1 Kings 17
The king thinks that he is in charge, doing what he chooses, but here Elijah shows that the most basic necessity – water from rain is not in the king’s control but in God’s – and operational through His servant.
The prophet’s responsibility is to announce the withholding of God’s blessing as well as later the granting of it.
The authority of Elijah/God would be seen in whether what he said about no rain would actually happen.
We know nothing of Elijah’s history before this time – he has an unknown background. Where we come from is not as important as who we are in Jesus.
“The Lord before I stand” suggests a priestly ministry – and his actions later with sacrifice shows the same – a priestly prophet or a prophetic priest
He was told by God to speak to the king – a king who was 16v33 “doing more to provoke God to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.”
There is no mention of the king’s reaction/ response to Elijah’s message. We are responsible for delivering the message not for the response to it.
– I noticed that not only was there to be no rain, there was to be no dew – night mist – moisture. So a complete drought – a sign and the reality of God withholding his blessing.
v2 “The word of the Lord came to him, saying”
We don’t know how it came – but it came – he knew it
– Go and hide yourself.
Some Christians would say that you should never hide – you should be out there – facing whatever comes –seeing hiding as giving way to enemy pressure.
But if the Lord says, “Hide,” then it’s right to hide! Jesus, though never afraid to face the enemy had times when he hid himself.
So there is a time for appearing before a king and speaking God’s word, then a time to hide yourself – not relating to anyone.
-“You shall drink of the brook and I have commanded ravens to feed you there” – this provision is not going to be available anywhere else.
In the place of God’s appointing, there is God’s provision – a mixture of the well-placed natural and the supernatural.
He went and did according to the word of the Lord.
He went there, was provided for, – and was given no other responsibility except to be there. Doing according to the word of the Lord means not only doing what he says to do, but also not doing what he has not given us to do.
A lot of time doing not much.
The brook dried up – interesting the combination of the natural and the supernatural – the ravens bring him food – but the brook dries up. In other circumstances of God’s people in the wilderness, lack of water was met by water coming form the rock when spoken or struck – but here the drying of the brook indicates a time to move on.
Sometimes when we lack provision in a place, God will “open up the rocks” for us – at other times he may be saying that it is time to move on.
If Elijah had not been hidden, when the drought got bad, the king/people would either have blamed him for “cursing” them and want to do away with him, or they would have wanted to pressurise him to prophesy blessing – to “make use” of his ministry.
Here are the pressures we can face in the ministry – pressure to close us down or to “make use” of us.
From “hide yourself” to v9 “Arise – go to Zarephath – and dwell/stay there.
“Zarephath” – “place of refining”
– from one out/side of the country to another south east to north west.
I have commanded a widow woman to sustain/ nourish you
“sustain” – the same word as used about the ravens.
I have commanded the ravens to feed you there
I have commanded a widow there to feed you.
(Young’s analytical) – command = to set up
God had these things “set up”. God sets things up in the places he calls us to.
Luke 4v26 speaks of this being a “great famine”
This is a “pre-revival days” encounter.
He calls/ asks her for a drink – like Jesus with the woman at the well
By doing so he is expressing relationship/friendship.
She responds positively, and he takes it further – like “when you enter say peace to this house”.
Her reply – “As the Lord(Jehovah) your God lives” – so she recognises something of who he is. – and not “my God” but “your” God – but recognising that “He lives”
She uses a similar phrase to that used by Elijah :
As the Lord God of Israel lives before whom I stand.
As the Lord your God lives.
So this widow went out that day thinking that she was about to prepare her last meal for her and her son.
God had said that this woman was going to provide for Elijah – but by their divine appointment, Elijah was going to provide for her and her son.
Is there such a place for us where in being given what we need we could be in the position to meet the needs of others?
This meeting was precisely, accurately timed for this family’s need.
Elijah’s message _ “Fear not” – It’s going to be all right!
First make me a little cake – a bit like tithing – trusting God to provide whatever you need when you have honoured him.
Supernatural provision is promised for as long as it is needed – until the time when “natural” provision will be available.
And she and he and her house did eat many days.
Here the widow not only gets provision of food, but her son is given a “father” figure for the time of Elijah’s stay there.
Elijah goes from a time on his own to a time in a house participating in family life.
Again no other responsibilities are mentioned
These two “placements” last for three and a half years.
1Kings 17v18
The widow recognises Elijah as a “man of God”.
The man of God coming to her had meant supernatural provision for life – and now she thinks that he is bringing death.
Interesting – she thinks that if her son dies, she takes this as a sign of punishment for her sin. How quickly people can turn.
But we are looking at Elijah and how he faced different situations:
– If he had not been there, the boy would have died – twice! – once of starvation, and if not then by this illness!
There is a likeness to Jesus meeting the widow of Nain at her son’s funeral and bringing him back to life.
He took the boy out of his mother’s arms – away from a faithless place to a place of faith.
v20 He cried to the Lord
“Have you brought evil (break-up) upon this widow?”
He stretched himself and prayed three times, “Let this child’s life come into him again.”
After first time – nothing, after second time – nothing, after third time, life came into him again. “The Lord heard the voice of Elijah”
We do not know how our prayers work, but we know that praying works.
In the place God wanted him to be and all was going well, then things seem to go very bad – then the turnaround – the “revival”
– and “he revived”
This situation – a challenge to Elijah’s faith.
From what Jesus said, Elijah would not have seen anyone being brought back form death before.
Sometimes situations will push us into looking for God to do things that we have not previously seen.
I was thinking about I day I was at Woolwich hospital with Doug, praying for Michelle, and talking with Doug about how far we had come in us praying for someone who was “brain-dead” and expecting that she could still come back to life.
And then there was the time with Phil praying for the Indian girl in King’s hospital.
Neither came alive again – but at least we had faith for it.
The woman had described Elijah before as “man of God”, but now she says, “By this I know you are a man of God – and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.
I guess that is the description/testimony that I want others to have of me.
So a stepping our and finding supernatural blessing.
“It came to pass after many days” – it was many days – but it did come to pass!
In the third year – three year wait – I have had those – moving to Scotland, – waiting for Chuck Pierce’s prophecy to happen – which it didn’t, – and more than three years wait since finishing with PFS, and moving to Inverallochy.
The word of the Lord came to Elijah – I am reminded of the saying, “God knows where you live” – so when he wants his word to come to you – it will.
“Go show yourself to Ahab” – he had been deliberately hidden, now he was to be deliberately visible.
“and I will send rain on the earth”
The promise of blessing restored – no conditions applied – other than “show yourself to Ahab”
Obadiah was sent to look for water – and by God’s divine encounter he meets the one who can “bring water”.
For Elijah this was a surprise meeting with someone who knew him and honoured him.
v12 interesting to see that Obadiah recognised that the Spirit of God could carry Elijah away!
v10 It shows here what I had thought that Ahab had been looking for Elijah – to try to reverse the effects of what had been said.
v15 As the Lord of hosts (armies) – a new description
Note: There were lots of “prophets” of the Lord – 100 were hidden – so others were killed.
So although I am thinking about Elijah’s story, there were other “stories” happening at the same time. In the purposes of God’s kingdom there are other stories going on with other people that we do not know about, at the same time as our story.
Not only was Elijah fed – by ravens and a widow, 100 other prophets were fed through the famine by Obadiah – well placed by God as governor of the king’s house.
Some might have criticised him – “Why are you doing that job, associating with those people?” – but he used his position for God’s kingdom. Beware of criticising others who are in positions that you have question marks about.
While I am being taken care of, 100 others like me are being taken care of.
Obadiah calls Elijah, “my lord” – signifying Elijah as a leader among the prophets.
Where are all our “prophets” today? We think that in the New Testament age in which we live, there is a multiplication of ministries – but we seem to have less going on than they had in some Old Testament times!
Obadiah told Ahab – Ahab went to meet Elijah – his choice.
Note the lack of fear in Elijah. Other prophets had been killed by the queen, yet he presents himself to the king.
“Are you he that troubles Israel?” It is strange how the prophet is blamed for what he says being true.
Elijah confronts the king straight – “you are responsible for the trouble.”
450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah
prophets – public representatives – promoting that religion?
Interesting to note the power of the authoritative voice of the prophet – Ahab obeyed Elijah without question. It was a big thing he was asking.
Challenge to the people – it was not just the leaders that had gone astray but the people.
How long do you jump between two opinions?
“I only am a prophet of the Lord” – not necessarily a denying or forgetting the 100 that Obadiah hid – but on this occasion, at this point, no one was willing to stand with him openly in confronting the king and the prophets of Baal.
Aloneness is no indicator of being in the wrong.
– Interesting that he gets the prophets of Baal to provide the sacrifice – significance?
Elijah did not have one – famine was bad in the land so the ordinary people would not have one? The prophets of Baal, looked after by Jezebel would have this riches.
Elijah is taking something out of the hand of the enemy and using it for God’s glory.
What could be like this? Perhaps getting a building which has been used for a contrary purpose – either a misused church building, or another sort of building.
v29. see – they prophesied – spoke out
v30 Elijah (on God’s instruction) had taken the people to the place of the altar of the Lord that was broken down –
a stone for each tribe – bringing them together into one. “Israel shall be thy name” – one people
Elijah is here performing a prophetic priestly function – the offering of a sacrifice.
v33 “pour it on the burnt sacrifice” the sacrifice was not yet burnt – so this was a predictive, prophetic assured statement.
v36 Elijah the prophet came near:
Let it be known this day – You are God in Israel – I am your servant, I have done all these things at your word.
This people may know that you are the Lord God and that you have turned their heart back again.
(Malachi 4v5,6 I will send Elijah – he will turn the hearts of the fathers etc.)
When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces “The Lord he is the God.”
v40 Kill all the prophets of Baal – remove completely their influence – cleanse that which opposes God’s kingdom.
One the job is done, then to Ahab – salvation – not judgement – get up (was he on his face too?), eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain. “Here comes revival!”
It is a sound “in the spirit”
Elijah did not disassociate himself from Ahab – he was not out to usurp him but to turn him and bless him.
Elijah had prophesied “revival” to Ahab, then goes up the mountain –knelt down, face between his knees – presumably praying – but no words mentioned.
There are times for words in prayer – like in asking for the boy’s life to be restored, then there are times to be in “waiting prayer” looking for what God has promised to come.
He said to his servant/young man – this is the first mention of him – who was he? How long had he been with Elijah?
Where are the two men prophesied to stand with me?
He looked for a sign – none until the seventh time of looking. How long did that process take?
– There arises a little cloud out of the sea like a man’s hand.
(This makes me think of the vision I had of Jesus and angelic army on horseback coming out of the sea on to the north east coast.)
As soon as the sign is there, things are going to happen quickly –
By the time the message was passed on, it was all beginning to happen.
Three and a half years of no rain – then the first rain is a great rain – sky black with clouds.
The hand of the Lord is upon Elijah – he girded up his loins and ran – ahead of Ahab.
What was Elijah expecting when he and Ahab got to Jezreel? Perhaps he thought that the job had been done, that Jezebel would either turn or at least be weakened to the point of no influence.
Instead he finds her strong and coming against him.
How real a threat was it? She sent a messenger to tell him – why did she not just send someone to kill him?
Perhaps because she knew that the people had seen the power of God with Elijah.
– She may have been somewhat personally afraid.
But the threat “did the trick” – Elijah withdrew.
I have heard it said that that Elijah should have gone straight in and finished off the job by killing Jezebel – but that is not what God told him to do. Also, like it or not, Jezebel was the queen Elijah had no authority to kill her.
Elijah ran away – here we see that Elijah was indeed “a man like we are – a man of like feelings to us (James5).
Perhaps he could have stayed, but what would that have accomplished?
He must have been physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually drained after all he had just been through.
I am reminded of Andy Chambers saying about fighting battles “for the glory of the Lord” “Avoid all other battles.”
If Elijah had stayed, perhaps any battle would have been about him rather than God’s glory.
So it was right to withdraw – God gave him no other instruction.
He went to Beersheba – getting out of the country – it was about 100 miles from Jezreel to Beersheba.
He left his servant/young man there – one of the unknowns of the Bible – this lad.
He himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.
At some point he must have told someone about his experience, as no one else was there (apart from God and angels of course!)
So it seems that Elijah was not going to anywhere, he was just seeking to get away.
Thank God for “unanswered prayer”! Our Father knows when we are drained physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.
It’s an odd thing that he runs away from Jezebel because she might kill him, and then he asks God to end his life!
Perhaps it was a sense of failure – even though a great victory had been won which had affected many people.
So at this point, no expectation – just depressed – so sleep – having made no provision for himself.
An angel touched him – “Arise and eat”
Elijah had left behind his human helper, but was provided with an angelic helper.
A cake baked on the coals – so a nice fire and hot bread – and water in a flask. Where and how there things were obtained by the angel we know not – (like the barbecue breakfast that Jesus made by the lake)
He ate and drank – nothing else – no conversation with the angel.
All he was told was to arise and eat – that’s what he did.
Then fell asleep – exhausted.
The second time, “Arise and eat because is too great for you.” What journey? Who is deciding where Elijah is to go? His journey “away” has become a journey “towards”.
About 180 miles to Horeb (Mt Sinai)
He is supernaturally strengthened – 40 days in the wilderness – as was Jesus in his day.
What went through Elijah’s mind on that journey?
Did he have any sense of the purpose of it? No Bible comment made on it.
Would he have known where Horeb was? Did he just walk day by day as he was led?
A journey from the “signs and wonders” ministry back to the Word?
Mt Sinai where the Word was given.
At another time Elijah and Moses would stand on a mountain with Jesus (the Word)
He came to a cave and lodged (spent the night) there. He had lodged by a stream, with a foreign widow and her son, under a broom tree in the wilderness – and now in a cave.
Until this time, there was no word from the Lord.
“The Word of the Lord came to him” (Jesus came to him!)
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” – Spoken to by name – a personal conversation.
A question that could have been answered in a different way:
“I don’t know why I am here” “This seems to be where I have been led”
What he does is describe what has happened to him.
Elijah has a distorted picture of the situation.
I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts – yes
The children of Israel have forsaken your covenant and thrown down your altars. – yes
killed your prophets with the sword – that’s what Jezebel was doing.
I even I only am left – not quite – 100 prophets hidden – were they not still alive?
v18 – 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
They seek my life to take it away – only Jezebel was seeking his life – all Israel at Mt Carmel had 18v39 fallen on their faces confessing that the Lord is God.
It is fascinating that Elijah does not mention the mountain-top experience. It is now to him as if it had not happened – he had just brought “revival” – the visible return of God’s blessing to the whole land – rain after three and a half years! (He did not mention either the raising of the boy from the dead!)
Is this not true of us – of me – that we retain memories of the negatives but forget the positives? How will I be in revival times?
I sometimes think of how I have lost the confidence that I have had in previous years. Here it is clear that Elijah experienced that – as James 5 says “a man with like feelings to us”
So if asked the same question, what would my answer be?
– tempted to think too carefully before writing – so here goes:
I hade been seeking to help Forbes in his calling and ministry, I had been following God’s call to co-ordinate and give a lead in Pray for Scotland. I had come to the conclusion that God’s call on Katy and me was not going to be fulfilled by us staying at Roquharold – and our decision to move coincided with Peter and Lynne’s plans. It seemed right and the way opened for us to move here.
My work in Pray for Scotland shut down – my place in influencing Forbes and the life of the church shut down. I withdrew from both.
I had hoped to maybe influence CLAN re all-age but that didn’t happen – I withdrew.
I have been doing Inverernan, Luke into Jesus, O Dad it’s affa fine, Skene Murray Mission.
Since PFS and St Combs CC, I have been looking for, waiting for a clear place of responsibility – a people, a place, a particular purpose.
So a bit like Elijah I feel that I have done stuff but it has not produced what I thought.
– so here I am alone in the cave!
Here Elijah was right out of the situation into the place of hearing God’s word to him.
I have not moved geographically (although Inverurie to here was a move)
Do I need to go somewhere else to hear God speak to me?
But I have moved relationally in that I am detached from all the relations and situations – so maybe here I will hear God speak?
He is commanded to go from lying in the cave to standing on the mountain.
Wind, earthquake, fire – accompaniments to the Lord’s presence, to his moving – not to be confused with the person of the Lord himself.
“When God moves, spectacular things happen”
The reminder that “our God is an awesome God”
mountain tearing, rock shattering power, and fire – fire is something Elijah had experienced before.
-then the still small voice – the sound of silence – or as the Septuagint has it: “a gentle breeze”.
he wrapped his face in his mantle (Zech 13v4) – a prophet’s identifier.
So he presented to God not his weak and faulty self but that which God had called him to be. (we have a robe of righteousness)
He is asked the question again – and he gives the same answer. What is the difference?
He has just had a reminder of the power and presence of God beside him.
He is saying the same truth (or rather perspective) expressed in a different context.
So – That is how things have been – now there is the opportunity for something different.
So this is not just his thoughts/feelings expressed, but expressed in relationship with God.
v11 He was told to go out and “stand before the Lord”
Elijah’s description of himself was 17v1 the Lord God before whom I stand
18v15 the Lord God of hosts before whom I stand.
He is being reminded of his ministry calling – like be being reminded – “You are a priest for life”
Elijah had prayed 18v37 “that the people might know that you have turned them back again” – but now he seems to not believe that it has happened.
v10 Elijah speaks of the people of Israel having broken the covenant – so here he was, back at the place where the covenant was made – Mt Sinai.
so for us – back to the cross?
What was the tone of the conversation that God had with Elijah. If a number of people were asked to read it as they imagined it happened, how much would it say about their perception of God?
We need to remember that God had led him to this place, given angelic help, supernatural sustenance – brought him to a place where he could unburden himself.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
We are given no detailed conversation concerning the points included and excluded in Elijah’s statement – just his new instructions. When we have done as God instructed and it has not worked out as we would have hoped, we might want analysis, but what we need is simply God’s next instructions for us. That is what we wait for.
“Go return your way” – back into “the thick of it”
anoint Hazael – king of Syria, Jehu king of Israel, Elisha prophet
Look towards what is going to happen in the future – in the region, in the “church” people of God, and in the work of the kingdom –prophet
– to wilderness of Damascus – a foreign country
notice: Elijah is not to go back to Ahab or Jezebel, but to go forward to the next purposes of God – which in this case was a purpose of judgement – so judgement coming by enemy (Syria), by new leadership (Jehu) and by the next generation of prophets.
Revival is not just to get the outflowing of God’s blessing, but to get the dealing decisively with sin.
– a reduction to an unadulterated remnant “I have 7000”
Romans 11v4 shows that this is God’s answer to Elijah’s “There’s only me left”.
However much we may feel like that, it is not true – God has people kept for his purposes, and leaders kept to lead them in the coming days.
priestly/prophetic act of anointing – like Samuel with Saul and David – Elijah seems to have had the same sort of function as Samuel had.
There is the assurance that things are not ended – there is a whole new phase to come which Elijah is to be instrumental in bringing into being.
So whatever the uncertainties and partial and perhaps faulty perceptions of the past – all we need is God’s next instructions for us
like: place – go to wilderness of Damascus; people – Hazael, Jehu, Elisha +7000; purpose – anoint for leadership.
Elisha at Abel-meholah was on the way that Elijah would take to the wilderness of Damascus.
So he departed hence – no arguments, no delay
– and found Elisha on his way. If we move to be obedient to Jesus’ call, we will find
who/what he has sent us to.
It looks from the narrative that Elijah already knew who Elisha was – it is clear that Elisha knew Elijah.
It can be in God’s fresh call to us that he places us in closer relationship with people that we have already known.
Elijah’s companion prophet – being called from an “ordinary job”
Elijah passed by him – threw his cloak/mantle on to him.
Did he let go? or strike him with it a bit like striking the Jordan later – he certainly had his mantle then, so he did not let Elisha keep it at this stage.
There was no coercion – no trying to make things happen – rather simply doing what he had been told to do – this throwing of his mantle on him being equivalent to “anointing”.
Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah which shows that Elijah was not stopping – he had been told to anoint Elisha as his successor and he had done that – he did not know that what Elisha would want to do was to come with him and serve him – he was given the unexpected blessing of “team”.
Elijah wasn’t looking for a follower – he was just looking to do what God had told him to do.
he found someone called to help him, to serve him as he served the Lord.
It was prophesied that I would have two such men to stand with me – as yet they have not come into view.
It looks like Elijah did not stay around for the feast – he may have become the centre of attention if he had.
He continued on his way to do what God had called him to do – Elisha could catch up with him later.
God had told? Elisha to stop and have a feast
God had not told Elijah to stop and have a feast.
v20 – he ran after him…..he returned from him (not with him) …then he arose and went after him.
Beware of distraction into things which is totally ok for others to do, but not for you because God has given you other responsibilities or priorities at the time.
20v6 There came a prophet to Ahab – unnamed but significant – it shows that there were others now “in the open”.
20v28 There came a man of God – so another prophet
20v35 – a certain man of the sons of the prophets – the next young generation of prophets arising – taking their place.
Jezebel has Naboth killed – Ahab goes to take possession of his vineyard.
21v17 – the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite.
After another quiet time he is called to confront Ahab again – “word of knowledge” – he is in Samaria – in Naboth’s vineyard – gone to take possession of it – having Naboth killed.
Ahab “Have you found me, o my enemy?” – Yes he was found out.
v23 Elijah now has the word of Jezebel’s destruction.
His fear now seems to have gone.
It is interesting/ significant that a God-given message full of judgement promised from God leads to Ahab’s repentance at this point.
It is tempting perhaps not to confront – why not leave him to it? But Ahab needed to be confronted to shake him out of his complacency.
– What would Elijah have been expecting? Probably just to deliver the words of judgement and to “leave Ahab to it”.
Instead – an unexpected response – Ahab publicly humbled himself – I wonder what Jezebel thought!
And God speaks to Elijah to adjust what he had previously said.
God’s message of judgement has mercy available.
I remember reading the quote years ago: “Nowhere in the scriptures is a man condemned for doing wrong, but only because he will not turn from it.”
How important to have the word from God for a person.
Ahab greeted Elijah as “my enemy” – but in reality, Elijah was the greatest friend he had.
ch20 – 3 years on, Ahab back to seeking to use prophets for his own ends – there are always people willing to be used this way.
2 Kings1v3 “the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah”
Whatever we may wonder about what is going on in the country / or in the church, God sees and knows the situation and has his strategy for dealing with it.
– surprise for the messengers – met by someone who knew what they were doing and where they were going.
v4 – and Elijah departed – once again, Elijah does not hang around – he does what he has been given to do – no more.
v8 a hairy man – a girdle of leather – the man of God was not concerned with finery – separate enough from others to be identified.
What a difference in Elijah since his “unsure” days. He sits on top of a hill – visible – not hidden any more. The king’s soldiers come to force him to come – the king said, “Come”, but God had not said, “Come”.
When force is used against him, the power of God is released on his behalf
v9 – Come down v11 Come down quickly
Third captain comes not to threaten but to submit.
So although when threatened, God’s power is released, when someone comes in a different spirit, the Lord tells Elijah to go anyway – and note what the Angel of the Lord said, “Go down with him – be not afraid of him.
Why did the king want Elijah brought to him?
– to check that it was really what he said – or probably to try to get a different message from him.
– Notice that Elijah is not saying that he could not be healed, but that because of what he had done in seeking help from other gods, he would not be healed.
It is interesting that at this time, though Ahab had died, Jezebel was still alive – but there are no dealings between Elijah and her. It was left to another to deal with her – ch9 Jehu
The Lord has sent me to Bethel. He says to Elisha to tarry because, just because the Lord had told him to go somewhere, it did not mean that someone else had to go there too.
Give freedom to others to follow their own leading from God – don’t assume that others should go the same way as you.
At Bethel were representatives of the new move of God – no longer “I, only I am left”
– but an in-touch group who knew what was happening in the Spirit.
God takes Elijah to one place – Bethel, then directs him on to Jericho.
Be ready for God to move you on from place to place.
more sons of the prophets – at least 50 of them – prophetic community.
so Elijah’s ministry is not just “on his own” but in relationship with others.
Elijah directed on to Jordan.
His mantle/anointing made a way through to go where God had said.
At this special time, Elijah is not just thinking about himself, he is thinking about the ministry of others – Elisha
– it reminds me of my teaching about being “confident on your own anointing” – and how I have helped others to get on the move in their own ministry.
Walking and talking where the Lord has led you puts you in a place where heaven can touch you and you can touch heaven.
No explanation of why Elijah was taken this way – interesting that his previous prayer about “let me die” was never answered! He was taken through death in a very special way.
Moses’ passing (Deut 31) and Elijah’s passing were specially taken care of by God – then they were given a very special place in talking with Jesus about his very special passing – his exodus.