1 Kings xviii, 25--40 by Krummacher

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 18, 1856

1 Kings xviii, 25--40.

By Krummacher

How poor a god is that of the ignorant and infatuated world! Elijah had made his proposal: both parties were to sacrifice a bullock, and each was to call on the name of his God. "And the God," said Elijah, "that answereth by fire, let him be God." And all the people agreed to it. "It is well spoken," cried they, as with one voice; and thus the important moment was now come, which should once for all decide whether there be a God in heaven, and who he was.

Elijah lost no time. He said unto the prophets of Baal, "Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first, for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods." He gives them the precedency on account of their numbers; "ye are many," you have the majority one your side. Yes, my brethren, this has always been the case in the present evil world, that the majority have taken the wrong side; and they so outnumber the little flock of Christ on earth, that they could, as it were, swallow them up, if the safety of the latter depended on their numbers.

"Ye are many!" Yes, indeed, numerous as the weeds of an uncultivated field; vessels of wrath everywhere; all Israel, except seven thousand, a remnant only preserved; all the rest in Samaria, and her towns and vilages alienated from the life of God. And is it not just the same in many christian countries at present?

True it is, in this world they have the upper hand, and not without reason, for the prince of this world is their monarch. Hence they are honored and looked up to, and we are the offscouring of the people; they are the great and the wise, and we the fools. They are the party that have the judgment of the public in their favor, and the voice of the greatest geniuses, and of the most brilliant talents, and the applause of the public journals—and we! ah, if any one takes our part, he thinks he is doing a most condescending work of benevolence. We stand as a sort of criminals before the great public, and have no advocate but him who was in the form of a servant, and who, instead of defending our cause before the world, tells us that "his kingdom is not of this world," and bids us look to the future for our consolation.

What wonder is it that we appear utterly wretched and ridiculous to the world, when the very Judge to whom we appeal, is one whom they have long ago crucified? Well, be it so, ye sons and daughters of the father of lies! be the first, and have the superiority—for ye are many. The Lord is at hand!—Krummacher.