.

What Shall I Do For Thee

.

Sabbath School Lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay

.

February 1, 2009

Lesson: 2 Kings 4:1-17

Key Verse: 2 Kings 4:2, 9

.

Introduction

They key for a healthy and strong family, church, and nation, is leadership. In the home it is the head of the household. In the church it is the chosen under-shepherd. In the nation it is the elected magistrate. The Lord is above all these positions of authority, having established all authority in heaven and on earth. The Lord reveals himself in his providential care of his creation in and of his people. He encourages the children in the home to obey, to honor their father and mother who are to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:1-4), as the father looks in obedience to the Lord and his Word: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (5:25). In the Church the under-shepherds care for the sheep of the Great Shepherd the King and Head of the Church who said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15); of whom it was spoken of by the Prophet, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isa. 40:11). As for the magistrates of communities and nations, they must serve and obey the “Prince of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5), “who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:16).

The Lord has his leaders, his faithful servants who bring victory and benefits to those whom the Lord chooses to bless. One of the prophets of the Lord, who are recorded in his written Word, is Elisha. In chapter three of the book of 2 Kings it is recorded that the king of Moab rebelled against Jehoram, the king of Israel. Jehoram went to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle?” They and their army traveled through Edom where the king of Edom joined them. Their journey brought them to a place where there was no water for man or cattle. The king of Israel proved his lack of faith, saying, “Alas! That the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!” However, one Israel’s servants spoke of Elisha who “poured water on the hands of Elijah.” Thus the three kings went to Elisha who asked them, “What have I to do with thee?” Elisha’s word from the Lord was more encouraging. For water came to the country, and as the Moabites came upon the kings and their armies, thinking they were killing each other, “the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites.” From this victory Elisha moved on, not to be honored but to honor his Lord in the work of helping others. Elisha was a true prophet in that he was under the service of the King of kings and Lord of lords. We note our lesson today how Elisha was used in the life a prophet’s widow and a Shunem woman. Disciples and leaders in the service of the King look not to what they are able to do, but look to the Lord who will enable them to serve to the benefit of others to the glory of God.

What Shall I Do? –2 Kings 4:1-7

Matthew Henry introduces this section of Elisha’s work as a prophet as an encouragement to us as servants of Christ: “Elisha’s miracles were for use, not for show; this recorded here was an act of real charity. Such also were the miracles of Christ, not only great wonders, but great favours to those for whom they were wrought. God magnifies his goodness with his power.”

A certain woman who was one of the “wives of the sons of the prophets,” called upon Elisha, saying, “Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that the servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.” The widow ought not to be ashamed to go to the elders or deacons of the Church of our Savior to express their needs in times of trouble. This means that the elders and deacons of the Church must manifest Christ-like character and compassion that others may desire to come to them. Better still, elders and deacons ought to be so discipled in God’s Word that they may be able to discern the needs of others. The deacons especially are to take special care of those in need, of the widow or of the poor; witnessed in the early Church: “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 3:33-35).

Elisha responds to the widow’s plea: “What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” Though the prophet or minister of the Lord may have been foolish in getting into debt, and leaving this debt to his family, Elisha seeks to help the widow in her need.  The widow answers, “Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.” Elisha’s command answers her need: “borrow thee vessels abroad of thy neibours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shall pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.” She did what Elisha told her and the vessels were filled with oil. Then Elisha said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay the debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” Though this was a miracle, it shows that, by the grace of God, we can be enabled to be a blessing to those in need. Matthew Henry comments are appropriate to our service: “He did not say, Be warmed, be filled, but gave her real help. He did not give her some small matter for her present provision, but set her up in the world to sell oil, and put a stock into her hand to begin with. This was done by miracle, but it is an indication to us what is the best method of charity, and the greatest kindness one can do to poor people, which is, if possible, to help them into a way of improving what little they have by their own industry and ingenuity.”

Discussion: What should our attitude and purpose be in helping those in need?

This is an Holy Man –2 Kings 4:8-17

Elisha traveled the road between Carmel and Samaria (2:25). Along that road Elisha would pass through the city of Shunem of the tribe of Issachar, who was the ninth son of Jacob. The territory of Issachar is one of the richest of Palestine. Elisha, as he traveled, would find hospitality along the way. His calm and humble spirit gave him a welcome into the homes he passed. History tells us that on a certain day, “Elisha passed to Shunem, where there was a great (an older, noble) 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.”

The woman said to her husband, “behold now, I perceive that his 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  (oil lamp): and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.” The woman saw in Elisha a saint, a holy one, a mighty one of God. There are at least two reasons why we should honor such a servant of the Lord. One is that he is ordained of God into a special service, i.e. under-shepherds of the Great Shepherd, King and Head of the Church. The other may be the expectation of a blessing, i.e. for Christ himself came to “save his people from their sins;” and in his words, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18). Is not our message and actions to be any less than that of our Master, who works in and through us to his glory?

One day, as Elisha rested in that special room, he told his servant, Gehazi, to say to the Shunamite woman, “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?” She answered, “I dwell among mine own people.” Elisha spoke, “What then is to be done for her?” The servant answered, “Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.” Elisha spoke, “Call her.” When the woman stood in the doorway, Elisha said, “About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son.” The woman responded, “Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.” History then records this marvelous blessing: “And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.” Thus “God built up her house, in reward to her kindness in building the prophet a chamber” (Henry).

Discussion: What should we look for in a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?