Prophet – What Does This Mean?

Sunday School: Elijah, The Man of God when There were Few

Encore Post: Elijah is not credited with any of the books of the Bible, but he is remembered as one of the most powerful prophets of the entire Old Testament. His stories are legendary for those of us who listened to our moms and dads read bible stories before bed. He was the prophet who prophesied a 3 year drought. He was the prophet who worked the miracle of flour and oil, and raised the widow’s son from the dead. He was the prophet who called down fire on Mount Carmel in the midst of the Baal priests. And we can’t forget about him being taken up to heaven by a whirlwind and a chariot of fire.

Elijah was the Lord’s man. But even after great triumph and acts of the Lord, Elijah shows himself to be afraid. I should say, it is difficult to determine if Elijah is afraid or he is tired of preaching to people who do not believe. You can read Dr. Maier’s great commentary on Kings from CPH for that answer. But what we do know is that Elijah runs to Mount Horeb wishing to die because he thinks he is the only prophet of the Lord left. The Lord is merciful to Elijah. The Lord tells him the truth of the situation. The Lord has 7,000 men who have not bowed down to Baal.

What a great comfort to Elijah! He is not working in vain. The Lord worked to bring about repentance and faith in the time of great apostasy then, and He still works now through the preaching of His Word. What great comfort for us now! The Word of the Lord remains the same.

In the days of Malachi, the Lord promised to send Elijah prior to the great day of the Lord. Jesus plainly tells his disciples that John was the Elijah. And we must not forget that Elijah was on the mountain of transfiguration with Jesus and Moses, speaking about Jesus’ own exodus.

What a man of the Lord! Elijah was used by the Lord to bring about repentance and faith when there were few who believed and worshiped the true God of Israel. Thanks be to God that in these days, where the world appears to be going in that same way, there are those who preach the same message of Elijah.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
Christ Lutheran Church
Noblesville, IN

Sunday School: Ezekiel, A Prophet in Exile

Encore Post: We actually know a good bit about Ezekiel because he tells us as much about himself. He was the son of a priest in Jerusalem. Having that connection, he probably had great knowledge about the temple. He was married, and he lived in Tel-abib near the Chebar canal, and he had his own house. He paid attention to the words of Lord, that the exile was not going to be a short venture.

Judah was facing her worst defeat ever. People were being ripped from their homes and sent into exile. And we know why this was happening. God let it happen because of their manifest sin against him, particularly running after other gods.

This was Ezekiel’s message: Judah was ripe for the Lord’s judgment. One vision that he saw was that of the Lord’s Spirit leaving the temple. This may or may not have happened in “real life,” but what is clear in the vision is that gracious presence of the Lord was leaving the people of Jerusalem. As we remember from a few weeks ago, the people would know that a prophet was in their midst. And this came to be known as Ezekiel’s prophecies came true. The exiled community began to recognize their sin and need of forgiveness.

And the Lord, through Ezekiel showed mercy to the people. Ezekiel’s vision of the Glory of the Lord at the beginning of the book shows a throne with wheels within wheels, implying that the Lord is mobile. While the gracious presence of the Lord was not seen by Judah for a time, it did not mean that the Lord was far from them. The Law was doing its work bringing them to repentance making them ready for the Gospel.

What we see in Ezekiel is the promised hope found in Jesus, the Good Shepherd who would come and seek the lost. He would bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak. He would be the one to feed the sheep on good pasture.

Ezekiel, a prophet of the exile, gave comfort and hope to those people who had little hope. Through Ezekiel, the Lord promised comfort and future peace, peace that would come to full fruition in the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
Christ Lutheran Church
Noblesville, IN

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