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Signs of the Times, Vol. 4, No. 11.

The Prophets of Baal

Signs of the Times

Mar 14, 1878

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 14, 1878

The Prophets of Baal.

By Mrs. Lilla D. A. Stuttle

CALM and majestic, stands the man of God, Firm and undaunted, though he stands alone, With floating mantle round his towering form, Before the monarch on his gilded throne. A fearful message he has come to bring To fallen Israel's apostate king.
Like notes of thunder, sounds the prophet's voice To trembling Ahab, "Hear the word of God! My holy precepts hast thou heeded not, And under foot my sacred name hast trod. Thou'st bowed to idols, in thy stubborn pride, Until my wrath shall not be turned aside."
And, now, behold, thus saith the Lord of hosts, These years there neither shall be dew nor rain, The fiery sun shall pour his scorching rays In cloudless fervor o'er Samaria's plain, Till hill and valley shall be parched and dry, And earth shall wither 'neath the burning sky.
The haughty monarch hears the startling words, His ashy face bespeaks his awful fear, His guilty heart is full of sudden dread, And bitter hatred toward the holy seer; But e'er he rallies from his sore affright, The holy man has vanished from his sight.
Time passes on, with swift and noiseless tread, And one by one the sultry days go by, The burning sun still glimmers overhead, Till running brook and sparkling fount are dry, The brassy heavens give no sign of rain, And fruitful earth becomes a barren plain.
Gaunt famine shows her desolating face, Plagues follow on, in all their dread array, Till Israel's heart is filled with woe and pain, And all the land with anguish and dismay, While every lip grows tremulous and pale, And horror haunts the worshipers of Baal.
The frenzied priests with incantations wild Entreat their god with never ceasing cry, While on their pagan altars day and night The flames of sacrifice burn fierce and high. Though smeared with blood, their frantic cries are vain, And loud they wail o'er doomed Samaria's plain.
The groves of Baal, once so rank and green, Stand dry and leafless on Mount Carmel's hight, The grass is dead, the air is hot and dry, And suffocating dust obscures the sight, While man and beast fall prostrate one by one, Half mad with thirst beneath the burning sun!
Though two long years have rolled their tardy round, The haughty nation will not yet repent, But blindly gropes, 'mid heathen maze profound, Though all these dire calamities are sent. They charge their woes upon the man of God, Nor feel the justice of the chastening rod.
And proud queen Jezebel with hatred deep, Has sought Elijah over all the land; But 'tis in vain, for God will never give His holy seer into her cruel hand. In vengeance then she speaks the fearful word, That brings to death the prophets of the Lord.
Good Obadiah hears the queen's command, And quickly hastes the trembling men to save, With ardent zeal this humble man of God Conceals one hundred in a mountain cave, And every day from his own bounty fed, With tender care, the friendless prophets bread.
The months pass by, and good Elijah finds A safe asylum from his wary foes. Within a widow's humble cot he dwells, Where none can e'er his hiding place disclose, The Lord upholds him by his mighty arm, Directs his steps and shelters him from harm.
Jehovah's voice again the prophet hears, "Go show thyself to Israel's hardened king. For lo! once more I send refreshing rain, Till from the sod the grass and herbs shall spring, Till dreary nature wears a smile once more, And gladsome earth shall all her fruits restore."
Elijah hears, and hastens to obey. And once again to Israel's king he goes; A lonely man to brave a nation's wrath, And stands surrounded by his direst foes. But guilty Ahab dares not raise his arm, To do the prophet of Jehovah harm.
"Go, gather Israel at Carmel's mount." The mighty prophet speaks the stern command. With hurried speed swift messengers are sent, To every dweller in Samaria's land. With awe and wonder stamped on every face, With one consent they hasten to the place.
And when the sun in burning splendor sheds His morning glories o'er Samaria's vale, On Carmel's mountain filled with Israel's host, Stands Elijah 'mong the priests of Baal. With light and glory beaming in his eyes, And hands outstretched, the mighty prophet cries:—
"Ye men of Israel, why halt ye thus 'Tween two opinions? If the Lord be God, Acknowledge him, and give him all your praise, And bow with meekness 'neath his chast'ning rod. If Baal be God, exalt him in the land. Why longer thus 'tween two opinions stand?"
"Bring hither now two bullocks on the mount, And lay the one upon your altar there, But place no fire beneath the sacrifice, And Baal's priests shall offer up their prayer. The other beast, I, even I, will slay, And to Jehovah will I kneel and pray.
"And let the God that answereth by fire Have Israel's praise, before the day is done. But now consider ye, the priests of Baal Are forty score, while I am only one." Though Israel's heart to wickedness is wed, The people answered, "Thou hast well said."
The beast is slain, and on the altar laid, While Ahab's priests lie prostrate on the ground, With frantic prayers entreating Baal to hear, Till fearful cries o'er Carmel's bight resound; Thus, one by one, the dreary hours go by, And still their god will not regard their cry.
The fiery sun at last has sunk to rest. And shadows lengthen o'er Samaria's plains, Until the priests had ceased their frenzied cry, And perfect silence o'er Mount Carmel reigns. No longer echoes over hill and dale, The incantations of the seers of Baal.
And now Elijah with devoted zeal, The broken altar of the Lord repairs. With earnest courage and unfeigned faith, His sacrificial offering prepares. No shrieks discordant wildly sound abroad, As kneels in prayer the holy man of God.
"Lord God of Abraham, who rulest above, Who didst create the starry host on high, Make bare, I pray thee, thine Almighty arm, In mercy grant to hear thy servant's cry, Oh, Lord, my God, may it this day be known, Through Israel's hosts that thou art God alone."
The prayer is heard, and fire from God descends Swifter than light, from out the dazzling skies, Licks up the water round the altar poured, And quick consumes the waiting sacrifice. While evening zephyrs bear the cry abroad— From pallid lips—"The Lord, he is the God!"
And now the avenger's hand shall not be stayed, By Kishon's brook the prophets must be slain. Before the Lord will hear his servant's cry, And drop fresh showers on Samaria's plain. The seer fulfills the judgments of the Lord, And rain is sent according to his word.
The grateful earth again in beauty smiles, The trees grow green upon Mount Carmel's hight, And 'neath their shade sweet birds in gladness sing, And bubbling fountains burst upon the sight, Green grasses wave, and flowers of richest dye, Their beauties spread beneath the genial sky.
But good Elijah once again has fled From Ahab's fury, to the desert drear, His heart is sick, his hope is well nigh dead, His faithful soul is filled with grief and fear, With spirit crushed by wickedness and strife, He prays that God will take away his life.
But ah! behold, from out the burning sky, A dazzling retinue from glory speeds, And quick descends before the prophet's eye, A glittering chariot borne by fiery steeds! And now with angels beautiful and fair, He rides in splendor, through the boundless air.
Oh! glorious triumph over cruel foes! Oh! mighty victory o'er death and sin, No more of grief the stricken prophet knows, As through the pearly gates he's ushered in, And now behold him, walking hand in hand With good old Enoch in the promised land!
And when at last the Prince of Peace shall reign, If like Elijah in the days of old, We cheerful follow where our Lord shall lead, We'll walk with him the glittering streets of gold, While scorners take with loud and bitter wail, Their fearful portion 'mong the seers of Baal.
MRS. LILLA D. A. STUTTLE. Vernon, Shiawassee Co., Michigan.

THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL.

By Mrs. E. G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
WHEN the Jews rejected Christ they rejected the foundation of their faith. And, on the other hand, the Christian world of to-day who claim faith in Christ, but reject the law of God are making a mistake similar to that of the deceived Jews. Those who profess to cling to Christ, centering their hopes on him, while they pour contempt upon the moral law, and the prophecies, are in no safer position than were the unbelieving Jews. They cannot understandingly call sinners to repentance, for they are unable to properly explain what they are to repent of. The sinner, upon being exhorted to forsake his sins, has a right to ask, What is sin? Those who respect the law of God can answer, Sin is the transgression of the law. In confirmation of this the apostle Paul says, I had not known sin but by the law.
Those only who acknowledge the binding claim of the moral law can explain the nature of the atonement. Christ came to mediate between God and man, to make man one with God by bringing him into allegiance to his law. There was no power in the law to pardon its transgressor. Jesus alone could pay the sinner's debt. But the fact that Jesus has paid the indebtedness of the repentant sinner does not give him license to continue in transgression of the law of God; but he must henceforth live in obedience to that law.
[The law of God existed before the creation of man or else Adam could not have sinned. After the transgression of Adam the principles of the law were not changed, but were definitely arranged and expressed to meet man in his fallen condition. Christ, in counsel with his Father, instituted the system of sacrificial offerings; that death, instead of being immediately visited upon the transgressor, should be transferred to a victim which should prefigure the great and perfect offering of the Son of God.]
The sins of the people were transferred in figure to the officiating priest, who was a mediator for the people. The priest could not himself become an offering for sin, and make an atonement with his life, for he was also a sinner. Therefore, instead of suffering death himself, he killed a lamb without blemish; the penalty of sin was transferred to the innocent beast, which thus became his immediate substitute, and typified the perfect offering of Jesus Christ. Through the blood of this victim, man looked forward by faith to the blood of Christ which would atone for the sins of the world."
If Adam had not transgressed the law of God, the ceremonial law would never have been instituted. The gospel of good news was first given to Adam in the declaration made to him that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; and it was handed down through successive generations to Noah, Abraham, and Moses. The knowledge of God's law, and the plan of salvation were imparted to Adam and Eve by Christ himself. They carefully treasured the important lesson, and transmitted it by word of mouth, to their children, and children's children. Thus the knowledge of God's law was preserved.
Men lived nearly a thousand years in those days, and angels visited them with instruction directly from Christ. The worship of God through sacrificial offerings was established, and those who feared God acknowledged their sins before him, and looked forward with gratitude and holy trust to the coming of the Day Star, which should guide the fallen sons of Adam to heaven, through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus the gospel was preached in every sacrifice; and the works of the believers continually revealed their faith in a coming Saviour. Jesus said to the Jews: "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
It was impossible, however, for Adam, by his example and precepts to stay the tide of woe which his transgression had brought upon men. Unbelief crept into the hearts of men. The children of Adam present the earliest example of the two different courses pursued by men with regard to the claims of God. Abel saw Christ figured in the sacrificial offerings. Cain was an unbeliever in regard to the necessity of sacrifices; he refused to discern that Christ was typified by the slain lamb; the blood of beasts appeared to him without virtue. The gospel was preached to Cain as well as to his brother; but it was to him a savor of death unto death, because he would not recognize, in the blood of the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ the only provision made for man's salvation.
Our Saviour, in his life and death, fulfilled all the prophecies pointing to himself, and was the substance of all the types and shadows signified. He kept the moral law, and exalted it by answering its claims as man's representative. Those of Israel who turned to the Lord, and accepted Christ as the reality shadowed forth by that typical sacrifices, discerned the end of that which was to be abolished. The obscurity covering the Jewish system as a vail, was to them as the vail which covered the glory upon the face of Moses. The glory upon the face of Moses was the reflection of that light which Christ came into the world to bring for the benefit of man.
While Moses was shut in the mount with God, the plan of salvation, dating from the fall of Adam, was revealed to him in a most forcible manner. He then knew that the very angel who was conducting the travels of the children of Israel was to be revealed in the flesh. God's dear Son, who was one with the Father, was to make all men one with God who would believe on, and trust in him. Moses saw the true significance of the sacrificial offerings. Christ taught the gospel plan to Moses, and the glory of the gospel, through Christ, illuminated the countenance of Moses so that the people could not look upon it.
Moses himself was unconscious of the beaming glory reflected upon his face, and knew not why the children of Israel fled from him when he approached them. He called them to him, but they dared not look upon that glorified face. When Moses learned that the people could not look upon his face, because of its glory, he covered it with a vail.
The glory upon the face of Moses was exceedingly painful to the children of Israel because of their transgression of God's holy law. This is an illustration of the feelings of those who violate the law of God. They desire to remove from its penetrating light which is a terror to the transgressor, while it seems holy, just, and good to the loyal. Those only who have a just regard for the law of God can rightly estimate the atonement of Christ which was made necessary by the violation of the Father's law.
Those who cherish the view that there was no Saviour in the old dispensation, have as dark a vail over their understanding as did the Jews who rejected Christ. The Jews acknowledged their faith in a Messiah to come in the offering of sacrifices which typified Christ. Yet when Jesus appeared, fulfilling all the prophecies regarding the promised Messiah, and doing works that marked him as the divine son of God; they rejected him, and refused to accept the plainest evidence of his true character. The Christian church, on the other hand, who profess the utmost faith in Christ, in despising the Jewish system virtually deny Christ, who was the originator of the entire Jewish economy.

A Cheerful Spirit

A CHEERFUL spirit is the source of all that is noble and good. Whatever is accomplished of the greatest and noblest sort flows from such a disposition. Petty, gloomy souls, that only mourn the past and dread the future, are not capable of seizing upon the holiest moments of life, of enjoying and making use of them as they should.
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