RCL Reading Sunday 20 June 2010
1 Kings 19:1-15
Psalm 42 & 43
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39

Today’s Old Testament readings have a sober feel to them. In 1 Kings 19:1-15 Elijah certainly has a case of the ‘downs’ and not without good reason. Jezebel is on his case and as she later demonstrates in her dealings with Naboth (last week’s reading) that is not good news for Elijah. Elijah feels depressed and alone, so much so that he wants to die (v.4). He also feels sorry for himself (v.10, 14). “I alone am left” and he’s had enough! For Elijah this is far more than ‘the Monday morning blues’ – he is not in a good place mentally or emotionally. To a degree these are feelings that many people can identify with and we ourselves may have or have had them to some degree. They are human feelings. But for some people these can be overwhelming feelings and they especially need our prayers and support even though we may not be able to fully understand why they feel as they do.

How does God help Elijah and how might that help us both personally and in our response to others?

• God doesn’t say to Elijah ‘pull yourself together’ or berate him.
• God cares in very practical ways with food, drink and rest (v.5-8).
• Strengthened by this Elijah journeys to Horeb (elsewhere referred to as Mount Sinai).
• There is an encounter with God at Horeb, not in the wind, earthquake or fire (the usual manifestations of God at Sinai) but in the “sheer silence”.

So for our prayers and action there needs to be empathy and listening, practical actions of patient caring to restore strength, the importance of places where experience reminds us that God is often encountered there, and the realisation that God is also present in the “sheer silence”.

This week there are two set Psalms (42 & 43) both of which are rooted in times of distress and trouble. They demonstrate for us how prayer is an inner conversation with ourselves and God. As you read them notice how the Psalmist wrestles with his/her feelings and their faith. This conversation is summed up in the repeated verse:

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

What marks the Psalmist’s prayer is honesty, realism and a deep and profound faith in God. Let us learn from the Psalmist and find in these Psalms a vehicle for our prayers in times of distress and trouble.