Bible Lessons

 
2 Kings 7.
MAN’S extremity, as someone has said, is God’s opportunity, and Elisha, who partook of the circumstances of the people he loved, and among whom he was set as preeminently the man of God of his day, was now made the unconditional promiser of good. There was a “Tomorrow” (but not for unbelief) that presented in the Word of God an immense contrast with the distressing and grievous “Today.”
What suggestions of the gospel are seen in this wonderful chapter! Here is the man, high in this world, who despises the word presented by God’s servant; here too are those lepers, small in their own eyes and wretched, despairing of help within, but determined to seek relief where alone it might be found, who are first satisfied, and then made the bearers of the glad tidings of the mercy and blessing of God. And think of the mighty deliverance He alone had wrought, when those within the city were without strength, and all their resources gone, shut up to die! It was done without them; they even knew nothing about it until the news was brought to them, in the night.
Scripture speaks again and again of the present period, the rapidly closing time of God’s grace as the night; the good news is now going out of the victory He has won through His Son’s becoming. on the cross of Calvary, the one sacrifice for sins, Who is thus able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him (Hebrews 10:12; 7:2512But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)
25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).
Millions have received this sacrifice. And have you, accepted Him, reader? If not, don’t delay: eternity approaches; the mercy now extended to this poor world is to be withdrawn, for the Word of God promises it. See among many passages which show this (Acts 17:30,3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31); John 5:25-2925Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:25‑29); 1 Thess. 5:2,32For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑3); 2 Thess. 2:7-127For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:7‑12)).
It was at the dusk of evening that the Syrians had fled, and through the night the people (not at the word of the king, but in spite of his word), were having their deep need supplied. It was to them no time to be sleeping; they had heard the message of deliverance, and they went out from the emptiness, the captivity their sins had brought upon them, to a full, a bountiful provision made theirs for the taking, by the power of God. “There was no man there” (verse 5), all was of God.
So with the gospel, precious word of His grace! Free pardon for the sinner who confesses to Jesus; a full Christ for empty sinners. Hunger and thirst satisfied (Isaiah 55:1-31Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. (Isaiah 55:1‑3); John 7:37,3837In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37‑38); Revelation 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17); John 6:47-5847Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:47‑58)); “silver” (redemption), and “gold” (divine righteousness), and “raiment” (a standing fitness for God’s presence Luke 15:2222But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (Luke 15:22); Matthew 22:11-1311And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11‑13)), are all bountifully provided, as verse 8 typically presents.
Yes, the devil is routed; the Victor is the Crucified One, but Satan still has many followers; many poor dupes. Blinded to their own eternal welfare, they wait in vain for God to make windows in heaven for them, when,
Nothing to do; only believe what He says! NOW!
ML 11/13/1927