1 Kings 19:11

“And he said, go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord, etc.] Who would appear there as he had to Moses formerly, though not in the same manner: and, behold, the Lord passed by; or was about to pass, for as yet he had not; his messengers first went before him: and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; strong enough to do all this, and so it might: but the Lord was not in the wind; as he sometimes is, (Na 1:3), he spake to Job out of a whirlwind, (<183801>Job 38:1), and after the wind an earthquake; that shook the earth all around, and the mountain also, as it did when the law was given on it, (<196808>Psalm 68:8) but the Lord was…”

“And behold, the Lord passed by - The remainder of this verse and the whole of the next are placed by the Septuagint, and by the Arabic translator, in the mouth of the Angel. But it seems best to regard the vision as ending with the words “before the Lord” - and the writer as then assuming that this was done, and proceeding to describe what followed. return to 'Top of Page'”

“And behold - This is a general description of the thing, after which the manner of it is particularly explained. Strong wind - Whereby he both prepares Elijah to receive this discovery of God with greatest humility, reverence, and godly fear; and signifies his irresistible power, to break the hardest hearts of the Israelites, and to bear down all opposition that was or should be made against him in the discharge of his office. The Lord was not - The Lord did not vouchsafe his special and gracious presence to Elijah in that wind, which possibly was to teach him not to wonder if God did not accompany his terrible administration at mount Carmel with the presence of his grace, to turn the hearts…”

“19:11-12 The powerful physical phenomena that sometimes signal God’s presence (Exod 3:2; 19:18; Pss 68:7-8; 114:4; Heb 3:6-7) did not herald God’s approach on this occasion. Instead, Elijah sensed God’s presence when he heard the sound of a gentle whisper.”

“stand upon the mount: Exo 19:20, Exo 24:12, Exo 24:18, Exo 34:2; Mat 17:1-3; Pe2 1:17, Pe2 1:18 the Lord passed: Exo 33:21-23, Exo 34:6; Hab 3:3-5 and a great: Exo 19:16, Exo 20:18; Job 38:1; Psa 50:3; Isa 30:30; Eze 1:4, Eze 37:7; Nah 1:3, Nah 1:6; Heb 12:18-21; Rev 20:11 but the Lord was not in the wind: Zac 4:6 an earthquake: Sa1 14:15; Psa 68:8; Nah 1:5; Zac 14:5; Mat 24:7, Mat 27:51-54, Mat 28:2; Heb 12:26; Rev 11:19, Rev 16:18 3 Kings (1 Kings) 19:12”