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“Waver between two opinions”

1 Kings 18:21
IdiomSettledElijah
How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him. (1 Kings 18:21 BSB)
* The Hebrew pictures limping or hobbling on two crutches, and it puns on the limping ritual dance of Baal's prophets in the same chapter (18:26); Israel is 'hobbling' between two gods.

What it sounds like today

A call to stop being indecisive.

The cultural key

'Waver between two opinions' flattens a vivid Hebrew image. The verb pictures limping, hobbling, or hopping about, so Elijah sees Israel lurching along on two crutches, unable to walk straight on either leg. The word is loaded in this very chapter, because Baal's prophets perform a limping, hopping dance around their altar (18:26); Israel's divided worship is the same crippled shuffle. Elijah's charge is not that the people are mildly undecided but that they are trying to keep one foot with the LORD and one with Baal, a religion that can only stagger. He demands they pick a leg and walk.

Recovered meaning

Elijah's 'two opinions' is really the picture of limping along on two crutches, one foot with God and one with Baal. He names a hobbling, divided faith for what it is and demands a single Lord.

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