Sculpture of Elijah
Elijah, Photo by TheoJunior; Flickr
Meditation
The Sixth Day of Lent brings angels into the mix. The Old Testament Lesson in I Kings reveals the low moments of a great leader—a prophet of God, Elijah, who witnessed the King and Queen of Israel systematically murder all the other prophets and received Jezebel’s threats of extinction. So Elijah retreated in fear and exhaustion.
Even Christ withdrew after a hectic day of teaching and healing. There is a time for withdrawing to rejuvenate the spirit.
Resting under the juniper tree, in the hills, momentarily safe from Jezebel, Elijah falls asleep. God provides a miracle of food—baked bread for Elijah to eat.
When I was in college, long before cell phones, electronic transfers and internet, I was in Cambridge, England, alone for the holidays. I waited for my mother to send me a check on my account in California. Time passed and the mail didn’t produce a check. Christmas came and went, I was down to 10 pence/25 cents and I bought a loaf of bread and survived another three days on bread. The mail from the USA offered no relief. No check. No money from my mother.
However, a small envelope—without return address—with an unfamiliar scrawl of my name and address produced no note, no explanation, but did include a single pound note (about $2.50). It was enough to buy more bread and some honey. With tea, honey, and bread I survived another week until my check arrived (just as my roommates returned from their holidays).
My “angel” had delivered me bread—enough to survive on and continue my work. I praised God, and continue to praise God for I never learned who had done it. My friends in the local church denied they had done it. But I learned a lesson. God will provide—ALWAYS. God promises to watch over us, hence we all have guardian angels assigned to the task. Elijah’s angel materialized to bring him food for the journey. Many stories of visitations by angels are out there. Whether you believe in those kind of miracles today or not, it is enough to believe that God’s promises are true and worthy.
We can trust God and depend on that provision—against the odds and even with a miracle.
The New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews we are reminded of Christ’s sacrifice bringing us into the family of God and becoming saved. We become brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ became like us—human—different from the angels, and tells us to trust God. While angels help, they are not special of themselves, (hence we don’t worship them) but they are angels of the Lord. They are messengers of God, doing what God asks. Their provision functions as God’s provision. Christ saves us and the angels work for him to assist in our protection and care.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for this Season of Lent.
Lenten Music
He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee Op 70 No. 7 – Elijah – Score of Felix Mendelssohn & Piano
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Lent Art
Jezebel and Ahab Meet Elijah
Jezebel and Ahab Meet Elijah; Jezabel and Ahab Meeting Elijah in Naboth’s Vineyard Giclee. Print by Sir Frank Dicksee. Wikipedia CCL
Elias (Part II) – Op 70 – Atlanta Symphony
Season of Lent Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032;1%20Kings%2019:1-8;Hebrews%202:10-18&version=KJV;ERV;NCV;GNT;NIV
(multiple versions)
Sixth Day of Lent
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 32:8-9
King James Version (KJV)
8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Season of Lent Hymns
Elijah’s Song – Matisyahu
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
King Ahab on coin of Israel, Wikipedia, CCL
19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
Jezebel on coin of Israel; Guillaume Rouille (1518?-1589)Wikipedia CCL
3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.
Arise and Eat ~ Elijah and the Angel, Detail from an embroidered cope in the Dominican convent at Stone, Staffordshire. Photo by Fr Lawrence, flickr
6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.
Ángel. Statue of an angel in the roof of Caixanova’s building (1953). Vigo (Galicia, Spain); Photo by Elentir; flickr
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Prophet Elijah on Mt. Horeb, a Greek Orthodox icon. Wikipedia, CCL
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Dear God, Thank you God for giving us Christ to save us and bring us into the family of God. Thank you for stories of angels and miracles to remind us that you take care of all our needs. Help us to trust, always, for you are faithful. In Jesus name. Amen.
Season of Lent Music
Guardian Angel from Heaven So Bright – Sister of Notre Dame
Faith is the Victory – John Yates
Season of Lent Humor
“Take Me Away, Lord,” says Elijah
Jeff Larson. the backpew.com Used by permission
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in this Season of Lent.
Conclusion
On the Sixth Day of Lent, the Scriptures tell us that Elijah retreated in fear and fatigue. For me that is comforting that even a great prophet, such as Elijah can have a weak moment, when his ‘trust and faith’ wavers a little. But God didn’t leave him there. God empowered Elijah—first with food and then with the encounter of the angel so he knew the miracle was clearly from God and could give God the credit.
The miracles I encounter help me believe the power of God can accomplish anything. Christ saved us; brought us into the family. Now we can trust and obey.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins, will also do.
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