Sermon Tone Analysis

Showdown at Mount Carmel

We all love a good showdown in movies or sports.

Showdowns are a final confrontation to settle a dispute.

The word originates as an Americanism- derived from card playing (poker) whereas eventually the players had to put their cards down face up and show them when called to determine who won and who lost.

Today we use the word “showdown” in a variety of ways- i.e. a showdown between Alabama and Georgia, a showdown between boxers or even a showdown amongst rival chefs on Food Network.

There was a time when this word was used to describe lethal confrontations between gunfighters.

One of my favorite movie showdowns is in Tombstone between a character named “Doc” Holiday and Johnny Ringo- (not Ringo Starr the drummer for the Beatles)

Show movie clip

As the story goes, Johnny Ringo was the leader of a gang called the “cowboys”.

The cowboys were a bunch of no good bullies who took what they wanted from hardworking settlers.

They did not follow the law and their greed made life in Tombstone impossible for newcomers.

Through the course of the story they end up in a confrontation with Wyatt Earp and end up killing one of his brothers and severely wounding another.

Doc was a good friend of the Earp’s and takes it upon himself to stand in Wyatt’s place when Johnny Ringo challenges him to a “Showdown”.

The result of the Showdown would determine whether the people would be ruled by the ruthless cowboy gang or be able to live their lives in peace.

The Showdown between Doc Holiday and Johnny Ringo is filled with the tension as the two square off

Holiday appears confident and poised and even invites his rival to, “say when”.

There was no doubt in the Wild West- a showdown meant life or death

The Old Testament provides record of many Showdown’s Israel encountered in their history.

One of my favorites is found in 1 Kings 18:16-40

1 Kings 18:16-40

Background

Key players: Elijah, Ahab, Jezebel, the prophets of baal, Israel

It is absolutely vital to know that the land had experienced a three year drought.

In those days people were dependent upon wells for fresh drinking water and for growing crops.

Those wells were replenished by rain water from storms.

After three years of not a drop of rain the land was so parched that the king was desperate for a solution.

There were no crops, the animals were dying and the people were suffering

The King and his wife were wicked and blamed the prophet Elijah for the trouble that had come upon Israel but their sin of idolatry was the reason the drought occurred and their lack of repentance put everything they had at risk.

God told Elijah the Prophet that He was going to end the drought and to go stand before Ahab the King

Elijah

Elijah-

Name means “my God is Yah”

He was a Tishbite

At Yahweh’s command Elijah proclaimed a three year drought upon Israel due to their faithlessness and idolatry

The sole remaining prophet of Yahweh who had survived Ahab and Jezebel’s massacre

The drought ends with Elijah’s call for the people to repent and come back to Yahweh via a Showdown to determine whether Baal was god or Yahweh was God

He was a man of faithful to Yahweh who lived amidst a culture of paganism and idolatry

Do you ever feel surrounded by a culture that is hostile to your faith in Jesus Christ?

Ahab-

7th King of Israel and he reigned twenty-two years

Reign was characterized as wicked

Wife’s name was Jezebel

(a name that holds the connotation of an impudent, shameless, or morally unrestrained woman.)

Disobeyed Yahweh in marrying Jezebel

A poor leader who allowed his wife’s paganism & idolatry to usurp his authority

Jezebel-

Daughter to a Sidonian King

Responsible for the murder of God’s prophets

The prophets of Asherah were her personal attendants

Asherah was a Caananite goddess that was worshipped- an idol

Prophets of Baal-

Followers of a false god named Baal

Baal was worshipped as the god of Lightning and Storms (keep this in mind)

Sincere in their faith but sincerely wrong

Outnumbered Elijah 850 to 1

Important to remember- Just because a false god has many followers it is still a false god

lsrael-

The people of Israel struggled to remain loyal to Yahweh

Preferred to worship whatever was convenient or “felt” right at the time

Key Verses 1 Kings 18:17-18, 21, 24, 27, 29-30, 33-34, 36-39

Ahab refers to Elijah as the “Troubler of Israel”

-Ahab holds Elijah responsible for the difficulties Israel was experiencing when in fact it was Ahab and his abandonment of God’s Law that was responsible

-Elijah turns the epithet back on to Ahab

Have you ever felt God has been causing trouble for you?

Is it possible that we are causing our own troubles by departing from God’s ways?

Israel’s issues arise from following an evil King and abandoning the Lord’s ways.

Believe it or not God wants us to live righteous and holy lives-

Christians, We are not “confined” in our behavior, We are FREE to say NO to sin

But those who do not know Jesus are SLAVES to SIN and are truly NOT free to refuse sin!

Elijah instructs King Ahab to gather all Israel together at Mount Carmel to settle this dispute as to WHO is God- There will be a SHOWDOWN AND ONLY ONE GOD WILL WALK AWAY!

Hebrew- “Poshim”

The Hebrew word used here is “Poshim”

This word means to “limp” or jump between

Elijah is demanding the people make a choice to follow Yahweh or Baal

Similar statement is made in Joshua 24:14-15 and Revelation 3:16

We can feel Elijah’s frustration with the people in his words

Yahweh had delivered Israel from countless troubles i.e. slavery, attack etc.

Baal had done nothing for Israel

(CIT) Following Jesus requires loyalty- It is a COMMITMENT

Especially in the ‘DRY” seasons of life

Are you experiencing a “DRY” season

Jesus does not force mankind to worship Him but just as certainly he will never play second fiddle to a second rate false god

God wants ALL our worship and He is WORTHY of all our worship!

Yet we often worship false gods in our lives and bow down to them

Some of us worship money (call it Baal) relationship (Baal), Food (Baal)

There is only ONE in Heaven and on Earth worthy of our worship

His name is NOT Baal it is JESUS CHRIST

Nothing is more pathetic than a reluctant indecisive worshipper

limping along in their convictions

Never maturing- never growing- never wholeheartedly giving themselves to one belief or another

Have you been limping along in your opinion about Jesus?

Have you been jumping from one false god to another?

Trying them on like clothing and seeing what fits YOU?!

Notice that Elijah addresses the PEOPLE and confronts their idolatry and even leaves the door open for them to repent

Yet no one speaks to acknowledge that the LORD is God- in fact, you can feel the people avoiding eye contact with Elijah!!

Elijah issues a challenge- a SHOWDOWN- pitting Baal against the Lord.

Elijah chose a contest that the Prophets of Baal could not refuse

In those days Altars of Stones were constructed in which to sacrifice burnt offerings of animals to God

Mount Carmel was a significant place where Yahweh has once been worshipped by the people of Israel

The animal would be slaughtered and butchered and placed on top of the stone altar and wood and the fire would be lit