57

LECTURE III.

2 KINGS iv. 26.

"Run now, I pray thee, to meet her; and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well."

In the last discourse, we took occasion to remark upon the advantages of religious seclusion, to qualify us for the more ostensible duties of public usefulness; of the truth of this, the life of our blessed Lord, of Elijah the Tishbite, and of the prophet, whose history we are now considering, afford us many and striking examples. Elisha's time, indeed, appears to have been chiefly divided between the solitudes of Mount Carmel, and the thickly-thronged capital of Israel. Upon his road between the two, and about five miles from Mount Tabor, stood the city of Shunem, in the tribe of Issachar, through

which therefore, he was obliged continually to pass, as he journeyed from his scene of public occupation, to his refuge of retirement and repose.

66

"And it fell on a day," says the inspired historian, "that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great" or wealthy woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that, as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither." 99*

How simple and beautiful a picture of ancient manners! Often, as it appears, had the prophet in his toilsome journey, partaken of the Shunammite's hospitality, although known only to them as a traveller and a pilgrim; and as often, * 2 Kings iv. 8.

had here paid their kindness by his devout and holy conversation, cheering and refreshing their souls, perhaps as palpably by all that he could tell of Israel's God, as they were enabled to recruit his wayworn frame, by the provision they so liberally tendered. Anxious, therefore, to secure the longer tarrying of so holy a guest, the woman proposed to build him a private chamber, that when he pleased to retire from the noise and bustle of so large an establishment, he might still remain beneath their roof.

"And it fell on a day," continues the history, "that Elisha came thither, and he turned into the chamber," probably after partaking of the hospitality of the house, "and lay there." Pleased with so kind and unexpected an attention, "He said to Gehazi his servant, call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?" After the miracle, of which Elisha

had been the instrument, and by which the lives of the three kings and their armies were preserved, as we saw in the last lecture, it is probable that, for a time at least, the prophet's interest was great at court, and that any request of his, might meet with unusual respect and attention, even from Jehoram. It was therefore no slight favour which he proffered to this wealthy matron, for there are few, whatever be their possessions, who have not some desire, even as regards this world and its advantages, very near their hearts. Not so, however, the Shunammite; she replies with much dignity, though possibly not without some little feeling of self-complacency, "I dwell among mine own people." Intimating that although she did not despise the prophet's offer, happily she felt no need of it. God had blessed her with abundance, and he had accompanied it with that far rarer gift, a contented heart. As for this world's advantages, to which it is evident, Elisha's offer was limited, she has no request to make, no increase to desire; she dwells among her own people and is satisfied.

Still the grateful prophet cannot depart in comfort, until he has shown that the cup of cold water only, given to a prophet, in the name of a prophet, shall in nowise lose its reward. "And he said to his servant, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son, at that season, that Elisha had said unto her according to the time. of life."

66

How immeasurably do the gifts of God exceed the anticipations of His people! The holy Shunammite could not believe that so great a blessing was in store for her. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."* Equally true as regards

* 1 Cor. ii. 9.