The Brook Cherith

In this part of the sermon: This section outlines the straightforward account of Elijah at Brook Cherith, breaking it into four parts: God's clear directive, His gracious promise, Elijah's implicit…

A conjecture about the physical nature of Brook Cherith, describing a deep, desolate ravine in the wilderness of Judea, to help listeners visualize Elijah's secluded retreat.

Perhaps something will yet be unearthed through archaeological discoveries that will give us some more light. But as a possibility and a conjecture, someone who has given himself to some study on this says that perhaps it was similar to one of these places which can be seen even in Palestine today. No spot in Palestine is better fitted to afford a secure asylum to the persecuted than, and then he names the place, on each side of it extend the bare desolate hills of the wilderness of Judea, in whose vastnesses David was to bid defiance to Saul. The Nelt is one of the wildest ravines in this wil...

4:59 - 5:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section provides several historical anecdotes demonstrating how God faithfully met the needs of His people in unusual ways, reinforcing the certainty of His promises.

A story of a young boy who, believing God's promise, asked his mother to open the door for God's ravens, leading to the town mayor (burgomaster) providing for their needs.

And I want to give, we have the young people here, and maybe us old folks don't mind stories either. But here are several illustrations from real life of how the Lord has used this passage and this principle, the promises of God to meet the needs of His people, are certain. A little boy, having read this incident in this chapter, with his wife and children, with his widow mother, one wintry night, as they sat in a fireless room beside a bare table, asked her if he might set the door open for God's ravens to come in. No wood for the fire, no food on the table.

22:11 - 22:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section provides several historical anecdotes demonstrating how God faithfully met the needs of His people in unusual ways, reinforcing the certainty of His promises.

A story of a poor man in debt whose distress was relieved when a lady's escaped singing bird flew into his house, and the reward for its return covered his debt.

When he learned the reason, he said, I will be God's raven and relieve their needs then and afterwards. Two other incidents were very touching along the same line. The good Kumacher, in commenting on this passage, relates the following incident as one well known to his hearers. Who else was it, said he, but the God of Elijah, who only a short time ago in our neighborhood so kindly delivered a poor man out of his distress, not indeed by a raven, but by a poor singing bird.

23:23 - 23:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section provides several historical anecdotes demonstrating how God faithfully met the needs of His people in unusual ways, reinforcing the certainty of His promises.

The story of George Newmark, a musician in post-Thirty Years' War Germany, who, in dire straits, had to pawn his violin but found provision and a new job after playing a hymn of trust, illustrating God's certain promises.

Now leave it and leave me in peace, for God has sent it to me. May I give you one more? These were so precious and touched my own heart. This is associated with the history of a German hymn.

25:33 - 25:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn submission when God calls you to be quiet and secluded, especially after a period of active ministry, recognizing it as a discipline.

An anecdote about a football game where a team's defense dug in during a crisis, illustrating how conflict can draw out the best in disciplined individuals, contrasting with Elijah's seclusion.

This happens to an athlete, a man who has maybe tremendous natural ability, when he gets in that crisis situation and he's just got to come up with that almost superhuman effort, that's when he does it. I listened to the last part of the Notre Dame-Michigan State game yesterday, and it was thrilling. Notre Dame, a two-touchdown favorite, and Michigan State had been outplayed as far as yardage and passes completed. And Notre Dame, with a couple minutes to play, only four points behind.

36:16 - 36:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Learn submission when God calls you to be quiet and secluded, especially after a period of active ministry, recognizing it as a discipline.

An example of young people who appear spiritual in public ministry but become bitter in obscurity, illustrating the difficulty of learning submission in seclusion.

How impure our motives were. How much of our service was bounded and pressured by self-love and love for our reputation, even as a teacher or preacher. Oh, I've seen this happen at Bible school. Young men and young women who were, quote, spiritual giants, as long as they were flipping around the campus, leading everything under the sun.

38:21 - 38:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And Elijah was serving the Lord as much in his patient waiting upon God by Cherith as when he threw down the gauntlet before Ahab and puts the prophets to rout upon Mount Carmel.

A quotation from John Milton's poem on his blindness, emphasizing that 'They also serve who only stand and wait,' illustrating the value of patient waiting upon God in times of apparent uselessness.

God allowed blindness to overcome John Milton, the great poet.

44:48 - 44:53 Read in full sermon