1 Kings 19:14

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

And he said {H559}, I have been very {H7065} jealous {H7065} for the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of hosts {H6635}: because the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} have forsaken {H5800} thy covenant {H1285}, thrown down {H2040} thine altars {H4196}, and slain {H2026} thy prophets {H5030} with the sword {H2719}; and I, even I only, am left {H3498}; and they seek {H1245} my life {H5315}, to take it away {H3947}.

He answered, "I have been very zealous for ADONAI the God of armies; because the people of Isra'el have abandoned your covenant, broken down your altars and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I'm the only one left, and they're after me to kill me too."

โ€œI have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of Hosts,โ€ he replied, โ€œbut the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.โ€

And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Commentary

In 1 Kings 19:14, the prophet Elijah expresses his profound despair and sense of isolation to God. This verse captures a moment of intense spiritual and emotional crisis for one of Israel's greatest prophets, following his dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and his subsequent flight from Jezebel's death threat.

Context

This lament occurs after Elijah's powerful demonstration of God's might on Mount Carmel, where fire consumed his sacrifice. Despite this undeniable victory, Queen Jezebel vowed to kill him, sending Elijah into a deep depression and causing him to flee into the wilderness (1 Kings 19:3). He eventually reaches Horeb, the "mount of God" (Mount Sinai), where he encounters God not in a mighty wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a "still small voice." In this intimate encounter, God asks Elijah why he is there, and this verse records Elijah's response, revealing his deep anguish over the spiritual state of Israel and his perceived solitude.

Key Themes

  • Zeal for God: Elijah declares, "I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts." This highlights his fervent, passionate devotion to God's honor and covenant. His zeal is not merely an emotion but an intense commitment to God's truth in the face of widespread apostasy.
  • Profound Despair and Isolation: The repeated phrase "I, even I only, am left" underscores Elijah's feeling of utter loneliness and hopelessness. He believes he is the sole remaining faithful servant of God in Israel, despite the clear evidence of God's power he had just witnessed. This reveals the human vulnerability of even the most devoted.
  • Apostasy of Israel: Elijah's lament details the nation's spiritual decline: "the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword." This paints a grim picture of widespread idolatry and persecution of God's true worshippers, justifying Elijah's intense grief.
  • Persecution of the Faithful: The statement "they seek my life, to take it away" emphasizes the direct threat Elijah faces because of his faithfulness, a common experience for God's prophets and servants throughout history.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "jealous" here is qanna (ืงึทื ึผึธื), which conveys an intense, zealous passion. When applied to God, it signifies His righteous indignation against idolatry and unfaithfulness. When applied to Elijah, it reflects his deep personal identification with God's honor and his grief over the dishonor shown to God by Israel. The title "LORD God of hosts" (Hebrew: YHWH Elohei Tseva'ot) emphasizes God's supreme power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies, a stark contrast to the weakness and corruption of the earthly kingdom Elijah is lamenting.

Practical Application

Elijah's raw honesty in 1 Kings 19:14 offers several important lessons for believers today:

  • Vulnerability of Faith: Even the strongest believers can experience moments of deep despair, loneliness, and burnout, especially after significant spiritual battles or periods of intense service. It's okay to admit these feelings to God.
  • Expressing Our Struggles to God: Elijah models bringing his honest, even desperate, feelings before the Lord. God listens patiently and responds with comfort and direction, demonstrating that He cares about our emotional and spiritual state.
  • God's Hidden Remnant: While Elijah felt utterly alone, God later revealed that He had preserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. This reminds us that even when we feel isolated in our faith, God always has a faithful remnant, and we are never truly alone in His work.
  • Perseverance in Apostasy: Elijah's zeal, though tinged with despair, serves as a call to remain faithful and committed to God's covenant even when surrounded by widespread unfaithfulness or opposition.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 29:25 (2 votes)

    Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

  • Psalms 78:37 (2 votes)

    For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

  • Hosea 6:7 (2 votes)

    But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.

  • Deuteronomy 31:20 (2 votes)

    For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.

  • Isaiah 62:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp [that] burneth.

  • Daniel 11:30 (2 votes)

    For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

  • Jeremiah 22:9 (2 votes)

    Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.