You find God where you least expect Him. You find Him in humility, in suffering, in a small thing, even a cross.
This truly is an epic text to preach on for this Sunday. For that reason, we will use the Epic Sermon Structure to facilitate how we progress in a sermon on this text and become selective on the moments of development we choose to proclaim the Gospel.
“This structure utilizes an epic plot form as the progression of experiences in the sermon. The first experience of the epic form is immediate engagement in a conflict leading to a climax that is temporarily left unresolved. The second experience of the epic form involves an abrupt shift to reflection in a broader context (for example, the history that lies behind the conflict) that serves to intensify the importance of the outcome for the hearers. Often this experience is a movement backward in time from the opening conflict to the history leading up to that conflict. In this second experience, the sermon should offer information that brings the significance of the opening scene into view for the hearers. The hearers reflect on the broader context and realize what is at stake in this struggle. Also, this revelation of a larger framework can offer the hearers a glimpse of how the conflict will ultimately be resolved. It can provide a different way of looking at things that changes how they hear the opening scene and how the story will unfold. The final experience in the epic form involves a return to the conflict in order to move from climax to resolution. The sermon, therefore, ends with the hearer’s experiencing satisfaction as a significant matter is resolved in the sermon.”[1]
So, naturally we would start with Elijah at Mount Horeb (also known as Sinai). Why is he there? He needs something from God. He needs proof God will rain His glory down on Ahab and Jezebel and their kingdom. He needs this glory because he is addicted to it. He just had that moment on Mount Carmel where God came down in fire and then water. Elijah was on his mountaintop moment, and it was glorious.
But then Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah like he did the prophets of Baal. So, Elijah gets scared. He runs away and hides under a broom tree feeling forsaken and sore. So, he goes to the only other place where God had revealed His glory on a mountain top in such an obvious way. Elijah goes all the way down to Sinai to seek God in power and might. He remembers how the Lord came impressively down in lighting, earthquakes, and trumpet sounds of victory for Israel with Moses. Elijah wants more of that. He is a theologian of glory and addicted to the success of his theology.
But God does not show up the way Elijah wanted. For sure God brought the fire and the earthquake and the mighty wind, but God was not in all that. God was not acting for the prophet the way He was supposed to act. God was supposed to show up in the kingdom and political structures and society and the way He did for Moses. Instead, God chose to be found in the “God forsaken” places. God is proving to Elijah that does not have to explain Himself.
God chose to be found in the “God forsaken” places. God is proving to Elijah that does not have to explain Himself.
This is important to remind our hearers. You find God where you least expect Him. You find Him in humility, in suffering, in a small thing, even a cross. In our text you might expect God to defend Himself or at least comfort Elijah but He does not do any of that. Rather, He meets him in suffering and trial and sends Elijah out to follow the Way of the Cross.
It is the same way God dealt with Job and the way we see clearest in Jesus. Elijah keeps trying to find God in glory on mountaintops, but God chose to be found in suffering, rejection, and death on a tree in forsakenness at Mount Calvary in the scandal of the cross. There you hear Jesus whisper mighty words. They are words for Elijah, for you, for me, and for all people. They are words like, “Father forgive them,’” and “It is finished.” This is the wisdom of our text for today. It is a wisdom which looks like foolishness in the cross of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Of course, a sermon on this text will need to develop the theological confession of the Theology of the Cross versus the Theology of Glory. It is best to do this at the point in the sermon where the preceding action catches up with the initial conflict, which then leads to the Gospel proclamation. The teaching will serve as a bridge to the last move of the sermon. You will want to set up the teaching by thoroughly painting Elijah with the problem of the Theology of Glory and then have God introduce the Theology of the Cross in the “still small voice.” Introducing the theology of the cross this way will make God the actor in revelation, and it will teach us that:
“God limits us to His self-revelation in Scripture; Scripture limits us by virtue of its unique message. Seeking God in the limitations He establishes is the theology of the cross. God is not to be sought in displays of almighty and glorious power, nor in miracles and signs. Though He does have this power, and though He has and does reveal Himself miraculously at times, God directs us to another place. Ultimately, He reveals Himself in the suffering and death of Christ alone. Where God appears most “defeated” is in fact the place of His victory and the place of faith’s power and certainty. To look for God’s blessing other than in the person and work of the crucified Savior is to look for life and salvation where it is not to be found. In seeking the true revelation of God, one must always remember, as the Bible reminds us, that there are things which appear religious and true, but are in fact false and empty (Philippians 2:8; Colossians 2:23).”[2]
The supposed defeat of Elijah is only remedied in the future supposed defeat of the Son of God on Calvary. Which leaves the only glory to be found in Christ’s resurrection alone. This is something Elijah and you and I would have to have faith to believe in because we do not yet see it. There is strength to be found in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but it is a strength unlike any we would find in the world or in ourselves. It is found in faith, which receives the Word and salvation God reveals in the Messiah.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on 1 Kings 19:9b-21.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching 1 Kings 19:9b-21.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaeching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
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[1] https://concordiatheology.org/sermon-structs/dynamic/narrative-structures/epic-form/
[2] Mueller, Steven P. ed. Called to Believe, Teach, and Confess: An Introduction to Doctrinal Theology, vol. 3, “Called by the Gospel.” Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2005. 33–34.
