Sermon Bible Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Kings 7:9 I. Where shall we work? In this aspect the will, acting often under the spur of vanity, plays strange tricks, encouraging persons to seek showy work, such as will bring them before the world's eyes, rather than keeping on the path that Scripture and natural duty mark out. In these days of committees, meetings, and platform addresses, when earnest people are distracted by appeals to them to take part in all manner of well-meant movements, we need to be reminded that our first duty as workers for God is towards those with whom we live in a family or in daily business relations. Looking first at home, a man will have family worship; he will see that his children are taught to pray and instructed in the Bible. II. In our work we must beware lest energy become self-importance and fussiness, lest hope become over-confidence. Above all, we must not forget that we at present are of the earth, earthy, and that we are all learners. It is "God that giveth the increase." III. But we pass from humility to hope, for in this work, as St. Paul says, "we are labourers together with God." It is God that worketh with us. Consider the dignity of such a partnership of toil. It makes success certain and failure impossible, even where appearances are disappointing. IV. Let the worker be cheerful and not easily cast down Noble is our call to work; gracious is our service. To serve our Master is freedom; to obey Him is to round our being and complete ourselves. Let the world take knowledge of us that "we have been with Jesus." F. Case, Short Practical Sermons, p. 21. References: 2 Kings 7:9.—F. Tucker, Christian World Pulpit, vol. i., p. 508; S. Baring-Gould, Village Preaching for a Year, 2nd series, vol. i., p. 34. 2 Kings 7:10-20.—A. Edersheim, Elisha the Prophet, p. 253. 2 Kings 7:19.—Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. i., No. 3. 2Ki 7.—T. Guthrie, Sunday Magazine, 1873, p. 577. 2 Kings 8:1-5.—Parker; vol. viii., p. 186. 2 Kings 8:1-6.—A. Edersheim, Elisha the Prophet, p. 264. 2 Kings 8:5.—Homiletic Magazine, vol. x., p. 14. Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.
Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.
Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.
So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.
And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.
And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.
They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.
And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.
And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.
And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.
And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:
And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died. William Robertson Nicoll's Sermon Bible Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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