One day Elisha came to visit and went to his upper room to lie down. One dayThis phrase sets the stage for a specific event in the life of Elisha, emphasizing the divine orchestration of seemingly ordinary days. In Hebrew, the word for "day" is "yom," which can signify a literal day or a period of time. This highlights the importance of divine timing in God's plans, reminding us that any day can be a day of divine encounter or miracle. Elisha
Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation," was a prophet and successor to Elijah. His ministry was marked by numerous miracles, reflecting God's power and presence among His people. Elisha's life is a testament to the faithfulness of God in raising leaders who continue His work, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenant with Israel. came to visit
The act of visiting in the ancient Near Eastern context was significant, often involving hospitality and the sharing of life and faith. Elisha's visit to the Shunammite woman and her family was not just a social call but a divine appointment. This phrase underscores the importance of community and fellowship in the life of faith, where God often works through relationships. and he went to his upper room
The "upper room" was a place of privacy and retreat, often used for prayer and rest. In Hebrew, the term "aliyah" refers to an upper chamber, symbolizing a place set apart for divine encounters. This setting foreshadows the miraculous events that often occur in such spaces, reminding us of the importance of having a dedicated place for communion with God. to lie down
This simple act of lying down signifies rest and trust in God's provision. In the biblical narrative, rest is often associated with peace and divine presence. Elisha's ability to rest in the upper room reflects his confidence in God's care and the hospitality of the Shunammite woman, illustrating the peace that comes from living in alignment with God's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for performing miracles and being a spiritual leader in Israel. 2. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where a notable woman provided hospitality to Elisha. 3. Upper RoomA special room prepared by the Shunammite woman and her husband for Elisha to use whenever he visited. Teaching Points Hospitality as a MinistryThe Shunammite woman's provision of an upper room for Elisha demonstrates the importance of hospitality in serving God's purposes. We are called to open our homes and hearts to those who serve the Lord. Sacred SpacesThe upper room symbolizes a place set apart for God. We should create spaces in our lives dedicated to prayer, reflection, and communion with God. Divine Rest and RenewalElisha's use of the upper room for rest underscores the need for spiritual leaders and believers to find time for rest and renewal in God's presence. Preparation for God's WorkJust as the Shunammite woman prepared a place for Elisha, we should prepare our hearts and lives for God's work, making room for His presence and guidance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Shunammite woman's hospitality reflect the biblical call to serve others, and how can we apply this in our own lives? 2. What significance do upper rooms hold in biblical accounts, and how can we create "upper rooms" in our spiritual practices today? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our homes and lives are welcoming to those who serve God, similar to the Shunammite woman's example? 4. How does the concept of rest in 2 Kings 4:11 relate to Jesus' teachings on rest and renewal in the Gospels? 5. Reflect on a time when you prepared a space or time for God in your life. How did it impact your spiritual journey, and what can you learn from that experience? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Kings 17:19Elijah, Elisha's predecessor, also used an upper room to perform a miracle, highlighting the significance of such spaces for divine encounters. Acts 9:37-40Peter raises Tabitha in an upper room, showing continuity in the use of upper rooms for significant spiritual events. Luke 22:12The Last Supper takes place in an upper room, emphasizing its role as a place of divine revelation and fellowship. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Aside, Chamber, Fell, Lay, Lieth, Pass, Rest, Rested, Room, Thither, Turneth, UpperDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:11-17 5733 pregnancy Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. 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: 26. 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. 27. 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, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:11 NIV2 Kings 4:11 NLT2 Kings 4:11 ESV2 Kings 4:11 NASB2 Kings 4:11 KJV
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