About that CV

But then comes [1 Kings] 17:1: “Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab [the king], ‘As the Lord [Yahweh], the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain for the next few years except at my word.’” There is not a word of explanation about Elijah’s background, or who he is. I love it. We are given an example of the dreadful condition in which the country stood, but nothing aobut the prophet. He just showed up and said, “I have a word from Yahweh.” Why? Because it does not matter about Elijah; just as it does not matter about you and me. That is a magnificent model for a preacher. The important thing is the word of God, which he or she carries. And if he or she does not have such a word, nothing else counts.— Lectures in Old Testament Theology, pages 46-47