The fierce prophet faces up to the evil king Ahab. Fearless then fearful, courageous then cowering.
King Ahab could not find the man
Who dried the idol-fested land
Who closed the sky
So all was dry
No, Ahab could not find the man.
Then from the north Elijah strode
Met Obadiah on the road
Who on his knees
Set out his pleas
Oh, do not put me to the sword!
Go fetch your evil master now
And bring him here. I make this vow
I shall remain
Until this stain
Is cleansed and all the people bow.
Then king and prophet, face to face
Traded insults, set the place
Where truth and lies
Neath cloudless skies
For mortal combat, sacrifice
So Israel came to Carmel’s mount
Four hundred prophets, who would count
On wood and stone
Oh, hear them groan
And slash and wail and cry and grunt
The man of God put them to scorn
He mocked their lifeless gods and horns
Then called on high
To God whose eye
Is ever watching from the throne
Then to the altar dropped the fire
The people fell, to Ahab’s ire,
Declared their hearts
In full, not part
Were for the Lord, their rightful Sire
Don’t let them run, Elijah roared
Those traitors, put them to the sword
The dogs of Baal
Whom Jezebel
Had pampered, fell before the Lord
Elijah motioned to the king
Go home before the storm shall bring
More water, flood
Upon your road
And tell your queen, God did this thing!
The prophet crouched, a small cloud grew
The wind arose, the gale then blew
Elijah fled
And made his bed
Beside a bush he slept right through
With dreamless sleep and angel cake
The road to Horeb he must take
And there he heard
The gentle word
Why are you here, for pity’s sake?
I’m all alone and no-one cares
No-one listens to my prayers
Oh, let me die
Please, hear my cry
My time has come to mount the stairs
Not yet, my child. There’s one more task
Men to anoint, so get your flask
Of holy oil
For loyal, royal
And sacred work, that’s what I ask
Not in earthquake, wind or fire
But by my Spirit, my desire
Is that you go
Back down below
Complete the work and then retire
And from the south Elijah strode
To pass the mantle and the load
The weight, the power
The time, the hour
By fiery chariot heavenward rode
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