Seven Thousand

"Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him."






I. We may learn from this declaration of God to Elijah, in reply to his complaint, NEVER TO TAKE TOO GLOOMY OR DESPONDING A VIEW OF THE POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE CHURCH. However reduced in number and influence and piety the Church of God apparently may become; — however feeble the spark, it cannot be quenched; — it cannot die. The true Israel often and again have been reduced to the lowest ebb; — the bush burning with fire ready to be consumed; but the living God was in the bush, and defied the destroying flames.



II. Arising from the lesson just drawn, and suggested by it, we may further learn to BEWARE OF HARSH JUDGMENTS ON OUR FELLOW-MEN AND FELLOW-CHRISTIANS. There was unwarrantable self-sufficiency in Elijah — so boldly averring, "I, even I only, am left!" It was not for him ("the man of like passions") to make so sweeping and unqualified an assertion — repudiating the faith of others, and feeling so confident of his own. The worst phase which self-righteousness can assume, is when we constitute ourselves religious censors; and on the ground of some supposed superior sanctity say, with supercilious air, "Stand back, for I am holier than thou." Elijah's feeling has developed itself in modern times in denominational exclusiveness; — sect unchurching sect. One saying, "I alone am left." I alone am "the Church," because of apostolic descent and sacramental efficacy. Another, "I only am left," for congregations around me are asleep, and mine only has undergone revival and awakening. Nay, nay; hush these censorious' thoughts and hasty party judgments. Who art thou that judgest another? "Who art thou so ready to spy out the mote in thy brother's eye, and seest not the beam in thine own?" There has ever been, and ever shall be, "a hidden Church." "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." There is often pure gold in the coarsest-looking ore; — there is often the rarest pebble in the most rugged rock; — there are often the loveliest flowers in the most tangled brake or remotest dell.



III. Let us gather yet another lesson from this comforting assurance of God to Elijah — THE INFLUENTIAL POWER OF A GREAT EXAMPLE. Elijah's feeling was, that he was alone; that he had toiled, and witnessed, and suffered in vain; that in vain he had uttered his high behests; borne publicly his testimony to the living Jehovah; lived his life of faith, and self-denial, and prayer. His saddening thought was, that he was now going to end a useless, fruitless, purposeless existence; that, for all he had done in the cause of Divine truth, he might still have been roaming a freebooter, or pasturing his flocks as a shepherd in his native Gilead. "Nay," says God, to this mighty harvest-man, "seven thousand souls have been reaped mainly by thy sickle." Wherever there are brave, bold, honest, upright, God-loving hearts in this world, there is sure to emanate a silent, it may be, but yet a vast influence for good. "No man liveth to himself." What may not a word do! — a solemn advice! — a needed caution!



(J. R. Macduff,D. D.)