The Elijah Standard

Jehovah Nissi...Lord, our Banner

The Elijah Standard

                Exodus 20:2  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” (NIV)

          Jehovah Nissi desired for His children to be blessed beyond measure. They were His chosen people who were to be set apart from the rest of the nations. They were to be a light unto all the world to let the heathen nations know that Jehovah Nissi was God and only He was to be worshiped. Despite Jehovah Nissi’s faithfulness to them, they always returned back to their wicked ways of idolatry, thus bringing upon themselves the judgment of God as they did during the time of Moses and the worship of the golden calf. Exodus 32:31-35 ⁽³¹⁾So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. ⁽³²⁾But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” ⁽³³⁾The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. ⁽³⁴⁾Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.” ⁽³⁵⁾And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made. (NIV)

 

               Elijah was a prophet of the Lord and Jehovah Nissi used him to uphold His standard of faithfulness by not compromising to the worship of idols. Israel was ruled by a wicked couple, King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who did more evil in God’s sight than any other rulers of Israel before them. 1 Kings 16:30-33 ⁽³⁰⁾Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. ⁽³¹⁾He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins on Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ⁽³²⁾He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. ⁽³³⁾Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (NIV) God held Ahab responsible for the idol worship that took place with the Israelites. As a leader, whatever he did, the nation of Israel would follow. Therefore, King Ahab’s blatant disrespect for Jehovah Nissi by marrying a heathen woman and worshiping her idols angered the Lord.

               Despite the idolatrous ways of the Israelites, God always had a remnant who refused to bow down to idols. Elijah, the prophet of the Lord, was one of them who upheld the standards of Jehovah Nissi. God required complete faithfulness from those whom He called as His own. Jehovah Nissi withheld rain from the land for over three years as spoken by Elijah, which caused a major drought. During that time, Jehovah Nissi took care of him and saw to it that the ravens fed him morning and evening. In the third year of the drought, Jehovah Nissi told Elijah to go before Ahab. His wicked wife, Jezebel, was killing off the prophets of the Lord. However, Obadiah, a servant of King Ahab hid one hundred of them into two caves and supplied them with water and food.

 

 

               Elijah went before King Ahab to have the people to assemble at Mount Carmel along with four hundred and fifty of the prophets of Baal. Elijah wanted to have a showdown to allow the Children of Israel to see that Jehovah Nissi was the only one to be worshiped and that His standard of complete allegiance was well deserved. 1 Kings 18:16-20 ⁽¹⁶⁾So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. ⁽¹⁷⁾When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” ⁽¹⁸⁾I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. ⁽¹⁹⁾Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” ⁽²⁰⁾ So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. (NIV)

               Instead of King Ahab realizing that his sins were the cause for Israel’s trouble, it was easier for him to blame Elijah. However, Jehovah Nissi was once again about to show that His standard was the one that reigned supreme of any foreign gods. Elijah had the false prophets to see if their gods would rain down fire from Heaven to consume their sacrifice in front of the people. Although they tried all day by dancing, shouting, cutting themselves and yelling, nothing happened. Nevertheless, when Elijah offered his sacrifice which had had completely drenched in water, Jehovah Nissi rained down fire, which complete consumed the sacrifice and the water. The people were able to see the error of their ways and they responded accordingly by acknowledging Jehovah Nissi. 1 Kings 18:39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!” (NIV)

 

 

               The Children of Israel had to be reminded that Jehovah Nissi had a standard of worship that only He was to have. Foreign gods could do nothing for them, but Jehovah Nissi was God above all others. Their disobedience brought about judgment, but blessings were given when they were obedient in upholding the standards of God. Leviticus 26:1, 14-17 ⁽¹⁾“So not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God. ⁽¹⁴⁾But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, ⁽¹⁵⁾and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, ⁽¹⁶⁾Then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy you sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. ⁽¹⁷⁾I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated and your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.” (NIV)

            Elijah had the false prophets seized and killed. Jehovah Nissi’s might was shown once again in front of His people. He would not tolerate insolence by His people and His banner over them was love. Elijah upheld Jehovah Nissi’s standard and we too must adhere and uphold the standards of Jehovah Nissi. His name means Lord, our Banner and He covers those who are faithful and obedient to His will.