CONTENTS
The ministry of Elisha is continued through this chapter. The prophet,
in the midst of dearth, foretelleth an immediate, and incredible
plenty. An unbelieving lord treating the prophet's prediction with
contempt, Elisha foretells his death, which accordingly takes place.
2 Kings 7:1
I th... [ Continue Reading ]
What a solemn lesson is read to us in the short, but awful history of
the unbelieving lord! Reader! depend upon it, that the grossest of all
sins is this want of faith in God's Christ. And John tells us the
reason of it; he maketh God (says the apostle) a liar, because he
believeth not the record th... [ Continue Reading ]
Passing by the particulars of this event as an history, I pray the
Reader to look beyond the mere letter of the subject, to discover the
very sweet, spiritual instruction it contains. In this light perhaps,
the Reader will perceive in these men, the state of poor leprous
sinners strikingly pointed o... [ Continue Reading ]
How unexpected sometimes is the deliverance of the sinner! How
surprised is the soul in the discovery of Jesus and his fulness! And
do observe, Reader! how the Lord was pleased to act for the delivery
of his people. What terrors and alarms did the Syrians feel, so as to
be afraid where no fear was.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the sinner is brought by the Holy Ghost, into the knowledge and
enjoyment of the Lord Jesus, his mind is so engaged, that the
treasures he finds he hides from all men's view. But when he calls to
mind the perishing state of other sinners, he can no longer eat his
morsel alone. His language is t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe how closely allied to one another are guilt and unbelief. The
king of Israel knew how little he merited mercy from the Lord, and
therefore he could not be led to hope, notwithstanding his servant the
prophet had taught Israel to expect some great deliverance, that it
would be bestowed. Reade... [ Continue Reading ]
With what caution and fear did the king of Israel and his poor
besieged army proceed in this business! With what doubts and
misgivings, do sinners, when first coming to the Lord Jesus, seek his
face! Oh! for faith in full confidence, to come to the Lord Jesus, and
cast the whole soul Upon him! the s... [ Continue Reading ]
The sad event in the death of this unbelieving lord, is very
particularly related by the sacred historian, to show that no word of
the Lord can fall to the ground. And it is a point of the most solemn
consideration, that the very name Jehovah hath taken in the scriptures
to show, that he is God in a... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS
READER! let us in the view of this siege of Samaria behold a lively
emblem of the soul's distressed state by reason of sin. Alas! what a
famine, not of bread and of water, but of all spiritual comfort, ease,
or satisfaction. In the contemplation of the unexpected deliverance is
not Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]