April 9, 2026 - 1 Kings 17-22

These are the “Elijah chapters” -- Three great confrontations between the prophet Elijah and Ahab and Jezebel:  The announcement of famine (ch. 17), the destruction of the Baal prophets on Mt. Carmel (ch. 18), and the announcement of God’s judgment because of Ahab’s murder of Naboth and the taking of his land (ch. 21).  God will not leave evil alone; he will judge it and be victorious over it.  In a world that is full of evil and evildoers, it is good to know that our God watches over all and rules and will ultimately prevail.  The Psalmist put it this way:  “The Lord reigns.  The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.  He judges the peoples fairly. . . . He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His faithfulness:” (Psalm 96:10,13).

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise,

the city of our God, the holy place,

the joy of the whole Earth.

Great is the Lord in whom we have the victory,

he aids us against the enemy,

we bow down on our knees.

And Lord, we want to lift your name on high,

and Lord, we want to thank you,

for the works you’ve done in our lives;

and Lord, we trust in your unfailing love,

for you alone are God eternal,

throughout Earth and Heaven above.   -- Steve McEwan (1985)