October 19, 2004
A Good Day To Die?
Read: 1 Kings 19:1-18
It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life! —1 Kings 19:4
Bible In One Year: Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2
Hopelessness and anger combined to bring death to a young man in my neighborhood. Someone had beaten him up for something he said. To retaliate, he came back with a gun. The police were called. When they arrived he ran, shooting at them. To protect everyone, they shot him. He lost his life at age 21. Later it was reported that he had told a family member that morning: "Today would be a good day to die." I wonder what brought him to such despair.
There was a day when the prophet Elijah felt hopeless and wanted to die. He had just experienced a great victory over the prophets of Baal, but now his life was being threatened by the king's wife Jezebel. In fear, he ran into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:4). There he "prayed that he might die, and said, 'It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life!'"
We may think that Elijah was overreacting, but hopeless feelings are real. He wisely went to the right source for help—he cried out to God. The Lord knew Elijah needed restoration, so He provided for his needs (vv.5-7). He revealed Himself to him (vv.9-13) and renewed Elijah's sense of purpose by giving him work to do (vv.15-17). God brought him hope by reminding him that he was not alone (v.18).
Look to God. He is your source of hope. —Anne Cetas
Life's burdens seem too much to bear;
Dispel the darkness with new hope
And help us rise above despair. —Sper
No one is hopeless whose hope is in God.
