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; 7:25).
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 If not, don’t delay: eternity approaches; the mercy now extended to this poor world is to be withdrawn, for the Word of God promises it.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 17:30,31; John 5:25-29; 1 Thess. 5:2,3; 2 Thess. 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 55:1-3; John 7:37,38; Revelation 22:17; John 6:47-58); “silver” (redemption), and “gold” (divine righteousness), and “raiment” (a standing fitness for God’s presence Luke 15:22; 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,
“The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:5-11.
Nothing to do; only believe what He says! NOW!
ML 11/13/1927