The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 44

V9111. 1-7.-~ prop'he,t's widow and a, prop'he,es kindness. "Now there cried a oartaiD. woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha," etc. There nre two subjects of thought in these vers~s. L A PBOPHET's wroow m DISTRESS. "Now there cried a certain wom11,n 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." 'l'his poor woman bad not only lost her husband, and was left with a bleeiling heart-left lonely and desolate in a cold world, but wa.s left in great poverty. Her husband was not only a good man, one "who dfd fear the Lord," but a "prophet," a religious teacher, one engaged in disseminating Divine ideas amongst men. It seems that he not only died poor, but died in debt. Even now a large number of ministers are unable to make provision for their wives nnd children in case of their death. Some of the most enlightened, thoughtful, and really useful ministers are amongst the poorest. Observe : 1. That poverty is not necessarily a disgrace. It is sometimes the result of inflexible honesty and moral nobility. 2. That the best livf!!; here are subjut to trials. It is reasonable to infer that this widow was a. good woman--one who, like her departed husband, "did fear the Lord;" a.nd yet see her distress! The afflictions of the good a.re not penal, but disciplinary. 3. That avarice foods cruelty. "The creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondsmen." The debt she owed, which, we ma.y imagine, could not have been very large, her heartless creditor insisted on being discharged a.t once, and demanded her two sons to become slaves to him in order to work out the debt. 'l'he avaricious world is heartless; even in London hundreds a.re dying on every side of starvation. 4. That provision shmdd be ma.de for the widows of ministers. The incomes of very many ministers in England to-da.y are not sufficient t.o enable them to make provision for their wives and children in case of their death. Churches which have committees for sending out missionaries, for distributing Bibles (which a.re cheap enough now), and for distributing tracts, which are often calumnies on 'Christianity, ought certainly to see that provision is made for the future of their ministers' families. 1L A PROPHET AT WOBK TO BELIEVE A BBOTHEBB' WIDOW. In her distress instinct tells her where t.o go, and she goes to Elisha, not only a man who knew her husband, but one of kindred experiences and sympathies. To him she " cried." Her appeal was really an unintentional compliment to Elisha. The greatest compliment a man can offer is an opportunity for contributing to a truly deserving object. When a man's compeers rank him amongst those whose meanness bas become patent, Charity ignores him. In her benign mission she marches by him in stately silence, a.s one whom society bas placed in the branded category of sordid souls. See how Elisha helps this widow. L Prumtplly. "And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?" He did not want arguments or testimonials, etc., but with a. beammg generosity be virtually said, " Tell me your condition, and I will do my utmost to serve you." He set to work at once. Having told him she had nothing in her house but one "pot of oil," he says to her, " Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few." She obeys hie behest, goes amongst her neighbours, a.nd borrows all the vessels, and then, ac~ording to bis di_rec- tions, she closes the door _upon herself, a.nd upon her sons, ancl hegms to pour out mto esoh vessel a. part of the little pot of oil which she ha.d, and a.a she poured every vessel she ha.d collected became full to the brim. The wore she poured the more came, until she la.eked vessels to hold it. A symbol this of all benevolent virtues-the more they are used the more they grow. 80, indeed, with a.11 the faculties of the soul under the influence of true generosity ; right giving is the way to the most precious getting. All this of course indicates on Elisha's part supernatural assistance. 2. Effectively. "Then ~he ea.me a.~d told the ma.n of God [Elisha.]. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of tfie rest." Oil wu one of the corn- OH. IV. 1-11.] THE SECOND TIOOK OF THE KINGS. 81