CONTENTS In this chapter the prophet Elisha is again introduced. He multiplieth the widow's oil. A son is given her. The child dieth. Elisha raiseth the child again. At Gilgal he healeth the poison in the pot. He feedeth an hundred men with twenty loaves of barley and ears of corn. These are among... [ Continue Reading ]
So may all the faithful servants: of the Lord say, by way of leading the minds of the needy to Jesus; - What shall I do for thee? But Jesus can do all.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do I not see in this representation how all the vessels of our poor nature may be unceasingly filled from the inexhaustible fullness of Jesus, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Borrow as we may of our neighbours, the largest vessels for containing his gifts and graces; the oil of gladness... [ Continue Reading ]
See what a blessed issue to the poor widow's poverty. There was enough not only to pay the creditor, but to live both herself and household on what remained. And Reader! Is there not enough in Jesus and his precious salvation, to answer all the demands of that law, the breaches of which hath made yo... [ Continue Reading ]
It appears from Elisha's history that he frequently travelled from mount Carmel to Samaria, and therefore was necessarily obliged to ass through Shunem, which was a small city belonging to the tribe of Issachar. See 2 Kings 2:25. But (as the after events in this woman's life make it appear) the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a vast deal of generosity in this woman's mind: and yet nothing costly. How often, when entertaining strangers, have men found that they have been entertaining angels, or messengers of God, unawares. Yes! Jesus was a stranger when he came into this world; and had not where to lay his head.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a nobleness of soul in the woman, in thus declining court favor. The prophet's interest was more with God than with the king. It is as if she had said, Speak for me not to man, but to God. Reader! would you be spoken for? Yes! to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords to the captain indeed of... [ Continue Reading ]
In order to have a clear conception of the great earnestness manifested among all the Israelites for children, it should be remembered that this was with an eye to the coming Messiah. That promised seed every Israelite was extremely anxious should spring from his family. Hence Gehazi concluded that... [ Continue Reading ]
What an unexpected event was this? Who would have thought that a child unasked, and given at the instance of the prophet's prayer, should be thus soon recalled. Reader! do not fail to gather from it in the first opening of the subject, that the Lord exerciseth the graces of his people. They must be... [ Continue Reading ]
What can be the object of this Shunammite in this journey? Are not all her hopes now gone? The child is dead. Had he still life in him there might be hopes. But now he is dead; wherefore go to the prophet? Doth she really believe that the prophet can raise him from the dead? Yes, Reader; depend upon... [ Continue Reading ]
The relation of this scriptural story, in the mere letter of the subject, is uncommonly interesting. The prophet's salutation and enquiry of her welfare, and that of her family, and her short but expressive answer, are very striking. It behoves the ministers of God both in spiritual and temporal mer... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a most interesting part of the narrative. It is here rising to a great degree of earnestness. Her whole soul was in action, and the body participated, as is evident in catching hold of the prophet. Not in anger, as Gehazi thought; but in love, as Elisha well interpreted by her looks. And her... [ Continue Reading ]
It is gracious when Jesus sends his servants, the ministers of his gospel, to his people, and commissions them to good. But, oh! how infinitely surpassing the whole choir of angels in their ministering service, is the coming of Jesus himself. Yes! dearest Lord; like the Shunammite I would say, never... [ Continue Reading ]
How important an instruction ministers of the gospel may gather from hence! Though they preach in their master's name, and act wholly by his authority; yet there will be no voice or cry for salvation in the sinner's soul; no, nor even the grace of spiritual apprehension in the most earnestly deliver... [ Continue Reading ]
While I desire the Reader to remark with me the graciousness of God, in thus teaching the early church by such miracles the blessed doctrines of the resurrection; and more particularly, as all of them referred to the Person of the Lord Jesus; I beg the Reader at the same time very particularly to ke... [ Continue Reading ]
And will not the resurrection of the bodies of believers at the last day, be accomplished in a similar way? Shall not the soul take up the body? and then from being a glorified body, no longer partaking of its former corruption, but which the grave, in its office of a destroyer, hath forever done aw... [ Continue Reading ]
This setting before the prophet, implies receiving instruction: probably expounding the scripture. Ezekiel 8:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
The poison in the food, spiritually explained, leads us to consider how cautious men should be, and especially the sons of the prophets, in consenting to anything but what the apostle calls wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. The pure faith of the gospel is the food of our soul... [ Continue Reading ]
I cannot help remarking again, if peradventure I have mentioned it before, that among the precious things of the sacred scriptures of the Old Testament, those are not the least, which represent the Holy Ghost as shadowing forth, upon many occasions, the outlines of Jesus. When we see the prophets, a... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS How lovely is it to behold in this great woman of Shunem, (as she is called) the blessed fruits of real piety. Reader! if we love Jesus, we cannot but love his people. This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also. She did not say to the prophet; be ye w... [ Continue Reading ]