Thursday, May 5,
2022
AND LAID HIM DOWN AGAIN
1 Kings 19:5-6
5 And as he lay
and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said
unto him, Arise and eat.
6 And he looked,
and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his
head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
There are more than
200,000 cases of chronic fatigue syndrome per year in the United States, but that was
not Elijah’s problem. He was indeed physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent.
He had won a great
victory over 450 prophets of Baal but cowered in terror when the queen sent
him a nasty note threatening his life. Often, we condemn him for his cowardice,
but it is doubtful we would fare better in his circumstance.
He found solace
under a Juniper tree, a type of Cedar which, because of the recent drought, provided a bit
of shade and collapsed into an exhausted sleep. We do not know how he long he
slept before an angel shook him awake. A charcoal fire had been kindled and
there was bread beaten flat and baked on a hot flat rock. Beside his head there
was a cruse of water, a precious fluid in times of drought.
The angel did not
chide him for his weariness but simply provided the things he needed. God’s
understand and unconditional love first deals with our need and later confronts
our faults. This, too, is refreshing to the soul.
If you feel exhausted
today, rest. Do not ask forgiveness for your weariness. God already understands it
probably more than you do. Accept the kindness of others. Hydrate and, if
necessary, take a nap.
Rev 7:16-17
16 They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them,
nor any heat.
17 For the Lamb
which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto
living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Lord, some, perhaps many of your children are weary today. Lead them
to the Juniper’s shade and feed them with your kindness and rest. AMEN
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