lisha prophesies plenty. (1,2) The flight of the Syrian army.
(3-11) Samaria plentifully supplied. (12-20)
Verse 1,2: Man's extremity is God's opportunity of making his own
power to be glorious: his time to appear for his people is when
their strength is gone. Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly
dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the
favours he designed for them. Such will be the portion of those
that believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it
at a distance, but shall never taste of it. But no temporal
deliverances and mercies will in the end profit sinners, unless
they are led to repentance by the goodness of God.
Verses 3-11: God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to
tremble; and as for those who will not fear God, he can make
them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that
the lepers came as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their
consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if they
took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of
punishment, are powerful checks on the selfishness of the
ungodly. These feelings tend to preserve order and kindness in
the world; but they who have found the unsearchable riches of
Christ, will not long delay to report the good tidings to
others. From love to him, not from selfish feelings, they will
gladly share their earthly good things with their brethren.
Verses 12-20: Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they
little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the
power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise
may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the
ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth of Elisha's word,
saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein
saw his own folly; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw.
Justly do those find the world's promises fail them, who think
that the promises of God will disappoint them. Learn how deeply
God resents distrust of his power, providence, and promise: how
uncertain life is, and the enjoyments of it: how certain God's
threatenings are, and how sure to come on the guilty. May God
help us to inquire whether we are exposed to his threatenings,
or interested in his promises.
lisha prophesies plenty. (1,2) The flight of the Syrian army.
(3-11) Samaria plentifully supplied. (12-20)