GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
172 Sam Solomon Rd., Locust Grove, Ga. 30248
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SHE HATH NO CHILD
2 Kings 4:8 ¶ And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great 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. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 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: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, 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? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
Our Lord informed us that everything in the scriptures spoke of him. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. But it takes a work of the Holy Spirit to “open” the scriptures unto us. Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Therefore we must not look at such an Old Testament account as is in our text and just consider it as just an ancient story. For we seek not an accumulation of religious facts, but for the edifying of our souls. Jude 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Let us therefore see what we may have revealed to us by the Holy Spirit concerning our Lord Jesus Christ and His kingdom.
First we see that this was “a great woman.” And in the old economy that signified she was a woman of wealth. For Job was considered to be “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3), because of his possessions. But in the new covenant it is quite the opposite. For in Christ’s kingdom the first shall be last, and the last first. Mark 10:31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. 10:43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Let us also take notice of the fact that it was by her hospitality she came to know that this man was a prophet of God. For in verse eight we read that she was feeding him, before we read in verse nine that she “perceived that this is an holy man.” Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels (same word “messengers), unawares. Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
And we see that the women in the Old Testament can picture the church, the Bride of Christ. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. Here we see the church as “a great wonder.” For it was still a strange matter, (and so it seems to be among many religionists today), for “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) to be seen as the spiritual church, rather than a physical nation!
But here in Revelation twelve she goes “into her place” provided by the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. For He went to the cross to prepare her a redemptive place, that she might dwell with the Father! John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And she is given the Holy Spirt, signified by the “wings of a great eagle,” in order that she might find her protected place in the world, outside of national Israel. For this is her appointed time, wherein she is led into the bounds of her habitation. Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Matthew 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
Then we notice that she was not just given a child, but she was promised to “embrace a son.” Which clearly pre-figures the Incarnation! Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
And in verses eighteen through twenty of this chapter we read that this miracle son died in the work with his father. Christ was given by the Father to die on the cross. John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
But the actual death came in the lap of his mother. And our Lord came among men in order to die for His people. John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And in verses twenty-nine through thirty-one of our Second Kings chapter, we read the mother would not leave the one who was used to grant her the child in the first place. For as by one man (Adam) death came upon us, so by one man (Christ Jesus) we have spiritual life recovered. Romans 5:17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Therefore the sending of the servant with the staff did not work. And we see that the former religious paraphernalia of the Old Economy would have no spiritual affect in the bringing of life for the New! Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
This is so much true that God has taken away the old and forever established the working of the Holy Spirit for the bringing in of the new, spiritual life in Christ! Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And regarding that phrase, “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all,” we read that this was pictured by both Elijah (1 Kings 17:21), and Elisha, here in verse thirty-four of our 2 Kings four chapter. For both prophets had to stretch their entire bodies upon the dead sons, in order for life to be returned. {This was probably revealed to them by the Holy Spirit as how the Lord God breathed life into the “nostrils” of Adam as recorded in Genesis 2:7.} In this we see the importance of that above listed phrase, “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.”
Consider the very words of the Incarnate Christ as he stepped into His humanity. Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Let us ever be thankful to our Lord for the Holy Spirit opening the scriptures unto us.
Brother Gene.