Commentary on 1 Kings 19:1-13a
   Jeroboam who oversaw the forced labor to build Solomon's Temple, demanded relief from taxes when Rehoboam became king after Solomon.  When the young king follow bad advice refused, Jeroboam led ten northern tribes to rebel against Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings 12).  The Book of Kings goes on to record the corrupt rule of Jeroboam's family (12-15), Baasha's family (15-16), and Omri's family (16-22) whose son was Ahab.  It was during Ahab's reign that Elijah appears.  The story of Elijah begins during a drought sent to punish Israel (1 Kings 17).  After the drought, Elijah challenged Jezebel's priests of Baal to a contest at Mount Carmel (Jezebel was Ahab's wife).  Elijah not only won the contest but killed Jezebel's priests incurring the wrath of Jezebel and setting the stage for today's reading.  Up to this point, Elijah had only witnessed God's awesome power over nature and God's miracles.  On the mountain, Elijah learned that God was in the sheer silence at the core of all creation.  God's question about why Elijah was there is a simple question of faith.  Did Elijah have faith because of the miracles God did or who God is?  The same question can be asked today. 

1 Kings 19:12 “after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”
   Where have you encountered God in your life?
   Was it during a revival or an energy packed worship service?
   Did you find God in the still, small moments?
   Can God be found in both the cry of new birth and the silence of a sleeping baby?
   If God can be found in both, shouldn't we learn to worship God in praise and in silence?
   What season are you in – praise or silence or a little of both?