What is the meaning of 1 Kings 17:20? Then he cried out to the LORD “Then he cried out to the LORD…” (1 Kings 17:20) • Elijah responds instantly in prayer, showing that crisis should drive us to God first (Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears”). • His cry is loud and heartfelt—an honest plea, not a scripted ritual (1 Kings 18:36-37; James 5:17). • The wording confirms that Elijah expects the living God to intervene in real time, reinforcing the literal reliability of the narrative. O LORD my God • By saying “O LORD” (YHWH) Elijah appeals to the covenant-keeping name first revealed in Exodus 3:14, grounding his petition in God’s unchanging character. • Adding “my God” makes it personal, echoing David’s language in Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd.” • Elijah models intimacy with God, reminding us that prayer combines reverence with relationship (Hebrews 4:16). Have You also brought tragedy on this widow • Elijah’s question sounds bold, yet Scripture records similar reverent interrogatives (Job 2:10; Habakkuk 1:2-3). • He wrestles with the apparent discrepancy between God’s care and present pain, the same tension Martha voiced in John 11:21. • The wording implies that if God allowed the calamity, He must have a redemptive purpose, preparing the reader for the miracle that follows. Who has opened her home to me • Hospitality mattered deeply in God’s economy (Genesis 18:1-5). Elijah highlights her kindness to underscore the seeming injustice. • Scripture often pairs hospitality with blessing (2 Kings 4:8-10; Hebrews 13:2), so her loss feels doubly tragic. • The phrase also reminds us that those who serve God’s people are not exempt from trials, yet their faith is never wasted (Matthew 10:41-42). By causing her son to die? • Death appears final, but the narrative invites us to anticipate resurrection power (2 Kings 4:32-35; Luke 7:14-15). • Elijah doesn’t deny reality; he names it, laying the problem squarely before the Lord (Psalm 142:2). • Romans 8:28 peeks through the lines—God will weave this dark thread into a tapestry of glory when the boy is raised in the next verses. summary Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 17:20 captures raw emotion and unwavering faith. He cries out, appeals to the covenant name, questions God’s mysterious providence, honors the widow’s hospitality, and confronts the specter of death—all while expecting the Lord to act. The verse teaches that honest, faith-filled prayer holds nothing back, trusts God’s character, and anticipates His life-giving power even in the darkest moment. |
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