when to leave alond.
One thing this passage reaffirms is that it is not always easy to follow You. There are those who oppose us. But You do teach and prepare us. Elijah learned when to be led away to refresh and rest and when to confront. Help me to know when to speak, when to rest and always to let You direct.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 22nd June 2025
When you feel weakest, dangers surround;
Subtle temptations, troubles abound;
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, often-time sad.
Keep on believing, Jesus is near,
Keep on believing, there’s nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way,
Faith in the night as well as the day.
If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be? Where would the fight?
But in the testings God gives to you,
Chances for proving what He can do.
Chorus
God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God’s ever near you, guiding you right;
He understands you, knows all you need,
Trusting in Him you’ll surely succeed.
Chorus
Let us press on then; never despair;
Live above feeling, victory’s there;
Jesus can keep us so near to Him,
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.
Chorus twice
Lyrics: Mildred Duff