1 Kings 18:41-45

Effectual Fervent Prayer.

It is pre-eminently in the matter of prayer that Elijah is proposed to us as an example in the New Testament. From the long list of Hebrew saints and worthies he has been selected by St. James 5:17 , James 5:18 to prove and illustrate the proposition that "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much in its working" ( James 5:16 , Revised Version). His prayers for drought are not mentioned by our historian, but his prayer for rain may not unreasonably be supposed to be referred to in the account of verses 42-45. Let us notice its more prominent features.

1. It was the prayer of a righteous man . The prayers of unrighteous men are sometimes heard ( Luke 18:14 ; 2 Chronicles 33:19 ), but only their prayers for grace and pardon. The intercessions of the wicked for others are of no avail, any more than the prayers of the impenitent for themselves. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" ( Psalms 66:18 ). Common sense teaches that God is not likely to grant the requests of impenitent rebels. "To the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do" with intercession? "Get thee to the prophets of thy father," etc. ( 2 Kings 3:18 ). "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen" ( 10:14 ). But "he will fulfil the desire of them that fear him" ( Psalms 145:19 ).

2. It was the prayer of a man of like passions with us . We are not to think that Elias stood on a pedestal apart from the rest of his kind. He is not pictured to us, as are the heroes of so many biographies, as perfect. We are not sure that that great "day of Carmel" passed without sin. We are quite sure that he betrayed fear and unbelief in his flight, impatience and discontent in the desert. Yet his prayers availed much. Let us, therefore, though compassed about with infirmity, and stained with many sins of ignorance and imperfection, come boldly to the throne of grace.

3. It was fervent . "He prayed with prayer" ( προσευχῇ προσηύξατο ), says St. James. His attitude reveals its fervency—it was that of complete self abstraction, of intense inward entreaty. We must seek "with all the heart" ( Psalms 119:2 ; Jeremiah 24:7 ). Seeking early ( Proverbs 1:28 ; Proverbs 8:17 ; Psalms 63:1 ; Psalms 78:34 ; Isaiah 26:9 ) does not mean seeking in youth, but seeking eagerly, intently. Compare the expression, "rising up early," etc. ( Jeremiah 7:13 ; Jeremiah 25:8 , Jeremiah 25:4 ; Jeremiah 26:5 ; Jeremiah 35:15 , etc.) Some one has said that there are not many persons who really and truly pray half a dozen times in their lives. We offer up formal or lukewarm petitions, and then marvel that we receive no answers. Prayer must be ἐκτενής ( Luke 22:44 ). It is not that God is hard to persuade; it is that He will have us mean what we say. There is no difficulty with Him. We are straitened in ourselves.

4. It was persevering . He was not daunted by the laconic "nothing" of his servant. "Go again seven times." It is not enough to pray; we must "pray and not faint" ( Luke 18:1 ; Ephesians 6:18 ; Colossians 4:2 ). We must "diligently seek him" ( Hebrews 11:6 ). St. Paul besought the Lord thrice ( 2 Corinthians 12:8 ), after the example, it is probable, of our Blessed Lord ( Matthew 26:44 ). Compare the example of Abraham ( Genesis 18:23 sqq.) Daniel prayed three times a day ( Daniel 6:10 ). The "seven times" of Elijah means that he will pray until the covenant God hears his petitions (cf. Le Daniel 4:6 , Daniel 4:17 ; Daniel 8:11 ; 14:16).

5. It was touching God ' s kingdom . This is the proper subject for our prayers ( Matthew 6:33 ). We may have doubts whether some of the blessings we would fain crave are good for us, but we always ask "according to his will" when we pray, "Thy kingdom come." Our prayers for rain or fine weather are often selfish. Elijah only desired the drought, only supplicated for rain, as a means of influencing Israel and advancing God's work. It is partly the selfishness of our prayers which has led men to question the efficacy of all prayer. If men want to have their own way with the elements, or to make God's power further their private ends, is it strange if He declines to hear them? If we are to "obtain our petitions," we must" ask those things that please him."

6. It was believing . He never doubts the promise of 1 Kings 18:1 . He has already announced the rain to Ahab, before he prays for it. Similarly our Lord gave thanks at the grave of Lazarus: "I thank thee that thou hast heard me" ( John 11:41 ), just as if the dead man had already come to life again. We must ask in faith. No wonder if God does not hear the petitions of the man who doubts whether God is, or is the rewarder of those who seek Him. Before we pray we should at least be clear that there is One who hears and can help us. Unbelief makes God a liar.

7. It was humble . "Cast himself down upon the earth." What self abasement before God! And he was heard in that he feared ( Hebrews 5:7 ). God has respect unto the lowly, and giveth grace to the humble ( James 4:6 ; 1 Peter 5:5 ; Psalms 9:12 ; Psalms 10:17 ).

8. It was in the Holy Ghost ( Jude 1:20 ). This prayer was first inspired. Elijah would never presume to ask either for drought or ram, unless the prayer had been put into his heart. As he mused in the wilds of Gilead over the apostasy of Israel, and vexed his righteous soul with the news of the Baal-worship, he felt constrained to cry to God, as we find His saints constantly doing, to awake, to make bare His arm, to vindicate His outraged honour. And what could he pray for, except, that God would enforce the penalties He had Himself denounced? His prayer for drought is the outcome of his zeal for God's law, with which God had Himself inspired him. And we, too, are promised supernatural help and guidance in our prayers ( Romans 8:26 , Romans 8:27 ; Jude 1:20 ).

9. It availed much . It opened the windows of heaven. "There was a great rain." It gave life to those who were sitting in flue shadow of death. " The earth brought forth her fruit." The desolate land became as Eden. Man and beast drank and lived.

10. It availed immediately . While he was yet speaking, God heard ( Isaiah 65:24 ). If that word is ever true, Bis dat qui cito dat, it was true of this occasion. Indeed, the answer almost anticipated the prayer ( 1 Kings 18:1 , 1 Kings 18:41 ). God is more ready to give than we to pray.

HOMILIES BY J.A. MACDONALD