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I. THE OBJECT OF HIS FAITH. To procure rain for the parched land. This was the one object upon which his mind was fixed, and which he was stimulated to seek by the promise of God.

II. THE MEANS BY WHICH HE SOUGHT THIS OBJECT. "He cast himself down," etc. The attitude of prayer. He might have been tempted to have left God to fulfil His own promise, but He did not. His faith was operative, and led him to pray earnestly for the object upon which it was fixed. True faith will always influence us to labour and to pray for its object.

III. THE ENCOURAGEMENT HE RECEIVED. "A sound of abundance of rain"

IV. THE DISCOURAGEMENT HE MET WITH. "The servant returned from looking toward the sea and said there is nothing."

V. THE PERSEVERANCE HE MANIFESTED. "Go again seven times."

VI. THE SUCCESS HE REALISED. "And it came to pass, in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain." Perseverance is still rewarded by success, and by it God's servants still honour Him whom they serve.

(Thomas Carr.)

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KJV: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

WEB: Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."