I had an interesting experience this past Sunday in a class I was teaching. It all centered around 1 Kings 19:12: “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” I stressed, as I always have, that in the story of Elijah’s battle with depression, that the “gentle whisper” or “small still voice” received much too much emphasis. I pointed out that Elijah was just as depressed after that “voice” as he was before. He still thought he was the only faithful one left and he feared for his life just as much as he had before.
About that time, one of our church ladies, a good friend of mine, disagreed and said, “But the “small still voice” is what brought him out of the cave. So it was very important.” That began a back and forth between us, with her pointing to the “small still voice” and me emphasizing Elijah’s continued depression. Those in the class were both a little uncomfortable and laughing at us.
We continued our conversation in the sanctuary and I ended with, “I’ll tell you what, I’ll take another look at the passages.” Well, this morning I have done so. My conclusion? We were both right.
The whole scene began when, “The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
After Elijah obeyed, “a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
This is where we have to ask, “What was it that caused Elijah to “pull his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” It gives the answer right in the text: “When Elijah heard it”. So what is the “it”? It clearly is the “small still voice.” Elijah only went outside the cave to hear more from the Lord AFTER the “small still voice.” So even though the “small still voice” didn’t help with Elijah’s depression, it opened the door to God’s remedy which is given in 19:15-18: 300 mile walk, 3 missions from God, assurance of God’s other faithful servants.
God allowed Elijah to whine 3 times with his “poor me” depression. Then “That’s enough.”
How many times have you whined about your “poor me” circumstances? Do you need to be reminded that your God is the God of 200+mph winds, of category 5 earthquakes and of fires too intense for any fire station? Then, after those reminders make you stop and think, you will be ready for that “small still voice”. It won’t cure your discouragement or depression, because it isn’t the remedy, but it will cause you to remember that God has more to say to you, more for you to do for Him and His Kingdom. That will be the remedy for your depression.
So is the “small still voice” as big deal? YES! Is it the remedy for depression? NO! But it prepares you to receive the remedy. So was Linda right? YES! Was I right? YES! How is that possible? Because we are both right. God bless.
Mike “Pawdad” Sublett, Pastor @ Hi-Land Christian Church, Pampa, Texas 79065, 630-730-8015
