CONTENTS The ministry of Elisha is continued through this chapter. The prophet, in the midst of dearth, foretelleth an immediate, and incredible plenty. An unbelieving lord treating the prophet's prediction with contempt, Elisha foretells his death, which accordingly takes place. 2 Kings 7:1 I th... [ Continue Reading ]
What a solemn lesson is read to us in the short, but awful history of the unbelieving lord! Reader! depend upon it, that the grossest of all sins is this want of faith in God's Christ. And John tells us the reason of it; he maketh God (says the apostle) a liar, because he believeth not the record th... [ Continue Reading ]
Passing by the particulars of this event as an history, I pray the Reader to look beyond the mere letter of the subject, to discover the very sweet, spiritual instruction it contains. In this light perhaps, the Reader will perceive in these men, the state of poor leprous sinners strikingly pointed o... [ Continue Reading ]
How unexpected sometimes is the deliverance of the sinner! How surprised is the soul in the discovery of Jesus and his fulness! And do observe, Reader! how the Lord was pleased to act for the delivery of his people. What terrors and alarms did the Syrians feel, so as to be afraid where no fear was.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the sinner is brought by the Holy Ghost, into the knowledge and enjoyment of the Lord Jesus, his mind is so engaged, that the treasures he finds he hides from all men's view. But when he calls to mind the perishing state of other sinners, he can no longer eat his morsel alone. His language is t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe how closely allied to one another are guilt and unbelief. The king of Israel knew how little he merited mercy from the Lord, and therefore he could not be led to hope, notwithstanding his servant the prophet had taught Israel to expect some great deliverance, that it would be bestowed. Reade... [ Continue Reading ]
With what caution and fear did the king of Israel and his poor besieged army proceed in this business! With what doubts and misgivings, do sinners, when first coming to the Lord Jesus, seek his face! Oh! for faith in full confidence, to come to the Lord Jesus, and cast the whole soul Upon him! the s... [ Continue Reading ]
The sad event in the death of this unbelieving lord, is very particularly related by the sacred historian, to show that no word of the Lord can fall to the ground. And it is a point of the most solemn consideration, that the very name Jehovah hath taken in the scriptures to show, that he is God in a... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS READER! let us in the view of this siege of Samaria behold a lively emblem of the soul's distressed state by reason of sin. Alas! what a famine, not of bread and of water, but of all spiritual comfort, ease, or satisfaction. In the contemplation of the unexpected deliverance is not Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]