Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 18:36
And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.
36. And it came to pass evening sacrifice ] R.V. oblation. This change follows on what was done in 1Ki 18:29. The LXX. omits this clause entirely. Elijah waited till the usual hour for the evening offering, that in this way his action might be in more accord with the order of worship which had been appointed in the Law, and so the people be put in mind of Jehovah’s worship which they had cast aside.
Elijah the prophet came near ] He was no priest, but at such time the protesting prophet assumed all the functions of the priestly office. And the people would be in no way surprised, for the patriarchal rule, which allowed others than the tribe of Levi to come near to the altar, had not become obsolete, as we can see from the action of Solomon. The LXX. gives, instead of these words, ‘And Elijah cried unto heaven.’
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac [R.V. of Isaac], and of Israel ] After these opening words of the invocation the LXX. adds ‘Hear me, O Lord, hear me this day by fire,’ and continues ‘and let all this people know, &c.’
at thy word ] The LXX. explains by = ‘for thy sake.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice – i. e., probably the ninth hour, or three oclock. Thus there might still remain about five hours of light, during which the other events of the day were accomplished.
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel – This solemn address would carry back the thoughts of the pious to the burning bush of Horeb, and the words there spoken (marginal references), for there only had this mysterious formula been used before. Its use now was calculated to stir their faith and prepare them in some degree for Gods answering by fire.
That I have done all these things at thy word – i. e., That I have been divinely directed in all that I have done publicly as a prophet, in proclaiming the drought, in gathering this assembly, and in proposing this trial; that I have not done them of my own mind (marginal reference).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ki 18:36
Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel.
Elijahs creed
Let us consider the creed of this loftiest, sternest spirit of the true faith, as Dean Stanley called him. We may glean its articles from that prayer made under circumstances which would have tried the soul even of a sterner man than he. Three things may be read in this prayer:
1. A formula–Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel.
2. A personal relation between God and the prophet–Let it be known this day that I am Thy servant.
3. The fulfilment of a Divine purpose through the deeds of the man–And that I have done all these things at Thy word. Taking the prayer itself as a creed, we see embodied in it the formal, the personal, and the practical elements. Notice, first, that the prophet used a formula to express the foundation of his belief. He may have done it unconsciously, full of the idea for which it had stood now six hundred years. Had he not read it in the Law, heard it from the lips of priest and rabbi, and himself used it times without number? No one supposes that the prophet used the formula lightly or ignorantly. In this we might set him in contrast with ourselves. But no creed is complete which does not involve a personal relation between him who utters it and God. So, in this prayer, the relation between God as Lord and Elijah as prophet is clearly drawn. God was invoked to prove this very thing. As a servant, Elijah had taken his life in his hand long before. A man tells you he believes in God. Ask him what essential change of character would be produced by his parting with his belief. His servantship had already been proved by his implicit obedience to every command of God. Now he hid by the brook Cherith, and now tarried at Zarephath. A further element of faith involved in this formal supplication is that of co-operative work. In and through His servant God is fulfilling His purposes; Let it be known that I have done all these things at Thy word. We are not, of course, to make the Lord responsible for everything a good man does. A perfect trust does not shield the human agent from the just charge of misdemeanours. Every servant of God does the will of God. He starts or sustains a tendency, works destruction here, rescues life there, goes to the wilderness, returns to the town, is silent now, again thunders forth, as the Spirit wills, to bring to pass the true conception of God working in the world, without ceasing, to establish and maintain righteousness. So the war goes on, and will go on until the whole earth bows down before Him. Now, all this is made extremely simple in the prayer of the prophet: God is. God has a servant in me. God through me works His will. Let all men believe this, let their belief take hold of their life as it took hold of Elijahs, so that not to believe is death, and a new earth is in process, and the universal reign of Jehovah is visibly begun.
What have we more than had Elijah?
1. We have a new insight of the personality of God. Did not Elijah believe in God as a Person? We must insist that he did. But our vision is clearer. He felt the power of the Person in the still, small voice. That was his gospel. We know it in the conquering soul of the Christ. We behold the glory of the Divine Personality, and through Him know ourselves as individual members of the Divine household.
2. Again, we realise a new order of mercy. Once there was the relentless call for sacrifice. Elijah was an avenger. He could slay hundreds in one act. It would have been impossible for him to conceive of avenging justice turned into mercy. We, on the other hand, hear a voice pleading for infinitely worse offenders, Father, forgive them. The Divine expiation is sufficient to cover every sinner. It is ours to make the word of deliverance ring around the world, Come unto Me, and be free from condemnation.
3. Once more, the duty of every man is now more clear than it could have been in Elijahs day. Can any one, it may be asked, understand his duty more perfectly than did the prophet? Still, duty with us takes on the nature of universality and of privilege. (C. R. Seymour.)
Let it be known that I have done all these things at Thy word.
Elijahs plea
I. A firm ground for prayer.
1. You are a minister of God, or a worker in the cause of Christ, and you go forth and preach the Gospel with many tears and prayers, and you continue to use all means, such as Christ has ordained: do you say to yourself, May I expect to have fruit of all this? Of course you may. You are not sent on a frivolous errand you are not bidden to sow dead seed that will never spring up. But when that anxiety weighs heavily upon your heart, go you to the mercy-seat with this as one of your arguments, Lord, I have done according to Thy word.
2. Next, I would apply this teaching to a whole church. I am afraid many churches of Christ are not prospering. The congregations are thin, the church is diminishing, the prayer-meeting scantily attended, spiritual life low. If I can conceive of church in such a condition which, nevertheless, can say to God, We have done all these things at Thy word, I should expect to see that church soon revived in answer to prayer. The reason why some churches do not prosper is, because they have not done according to Gods word.
3. The same principle may be applied also to any individual believers who are in trouble through having done right.
4. I would like to apply this principle to the seeking sinner.
II. Self-examination as to whether or not you have done all these things at Gods word.
1. Let every worker here who has not been successful answer this question–Have you done all these things at Gods word?
2. Did you preach it rightly? That is to say, did you state it affectionately, earnestly, clearly, plainly?
3. And another question–Has there been an example to back your teaching? (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Whom to please
On a very cold night a gate-keeper at a railway depot demanded that each passenger show his ticket. Several bitterly complained of the delay and inconvenience. You are a very unpopular man to-night, said a spectator. I only care to be popular with one man, he replied, and that is the superintendent. In the same way Christians should take care that their actions are pleasing to God, and if they have to displease man, they must remember that we ought to obey God rather than men.
Obeying implicitly
I have stood, said Mr. Scott, on the deck of a ship while she was toiling up-stream, with wind and water against her, and I have gone up to the man at the wheel, and said, Jack, why dont you ease her off a point or two? You see how it would relieve her. But the answer was, No, I cant luff; that is the point of the compass the captain gave me, and I must keep her to it. But, man, I remonstrated, if you keep her as she is, soon the bulwarks will be stove in, and there is every chance that under this fearful strain she may spring a leak. That is none of my business; it is the captains look out. All I have to do is to obey his orders, was the mans answer. The captain, however, understood his business, and we arrived safe in harbour. Sometimes, if we do exactly as Christ commands, it appears as if our business would be ruined, our reputation lost–as if, indeed, we should be totally wrecked. That, however, is the captains look out. All we have to do is to implicitly obey.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 36. Lord God of Abraham] He thus addressed the Supreme Being, that they might know when the answer was given, that it was the same God whom the patriarchs and their fathers worshipped, and thus have their hearts turned back again to the true religion of their ancestors.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; which time he chose, that he might unite his prayers with the prayers of the godly Jews at Jerusalem, who at that time assembled together to pray, Act 3:1.
That I have done all these things; brought this famine, gathered the people hither, and done what I have done, or am doing here. At thy word; not in compliance with my own passions, but in obedience to thy command, as thy agent and minister. For that action of shutting up heaven, and that of killing the priests of Baal, must needs expose him to great envy and reproach; which made this public vindication necessary, as it was also effectual, being witnessed from heaven.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice,…. Which the people of God at Jerusalem were now attending to:
that Elijah the prophet came near; to the altar he had built, and on which he had laid the sacrifice:
and said; in prayer to God:
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the covenant God of the ancestors of his people, though they had now so fully departed from him:
let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel; and that there is no other:
and that I am thy servant; a true worshipper of him, and his faithful prophet and minister:
and that I have done all these things at thy word; restrained rain from the earth for some years past, and now had convened Israel, and the false prophets, together, that by a visible sign from heaven it might be known who was the true God; all which he did not of himself, but by the impulse, direction, and, commandment of the Lord.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(36) Lord God of Abraham.In this solemn and earnest invocation of God, as in Exo. 3:15; Exo. 6:2-3, the name JEHOVAH, describing God as He is in Himselfthe One eternal self-existent Beingis united with the name which shows His special covenant with Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel. In His own nature incomprehensible to finite being, He yet reveals Himself in moral and spiritual relations with His people, through which they know that which passeth knowledge. The prominence of the name Jehovah, thrice repeated in this short prayer of Elijah, is significant as of the special mission, symbolised in his very name, so also of his immediate purpose. He desires to efface himself. The God of Israel is to show Himself as the true worker, not only in the outer sphere by miracle, but in the inner sphere by that conversion of the hearts of the people, which to the prophets eye is already effected. Like his antitype in the New Testament, Elijah is but a voice calling on men to prepare the way of the Lord.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. At the time of evening sacrifice See note on 1Ki 18:29. We may render, at the offering of the sacrifice, that is, when all the preparations had been made, and all things were ready for the offering of the sacrifice. The preparations of Elijah in building an altar, digging the trench, and preparing for the sacrifice need not have occupied a great deal of time, for 1Ki 18:30; 1Ki 18:33-34, show that he had the people around him at command, and multitudes were doubtless ready to render him any assistance he desired.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel Thus he turns the heart of the children to the fathers. Mal 4:6. Contrast the simplicity of his prayer with the frantic cries and orgies of the prophets of Baal.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(36) And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. (37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
There is a great beauty in this part of the relation; that it was at the time of offering the evening sacrifice; that solemn season appointed in the church, and observed by the faithful in all ages, and which, as it had an eye to the one all-sufficient and all-finished sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross, so it corresponded to the same hour. See Dan 9:21 ; Mat 27:46 , &c: Observe the prayer of Elijah! It is addressed to Jehovah in his covenant relations. And observe the object of it: The glory of the Lord; and the welfare of his people.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 18:36 And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.
Ver. 36. That thou art God in Israel. ] The Baalites’ prayers were not more tedious than Elijah’s was short, and yet more pithy than short; charging God with the care of his covenant, of his truth, of his glory. It was Elijah that spake loud. Oh, the strong cries of faith!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Israel, not Jacob. See note on Gen 32:28.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
at the time: 1Ki 18:29, Exo 29:39-41, Ezr 9:4, Ezr 9:5, Psa 141:2, Dan 8:13, Dan 9:21, Dan 12:11, Act 3:1, Act 10:30
Lord God: 1Ki 18:21, Gen 26:24, Gen 31:53, Gen 32:9, Gen 46:3, Exo 3:6, Exo 3:15, Exo 3:16, 1Ch 29:18, 2Ch 20:6, 2Ch 20:7, Eph 1:17, Eph 3:14
let it: 1Ki 8:43, 1Sa 17:46, 1Sa 17:47, 2Ki 1:3, 2Ki 1:6, 2Ki 5:15, 2Ki 19:19, Psa 67:1, Psa 67:2, Psa 83:18, Eze 36:23, Eze 39:7
and that I have: 1Ki 22:28, Num 16:28-30, Joh 11:42
Reciprocal: Gen 24:12 – O Lord Exo 29:41 – offer Num 28:4 – and the other Deu 4:35 – know Jos 3:10 – Hereby ye 1Ki 17:20 – he cried 1Ki 18:37 – Hear me 2Ki 1:10 – If I be a man 2Ki 2:14 – Where is 2Ki 3:17 – Ye shall not 2Ki 3:20 – when the meat 2Ki 5:8 – let him come 2Ki 20:11 – cried unto 2Ch 6:14 – O Lord God Psa 46:10 – know Psa 50:1 – even Psa 59:13 – and let Psa 100:3 – Know Psa 108:6 – and answer me Psa 109:27 – General Isa 37:20 – that all Isa 43:9 – that they may Isa 44:26 – confirmeth Dan 2:23 – O thou Hos 9:8 – with Mat 17:3 – Elias Joh 9:31 – him Joh 16:24 – in
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 18:36-37. At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice This time he chose, that he might unite his prayers with the prayers of the godly Jews at Jerusalem, who at that time assembled together to pray. Lord God of Abraham, &c. Hereby he shows his faith in Gods ancient covenant, and also reminds the people of their relation both to God and to the patriarchs, I have done these things Brought this famine, gathered the people hither, and done what I have done, or am doing here, not in compliance with my own passions, but in obedience to thy command: for his shutting up heaven by his prayers, and afterward killing the priests of Baal, would of necessity expose him to great envy and reproach, which made this public vindication of his conduct necessary, as it was also effectual, being witnessed from heaven. That thou hast turned their heart back again Let them feel so powerful a change in their hearts, that they may know it is thy work, and may show that they are brought back again to thee, the only living and true God, from whom they have revolted.