II Kings 4:7-37
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great 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.” (II Kings 4:8-10)
Ahab and his descendants had been even worse than Jeroboam and his family, even killing those who served God. Despite this effort, there were still a lot of people who served God. One of thewse was a woman of Shunem, a great person who didn’t hesitate to help others even when it might expose her to governmental displeasure.
After meeting Elisha, she invited him to come by for a meal anytime he was in the area. When she realized how often Elisha traveled, she suggested that she and her husband build a separate room for him to stay in whenever he was in the area. It is a common attitude for those who love God, that they want to help others who love him.
I John 3:14 tells us that this is one of the evidences that we are actually saved, that we love other Christians. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” John 13:35 says that it is one of the ways people can tell a person is a real Christian. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
“And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And 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 now 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?
And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
And he said, What then is to be done for her?
And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.” (II Kings 4:11-14)
Elisha appreciated what the woman was doing for him and wanted to do something to express his appreciation. He asked her if there was some political favor or business she needed help with. She responded that she lived among her own relatives and had everything she needed.
After she left, Elisha asked Ghazi for ideas as to what they could do for her. Gehazi mentioned that she had no children, in a society which prized their children. They didn’t have the fertility clinics we have today to try to force a pregnancy.
“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.” (II Kings 4:15-16)
She had reached and age where she no longer thought having a child was possible. When Elisha told her she was going to, she begged him not to kid her about it. It was a hope she had given u on and didn’t want to be disappointed again.
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
And he said unto his father, My head, my head.
And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” (II Kings 4:17-20)
Elisha’s prophecy came about and for several years they were a happy family. The boy regularly accompanied his father to work in the field, One day during harvest, he developed a terrible headache and his father had him taken back to the house where his mother held him and tried to help. About noon the boy died, whether from heatstroke or some kind of viral infection we don’t know.
“And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath.
And she said, It shall be well.” (II Kings 4:21-23)
After placing the boy’s body on the bed in Elisha’s room, she asked her husband to let her have one of their employees to accompany her to go meet with Elisha. Since it was not one of the special days of worship, her husband couldn’t figure out why she wanted to contact him. Apparently she had not told him about the boy’s death. Her only response was that he’d be glad she did.
“Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel.” (II Kings 4:24-25a)
She instructed the servant to travel as fast as possible and not to slow down unless she had to ask him to. They made a fast trip to mount Carmel where they met Elisha.
“And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 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.
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away.
And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.” (II Kings 4;25b-27)
When Elisha saw her coming and recognized her, he sent Gehazi to ask her what was wrong. She wouldn’t talk about it to Gehazi. When she rushed up and fell on her knees grabbing Elisha aroung the legs, Gehazi tried to pull her away, fearing people might get the wrong idea. Elisha told him to let her alone. Her emotional state was more important than what people might say. They would have to wait until she was able to tell them what was wrong because God had not given Elisha some miraculous insight.
“Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.” (II Kings 4:28-31)
She was so overwrought she couldn’t tell them what was wrong, just reminding Elisha she hadn’t asked for a son and had asked not to play games with her. Elisha realized something was wrong with her son and sent Ghazi ahead to see if he could do anything for him. The woman refused to leave Elisha, so they started toward Shunem, with Ghazi going on ahead. When Gehazi returned he told Elisha he had not been able to anything for him.
“And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” (II Kings 4:32-35)
When Elisha arrived he found the child dead. Embracing the child he lay on the bed allowing his own body heat to permeate the child’s body, warming him up. After a while, he got up and walked around for while, probably praying before lying down and holding the child a while longer. Finally the boy started sneezing and regained consciousness.
“And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite.
So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.” (II Kings 4:36-37)
When the mother came to him Elisha told her to take her son. She went and bowed down herself to him, thanking him profusely before taking the boy to tell his father what had happened. What a story she had to share. Her faith resulted in her son being restored to life, and she is mentioned as one of the examples of faith in Hebrews 11:35.
She was absolutely convinced that God could ressurect her son even though he had died.
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great 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.” (II Kings 4:8-10)
Ahab and his descendants had been even worse than Jeroboam and his family, even killing those who served God. Despite this effort, there were still a lot of people who served God. One of thewse was a woman of Shunem, a great person who didn’t hesitate to help others even when it might expose her to governmental displeasure.
After meeting Elisha, she invited him to come by for a meal anytime he was in the area. When she realized how often Elisha traveled, she suggested that she and her husband build a separate room for him to stay in whenever he was in the area. It is a common attitude for those who love God, that they want to help others who love him.
I John 3:14 tells us that this is one of the evidences that we are actually saved, that we love other Christians. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” John 13:35 says that it is one of the ways people can tell a person is a real Christian. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
“And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And 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 now 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?
And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.
And he said, What then is to be done for her?
And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.” (II Kings 4:11-14)
Elisha appreciated what the woman was doing for him and wanted to do something to express his appreciation. He asked her if there was some political favor or business she needed help with. She responded that she lived among her own relatives and had everything she needed.
After she left, Elisha asked Ghazi for ideas as to what they could do for her. Gehazi mentioned that she had no children, in a society which prized their children. They didn’t have the fertility clinics we have today to try to force a pregnancy.
“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.” (II Kings 4:15-16)
She had reached and age where she no longer thought having a child was possible. When Elisha told her she was going to, she begged him not to kid her about it. It was a hope she had given u on and didn’t want to be disappointed again.
“And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
And he said unto his father, My head, my head.
And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.” (II Kings 4:17-20)
Elisha’s prophecy came about and for several years they were a happy family. The boy regularly accompanied his father to work in the field, One day during harvest, he developed a terrible headache and his father had him taken back to the house where his mother held him and tried to help. About noon the boy died, whether from heatstroke or some kind of viral infection we don’t know.
“And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath.
And she said, It shall be well.” (II Kings 4:21-23)
After placing the boy’s body on the bed in Elisha’s room, she asked her husband to let her have one of their employees to accompany her to go meet with Elisha. Since it was not one of the special days of worship, her husband couldn’t figure out why she wanted to contact him. Apparently she had not told him about the boy’s death. Her only response was that he’d be glad she did.
“Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel.” (II Kings 4:24-25a)
She instructed the servant to travel as fast as possible and not to slow down unless she had to ask him to. They made a fast trip to mount Carmel where they met Elisha.
“And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 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.
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away.
And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.” (II Kings 4;25b-27)
When Elisha saw her coming and recognized her, he sent Gehazi to ask her what was wrong. She wouldn’t talk about it to Gehazi. When she rushed up and fell on her knees grabbing Elisha aroung the legs, Gehazi tried to pull her away, fearing people might get the wrong idea. Elisha told him to let her alone. Her emotional state was more important than what people might say. They would have to wait until she was able to tell them what was wrong because God had not given Elisha some miraculous insight.
“Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.
And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.
And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.” (II Kings 4:28-31)
She was so overwrought she couldn’t tell them what was wrong, just reminding Elisha she hadn’t asked for a son and had asked not to play games with her. Elisha realized something was wrong with her son and sent Ghazi ahead to see if he could do anything for him. The woman refused to leave Elisha, so they started toward Shunem, with Ghazi going on ahead. When Gehazi returned he told Elisha he had not been able to anything for him.
“And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” (II Kings 4:32-35)
When Elisha arrived he found the child dead. Embracing the child he lay on the bed allowing his own body heat to permeate the child’s body, warming him up. After a while, he got up and walked around for while, probably praying before lying down and holding the child a while longer. Finally the boy started sneezing and regained consciousness.
“And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite.
So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.” (II Kings 4:36-37)
When the mother came to him Elisha told her to take her son. She went and bowed down herself to him, thanking him profusely before taking the boy to tell his father what had happened. What a story she had to share. Her faith resulted in her son being restored to life, and she is mentioned as one of the examples of faith in Hebrews 11:35.
She was absolutely convinced that God could ressurect her son even though he had died.
Dear Donald,
ReplyDeleteThat is indeed a beautiful story of faith and encouragement.
And the ability to love another believer is a good test to see whether I'm one myself, especially if the other person is cool or not so friendly towards me.
As with all your other blogs, this too is a great post.
It is a critical aspect of Christian life. Thanks for the encouragement.
DeleteSeveral years ago the Lord blessed us with a new house, and we felt He was calling us to use that home for ministry. Two weeks later we had a missionary and his wife stay with us for several days, and he blessed us one morning by leading a devotion on "the prophet's chamber" from this passage. Thanks as always for the great exposition of Bible truth.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Laurie
A lot of churches used to have missionaries stay with church families. It resulted in some very close relationships because the people got to really know the missionary. In recent years the practice has fallen out of favor. As a result, missionaries and churches do not develop the same sense of commitment to each other.
DeleteThanks for your ongoing encouragement.