SUNDAY SERMON: Sheer Silence
By Stephen Baldwin
OT: 1 Kings 19.1-15a
NT: Luke 5.27-32
Here’s the context of today’s passage. There was a drought and famine in Samaria, the land led by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. God sent the prophet Elijah to Ahab, Jezebel, and their people with a message–believe in me and I will send rain, or continue worshipping the god Baal and the drought will stay.
Ahab and Jezebel were quite happy with their station in life, despite the drought, so they decided to stick with Baal and their 450 prophets versus God and the one prophet Elijah.
Elijah was offended and challenged the 450 prophets to a competition. They would sacrifice two bulls. He would call on God to burn it with fire, and they would call on Baal. Whichever brought fire won.
The 450 prayed to Baal over and over, but no fire came. Elijah instructed them to douse his sacrifice in water over and over. Then he called on God for fire, and the bull burst into flames.
Elijah changed the people’s minds. They sided with God. But Ahab and Jezebel? They were furious with Elijah…and decided to hunt him down and kill him.
Verse 1. Most of the time, Elijah had the upper hand. Like we just talked about in chapter 18, Elijah bested 450 of Ahab’s prophets and then outran the king’s chariots in a getaway which would make Smoky & the Bandit proud. But the sheriff is about to change the game.
Verse 2. Jezebel decides to kill Elijah. We know from last week’s story that when Jezebel sets her mind to something, she does it. If we know that just from reading the story, Elijah knew it in real time. Jezebel was not to be trifled with.
Verse 3. He was so afraid that he fled 100 miles…on foot. Few people know that kind of fear. It would be like packing your bags and fleeing to rural Canada today. Taking such a large step would signal real fear for your life.
Verse 4. Elijah, who has spoken truth to power for God for years, who has gone toe to toe with Ahab & Jezebel at every chance, suddenly gives up. He wants to die so he doesn’t have to run anymore. He’s done with all the mayhem his life has become.
Verse 5-8. Sometimes if I want my dogs to go somewhere they don’t really want to go, I’ll lead them with a trail of milk bones along the way. God does the same to Elijah…all the way to the destination God has in mind for him.
Verse 9-10. Elijah must have been incredulous. He surely wanted to say, “What am I doing here? YOU sent me here!” But he put his big boy pants on and said something more professional. “I have tried my best to do your work, God, and now they want to kill me for it.”
Verse 11-12. Elijah fears for his life. This is his moment of need, and he expects God to speak to him loud and clear with a message. After all, that is how their relationship works. God speaks, and Elijah relays the message. Without hearing from God, Elijah cannot do his job. God tells him to step outside the cave and listen. A mighty wind blows, but Elijah does not go outside to listen. A towering earthquake shakes the ground, but Elijah does not go outside to listen. A crackling fire wrecks the desert, but Elijah does not go outside to listen. This is how it works. God speaks, and Elijah listens. God often speaks in burning bushes and bolts of fire and earthquakes that raise the dead. But Elijah pays no attention to any of that…until…he hears the sound of the sheer silence.
Verse 13. Sheer silence. The still, small voice of God speaks, and Elijah finally comes outside to listen. In a rushed and loud world, we can certainly identify with Elijah’s curiosity at the sound of sheer silence and what it might mean. God says again, “Why are you here?”
Verse 14. If you’re feeling déjà vu, then you’re paying attention. Elijah responds, word for word, the same way he does before. “I have tried my best to do your work, God, and now they want to kill me for it.”
Verse 15. God says, “Ok, now go back.” Elijah must have been incredulous. Go back? Back to where they want me dead? After I successfully escaped? Go back? Where I stood your ground against 450 prophets? Go back?
Some people read this story and think, “Can you imagine being Elijah and going back?” Others read it and think, “Can you imagine what made Elijah run in the first place?”
He had God on his side. He bested 450 prophets. He had the upper hand with Ahab and Jezebel. Why did he run?
Probably because he got scared. We know what that’s like. The world is collectively holding its breath right now as wars escalate with every bomb that’s dropped and drone that’s deployed and soldier that’s summoned. We too are afraid that peace might not be for us.
But once God passed by and spoke to Elijah in silence, he went. Because the presence of God changes you. It reminded Elijah who he was and whose he was. It reminded him that the only time he was in danger was when he ran because that’s when he was off the path God laid out for him. It reminded him that the peace of God passes all understanding.
Take heart, brothers and sisters. The peace of God passes all understanding. And while we may expect God in the thunder or the earthquake, God is more often found in the wind. In the sheer silence. The stillness of every breath we take. Take heart, for God will be by your side no matter how far you run or who you encounter or what surprises lurk along the way. Thanks be to God, Amen.
