Sermon Bible Commentary
2 Kings 4:31
Here is a remarkable thing in Bible history, nothing less than that a miracle should miscarry. Here is an attempt to work a miracle which ends in failure. Is it without a parallel? Are there any proposed miracles suddenly broken in failure? We are bound to ask these sharp and serious questions.
I. Who was this Gehazi? An undeveloped hypocrite. Up to this moment he may have secured outwardly his master's confidence and regard, but we are more than one self. There were three or four different men in that Gehazi figure. The bad man spoils whatever he touches. Virtue perished out of Elisha's staff; it became in the grip of Gehazi but a common stick. There is nothing sacred to the bad man; what he touches he defiles. Where we are wrong in our relation to God, we are wrong in our relation to everything else.
II. The word of God is our staff, our symbol; and this inspired book should have an inspired perusal. There is a subtle temptation to inquire when we have not succeeded in our ministry whether the staff was good. But when the child is not awaked, we should not blame the staff; when the neighbourhood is unaware of our spiritual presence, we should not blame the neighbourhood or the word. We should ask, "Am I Gehazi? Am I the wrong man with the right staff?"
III. We ask next, "Was not Elisha partly to blame in this matter? Did he send a staff where he ought to have gone himself?" I would instantly encounter the inquiry with an indignant denial if I did not know that some of us are doing the same thing. Does any man here send a guinea when he ought to send a life? Jesus Christ gave Himself, and self-giving is the only true benefaction and donation. You ought to be made to feel that part of yourself has gone with every gift you give.
Parker, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxii., p. 315 (see also- vol. viii., p. 121).
I. The reason why Gehazi failed to awaken the child was that he was not a fit agent for the wonder-working power. God saw in him the selfishness, the covetousness, which soon came to light, and so He refused to acknowledge him. To give life a man must have life, and have it in its purity and abundance.
II. There are some of you, many of you, who have lived long enough to have grown somewhat dull and dead. Boys and girls are "dead" dead in spirit, dead in the worst kind of death if they have lost all care for God, for truth, and righteousness, and kindness.
III. Some of you, if you are not dead, are at least "fast asleep." You are dreaming, and pursuing dreams. You have eyes, but they are not open.
IV. If you are diligent, thoughtful, quick to seize occasion as it rises, because it is your duty, because you love God and hold His law to be the true law of life, then you are alive and awake. And if you are alive and awake, your life will be a happy preparation for the better life to come.
S. Cox, The Bird's Nest,p. 64.
References: 2 Kings 4:31. H. Macmillan, The Olive Leaf,p. 136. 2 Kings 4:31. S. Baring-Gould, Village Preaching for a Year,vol. ii., Appendix, p. 24. 2 Kings 4:32. J. M. Neale, Sermons in Sackville College,vol. iii., p. 78. 2 Kings 4:34. D. J. Vaughan, The Days of the Son of Man,p. 400; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxv., No. 1461. 2 Kings 4:34; 2 Kings 4:35. H. Macmillan, The Olive Leaf,p. 136. 2 Kings 4:36; 2 Kings 4:37. J. Budgen, Parochial Sermons,vol. i., p. 75. 2 Kings 4:38. A. Edersheim, Elisha the Prophet,p. 115. 2 Kings 4:38. Parker, vol. viii., p. 132. 2 Kings 4:40. J. Thain Davidson, Talks with Young Men,p. 161; T. L. Cuyler, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 104. 2 Kings 4:41. J. M. Neale, Sermons in Sackville College,vol. iii., p. 86. 2 Kings 4:42. H. Macmillan, Sunday Magazine,1873, pp. 42, 126; J. dimming, Penny Pulpit,No. 072. 2 Kings 4:42; 2 Kings 4:43. T. Champness, New Coins from Old Gold,p. 21. 2 Kings 4:42. A. Edersheim, Elisha the Prophet,p. 125. 2 Kings 4 Parker, vol. viii., p. 113.