"But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow" (Luke 4:25-2625But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. (Luke 4:25‑26)).
The above statement introduces blessing for the Gentiles, while Israel rejects their Messiah with the words, "Is not this Joseph's son?" Jesus must go to another country to be accepted.
This narrative from 1 Kings 17, introduced by the Lord Jesus after He was rejected, shows that the prophet Elijah found a companion who sustained him in his isolation while Israel lay in famine. The Lord Jesus implies that His own case and feelings were much the same.
When the Lord Jesus came to earth, He emptied Himself of His glory. The expression "widow" suggests that she had been emptied. Living in a house with an upper room would indicate that she had had balmier days, as only the more prosperous could afford this. She had lost her husband, and, being reduced to a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse, with two sticks to make a fire, she goes about to make one more cake for herself and her son, and then die.
Elijah was sent to be sustained by this widow, and by obeying his instructions, "she, and he, and her house-did eat many days."
The Lord Jesus voluntarily placed Himself in a position of necessity to come down to the very place of His creature, as typified by Elijah's history. It was in His purpose to have His heart gratified by a response from the one whom He had come to take up as a companion to share with Him the vast blessing that He as Man was about to head up-the kingdom of God.
"A widow of Sidon" suggests the calling out of the Gentiles, a people for the name of the Lord Jesus. She typifies the one who is to be His eternal companion or helpmeet. Because Jesus has become "Man", the reference to Gen. 2:1818And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:18) applies. "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him, or "woman".
The Lord Jesus, during His rejection in the world, not only finds a pearl of great price, but offers Himself up to God as a sacrifice in order to meet all of God's claims against the one whom He regards as His treasure. In Matt. 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44) we read, "And for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
He buys the field for the treasure that He finds in it.
In this, the day of blessing for the Gentiles, what response has there been from my heart to the heavenly Man who desires my company?
To those who do not know the Savior, He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)).
Having gone on high, the Lord Jesus finds His delight and has His heart gratified in the midst of those who are truly gathered to His Name, and who value His Word. It pleases Him to have us giving our full attention to Him, separated from this evil world and with garments unspotted. Our answer to that love so deeply shown at the cross should be to seek His companionship while He awaits the Father's time for Him to take His rightful place as "head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22,2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)).
Having undertaken to prepare a place for us, the Lord Jesus is now preparing our hearts for that place by occupying us with a pure Object, Himself, in order that we may be holy in our walk. Soon He will come and take us to that place which He has prepared, where we shall forever "live together with him" (1 Thess. 5:1010Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:10)).
May we, like the "woman that was a widow", find our companionship, joys, and resources with the "Man of God", Jesus, while we pass through this world that is so foreign to a heavenly people.
This meditation takes us a little farther than our thoughts about Anna. Anna departed not from the appointed place..until the Lord came, she was happy as her hope was realized, she served God night and day with fastings and prayers, and she spake of Him to the remnant of faith with a positive testimony. This second widow became a companion to the man of God in the day of His rejection and isolation.
"Meet companion then for Jesus,
From Him, for Him made;
Glory of God's grace forever
There in me displayed.
He and I in that bright glory
One deep joy shall share;
Mine, to be forever with Him;
His, that I am there."
(Echoes of Grace Hymn Book, #239)