The Shunammite

From: Elijah and Elisha By: William Woldridge Fereday

• 6 min. read • grade level: 8

The adjective “great,” as applied to the woman of Shunem, doubtless refers in its first significance to her position in the world as a person of substance, but she was also “great” in that which alone counts for greatness with God—in faith (2 Ki. 4:8⁸And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. (2 Kings 4:8)). In this she was conspicuous in her generation. We find a number of God’s “great” ones in Hebrews 11—men and women “of whom the world was not worthy.”

The Shunammite was spiritually superior to the widow of Zarephath, in that she was persuaded that Elisha was a holy man of God before the miracle was wrought; the widow got the same assurance concerning Elijah after the miracle (1 Ki. 17:24²⁴And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth. (1 Kings 17:24)). “I perceive—,” said the woman of 2 Kings 4:9⁹And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. (2 Kings 4:9). Oh, that we were all more keen in our spiritual perception!

As a lover of hospitality, the Shunammite frequently lodged Elisha. Those who are unable to bestow loving attentions upon the Son of God Himself, as Martha and Mary did, may always lavish care upon those who represent Him, if they have the heart for it, and this is good and acceptable with God (1 Tim. 3:3; 5:10³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (1 Timothy 3:3)
¹⁰Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. (1 Timothy 5:10)). It was her reading of Elisha’s life which constrained the Shunammite to say to her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.” It is well when a man’s ways are this eloquent for God. The apostle could remind the Thessalonians of what manner of men he and his fellow laborers were among them for their sakes. Indeed, he could say, “Ye are witnesses and God also” (1 Th. 1:5; 2:10⁵For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
¹⁰Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: (1 Thessalonians 2:10)). With Timothy he could appeal not only to his doctrine, which was sound, but also to his, “manner of life, purpose, faith,” etc. (2 Tim. 3:10¹⁰But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10)). In his last conversation with his Ephesian friends he was able to review his whole course amongst them as in every way an example for them to follow (Acts 20:18-35¹⁸And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, ¹⁹Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: ²⁰And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, ²¹Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. ²²And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: ²³Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. ²⁴But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. ²⁵And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. ²⁶Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. ²⁷For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. ²⁸Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. ²⁹For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. ³¹Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. ³²And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. ³³I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. ³⁴Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. ³⁵I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:18‑35)). Faithful servant! True ambassador for the absent Christ!

One day, when Elisha was in the Shunammite’s house he bade Gehazi, his servant, call her to him. He expressed the desire to do something for her in recognition of her many kindnesses to himself. “Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the host?” (Possibly Elisha’s services at the time of the expedition to Moab had given him some influence at court.) The woman’s reply was excellent: “I dwell among mine own people.” Worldly honors had no attraction for her; she loved the simplicity of her own proper surroundings. How would we have replied to a similar inquiry? What is the world to us—anything or nothing? Would we be spoken for to the king? For the Christian, “mine own people,” means the Assembly. Is it really there that we find our truest joys, albeit the Assembly is composed of “the poor of the flock,” the weak, the base, the despised, etc. (1 Cor. 1:26-29²⁶For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: ²⁷But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; ²⁸And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: ²⁹That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:26‑29))? Sometimes the blunder is made of regarding the saints as they are naturally instead of regarding them in the light of the infinite grace of God. What they are to Christ, and the fact that His presence is known in their midst should endear the saints to our hearts beyond everything else. Happy are we if our souls are so fully satisfied with the communion of saints that each one of us is able to reply to every overture, “I dwell among mine own people.” In the shade with God, apart from the world, is the safest place for us all, and the only proper place.

If worldly honors were nothing to the Shunammite, her family joys should be increased. Accordingly, Elisha promised her a son, and in due time the son was born. A few short years of domestic bliss followed, and then the dark shadow of death entered the home. But the death of the lad brought out all that was spiritually noble in the mother. Her reticence to her husband concerning the great sorrow is suggestive that he was either not born of God at all, or that his faith was not up to the level of her own. Behold her hastening across the plain of Jezreel (perhaps thirty miles) in order to spread out her grief at the feet of the man of God at Mount Carmel. Such was her confidence in God that in reply to the inquiry: “Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well with the child?” she could reply, “It is well.” Brethren, it is always “well.” “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to purpose” (Rom. 8:28²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)).

Contrary to the principle laid down in Amos 3:7⁷Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7), Jehovah had not seen fit to acquaint Elisha beforehand with the object of the woman’s errand. As soon as he understood it, he bade Gehazi take his staff, and lay it upon the face of the child. This, however well meant, did not satisfy the Shunammite. She said to the prophet, “As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” She preferred the living person to the lifeless staff, symbol of power though the latter might be. Perhaps Elisha was testing her, as Elijah tested him on the day of his translation. If so, her faith responded nobly. Alas, how many in our time cling to lifeless forms (sacraments, etc.) to the neglect of the living Christ! On their way to Shunem the prophet and the mother met the returning Gehazi with his report: “The child is not awaked.” Entering into the house, Elisha “went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon the child, and the flesh of the child waxed warm.” Even so, it is only contact with the living Christ that can give life, and also sustain the life when it has been received.

“Call this Shunammite,” said Elisha to Gehazi. “Take up thy son,” said he to the mother. “Then she went in and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.” The scene is full of moral grandeur. No expression of rapture and surprise at what had happened; nay, she expected it. Her faith had gripped the God of resurrection. “Through faith . . . women received their dead raised to life again” (Heb. 11:35³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (Hebrews 11:35)). The Shunammite could but fall at the feet of the one who had brought life to her. In like manner we prostrate ourselves before Him who has shattered the power of death on our behalf, and secured for us life for evermore.

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