Restoration of God’s Altar
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 1 Kings 18:30
Read 1 Kings 18:30-38
Some very serious events had happened in Israel. God’s altars had been broken down and many of God’s prophets had been slain by the sword. This could not continue. Elijah rebuilt the altar which had once been built for God’s service. He used twelve stones to do this; one stone to represent each of the tribes of Israel, which indicated that they had to serve the Lord together.
This defection from the service of God is also experienced in our land today. People leave the church in droves. The altar of God has by and large become deserted and broken. We have actually broken God’s altar through our fall in Adam. You and I have left the true service of God; we have become worshipers of idols. But the Lord is able to work miracles. He discovers broken altars in hearts and lives and restores them through rebirth and conversion. In this way, He gives the gift of true faith.
Just as there should have been unity in serving the Lord during Elijah’s day, it needs to be true today too. God’s children are one in faith, one in Christ, one in their hatred towards sin, one in their fear of the Lord, one in hope, and one in their struggle against Satan, the world and sin. True love to God and His Word binds God’s people together. Do you still bend your knees to idols, or do you worship the Lord only, in unity with others? Whoever has learned to bow to the God of Elijah will also long for the restoration of God’s service in our land, in its churches and its families.
Thought: Christians should focus on what binds them together, not on what separates them.
Psalter 216:1 (based on Psalm 79) In Thy heritage the heathen Now, O God, triumphant stand; They defile Thy holy temple, They destroy Thy chosen land Ruthless, they have slain Thy servants, They have caused Thy saints to mourn, In the sight of all about us We endure reproach and scorn.