Called to Self Care

Good morning, I am going to do things a little differently than we are used to. I will read the passage of our 2nd scripture reading. However, since it is on the longer side I will read it in pieces throughout the sermon. Don't worry I will tell you when to pay special attention so you do not miss it. 

Since Rev. Garry decided to just go on sabbatical for some crazy reason, I thought it would be fun to engage in a summer sermon series over the next few weeks that I will be preaching. A series titled "Called In". This sermon series is inspired by Proverbs chapter 3, where it asks us not to despise the Lord's discipline, for it is a sign of love for us. We find these signs of God's love everywhere. Sometimes we find them in moments that call us out in terms of our actions or behaviors. We also find them in the moments that call us in inviting us back into right relationship. 

This series explores the ways in which God continues to call us into community, and to divine relationship. Sometimes being called in means being called away from areas where we have clearly done wrong, caused harm, or fallen short. In other moments, God may simply be working to refine us further, encouraging us to continue on a path toward faithful maturity. In every other instance, however, God is inviting us into something better, fuller, and more holy1. Yet sometimes they work together, calling out and calling in brings these moments full circle. 

Here are two important things to remember as we engage in this series, there are two ways people are called in. First, calling someone out. To call someone out is forcefully challenging someone’s words or action. Second, calling someone in. And to call someone in is inviting someone, through conversation and relationship, to consider a better way. It may seem confusing at first, but we will work through this together.  

Our scripture reading begins at 1 Kings 19:1-3 

Elijah Flees from Jezebel 

19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. 

I want to warn you all that our text this morning is difficult to read at first because Elijah is being called out for some characteristic and uncharacteristic behavior for the sake of the people. We enter the story after Elijah is confronted for “killing the prophets” and is being threatened by Jezebel that the same thing he did to them should happen to him. So, he fled.  

Violence is not something we condone in our society, however, for the people of the time, violence was used all too often. So, when Elijah was in conflict with the prophets of Baal, the outcome was not so good.  

Background 

Now we will take a step back. Our text today comes from 1 Kings, I know that’s a book we don’t encounter often so let’s begin with some background. As we have seen in our bibles there are two books 1 Kings and 2 Kings, however, they were originally written as one. These books tell the story of the long line of kings of Israel that come after David and how none of them live up to their role. Beginning with David’s son Solomon, we watch as he takes over and does the opposite of what God has asked of Kings. Which eventually leads to a split of Israel creating a northern kingdom and a southern kingdom.  

Since the kings couldn’t do what was asked of them, we begin to see Prophets emerge to speak on God’s behalf, to call out bad behavior and to offer guidance to help the people return to God. Elijah was a well-known prophet from the northern kingdom. Now Elijah and the king at the time, Ahab, did not get along because Ahab steered the Israelites to serve other gods, mostly Baal, and used his power for evil.  

Elijah’s job is to be a friend to the King as they navigate the world. However, the more he warned the king of what was to come, the more there was conflict. Elijah gets the name the “troubler of Israel” (1 kings 18:17). He’s known for somehow always getting himself in trouble while trying to restore Israel to right relationship with God. So, we find Elijah today in conflict with the king’s wife Jezebel.  

Our next portion of scripture is 1 Kings 19:4-10 

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 He got up and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave and spent the night there. 

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 

Elijah has fled from accountability, after being called out by Jezebel of all people. Because his behavior doesn’t match the behavior of a prophet and he finds himself in the wilderness asking that he might die. Now it is not our job to judge Elijah based on his decisions because he probably thought he was genuinely doing the right thing at the time. We are not just brushing what he did under a rug, instead we are turning our attention to the good still inside of him.  His behavior has been called out, he is being shown how he has caused harm and fell short of what he was called to do, so now he can move forward. 

Then something unexpected happens. Elijah has been called out as Jezebel challenged his action and now, he’s being called back in by an angel of the Lord. An angel touches him to offer him food, something to drink and guidance. More than once. What Elijah thought would hold him back forever becomes a piece of his past because there is something greater to be done. In this process Elijah’s own relationship is being restored. He is returning to his calling, with a nudge from the Lord.  

“Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” Even after all that he has done and as far as he has run away the Lord is still concerned for him. And Elijah pleads his case because he realizes the trouble he is in. Then he says, “I alone am left.” He says this because despite his best efforts Israel is still the same place, still allowing themselves to stray away from God and not see what is happening.  

Let’s continue to the end: 1 Kings 19:11-15 

Elijah Meets God at Horeb 

11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 

So, if you missed a few things let me catch you up. Elijah has fled, leaving the northern territory and going south. An angel has met him under a tree to give him food and drink. He has wandered through the wilderness for forty days and nights. Now he comes face to face with the voice of the Lord.  

This voice says the Lord is coming, so go and wait. What is always interesting to me is that we believe we know how, when, who, or what the Lord will come through. This idea that God comes when we say so, but that is never the case. Elijah is standing on the side of a mountain, then the wind blows so strong that it breaks rocks but wait that’s not God. Then there is an earthquake, nope still not the Lord, oh well surely the Lord is in this fire that is burning so bright. Again, it’s still not time.  

Then there is the sound of sheer silence. Do you know what that sounds like? Have you experienced sheer silence ever before? It’s really something that cannot be described if you have not experienced it. And it can happen anywhere. It’s not just another way to say its peaceful, its not a description of calm. It’s the place where God calls Elijah out from where he has been hiding into the next phase of his life.  

In your bulletin this morning, this sermon is titled “Called to Self-Care.” I know for most of you, you read it and thought maybe she will get up there and tell me I need to rest or treat myself to something nice. Well self-care isn’t just about that.  

This self-care that I am talking about today is calling out the things that are both obvious and subtle challenging your own actions. Removing yourself from the places that you have caused harm or been too complacent. Allowing yourself space and time to be forgiven, renewed and changed. Elijah did this part by accident because he was afraid. After that time he had a renewed sense of call to return to the people. When Elijah fled, God could have approached him with the judgement he deserved, instead Elijah was  given food, water and time to rest. And when it was time to give Elijah a message, God waited until after all the chaos when it was quiet, to speak.  

At first glance Elijah is a troublemaker, a coward for fleeing, even a disappointment to himself. He is all the things you would tell someone not to be because what he does is contradictory to what you know. He even gives up on himself. Yet at his lowest moment God still blessed him by sending an angel to feed him, twice.  

Here’s what I have learned after years in ministry, all are called, because we each are given purpose in this lifetime. We each hear that calling differently and know it is for you when the time is right. In a world full of chaos and turmoil. I am sure there are plenty of Elijahs, doing what they can for the sake of the Gospel. I think for a moment that Elijah thought he was no longer worthy of his calling, which is why he gives up so easily. But God continued to look for him and show him the way.  

The call to self-care to you today is to figure out where you have caused harm and fallen short. If someone calls you out, yes it may hurt, but it shows the love they have for you. After all is said and done, listen for the voice of the Lord, inviting you back in.