A Meditation on Loneliness
Rev. Timothy J. Loewe
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Lambertville, MI
Read 1 Kings 19:1 -18
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 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 as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
The Lord Speaks to Elijah
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
The great Prophet Elijah - hiding in a cave. He’s done everything that the Lord God has commanded of him, yet he finds himself to be an outlaw and wanted man! He’s on the run from wicked Jezebel and King Ahab, simploy for speaking the truth about God and His covenant, for preaching about sin and grace. He says to the Lord, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people have of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left…”
Now, that’s loneliness! Can you relate? You’ve done all the right things. You’ve been a good friend and a loyal servant of God and neighbor. You long for some affirmation and some solace in the midst of people, maybe, like Elijah, even in the midst of people who have forsaken you. You’re lonely, isolated, unwanted, and perhaps, angry. And the temptation of Satan and your own sinful flesh is to just join the “forsaken party.” Forgiveness and your vaunted love and service can take a hike. You’re tending toward bitterness and that very famous “blame game.” Elijah in the cave is on the precipice of actually blaming God for all his troubles. Reading between the lines, Elijah’s cry is, “Look at me! What are you going to do about it?”
That’s the big thing about loneliness - it’s so personal. Circumstances and the casual cruelty of our neighbors and friends combine to drive us away from our relationships. We become self-conscious and “curved in” on ourselves. Everything is about “me” - my life and how unfair it all is. It’s not that we haven’t tried, after all.
The history of Elijah is a history of great faithfulness and service. To see Elijah’s greatness, just read 1 Kings 17-19. It’s a history of incredible courage and goodness. With no thought of himself, with only thoughts of God and His Word, Elijah takes up his mantle as a prophet and predicts unrelenting drought for Israel. With God’s Word alone, he goes to the widow of Zarephath and her son, and, by God’s grace and mercy, saves them from the ravages of the drought, and raises her son from death. Courageous and strong in the Lord, Elijah confronts Ahab the king with his faithless and selfish ways. With great aplomb and truth telling, Elijah, full of God’s power, destroys the idolatrous ways of Baal. And God sends the rain. Nonetheless, Elijah is forced to flee from the forces of evil in the persons of Jezebel and Ahab. Faithful Elijah, for all his loneliness, is lonely in a cave.
For Elijah and for you, there is great hope and power at work. God’s power and love in Christ are at work in you in the midst of your loneliness and isolation. The Holy Spirit does not give up on you, even when all others forsake you. God knows the cave and the loneliness. He knows all your secret sins and still forgives them.
When Jesus was driven into the desert to be tempted by Satan, He was all alone. But, by His Word of Truth and Life, Jesus foiled all the powerful temptations of Satan. He did it for you. The gift of the Holy Spirit, which is faith in Jesus Christ alone, is not dependent upon how you feel. In spite of your sinful thoughts, the Holy Spirit is with you. By the repentance of faith in Jesus, He comes to you and strengthens you to bear whatever cross and trial He wills in your life.
Jesus, doing the will of His Father, was not alone in the desert. The Holy Spirit delivered him the very Word of God to defeat every stratagem of Satan to focus on Himself and His perceived needs. So, too, with Elijah in the cave. God is not unaware of your loneliness. He is not unsympathetic to your suffering. But, in fact, he uses these very things, even loneliness, to bring you closer to Him.
“Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord,” says God’s Word to Elijah. As Elijah hears and obeys, the Lord passes by in wind and earthquake and in fire. But the Lord is not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. The Lord is in the “Still small voice,” the “whisper.”
Sometimes the momentary and passing away things of this world seem to crowd out every true thing in our lives. The thorns and weeds of human striving and pride threaten to strangle the Truth of God and your salvation in Christ. Certainly loneliness and isolation fit into this bill of lading. Loaded with trouble, curved in upon ourselves, we struggle and become even more lonely, even more isolated, even more angry and prideful.
The Holy Spirit is very close to you at these times. He convicts “the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” - your sin, too. He brings you to repent of that which drives you away into the cave of self-righteousness. He brings you back into the “daylight's splendor” of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus. He reminds you that you are covered with the very righteousness of Jesus in holy Baptism. He brings you back to the Truth that judgment belongs to the Lord and that, in Christ, you are judged innocent and free.
Elijah the Prophet was vindicated by God. by Holy Spirit power, he continued to serve God in the righteousness of Jesus himself. Sins forgiven. Power given. Faith strengthened unto salvation. God loves you just as much as He loves Elijah. He will vindicate you, too.
Are you lonely? Are you bitter in disappointment? Are you doubting the love of God or His understanding and care? Elijah and all the saints are there with you. Their faith was strengthened in and through all these things. Jesus your Savior certainly understands where you are and what you suffer. He’s been through it all even to death on a cross. Hear His Word. Listen to the “Still, small voice” of Jesus. He says, regarding loneliness and all suffering in this world (your loneliness and suffering, too!) “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
