Paul
the apostle told the people in Rome, “God
has not cast away his people which he foreknew. Do you not know what
the scripture says of Elijah? how he makes intercession to God
against Israel”,
and in
chapter eleven and verse three of Romans,
Paul referred to how Elijah said, “they
have killed your prophets, and dug down your altars”
where we read:
Lord,
they have killed your prophets, and dug down your altars;
and
I am left alone, and they seek my life.
The
verse begins, “Lord,
they have killed your prophets, and dug down your altars;”
Paul
began with the word, “Lord”
which means “he
to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of
deciding; master
and the title given to God the Messiah”, “they
have killed”
or “the opposing unbelievers have destroyed, allowed to perish,
extinguished and abolished” “your
prophets”
which refers to “God's one
who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman,
solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration,
especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate
to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”,
“and
dug down”
which means “demolished and destroyed” “your
altars” or
“God's place for slaying and burning victims used for whole burnt
offerings”.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
I am left alone, and they seek my life.”
Paul
added the words, “and
I am left alone”
which means “was Elijah without a companion, forsaken, destitute of
help and single”, “and
they seek”
or “those opposed to Elijah aim for, strive after, crave and
demand”
“my life”
which refers to “Elijah's seat of feelings, desires, affections and
aversions”. Paul shared how Elijah felt “alone” and “searched
for” by people who opposed him.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how the prophet “Elijah”
felt as though he were the only person who followed after God.
“Elijah” looked at the evidence around him and concluded
that people opposed to God “killed” all of His “prophets”
and tore down His “altars of worship”. “Elijah”
felt isolated and knew those opposed to him such as “Ahab and
Jezebel” desired to take his life. This is the “prophet”
who interceded on behalf of “Israel”, and he knew they
would not be forsaken by God. Jesus Christ came to “save”
people in Israel as well as people all over the world. Though there
may be “opposition” and attempts to “destroy” “altars of
God”, the “gospel” of Jesus Christ continues, and those who are
wise shall yield themselves to God's plan of “salvation” today.
Next
time we see Paul refer to how God told Elijah,
“I
have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the
knee”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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