This fall, as we studied the books of the Bible with our small children at Smithfield during Pilgrim Adventures (more about Pilgrim Adventures here), I realized that neither kids nor adults spend enough time reading the great stories in the books of Old Testament history: Joshua, Judges, Kings, Chronicles. So, at the moment, we’re in the midst of a five-week unit on the prophet Elijah.
My husband Greg told me he knew a song about Elijah that I should use, and then racked his brain trying to remember it. My Google searches weren’t helping much, either. Finally he realized: it wasn’t a song about Elijah at all, but a song about Eliza: Li’l Liza Jane. So, it fell to me to re-write the lyrics. I’ve been teaching the kids two or three new verses each week, to match that day’s story. We’ll be finishing up this Sunday, so here’s the song in its entirety. It doesn’t pretend to be great poetry, but it’s pretty catchy.
WEEK ONE: Meeting Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-7)
Knew a man from Israel, prophet of God
And his story I will tell, prophet of God
Chorus: Oh, Elijah, prophet of God
Oh, Elijah, prophet of God
Ahab chased him from the land, prophet of God
Ravens brought food to his hand, prophet of God (chorus)
WEEK TWO: Elijah and the Widow of Zarepath (1 Kings 17:8-24)
The widow had run out of bread, prophet of God
Elijah made sure she was fed, prophet of God (chorus)
When the widow’s son was sick, prophet of God
Elijah prayed and healed him quick, prophet of God (chorus)
WEEK THREE: Elijah and the Priests of Baal (1 Kings 18:1-46)
The other priests had gods of stone, prophet of God
Elijah said, “Trust God alone,” prophet of God (chorus)
The priests of Baal could start no fire, prophet of God
God made Elijah’s flames grow higher, prophet of God (chorus)
WEEK FOUR: Elijah and the Still, Small Voice (1 Kings 19:1-18)
Elijah hid inside the cave, prophet of God
He wasn’t feeling very brave, prophet of God (chorus)
God wasn’t in the wind that shakes, prophet of God
God wasn’t in the fire or quake, prophet of God (chorus)
God spoke in a still, small voice, prophet of God
Elijah heard and he rejoiced, prophet of God (chorus)
WEEK FIVE: Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21, 2 Kings 2:1-18)
Elisha put the mantle on, prophet of God
He’d preach when Elijah’s gone, prophet of God (chorus)
While Elisha wore that cloak, prophet of God
Elijah left in wind and smoke, prophet of God (chorus)