Many of us know Elijah’s story: how he shut up the sky (1 Kings 17:1), provided for the widow and her son (1 Kings 17:9–16), called down fire from the sky (1 Kings 18:38), and destroyed the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). Yet one of his greatest acts is often overlooked because it is tucked away at the end of another verse.
"...and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down." - 1 Kings 18:30b
The Hebrew word for “repaired” is rapha, meaning “to cure” or “to heal.” It appears 67 times in the Old Testament, and each occurrence carries the sense of restoring wholeness to something broken. In the preceding verses, we are told that the prophets of Baal leaped upon the altar acting foolishly and trampling underfoot what was sacred (1 Kings 18:26).
The first altar mentioned in Scripture was built by Noah after the flood, as recorded in Genesis 8. It symbolized worship and gratitude to God, as well as repentance, restoration, and the renewal of holy fellowship between humanity and God. Altars were places of encounter, bringing God and humanity together again after sin had separated them. The altar was so significant that the pleasing aroma of Noah’s offering moved God to promise that He would never again flood the entire earth. (Genesis 8:21)
Before Elijah prepared the sacrifice, before he poured water on the wood, and before he called upon the Lord, he first repaired the altar. Some of us need to do the same if we want to see a miracle in our lives. What sacred thing have you allowed to be neglected or trampled on? Your marriage? Your children? Your congregation? What stone is missing from your altar? Time with God? Obedience? Repentance? Some of us are trying to build on broken altars, then wondering why we are not seeing fire for our sacrificial gifts.
"...first be reconciled, then bring your sacrifice." - Matthew 5:23-24
The altar mattered even more than the sacrifice. You cannot place something pure and perfect on something dirty and dismantled and expect a pleasing aroma. Jesus Himself emphasized the priority of the altar when He spoke these words:
"You blind men! Which is greater: the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred." - Matthew 23:19
Holiness comes from God, not from human effort. Yet we bring Him gifts of lip service, worship, and prayers, longing for our requests to be fulfilled. But the altar is broken. His divine authority is ignored. His grace is abused. His presence is trampled.
"We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle (sacred tent) have no right to eat." - Hebrews 13:10
Jesus became the eternal altar for us, bearing the purest and final sacrifice. Yet each day, we may trample upon Him until we find ourselves desperate for His fire. Examine your heart first, then your altar, before looking for rain.
The wood will stay wet, if our altars stay broken.
Sincerely Selena
Add comment
Comments