000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

238 Proper 4 [9]/Year C
Awareness of these themes is important to understanding aspects of the
New Testament. Although John 16:12–16 (the Gospel passage for today)
does not directly evoke Proverbs 8, the notion of wisdom from Proverbs
(and other sources in Jewish literature) helps explain Jesus in the Fourth
Gospel. In John 1:1–5, for instance, the preexistent Jesus functions as
God’s agent at creation. 69 Furthermore, in the Fourth Gospel Jesus comes
down from heaven to reveal the nature and purposes of God in a way similar
to wisdom. Wisdom similarly appears elsewhere in the New Testament,
for example, Matthew 11:25–30; 1 Corinthians 1:18–31; 8:6;
Ephesians 3:8–10; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–4; Revelation 3:14.
Living wisely is a value in some texts, such as Colossians 4:5; Ephesians
1:17; 5:10; and James 1:5–11.
Proper 4 [9]/Year C
1 Kings 18:20–21, (22–29), 30–39+ (Semicontinuous)
Verses 1–17 set the scene for the dramatic contest between the lone Elijah
and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah (the
“Lady of the Sea”), a goddess who appears here as the wife of Baal. The
drought (see 17:1) has taken a severe toll, and Ahab enlists Obadiah, a
faithful follower of YHWH (18:13), to find water to save the horses and
mules of the kingdom.
At Elijah’s demand (v. 19), Ahab assembled “all the Israelites” and the
prophets at Mount Carmel (v. 20). At issue is the effectiveness of Baal, a
fertility god, in making fertility possible or whether YHWH, who created
heaven and earth and graciously covenanted with Israel, can end the
drought and make possible life and well-being as YHWH through Elijah
had done three times in chapter 17.
Ahab is the culprit who introduced Baal worship into Israel (16:29). He
was not like politicians who respond to popular demands as registered in
polls; 1 Kings never intimates that the people requested this action from
Ahab. Nonetheless, Elijah addresses “all the people” and asks: “How long
will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow
him; but if Baal, then follow him” (v. 21). While talking to them he
refers to Baal as “your god” (v. 24). Yet previously he accused Ahab of having
“troubled Israel” (v. 17). The apparent confusion may be due to the
redaction of the text. (Paul faces a similar problem in the reading for today
from Galatians.)
Elijah sets the terms for the contest. Eight hundred and fifty prophets of
Baal and Asherah are pitted against one lone prophet of YHWH; the scene