Tag: Elijah

Who Can Hear a Whisper Anymore?

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Applied Theology, InspirationLeave a comment

Elijah hid, fearful and distraught, in a cave. The battle of Ba’al was behind him, as was a vengeful queen. As Elijah hid, the Lord produced loud, awesome, cataclysmic displays, but He was not in them (1 Kgs. 19:9-12).

The “god” Ba’al was associated with thunders, lightenings, earthquakes: natural phenomena. This was the silence that stumped the priests of Ba’al. They cried out, but there was silence. In the silence they found only despair. They cried more, they cut deeper, but still nothingness stood in contrast to their noise.

The Lord purposely displayed His power in nature, but then He showed His power in presence. As He said to Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kgs. 19:13). The Lord asked this question before the thunders, lightenings and earthquakes, and after, but in the קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָּה, the “voice/sound of sheer silence” He spoke to Elijah’s heart.

The same sheer silence that stood in contrast to the loud voicings of the priests of Ba’al, now speaks to His prophet Elijah. In hearing His voice, the voice of comfort and presence, Elijah returns to the mission.

Noise. We live in a noisy generation. From the noise of civilization, to the noise in our pocket. We believed that technological advancement would provide the opportunity for a quality of life unknown to previous generations, and in a way yes, but who has time for quality of life when the noise of ba’al reigns supreme?

Who can hear a whisper anymore?

It always amazes me when the sound of “worship” music stops, and the silence takes over. There, like Elijah, we find ourselves hearing the voice of sheer silence. The holy hush as it is called. Without fail you will hear people catch their breath in that moment, when the noise gives way to silence, and the presence of the Living God is palpable.

Now, Scripture does say to make a joyful noise – a sound breaking the silence- unto the Lord (Ps. 98:4; 100:1), but we mustn’t forget the power of silence in an age saturated with noise.

Who can hear a whisper anymore?

What are the ba’alim (gods) ever present in your life that invades the quiet where the Lord will meet with you? Notifications, beep and boops, rings and tweets, all remind us of something out there, somewhere that is desperate for our attention. But, how often is the Lord in those notifications, or the deeps, boops and tweets? Can we still hear the sacred in the midst of the profanity?

Who can hear a whisper anymore?

Those who dare to let the gods of this age take a backseat to the presence of the Living God. Friends, this is not a rebuke of our technically enabled lives, but a reminder that when the noise stops, the Lord will be there to speak into the silence, and redirect your life from the cave of fear, to a life of victorious meaning in Him.

Messiah Yeshua/Jesus taught us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33).

Be well. Shalom.

The Empty Cup

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn Inspiration1 Comment

At every Passover Seder, no matter how full or limited the space available, there sits an empty cup. Yet, not just an empty cup, but according to some traditions, a chair, or even a full place setting. The cup is poured just before the reading of the Hallel, focusing on praise and the future redemption. When the cup is poured, the door is opened, a paragraph is read, and the Seder continues. This cup remains undisturbed, full, to the end of the Seder. It is then cleaned, and stored for another year.

Why?

This the Cup of Elijah, כּוֹסוֹ שֶׁל אֵלִיָּהוּ. Unlike Moses, who makes no appearance in the Seder, Elijah has a place of prominence. Why? He is the herald of Messiah. As the prophet writes, “He will turn the hearts of fathers to the children, and the hearts of children to their fathers” (Mal. 4:5-6).

It is often said that when the door is opened, we are opening the door for Elijah. It is, however, slightly different. We are opening the door so we can go out to greet him. We fill a cup, at a yet empty seat. We then leave the feast, the set table, go to the door in order to exit and meet the hoped for forerunner of the Messiah.

Have you ever looked over at someone’s seat, wishing they were there, that they were coming, or that they would return? Elijah never died. He will return at the set time before the return of the Messiah. Still, we hope for the promise of Elijah to go before him: the joy of reconciliation. That the empty cup, filled in anticipation, would be drank, and the seat occupied. That the one or ones we are yet missing, due to strained circumstances, would enter, and share in the cup of hope and joy.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the father does not wait for the son to arrive at his feet in order to receive him. No, the father gets up, opens the door, exits and runs to the son, and embraces the one who had cut him so deeply. This is the turning of hearts that goes before Elijah.

This is why an empty cup is set, a seat prepared, and a door opened: we are rehearsing our own prodigal moment. We then drink in the joy and peace of that hopeful cup.

Why wait?

There is no better time then the present to usher in the promise of the messianic herald, and turn our renewed hearts in faith to those we love and miss. Then our cups will be full, even running over, as we await the final redemption Elijah’s coming announces.

Be well. Shalom.

Why Elijah?

On By Bp. Justin ElwellIn InspirationLeave a comment

On Passover night we invite the children to open the door for and to Elijah. Why? The Passover is a family event. It brings together the generations, who, at times, do not want to be together. Still, the promise connected to Elijah is: “He will turn the hearts of fathers to the children, and the hearts of children to their fathers – else I will come and strike the land with utter destruction” (Mal. 4:5-6).

Sending the children to open the door for Elijah is an act of faith on the part of parents for continual relationship with their children, or for restoration in the family. Maybe it’s not the children sent, or the parents sending, but a hope for restoration in general. Once the door is opened for Elijah, the door is opened for the One he was heralding, Yeshua/Jesus, Who stands at the door, knocks (Rev. 3:20), and once He enters, He makes all things, even tense and broken relationships, new (Rev. 21:5).

Hope.

Be well. Shalom.