2 Kings 4:8-43

2 Kings 4:8-43
8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”
She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”
14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”
And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.”
And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”
17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!”
So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”
23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’”
And she answered, “It is well.” 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”
30 And the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

Introduction

Tonight we are going to look at an event that occurred in the Book of 2 Kings during the ministry and Elisha the prophet.
Tonight I want us to look at four lives in particular
The life of Elisha
The life of a woman from shunem
The life of a man and husband of the woman from Shunem
These are the lives that I want us to look at from an account in 2 Kings
Yes I did say FOUR lives and only three are from scripture.
The other life is OURSELVES.
Tonight we need to be prepared and willing to be searched by the Spirit of God. We need Him to reveal to us “are inward self” the real “me” not my mask.
Psalm 139:23 (New King James Version)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

As we hear the Word we must look upon our subjects and ask ourselves
“Is this me” “Do I share some characteristics, Good or Bad” “Can I learn from the lives of these three individuals” “Can I make changes or find encouragement for my life”
Tonight I want us to bear in mind that in our story two of our subjects experience change whilst one does not.

In 1987 whilst searching the New Testament I came to a living faith in Jesus Christ and my life changed – that change has been continual. I have learnt that just when I think I’ve got it all together and understand the grace and mercies of God I am so often astounded, confounded and grounded by the reality of my weakness and his ever great mercy.

Let each one of us be open to the reality of present and future change – a change wrought powerfully by the Almighty One.

Historical Setting

Our story is taken from 2 Kings 4:8-37
· It takes place during the ministry of Elisha (60 years between 892-832 BC) who held the of position “Prophet in Israel”
· Elisha’s ministry started his prophetic ministry during the reign of Johoram and Jehoshaphat in Judah
· During the period of the Assyrian threat under Shalmanasar III

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.

Elisha the great Prophet who had received a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah passes through Shunem on his way to either Carmel or one of the school’s of prophets situated in the region.
Shunem was not far from Mount Carmel which Elisha visited and lay on its way to Samaria, Bethel and Jericho, places he often visited the schools of the prophets being there.
This women of Shunem is mentioned in the MIDRASH – (Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exergesis of the biblical text and can refer to Midrashic teachings and commentary on the Jewish Bible). This women is said to have been the sister of Abishag, the Shunammite and mother of Iddo the prophet mentioned in 2 Chronicles 9:29 and 13:22

She is also mentioned in the Jewish Targum – (Targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible written during the Babylonian Captivity from Second Temple Period through into the middles ages. In the Targum she is referred to as “a women of great credit and reputation on all accounts.”

In the Chaldee she is a woman fearing sin and in the Arabic a woman eminent for piety before God
It is probable that this woman was a God fearing women of high regard amongst those of her community, probably very religious and acknowledging the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Elisha would have been well known amongst the people for he was the leader of the Prophets of God and this God fearing women would have surely known of him.
Maybe to her Elisha was like one of today’s great religious leaders “Billy Graham” etc etc
She often persuaded Elisha to stop at her home to eat bread and he would agree to her hospitality. Prehaps like many in Israel “She believed that she would earn merit before God” for this act of hospitality.

The Doctrine of Merits – This was a prevalent doctrine that existed in Judaism and that still exists today. In fact this doctrine underpins most religions and is “religion itself” the belief that by are deeds we can earn credit before God and that merit could be transferred from others ie Abraham. It was this doctrine that had to be powerfully rebutted by Paul in his letter to the Romans. It is this belief that our good works, good connections, and possibly our heritage can weigh the scales down for merit rather than demerit.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Our like her secretly expecting merit and demerit.
The very fact that we expect “demerit” indicates a religious tendency towards our relationship with God

9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.

The woman identifies Elisha as a Holy Man to her husband. She prepares the ground for her next request, she was a women of influence and clearly of a woman of great influence on her husband. She is preparing to ask her husband to allow an extension to be built on their home.
Her request is granted and a room is provided and equipped with all Elisha’s needs. The women has secured a accommodation for Elisha and secured her ongoing connections to the Prophet of Israel.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

We like her can seek to accommodate ministries, people, leaders.
Our so called spiritual life can be concentrated on a accumalation of ministry titles, connections to Christian leaders.
We need to secure ourselves only to “Christ”

11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”
She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”

Elisha has considerable influence in the Northern Kingdom having direct access to Kings and the Commander of Israel’s army. He asks the women if he can do anything for her and makes suggestions of representations to possibly assure justice or further land. She responds that she has no need and is content with her position being secure amongst her own people.
Could she have not asked for the Spiritual and improved her present religious state.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

contentment, failure to seek the Lord or recognise our Spiritual state.

14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

The woman stands in the doorway and maintains her distance. Her communication had been through Gahazi until this time. She remains reverent and perhaps remembers the miracles and deeds of Elisha. He was a Prophet to be feared and not treated irrevelantly as the young men found out in 2 Kings 2:23.
16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”

Although a God Fearing woman, her level of faith, if any, and confidence in God is now revealed as lacking. Despite knowing the miracle of Isaac’s birth by barren Sarah and Abraham being like her husband “old in years” she refuses to believe for her greatest need “a son and heir”

But more than this she reveals an even greater need of FAITH in God himself the faith that answers :
Luke Chapter 1:38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Here is the crucial test. Despite her knowledge of God she displays no faith in God.
Our we like this women. Knowing so much of the Lord, having read the scriptures and yet having never found faith.
It is very similar to our knowledge of the Queen and yet complete lack of relationship – despite!

17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.
18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers.

The boy was probably about 6 or 7 years of age but the scriptures are unclear. This was probably during the time of the May / June Harvests and at a time when the temperature would have been about 70 C or more.

19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

It is possible that the boy was suffering with severe sunstroke but the scriptures gives no other information. The father wrapped up in his work and seemingly unconcerned about the boy tells his servant to take the boy to his mother. He remains at work “reaping”

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Our we like the husband, surrounded by God and His works and yet oblivious to the reality of His prescence. We may be compliant and agreeable to the faith. But we have no real faith in God! Our faith is in our own strength. We keep on reaping
We work each day missing the work of the Almighty and failing to hear the call He makes upon our lives.

20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

This is the woman’s place of meeting with the God of Israel, our God.
Like the events recorded in this woman’s life there will moments, times and seasons when the Lord will meet with us so that he can reveal himself in order that we might meet Him and find faith in Him rather than just an acknowledgement of his existence and a dead religious experience.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Brothers and Sisters will you take up the moment of suffering in order to embrace the revelation of God. Will you sit faithfully with you problem on your knees.
Will watch all that you placed your earthly hope in die before your very eyes
And yet find the place of meeting with the Almighty, Illustrious, Glorious ………………..

It is not always in times of trouble but it is often in these times that find ourselves prepared to listen and it is at this time that the women finds herself ready, willing and desperate to hear.
Will we need a moment of great distress to cause us to listen and hear!!
We see this women of little or any faith suddenly becoming a giant of faith.

Why !!! because during that morning of grief and concern for her dying son she did what any mother would have done with no other resources upon which to call.
She prayed and sought the God of Israel, Our God the God of Elisha.
Will we like her turn to the Almighty God!!
How do we know she did this?

Was she distraught and weeping, speaking negative words, running about in distress with no apparent answer to this great problem, this awesome loss?
Let us look at her actions.

21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out.

The journey was about 16 miles from Shunem to Mount Carmel – the practice of buriel in the land of Israel is not of great difference than today. The climate being hot (70C) would not enable the body to be stored for long periods as decomposition would set in resulting in a bad smell and far worse…………the body was generally buried within 24 hours

Although her son is dead she takes his body to a place where he will not be found (prior to this time she had not entered the room of Elisha perhaps no one did) in order that no member of her household would proceed to bury the boy whilst she is away. It is possible that her husband and servant would have demanded the burial of the boy. Is her action in accordance with her faith in the word of God spoken to her in prayer?

22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”

Here again a clear plan of action is demonstrated and once again her husband is oblivious to the Spiritual event that is underway. It appears that he is passed by failing to see the revelation unfolding.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Husband – do you want to be passed by….. do you want to miss the revelation of the Almighty.

23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.”

The husband is locked into a religious outlook – why would you go to meet the brethren except on a Sunday!!!!
In contrast the word of faith of the women is proclaimed for the first time “It is well”
This word of faith and her precise and clear plan of actions reveal that she acts in FAITH and in accordance with clear instructions.

· She lays her son on the Prophets bed
· She shuts the door
· She calls her husband
· She asks for transport
· She asks for her servant to accompany her
· She tells her husband that she will travel to the Prophet

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Have you heard the Lord with regard to some matter that you have set before Him. Has He spoken. Will you declare as the women “It Is Well”
How beautiful are the words of Faith from those who find salvation and the lordship of the Almighty.
IT IS WELL

Our we like her able to say “It Is Well”
In the day of suffering, persecution, failure, joy, success – in all things are we able to say “It is Well”

The Song “It is well with my soul” – Horatio G Spafford, 1873
1.When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2.Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(Refrain)

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’”

And she answered, “It is well.”

The Shunammite is met by Gahazi and once again asked for a reason for her approach, her response allows no stopping as her aim is to reach Elisha for he also will learn and see change today!!!
According to her faith the women declares “It is well” – she has travelled 16 miles and doesn’t know what is taking place at home – perhaps many questions flooded her head “have they found the boy”

27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

Look now at the women’s boldness, once she would not enter the room of Elisha but now she takes hold of his feet as a bold yet reverent form of restraint.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Will we like her take hold of the Master for life and salvation, will we hold onto him for life!
Will we have a faith that allows us to approach Him –

Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”

This woman has challenged Elisha as God instructed……..Elisha unprepared “because of the hidden nature of the problem” acts without the word of God and send Gahazi on ahead.
It is possible that Elisha desired to remain ritually clean as touching a dead body would cause defilement under Mosaic law NUMBERS 19:11
Elisha wanted to remain detached from the problem and therefore set his servant with his staff.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Spiritual Man or Women of God – have you like Elisha been blessed with great ministry, perhaps power and gifting in the Spirit.
Yet have you sought to remain “detached” from needs “even within your own flock” in order to retain a position or place of status.
It is time to consider the way of the Servant. It might be an occasion to get your hands dirty and touch the unclean thing.
But the woman of faith, having heard the Lord, Believed and obeyed His Word refuses to accept Elisha’s way and demands that he come.

30 And the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.

Elisha despite his greatness, like the woman of Shunem, needs to seek the Lord for instruction.
Elisha confronted with this sight “shuts the door on the outside world and PRAYS”

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

Spiritual Man or Women of God – have you pressed on with “this is how its always been done”
“this is how the Lord has worked before”
It is time for you to seek the Lord and ask for revelation, and obey!
It time for you to change!

34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.

God’s way is different from the way of Elisha and involves close physical contact with the then dead body.
Elisha had to be prepared to become ritually unclean by becoming closely connected to and involved with others in order to see life restored. Not morally unclean!

35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

Having been instructed by the Lord we see persistence, resistance and a defeat of death. Likewise when the Lord has clearly revealed His will and instructed us we can persist until the blessing is achieved.

36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

SUMMARY:

We have seen three characters in this story – two – the Shunammite and Elisha experienced revelation and changed.

The other – the husband – was passed by, he missed the time of God’s visitation.

LOOK AT OURSELVES:

You who are Spiritual – do you need to change and connect with the those who are struggling in the body.

Maybe you find yourself identified with the Husband you need to grasp hold of the Lord

You know if this is for Salvation

If you find yourself identified with the Shunammite, you might be religious and yet missing out on a relationship by faith you need to hear the call of the Lord

You need to respond Gospel! The Good News

Finally we see that this woman of great faith eventually outlived her Husband and had a son on whom to depend. Her faith saw her through difficult times, times that caused her great loss.

2 Kings 8:1-6
1 Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.
3 It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land. 4 Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him.
So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”

LOOK AT OURSELVES

Have you like this woman – come to faith and lost much of the blessing – Its now time to reappear before the King and request a restoration of that which was lost.