1 Kings 17

Jehovah, the living God

Jehovah — 'I AM', the ever-living One

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Kings 17:1

Elijah stands before Jehovah, the living God, against Ahab's lifeless Baal. The whole Elijah story proves that Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is the God who truly lives and controls rain and life.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to James 5:17 — Elijah prayed that it might not rain, and it rained not for three years and six months.

Bread of Life (unfailing provision)

Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 1 Kings 17:9–16

Jehovah sends His prophet to a starving Gentile widow, and when she gives her last bit first, her meal and oil never run out. Jesus pointed to this widow to show He came for all who believe, and He Himself multiplied bread and is the Bread of Life that never fails.

• alluded to by Luke 4:25-26 — Jesus cites Elijah being sent only to the widow of Sarepta, a city of Sidon.
• a type of what is in John 6:35 — Jesus: 'I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger.'
• alludes to 2 Kings 4:1-7 — Elisha's parallel miracle of the widow's oil that does not stop flowing.

Resurrection and the Life

And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. 1 Kings 17:17–23

Elijah pleads with Jehovah and a widow's only son comes back to life; the Lord who hears him is the Giver of life. Jesus later raised a widow's only son at Nain and, in the same words, 'delivered him to his mother', showing He is the Lord of life whom Elijah prayed to.

• a type of what is in Luke 7:11-16 — Jesus raises the widow's son at Nain, 'delivered him to his mother', and the people say a great prophet is risen.
• alludes to 2 Kings 4:32-37 — Elisha's parallel raising of the Shunammite's son.
• a type of what is in John 11:25 — Jesus: 'I am the resurrection, and the life.'

Jehovah (His word is truth)

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth. 1 Kings 17:24

A Gentile woman gains a testimony through a miracle that Jehovah's word is true. It echoes the Savior's prayer that His Father's word is truth and foreshadows Gentiles coming to believe in Him.

• alludes to John 17:17 — 'Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.'