“Rise and Eat” (1 Kings 19:7-8)

S-1332 11SAP/3B 7/29/12 Hymns: (O) #277; (S) #330; L.S. #306; #310; #312; (C) # 47

Text: 1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:17-5:2; John 6:35-51

Theme: “Rise and Eat” (1 Kings 19:7-8)

Question: “Have you been invited for dinner?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O.T. lesson: “And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’ And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:7-8).

Beloved in the Lord, last year while on the Holy Land Nour Tour, my dear friend from Bethlehem invited my wife and me for supper at his home. We left the Nativity hotel and went to his house for the evening. When we got there, his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and the future mother-in-law of his daughter where all in the kitchen; and in the yard another man was manning the grill. After about an hour or so, the food was placed on the table and my friend George said, “Let us rise and eat.”

When we sat around the table it was a beautiful sight. There was stuffed zucchini and grape leaves, grilled lamb chops and chicken breasts, tubule, humus, rice and many other dishes. There were only 11 of us, but there was enough food for more people—it was a beautiful banquet. We ate and when I said, “I’ve had enough,” my friend kept piling it on. I remember that night very well because we were treated as royalty. It was a night to remember with wonderful company, food and great conversations.

I am certain it was a very memorable day for Elijah also. His journey began in fear and ended up filled with faith. He was running for his life and ended up conversing with the Lord of Life. He wished to die, but God in His grace granted him new life.

The author of Kings informs us that Ahab tells his wicked wife Jezebel all that Elijah had done—killing the 450 prophets of Baal. Having heard this news, she promises revenge on Elijah: “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow’” (1 Kings 19:2). The author uses specific terms as a play on words. The irony about the term “messenger”, in the Hebrew language can be translated as angel or messenger. A little later, (which are the verses of our text), the author uses the same term for the angel who comes to the aid of Elijah.

Wicked Jezebel sends a messenger of death, but God sends a messenger of life. Jezebel sends someone to do her dirty work, but God comes to do the good work. The Angle of the Lord—the Pre-Incarnate Christ comes to His rescue, touches Elijah and says to Him, “Rise and Eat!” Twice the Angel of the Lord appears on the scene, to comfort, to strengthen and to encourage Elijah not to be afraid, but to go on in His might; and He feeds Him because the journey ahead is too great for him.

Here the Angel of the Lord affirms to Elijah and to all people the journey of life is too difficult if traveled alone. By His gracious visit, the Angel gives Him food and drink so that Elijah may continue the vocation and ministry the Lord has called Him to. What grace God showed to His servant Elijah in not giving him what he asked for, but reserved something better for him.

And so it is for us as His follower. God’s grace continues to be poured upon us to remind us that: Without His help, we can’t make the journey. But with God’s help, the journey becomes possible, plausible and pleasant; because of His strength and might at work in our lives. PAUSE.

This is a blessed story to remind us that, we, too, are invited to “rise and eat.” Week after week the Lord of heaven and earth gives us His food and drink to sustain us on the journey of life. Not only to sustain us as it did Elijah for 40 days/nights, but throughout our earthly pilgrimage to continue in our vocation and ministry of the Lord. We meet in this place to receive from Him the heavenly food which helps us overcome every messenger of evil and death, and receive the message of life and salvation.

Even though Elijah, the mighty man of God had done great and awesome deeds—specifically killing the 450 prophets of Baal and other miracles, he ran for his life and wanted to die. Yet the Angle of the Lord came to him, touched and fed him.

Thus we learn from this that there is nothing that we bring to the table when we are in Jesus’ presence. Rather we come as a sinner in need of a Savior, a sick person in need of a doctor, a sheep in search of a shepherd, a corpse in search of life! The prodigal son didn’t buy himself a new garment when he returned to his father. He came just as he was—tattered, and torn. And what did the Father do? He RAN to him. So Jesus comes running for us. He is not put off by the filth of our sin. Rather, wearing the blood stained and cross marred garments of human flesh He extends the heavenly welcome of forgiveness to us as redeemed sinners.

He touches us here in this place with His Word and soon with His heavenly food at His Altar. Here in this place, we are touched by the pierced hands of the One whose might is revealed by destroying every enemy of ours—sin, death, and the devil.

You and I have been touched by the Incarnate Christ. Touched by the mighty and powerful waters of Baptism; touched by the joyful proclamation of sins forgiven; touched by His hands as He feeds us the blessed body and gives us to drink from His precious blood.

This is what we need for the journey. This is not a luxury, but a necessity. We need Him to touch us, feed us and bless us. We need to hear often the words from His lips saying: “Rise and Eat!” Why? PAUSE.

Because, like the body, the soul needs bread or it will die. But unlike with our bodies, stuff that just looks like bread will not do the job. Some set before the hungry soul the loaves of man’s own works. But such bread is less than cardboard with no vitamins of forgiveness. Others serve up the packaged loaves of man’s own theology. But such bread is full of holes, hold­ing no sure promise of an eternal home. Where do you find the bread of heaven? The hungry soul needs to know.

In Jesus! When He described Himself as the bread of life in our Gospel reading today, He had more than flour, shortening, and water in mind. He meant His perfect life that would fulfill all of God’s commands and His precious blood that would be spilt in full payment for all sins. The soul, famished because of sin, can feast on Jesus’ payment and be filled. The soul, hungry for a perfect life to present to God in the judgment, can reach for Jesus’ right­eousness and be satisfied. For the hungry sinner, Jesus is not just good bread. He’s the ONLY bread that came down from heaven.

Now wonder, Elijah was strengthened for the task at hand. No wonder with the strength of God and the food he received; he went on serving God until the Lord took him home. Likewise, we need this food to go on in our ministry of serving in His Kingdom. PAUSE.

O faithful children of God: Rise as forgiven sinners and come to Him who has come to feed you for Life.

Rise as the Redeemed people of God and come to Him who has paid the penalty for your sins.

Rise as the precious people of God and come to dine with Him who is here to serve you not for 40 days, but your life’s journey.

Rise as the blood-bought children of God and come to Him who invites you now to eat at His table and as He gives you with His own hands the heavenly manna.

Rise and eat—the feast is ready and all are welcome. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Pity Party” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

S-1196 5SAP/3C Hymns 6/27/10, (O) #400; S #54; L.S. #424; #354; #428; (C) #451 vv.1, 4

Texts: 1 Kings 19:9-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62

Theme: “Pity Party” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

Question: Have you ever felt sorry for yourself?

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for this fifth Sunday after Pentecost is from the O.T. lesson: “Behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.’” (1 Kings 19:9-10).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, have you ever felt like having a pity party? Have you ever invited these three people to your pity party, I, me, and myself? You know, we do that often whether we admit it or not. Last week we had friends over from ND and started playing cards. Well, it wasn’t my night. The ladies were whooping us up. It seems like everyone else had good cards except me. I was always close but no cigar. My face showed that I wasn’t very happy. And it seems like adding salt to the wound everyone was picking on me. You know that looks on your face without a smile and the lips sticking out. One of our guests Blake said: “Poor pastor everyone is picking on him!” That is of course how I felt.

We all like pity parties. We like to dwell in misery and misery likes company. Today, we see the mighty man and messenger of God Elijah whose name means Yahweh is my God having a pity party. This mighty messenger of God has done mighty miracles of raising the son of the woman of Zarephath, withheld rain from Israel for 3 ½ years and brought fire from the sky that consumed the altar, stone and offering and afterwards gave the command to kill the 450 prophets of Baal on top of Mt. Carmel.

Today, as you look at this man, with all of his credential, his many victories for the Lord, you wonder why would he be running for his life and why is he having a pity party. We meet Elijah as he has an encounter with Yahweh on Mount Horeb. Recently Elijah had been on another mountain, Carmel, where he challenged the prophets of Baal and demonstrated the truth about Yahweh (1 Kg 18). This infuriates Jezebel, so he runs for his life. Once he makes it to the desert, however, Elijah crawls under a tree and prays not for deliverance but for death. But just as God had sustained him once with ravens and again through the widow of Zarephath, now He sends an angel to feed him and send him on his way to Horeb, the mountain of God (19:1-8).

Once he arrives, the greeting is pointed. The Word of Yahweh comes to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” We could infer by this question of God these thoughts: "and not where you are supposed to be?" Elijah explains that he has been very zealous for Yahweh; that of the prophets he alone remains alive; and that the people of Israel seek to kill him. But the response is simply the instruction to go and stand before Yahweh Himself. As Yahweh approaches, the wind breaks rocks, the earth shakes, and a fire rages. But God was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire. We might say that these come “before Yahweh,” that is, they signal His advent. But when Yahweh Himself arrives, He arrives in quietness (v. 12). Elijah recognizes this and covers his face before God.

Beloved in the Lord, don’t look to God in the earthquake, or in the strong wind. Remember His strength and power is found in such gifts as love and joy, peace, patience and kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Hollywood wants us to see power in the guy who is muscular, the one who has the largest toys, biggest guns, the biggest bank account or the one who goes out to conquer the weak and the small. Human wisdom is truly something else, isn’t it!

Where is He? Holy Scripture paints this serene picture—in the small still voice! Where is His strength and power? The Apostle Paul put it this way, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)! Do you want to see power, don’t go to Hollywood, or the races or the Bull riding event that is going to took place this weekend—this is nothing but man’s power which is no power at all. But, instead open God’s Holy Book and there read of the spectacular, superb and splendid power of God made manifest to all. You will see His power in the fruit of the Spirit which sprouted forth from the Tree of Life, that is, from the Cross... It is finished!

In the cross comes the power to live and move and have our being. The cross is the power that has changed our lot from being outsiders to insiders. That is the same power that the Lord offers Elijah today. “Where are you Elijah?” Inferring: “Where you are not supposed to be!”

God was saying to Elijah, “You don’t belong here. This is not my mission and ministry for you. Get up and get going. You are my man Elijah. I have a mission for you.” Hearing the Word, Elijah wouldn’t look back. He gets down from Mt. of Horeb and returns to the Dessert of Damascus to carry on the mission the God of Israel sent him to accomplish. Yahweh tells him. “And when you get there, do this: anoint Hazael king over Aram; anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel; and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat as your successor. Jehu will kill any­one who escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha any who escapes Jehu.” Then Yahweh adds: “I have kept seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed down to Baal or kissed him.” God has called Elijah, and God expects Elijah to heed His call. It doesn’t matter to God that prophets throughout the country have been killed and that his life is in danger, and so it shouldn’t matter to Elijah. “Get back and get going,” is the Word of the Lord.

The story continues with Elijah passing on the mantel of the Prophet to Elisha, that he has done enough. When Elisha asks to return home first to kiss mother and father good-bye, Elijah knows that this will not do. He must set his face resolutely toward Jerusalem, or at least proclaim Him who can and will and did - even Jesus! With this rebuke of the younger man, in Godly wisdom, the younger Elisha whose name means “God is Salvation,” goes so far as to burn the yoke of his oxen then sacrifice the beasts to feed the people. He is resolute. In doing this, the younger soon-to-be prophet of God was strengthened to preach to ears that would not hear, to hearts that would not be turned. Indeed, this prophet spoke of God’s drought, went to bless a widow with a miraculous outpouring of oil - reminiscent of Elijah, but with a double portion of the Holy Spirit. He spoke forcefully against sin among his own people. He knew the strength was in the Word, not the strong wind, in the Earthquake of Good Friday, not of man! PAUSE.

Can you relate to Elijah? We, too have times of victory when God seems so real and so powerful. Then comes the discouraging moments when we feel surrounded by skeptics, cut of from believers, and scorned for our Christian commitment. Like Elijah we run away and wallow in self-pity. Lonely, afraid, discouraged, and depressed, we desperately need help.

And certainly there is help in the mighty powerful Word of God. And that power is ours. You and I may feel like having a pity party. Elijah felt it too. But God is our power, strength and confidence. In the book of Matthew we read, “With God ALL (emphases mine) things are possible” (19:26). And, indeed it is.

Elijah heard the call and went. Elisha continued in the spirit and might of Elijah the ministry of salvation to the people of Israel. But it is the Son of Mary, who indeed heard and carried out completely and fully the Command of God. He came not only for the house of Israel, but for the world’s redemption and fulfilled it on the cross. Now there is the power of God. In the weakness of the Man made flesh we see life. In the blood of the Man made flesh we receive forgiveness. And from the lips of the Man made flesh we are welcomed to the family. There is power in the cross to be sure.

Ah, the Cross, the Cross, the Cross! Jesus saw your cross always before Him. He saw you, unable to stand, even to carry it to the hill of death let alone be nailed to it. He saw you and with love and in His joy, with His peace, He was patient, enduring the lashings of man’s anger and bitterness, patiently watching and listening as others spoke of Him as being weak and powerless to save Himself. He showed the self-control that is born only in the goodness, faithfulness and gentleness of a true Father, for as we see Him we see the Father (John14:9). His Spirit was poured out for you and on you on Pentecost Day; and filled you with joy all because He was resolute in going to Jerusalem - to die!

By the grace of God and the mighty power we have received in Word and Sacrament we—His beloved Bride become the Elijah’s, the Elisha’s and the Jesus’ to the world. We no longer stoop low running here and there because we are afraid. But armed with the GOSPEL power we are changed to be mighty messengers of hope and help to a world that is lost.

We His redeemed children don’t sit and pout and have pity party, but strengthened by His Spirit, drawing and drinking from the Tree of Life, we take the powerful message of the cross and go where God sends us.

Today, hear the whisper of God as He calls you to come and dine at His table, receive His forgiveness, bask in His grace and go in His name to a world that need you. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SDG

“Arise and Eat (1 Kings 19:5-7)

S-1133 8/09/09 9SAP/3B Hymns: (O) #902 (S) #684; L.S. #625; #623; #629 (C) #917

Texts 1 Kings 19:1-8; Ephesians 4:17-5:2; John 6:35-51

Theme: “Arise and Eat (1 Kings 19:5-7)

Question: “When was the last you said to someone. ‘Get up and eat?’”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation this morning is the Old Testament lesson: “And he [Elijah] lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, ‘Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.’” (1 Kings 19:5-7).

FYI: During the sermon hymn, my head usher will come up and set up a table near the pulpit. On the table will be a variety of energy drinks such as "Full Throttle", "5 Hour Energy Extra Strength" and chewing gum, "Energy Gum" Not recommended for children" and "power bar", energy bar”, “Granola bars” etc.

Introduction

Saints in Christ, in our reading today, we meet the mighty mantled man of God Elijah having a pity-party and wishing God would take his life. It is interesting to read this account in lieu of what took place before. It wasn’t long ago that this mighty servant of the Most High God defied the 450 prophets of Baal—challenged them once and for all to declare who the true God IS. The challenge was that each would build an altar, place a bull on it and call upon god to send fire from heaven. Whoever answers the prayer is the true God. Elijah built an altar, doused it with water that everything was soaking wet. He called upon the God of the Universe to bring forth fire from heaven and prove Himself that He is the ONLY TRUE GOD. God answered His prayer and the offering, rocks, and dirt, were all burned. And the 450 prophets of Baal were killed by Elijah’s sword.

But that was yesterday, today, Jezebel the wicked queen of the North, swore that she was ready to kill him as he had done to the false prophets. Hearing those words Elijah grabs his mantle stuffs it into his belt and runs for his life. On the journey he gets tired and lays down beneath a broom. He asks God to take his life because he is no better than his forefathers.

However, the Lord has other plans. Instead of hearing the prayer of Elijah to take away his life, God does something most amazing, He sends His angel “The Angel of the Lord” who prepares a mighty mean meal to feed Elijah and at his command says, “Arise and Eat!” Elijah gets up eats and lies down again. A second time “The Angel of the Lord” prepares another powerful meal to feed Elijah and at his command says, “Arise and Eat!” Having eaten from the baked cake and drank from the water jug, Elijah travels 40 days and 40 nights.

What kind of food is that? What was in it that made the messenger of God travel that distance without needing any food or drink? We don’t really know. But what we do know is that when God is the chef and server the food He gives is mighty indeed and the benefits are everlasting. PAUSE.

Beloved in the Lord, as you can see on this table (there are many items) these items on the market when eaten and drank from suppose to boost your energy level to grant you to do more things. Here is one that supposes to boost your level of energy for 5 hours. The label on the can reads: “hours of energy now—no crash later” Here is another—it is gum. This gum is so strong they have a label that reads “Not recommended for children". Wow! Some kind of gum! How about the “power bar?”

You and I in this world look for things to give us the energy that we need—whether it is a drink, gum, or meal. These things suppose to keep us going and going and going, like the Energizer Bunny. It may work for a moment, but then comes the crash. Nothing works to give us endless energy. Nothing keeps the old man going; except God the Creator of this body.

He knows what we need. We see Elijah’s need being met today as the “Angel of the Lord” touches Him and invites him to “Arise and Eat!” and when Elijah does he receives power from on high. Consider this power that is given with these gifts of food and drink. Enough strength and stamina to travel 40 days/nights. Everything else pales in comparison to what the true POWER given by God. 

Elijah is not alone to receive such a wonderful meal served by such an amazing host—the Angel of the Lord. This Angel of the Lord is none other that Jesus Christ Himself. The Holy Meal at the altar, (will point to the altar here) is the food and drink we need. Not like these items (at the table) here that gives you temporary boost. But real food and real drink that satisfies both body and soul. This meal will not only give you energy for 40 days/nights, but to eternity.

You and I as the redeemed of the Lord need to understand the command (with the promise) “Arise and Eat!” It is very important and crucial for us to know that this command is given by Christ Himself the Bread of heaven. The command to “Arise and Eat” is the same for today - what is on the Table for us; this Meal of Forgiveness is ours as surely as it was Elijah’s.  His inability is also our inability.  His journey is our journey - sure and certain, for God does not simply go “with us” as a side-car alongside a motorcycle, He abides with us and in us, cake = body, water = reference to Baptism, yes, surely, He is Elijah’s meal and ours. 

Without Christ in our lives we are discouraged and have no hope. When we don’t see the hand of God guiding and leading us, we begin to have a pity party just like Elijah. When our eyes are not looking on the One who is able to do for us more than we can even ask or imagine, we loose focus of our relationship to Him and with Him. And the result?...discouragement! Elijah was discouraged, the 12 were discouraged, even the crowd in the Gospel reading today became discouraged and so do we become discouraged.

But not today! Today, you and I are in the midst of our wilderness journey. Here Christ our Host and Meal meets us and feeds us and encourages us to go on in His name on the journey of life. PAUSE.

Elijah got up and ran away because he was afraid of what might happen to him. Elijah faced a formidable opponent in Queen Jezebel. So formidable that he ran away for his life; but not our “Angel of the Lord”, Jesus Christ. He, too, faced a formidable foe—the devil, the punishment, the cross, the wrath of God, death and the grave. But Jesus didn’t run away, but ran to face the cross. As the book of Hebrews reminds us clearly: “Looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

Jesus faced the enemy on Calvary’s Holy Mountain head on. Sure He gave His life for Elijah, you and me. But in that death, we have life. In the tree of the cross we have the tree of life and the empty tomb we have heaven opened.

Elijah got up and ran away. But the “Angel of the Lord” asked him to “Arise and eat!” He does the same for us. He tells us “Arise and eat” today. Soon you will be rising from your pews. You will come to dine on the bread of heaven and the drink of heaven—Christ’s body broken for YOU; Christ blood shed for YOU and with that Gift you will go on the journey of life to eternity.

With this Meal of Love prepared by Christ Himself you will have all the stamina, strength and staying power you need. And Isaiah reminds us of this power when he wrote these words: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).

The Angel of the Lord invited Elijah to “Arise and Eat!” And Elijah did. Therefore, I say to you dear saints in Christ, “Arise and Eat,” for the Angel of the Lord, Jesus Christ, is here today, inviting you to be His guests, and serve you a powerful Meal in His Body and Blood. Amen.

Now the peace…