Oct 15, 2015 i have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food. Elijah was divinely led, a step at a time psalm 37. In this story of elijah and widow of zarephath, which takes place during the reign of ahab, a king of israel, there was a great famine in the land. This chapter introduced elijah, one of israels most famous prophets, for the first time. Commentary on widow of zarephath sermon by narinder. The widow of zarephath received a lifetime of grace from god, as offered to her by the prophet elijah. Midrash and aggadah by tamar kadari the a type of nonhalakhic literary activitiy of the rabbis for interpreting nonlegal material according to special principles of interpretation hermeneutical rules.
The widow of zarephath 14 key points for bible study. This area was known for their worship of the false god, baal 1 kings 16. Fetch me, i pray thee, a little water water, in consequence of the long drought, was doubtless scarce there as well as in the land of israel. After a time, elijah is sent by the lord to a widow that lives north of the land of israel near sidon in zarephath f1 on the map. The story of the widow at zarephath occurs during the reign of ahab 1 kings 17.
We also know from assyrian records that jehu paid tribute to shalmaneser in 841 b. He told ahab that there would be no rain nor dew in the land until he said otherwise. The place he is sent to, to zarephath, or sarepta, a city of sidon, out of the borders of the land of israel, v. Now, we probably should read this whole story, and im readingoh, lets see here, versei readhe said, ill have a widow there that will provide for you. In antiquity, the site was known as sarepta or sariptu. The widow obeyed the word of god, and as a result of her obedience god provided for her needs, just as he promised that he would. In this series, we are going to look at four mothers and four fathers in celebration of mothers day and fathers day. Second, we can see the importance of obedience elijah goes to a pagan city at gods command, the widow obeys the prophets word. The raising of the son of the widow of zarephath, by the old testament prophet elijah 1 kings 17. Was she the woman who would give food to the prophet. It is a whole journey, an adventure that could be filled with thrills and frills. Walking with god is usually not a straight or smooth path.
A phoenician woman, she showed extraordinary hospitality to one of gods prophets, providing a safe harbor for him during a period of famine. God would surely have provided for elijah another way if the widow had not given him the last of her food, but what are the possibilities for the widow. It is possible that this woman is a widow due to the famine in the land. He was sent instead to a foreignera widow of zarephath in the land of sidon.
Not only were the widows needs supplied, she later witnessed another miracle. Elijah and the widow of zarephath kjv bible verses. The ancient site occupied two promontories, each with a good harbor. God showed mercy to the widow in the city of sidon. Widow of zarephath, the widows oil, the shunammite and her son. Then he said, assuredly, i say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. This woman didnt know that the lord is a loving lord. I have commanded a widow woman there to provide for you v. Study 3 in the widows house at zarephath scripture portion. The widow of zarephath and her son lived in a time of severe drought and famine. After this declaration, god told elijah to go hide in the brook of cherith close to jordan.
The presence of this widow is reminiscent of the widow of zarephath 1 kgs 17. Oct 25, 2016 in all probability the widow of zarephath worshiped baal. A sermon delivered on sunday morning, june 21, 1868, by c. Our saviour takes notice of this as an early and ancient indication of the favour of god designed for the poor gentiles, in the fulness of time, lu. Because of the reviving of her son she knew that elijah was a man of the lord god, and that the word of.
I will command a widow there to supply you with food. The speaker commented on how some people might misconstrue elijahs request and criticize him for asking. Second, gods mercy extends to all people, both jews and gentiles, and the sidonian widow was blessed for her faith see acts 10. Elijah or latinized form elias was, according to the books of kings in the hebrew bible. Elijah asks her for a piece of bread, and the destitute widow invites him to her home where she uses her last bit of flour and oil to bake for him. The widow of zarephath was about to give in to despair. Here elijah sojourned with a poor widow during the great famine, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months luke 4. Perhaps, god did not speak to the widow because she did not believe in him. The widow of zarephath helps us to better understand that faith comes by hearing the word of god. And he called to her and said, bring me a little water in a vessel, that i may drink. The prophet elijah and the widow of zarephath illustrates the biblical story of the encounter between prophet elijah and a widow and her son gathering sticks when he arrives at the town of zarephath. God sent his prophet to rescue the widow and her son from death, to provide for her needs, and to give them hope 1 kings 17. Mar 07, 20 every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. When he came out he saw a police officer writing a parking ticket.
She could give him water but ask her to sacrifice her last meal was a huge stretch. May 03, 2012 when the widow received her son back alive, she testified that elijah was indeed a man of god, and gods word in his mouth was truth. To suffer extreme poverty, famine, and the loss of husband and son. Rise up, go to zarephath, which belongs to sidon, and stay there. Zarephath widow bible study a lesson in courage and surrender welcome to the first bible study in my series ordinary parents with extraordinary faith.
Indeed, the large jar of flour did not run out, and the small jar of oil did not. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks. Elijah was from tishbe, a town east of the jordan river in gilead 1 kings 17. Lessons from the widow of zarephath 31 days of women from scripture volume 2 day 12 gods plan day twelve. Could she be the woman who would provide food for the prophet. Spurgeon, at the metropolitan tabernacle, newington. Study 3 in the widows house at zarephath words of life. Yet godly widows have the promise of divine provision and protection, as this widow of sarepta came to experience. The raising of the son of the widow of nain or naim is an account of a miracle by jesus, recorded in the gospel of luke. Gone with the wind and the widow of zarephath mentoring. Heather, i remember a neat comment from conference years ago about the story of elijah and the widow of zarephath. Though she and her son had just enough oil and flour to make their last meal, she obediently fed elijah first.
Jan 02, 2020 the account of elijah and the widow of zarephath offers many insights. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Nov 08, 2017 the widows oil of zarephath 1 kings 17. To be blessed we must have faith in and follow gods instructions. Obadiah refers to it as a canaanite probably meaning phoenicia town obadiah 1. In the midst of her protest and worry, elijah reassured her that god would not let her and her son starve. When elijah asked her for water and some bread, the zarephath widow was pushed to her limits. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. The prophet elijah and the widow of zarephath illustrates the passage in 1 kings 17. Entering the city, he encountered the widow, just as promised. It took some time to travel to zarephath, perhaps several days, and when he arrived, elijah was thirsty and hungry. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. Just as elijah promised, jehovah multiplied her meager supplies so that they sustained elijah, the widow, and her son until the drought ended.
Dec 11, 2010 so it says, he arose, in verse 10, and he went to zarephath, and he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. Widow of zarephath all the women of the bible bible gateway. The chapter notes that the lord was withholding rain from israel. In the same way, jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of god and his righteousness, and then all of the things that we need to sustain our lives will be given to us as well matthew 6. Both the life of elijah and this widow of zarephath exemplified this.
An exposition, with practical observations, of the book of habakkuk. Lessons from the widow of zarephath lesson 2 1 kings 17 introduction. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food. She was down to the last meal for herself and her son. When elijah arrived at zarephath, he saw a poor widow collecting pieces of wood. The story of the prophet elijah and the widow of zarephath, and her son, begins after elijah was being fed by ravens at the brook cherith. The account of elijah and the widow of zarephath offers many insights. Elijah lived and prophesied during ahabs 22 year reign over the northern tribes of israel. After elijah asks for bread and water, the widow truthfully tells him of her unfortunate plight.
And the word of the lord came to him, saying, arise, go to zarephath, which belongs to sidon, and live there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food. The widow of zarephath had nothing spectacular going on. First, god often uses unlikely people and sources to accomplish his purposes. Sep 17, 2008 heather, i remember a neat comment from conference years ago about the story of elijah and the widow of zarephath. Zarephath widow bible study a lesson in courage and. Elijah called to her and said, please bring me a little water in a cup, so that i may drink.
You too can rest assured that while the situation is out of your hand, god will take care of the situation. Just like some of the punjabi music bhangra artists. Zarephath smeltingshop, a workshop for the refining and smelting of metals, a small phoenician town, now surafend, about a mile from the coast, almost midway on the road between tyre and sidon. Elijah and the widow of zarephath the bible history books. Why god sent elijah to this widow and not some one else we will never know sometime later elijah brought him back to life the son of the woman who owned the house that the widow of zarephath lived in. Elijah, a prophet of god had been hiding from ahab, who was trying to kill him. Behold, the widow woman was gathering sticks he knew, by some secret divine intimations, that this was the woman that was to sustain him.
So it says, he arose, in verse 10, and he went to zarephath, and he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. First, we can see the specificities of divine providence the drying up of the brook, the widow at the gate. We know from assyrian records that ahab sent 2,000 chariots and 10,000 troops to fight against shalmaneser at the battle of qarqar in 853 b. The speaker commented on how some people might misconstrue elijahs request and criticize him for asking for the widow s food when he knew it was all she had. Both widows are living in poverty, each in a time of national apostasy for the people of god though of course the widow of zarephath is a gentile who resides outside of the borders of israel.
The widow referred to god as elijahs god, not her god 1 kings 17. But i tell you truly, many widows were in israel in the days of elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land. Although god directed elijah to go to the widow in zarephath, god gave no directions to the widow to feed him. Commentary on widow of zarephath sermon by narinder choranji. Because of her kind obedience, god miraculously provided oil and flour to her until the rain came and the crops grew again. Lessons from the widow of zarephath 31 days of women. Matthew mark luke john gospel harmony oral gospel traditions five discourses of matthew. The widow of zarephath in 1 kings 17 knew hunger too. Elijah and widow devotional reflections from the bible. She says, i do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar.
Her husband had died, she was raising a son alone, and she was very poor, but this widow has much to teach us. The widow of zarephath 8 then the word of the lord came to elijah. Behold, i have commanded a widow there to feed you. How did god use the widow of zarephath for such a time for his purposes. What is the story of elijah and the widow of zarephath. When that failed, by the widow at zarephath, who received him in the name of a prophet and had a prophets reward. Behold, i have commanded a widow there to provide for you. God was basically saying to the widow, that until the famine stops i will keep on providing for you supernaturally. Moreover, in the gospel of matthew, jesus identifies john the baptist as the spiritual successor to elijah. Yet elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in zarephath in the region of sidon. At this brook, god sent ravens to feed elijah with bread and flesh morning and evening. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering. Her needs were supplied because god kept his word to her, just as he always keeps his word. Zarephath is preserved in the name of the modern village, sarafand.
The widow at zarephath first kings 17 introduces the prophet elijah and gives the account of his dealings with a widow from zarephath. The widows faith in elijahs god, jehovah, preserved her and her son alive. Thus his story begins with judgments and miracles, designed to awaken that stupid generation that had to deeply corrupted themselves. The sidonian town in which elijah was entertained by a widow after he left the brook cherith 1 kings 17.
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