2 Kings 4

God's anger to his children lasts but a while (Psalm 103:9), but his mercy lasts forever. God's mercy is not like the widow's oil, which ran a while and then ceased (2 Kings 4:6): overflowing, ever-flowing. God's mercy as it is without bounds, so without bottom (Psalm 136): His…

Three things may cause boldness in prayer: we have a Father to pray to, and the Spirit to help us to pray, and an Advocate to present our prayers. God's children should in all their troubles run to their Heavenly Father as that sick child, (2 Kings 4:19). He said to his Father,…

The Shunamite Woman was kind to the prophet, she welcomed him to her house, and she received kindness from him another way. He restored her dead child to life (2 Kings 4:35). Such as are helpful to others, shall find mercy to help in time of need.

What is it but thievery to take money and goods from others, and not restore them again? The Prophet Elisha bade the widow sell her oil, and pay her debts, and then live upon the rest (2 Kings 4:7). (9.) & last. The last sort of thief is the receiver of stolen goods.

A contrite and a broken heart, O God, you will not despise: Saint Austin caused this sentence to be written over his bed when he was sick. When the widow brought empty vessels to Elisha, the oil was poured into them (2 Kings 4:6). Bring God the broken vessel of a contrite heart,…

When we are intent upon any business, how little a noise diverts us? It may be this was the reason why that hospitable gentlewoman in (2 Kings 4:10) would have a chamber built for her welcome guest the prophet Elisha, indeed built upon the wall; for she might judge him to be a c…

The widow of Zarephath for entertaining the Prophet Elijah, was miraculously sustained in the dearth: the meal in her barrel did not waste, and the oil in her cruse did not diminish (1 Kings 17:16). And so the Shunammite for the like kindness showed to the Prophet Elisha, being…

If God plant, and fence, and water you by Providence, sure he looks you should bring forth fruit. Isaiah 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. O that in return for all the benefits of Providence, you would say to God, as grateful Elisha said to the Shunamite, behold you hast been careful for us with a…

1. How clear is it to every mans observation, that the kindnesses and benefits any have done to the Lords people, have been rewarded with full measure into their bosoms? The Egyptian Midwives ressed to obey Pharaoh's inhumane command, and saved the Male Children of Israel: for t…

God has a time for his purposes, God has his day: Man has a time for his purposes, and so has Satan: any day will not serve his turn, he picks and chooses. There was a day, it intimates a day extraordinary, and there is an express addition in the original, which puts an emphasis…

And upon this account likewise were Sabbath day's journeys permitted to the Jews, which though they were not actions of piety in themselves, yet were they actions tending towards piety, that those who were remote from the places of worship, might assemble themselves together to…

Let us examine our grace, whether it be of the right kind. One went into the field to gather herbs, and he gathered wild gourds, and then death was in the pot (2 Kings 4:40). So many think they have grace, the right herb; but it proves a wild gourd, and brings death and damnatio…

"And they bowed themselves to the ground before him." After this Elisha was their master or teacher; he had the care and instruction of them; as you may see, 2 Kings 4:38. "And Elisha came again to Gilgal, and there was a dearth in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sit…

5. By maintaining holy and religious exercises in the family. Though this duty especially appertains to the husband, yet the wife must put her husband in mind thereof, if he forget it; and stir him up, if he be backward: Thus did the good Shunammite (2 Kings 4:9-10). No man's pe…

The Scripture accounts a husband's silence, when he knows a thing and may, but does not forbid it, to be a consent: as in the case of a wife's vow (Numbers 30:8). For anything we read to the contrary, the Shunammite had no other consent to prepare a chamber for the Prophet, and…

4. To bring up children while they are young, with the like. These therefore ought he with a general consent to refer to her discretion: with limitation only of these two cautions (1 Timothy 5:14; Proverbs 31:21-22; verse 15; Genesis 16:6; 1 Timothy 5:10; Titus 2:4; 2 Kings 4:19…

That is, none to decide and arbitrate the difference; for the refuge to authority should be our last remedy. And it must be too when the party wronging is able to make satisfaction; otherwise it is rigor and inhumanity (2 Kings 4:1). As when the creditors came to take the sons o…

Those which in their natural state and condition were children of wrath, and slaves to sin and Satan; when they come, and are willing to welcome and receive Christ into their hearts; in a sense of their misery, are willing to make out after God and Christ; they have an allowance…

And [reconstructed: then] you shall [reconstructed: see] the work really done, and your heart bowed, and loosened from those base distempers — you never touch Jesus Christ until you find it so. Therefore as the widow, whose child was dead, when Elisha sent his servant, she was n…

The God of Preaching and Praying? It is not in the minister, or the means to do good to my soul, but Lord speak you the word, and it shall work upon my soul, as he said (2 Kings 4:29-30). As the Lord lives, [illegible] will not leave you till you go with me; do you so, when the…

You that show mercy shall find mercy; you that pour in the oil of compassion to others, God will pour in the golden oil of salvation to you (Matthew 7:2). The Shunammite woman showed mercy to the prophet, and she received kindness from him in return (2 Kings 4); she welcomed him…

He begets all the compassion in the world; in prayer we should look upon God under this notion, a Father of mercy, sitting upon a throne of grace; we should run to this heavenly Father in all conditions. 1. In our sins; as that sick child (2 Kings 4:19), he said to his father, m…

As bitter as any loss: for the most bitter and grievous loss that any man meets with in his family, is the loss of his only son, of his firstborn; this sets all the family a mourning; and that not only together, when they see one another, but it makes them go aside into corners,…