people, as if to appeal for vengeance to the LORD (Romans 11:2, 3) - "It is time for Thee to work, O LORD, for men

have made void Thy Law" (Psalms 119:126)! Upon this Elijah was bidden to go forth out of the dark, narrow cave, and

behold, as Jehovah passed by.26

Not a word was spoken. But first burst "wind great and strong, rending mountains, shivering rocks before the face of

Jehovah - not in storm Jehovah! And after the wind earthquake - not in earthquake Jehovah! And after the earthquake

fire - not in fire Jehovah! And after the fire sound of soft silencing (audib le gentle stilling)!"  27

Elijah could not but have understood the meaning of this. He knew it when, at the "sound of soft stilling," he wrapped

his face in the mantle and came forth in most reverent attitude to stand before Jehovah (comp. Exodus 3:6; 33:20, 22;

Isaiah 6:2). The storm which rends, the earthquake which shakes all to its foundations, the fire which consumes - these

are but His messengers which at most precede His coming. But Jehovah Himself is not in them. When He cometh it is

not in these, but in the gentle stilling of them. To learn this was a real, though not an expressed, answer to Elijah's

despondency and to his accusing appeal against Israel, the more touchingly conveyed that, being indirect, like the

answer of Jesus to the inquiry of the Baptist, it carried instruction but not rebuke. The mood of both was the same, their

doubts, and the reply given to them. It was in effect, See what the LORD really is, purposes, and doeth; and learn

reverently to bow and to adore. God is greater, higher, better than appears only in judgment: do thy work, and leave the

result to Him - He will make it plain. And so, we suppose that, when after this manifestation the same question again

came to Elijah, his answer was no longer in the spirit of accusation, but rather a statement of fact in vindication or

explanation of his own presence on Mount Horeb.

With reverence be it said that, in the mood in which Elijah had come, no more fitting answer could have been made to

him than this awful and glorious self-manifestation of Jehovah. If the LORD Himself had not been in the desolating

messengers of terror, why should Elijah have expected it in the judgments which he was commissioned to execute?

Nay, if Elijah himself had come forth to worship not in the storm, the earthquake, nor the fire, but had waited for the

Presence of the LORD in the soft, gentle, stilling sound, why should he wonder if the revival of Israel's worship

awaited a similar manifestation? But God would in the meantime take care of His own cause. The storm must burst

from without on an unrepentant people: Hazael was to be anointed king of Syria, and foreign wars, more desolating

than any that had preceded, would sweep over Israel. The earthquake would shake the house of Ahab to its foundations:

and Jehu was to be appointed the minister of vengeance. That fire which Elijah had kindled would burn more brightly

and fiercely: the mission of Elijah was to be continued in Elisha. To prepare all28 this was now the only work left for

the aged and weary prophet. And in each case he did prepare it.29

Elisha was called by the prophet himself. The destruction of the house of Ahab, which involved the elevation of Jehu,

through whom it was accomplished, was distinctly announced to Ahab by Elijah in the field of Naboth (1 Kings 21:19,

21, 22); while the future power of Syria over Israel, which involved the elevation of Hazael, was similarly prophetically

intimated (1 Kings 20:42) - as we conjecture from the expression "a certain man of the sons of the prophets" (1 Kings

20:35) - by direction of Elijah.

Yet one precious assurance, or rather visible token that Jehovah was still in Israel, in the voice of soft stilling, was

granted to the prophet. All unknown to him God had even in corrupt Israel His own, a "remnant according to the

election of grace" (Romans 11:2-5), a sacred covenant-number which could be counted by thousands30 - "still ones" in

the land, who had never bent the knee to Baal nor kissed in worship the abominable image.  31

And yet further consolation was t o be granted to the weary servant of the LORD. In each case the actual judgment was

to be only intimated, not executed, through Elijah himself, or in his ifetime. But this comfort would he have, that, even

in his ifetime, and while engaged in his mission, a yoke -fellow true n sympathy, ministry, and likeness of spirit, should

attend him or make the burden seem easier to bear.

It was as had been told him. With a sense that his mission was ell-nigh completed, and that what remained was chiefly

to repare Elisha for his work, the prophet turned again towards he land of Israel. As he proceeded on his way, nature

itself ust have seemed to reflect the gladsome revelation of stillness nd peace which had been vouchsafed on Horeb.

The abundant rain hich had descended must have softened the long-parched fields. he country was putting on the garb

of a new spring. Everywhere he work of the husbandman was resumed; herds and flocks were rowsing in the meadows;

busy hands were rapidly putting in the eed. Upwards he travele d along the rich Jordan valley, till, ast the borders of