“Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bond-men. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors [even] empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought [the vessels] to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel, and he said unto her [There is] not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God, and he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest” (2 Kings 4:1-71Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. (2 Kings 4:1‑7)).
In striking contrast to the great public and national events of the preceding chapter, where the affairs of nations were decided, we have here the sorrows and difficulties of a bereaved family. The case is far more simple. There were no complications. The pride of man, or self-will, so often opposing the action of grace, are not seen here. There are no unbelieving questions or reflections upon God, such as, “Alas! that Jehovah hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.” With earnestness and truth the facts are made known to the prophet, who immediately interests himself in the circumstances of the poor widowed woman. He enters into her sorrows, and brings her into touch with the fullness of the grace of God. It was a pitiful tale, and it pointed, not so much to the sins of an individual as to the nation's failure, and moral bankruptcy before God. The responsible man, the head of the household –had he been living—might have hesitated to disclose the sorrowful facts; but he was dead and the woman's plain speaking simplified matters exceedingly. Things were all wrong in Israel, for God had been forsaken and His covenant broken, yet was He visiting His people in grace, and it was for faith to seize the opportunity to count upon Him in its confession of the whole sad truth without concealment (Psalm 32).
Now, wherever the distinctive testimony of the people of God is obscured, it is for faith to go back to the truth, as originally presented, of God's relationship with His people, and to look in faith to Him for blessing according to all that is implied in that relationship. Again and again, in Israel, then, was what bore witness no less to the faithfulness of God than to Israel's unfaithfulness, and whatever of individual faithfulness there might be at any time, so far from screening from suffering, it would rather expose the faithful to it. In a day of evil the righteous suffer, whilst of the wicked there may appear to be no bands in their death as “they cry not when He bindeth them.” In this case the coming of the creditor was the trouble, and God in His word had anticipated and provided for such a difficulty (Leviticus 25:39-4339And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee: 41And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. 43Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor; but shalt fear thy God. (Leviticus 25:39‑43)). Faith and obedience would have recognized in such a case the opportunity of showing grace, especially towards a poor widow. But the compassions of God are deeper and richer than even the most merciful of His people. Faith sets up its claim upon the heart of Him who has said, “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me” (Jeremiah 49:1111Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me. (Jeremiah 49:11)).
“Thou knowest thy servant did fear Jehovah” –that is just the character of faith which delights the heart of God. The Lord Jesus looked for it in the day of His presentation to Israel, but looked in vain as far as the nation was concerned. “Now when he had ended his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum, and a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this, for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof; wherefore, neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. When Jesus heard these things he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:1-91Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Luke 7:1‑9)).
It is the faith that will not be refused which honors God and gets the blessing. Nevertheless, God will prove it, that others may be strengthened, and the hearts of his servant cheered, by its manifestation. “That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:77That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)). Then, again, God will exercise our souls as to what He has already given. Has he taken it away? Have we lost it? If not, why not use it? After the same manner did the Lord Jesus test or prove the hearts of the twelve. “When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes, but what are they among so many?... When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered [them] together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten” (John 6:5-9, 12-135When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? (John 6:5‑9)
12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. (John 6:12‑13)).
The disciples failed to count upon the power and goodness of the Lord Jesus, with whom they were called to walk. Whenever we are made to feel the extent of our spiritual poverty, and the lamentable bondage— “the creditor is come” —which prevails amongst the people of God, it is well for us to remember that God has a house which “wisdom hath builded.” In patriarchal times we see isolated individuals and unconnected, who were called to walk with God, but they were not builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit, as believers now are said to be since redemption. If tempted at times to disown this truth and to walk alone, as easier and more agreeable to nature, though I may be forced or drawn into a very narrow path indeed, and my fellowship he very circumscribed, yet if I have learned the truth of the church, it must affect my walk and testimony in the most practical way. “Tell me, what hast thou in the house?” may well sound in our ears as a divine challenge to-day. The woman when she went to God about her poverty little thought that all the while she had in the house that which God would use for her deliverance. She was required in faith and obedience just to make use of that which she had already with her, just as was the case with Moses. “What hast thou in thy hand?”
Now it is quite true that the fullness of grace which came by Jesus Christ has been refused, as He also who brought it has been refused likewise. “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you.” Yet for all that “wisdom hath builded her house,” and furnished it sumptuously, providing abundantly for the need of all within it. “When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” The testimony of the Holy Ghost to a risen and glorified Christ at God's right hand in Acts 2; 3 was of such a character as made its way to the hearts of those who had before despised and refused it. “And the multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul. Neither said any of them, that aught of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands, or houses, sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:32-3532And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. (Acts 4:32‑35)).
The power and grace which produced these blessed results in the early days of the church's history still remain, though the same effect may not now be seen. The Holy Ghost is sovereign in His action, and according to the Lord's own word, abides with us forever since Pentecost; for so long as the assembly is here, where His power and grace are needed, so does He remain. Elisha's instructions to the distressed woman reveal the character of God's usual way of acting when Himself appealed to. He will have His own really exercised about the need, but we have to learn that our sufficiency is of God, who works according to His marvelous patience and infinite wisdom. He may revive long-forgotten truths in all their original power and freshness within our hearts, just at the moment they are really needed, or He may set us down to learn the value and application to ourselves of scriptures we had long professed to believe and know as expressive of the doctrines of Christianity. But the challenge, “What hast thou in thy house?” sets us thinking, and casts us upon that which God has already given. And is not this truth peculiarly applicable in the present-day, since God has given now in Christianity all that He ever will or can give for this poor ruined world? All is presented in the gospel, which if refused to-day will form the ground of judgment another day. Of course, in Old Testament days there was always a certain reserve, something to hope for, and a great and wonderful reserve indeed.
“And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged [a place] for the wine vat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season, he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And, again, he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again, he sent another, and him they killed: and many others, beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said amongst themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard” (Mark 12:1-81And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. (Mark 12:1‑8)). From the standpoint of the Lord's ministry upon earth love and patience could go no farther, and therefore judgment was the only thing. But now, from the standpoint of the Christian position, a completely new and unexpected development of grace is presented, in connection with Christ in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth. What is more needed, then, to make effectual for man's blessing that which God has already given us, and which we have in “the house” (the church), than in simple faith and obedience to bring empty vessels into the house, and shut the door? God will do the rest.
“And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full” (verse 4). It is the truth so blessedly brought out in Luke 15. The great thing was to recover the lost. The prodigal was an empty vessel, brought into the house and filled. The elder son was not an empty vessel. He was full of the pride and self-importance which refuses grace. He would not go in. But what became of the full vessels? They are set apart—consecrated. Righteousness is vindicated, the creditor is paid in full, the lawful captive is delivered, and there remains an infinite reserve of grace, which we can never exhaust. “Live thou and thy children of the rest.” A beautiful illustration surely of divine grace in the manner of its present working, and everyday application to the personal needs of God's people, and connecting itself most blessedly with the Lord's gracious consideration for us in this present scene of disorder and ruin. [G. S. B. ] (To be continued)