The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 53

Vf'n<. 88-41.-The deadly pottage. Two other remarkable, though more briefly related, works of Elisha are narrated in the closiog vel'l!es of this chapter. Both have to do with "the sons of the prophets" at Gilgal; both relate to a time of famine; and ooe is Rn Old Testament anticipation of a signal miracle of Christ. The first is the healing of the deadly pottage. I. THE PROPHKTIC CJOLLEGE. We are transporood to Gilgal, and gain a glimpse into the ioterior of the prophetic sch00I. 1. Religio1ts instruction. Elisha is there, and "the sons of the prophets'' are" sitting before him," receiving his instructions. There is dearth of temporal proYision, but none of spiritual. The usual exercises of instruction and devotion go on, as if plenty reigned. 2. Religious fellowship. The famine has not sufliced to break up the little community, but has drawn the members of it-es trial should always do-closer together. They have a common table. They" dwell together in unity" (Ps. cxxxiii. 1). Elisha, like a good captain, shares the hardships of his army. God's people arc sometimes brought into difficulty enough, but the effect should only be to strengthen the bonds of brotherly love. 3. Religious order. There are orderly arrangements. Elisha is not only preceptor, but director of the temporal affairs of the community. All obey him, as all appeal to him when trouble arises. The invisible Head of the community is Jehovah. On him they rely with confidence, when every other source of help fails. II. DEA TH IN THE POT. The great pot is set on to seethe pottage in, and one goes out to j1:ather herbs to eke out the sc11.nty snpply. 1. The poisonous gourd. .Attracted by some wild creepers, the messenger gathers therefrom a lapful of gourds, which he mistakes for gourds of a similar appearance that are edible. The plants be harl gathered were in reality poisonous. He brought them home, and they were shred into the pottage. We may learn two lessons. (1) The danger of being deceived by appearances. Things often are not what they seem. The most plausible errors are those which bear a superficial resem- blance to great truths. We need to have our "senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heh. v. 14). To the true vine there correspond many wild vines; to the gourds that nourish and satisfy, many fair but poisonous imitations. (2) 'fhe best intentions may lead to sad mistakes. The important point to be noticed here is that our inten- tions, however good, cannot prevent things from acting according to their real nature. 'l'he person who gathered the gourds thought them innocuous, but they produced their poisonous effects all the same. " Sincerity " does not exonerate us from the con- sequences of our actions; at least it cannot prevent these consequences following. Poisonous principles nre as harmful in their influence when promulgated in ignorance, a~ when diffused with the fullest knowledge of their deadly character. "They knew it not" does not suffice to alter the nature of facts. 2. The timely discovery. The pottage was no sooner tasted than the peculiar flavour and felt effects discovered to those eatiog it that there was something amiss. The cry was raised, "0 thou man of God, there is death in the potl" (1) One poisonous ingredient had destroyed the value of much wholesome food. It did not require that all the elements in the pottage should be unwholesome; it was enough that this one was. Through it the whole mixture was rendered deadly. It is not uncommon to defend a system by pointing to the numerous truths which it contains. But one vital error blended with these truths may give the whole a fatal quality. The gospel itself may be adulterated with specious lies which destroy its power for good. (2) It is well when there is timely discovery of evil. It is better when, as here, those who have made the. discovery resolve to partake no more of the poisoned dish. "They could not eat thereof." But. many, in moral things, who know, who at least have been warned, that there is "death in the pot," go on eating of it. There is death in the int<X£icating pot, yet many will not refrain. III. THE PO'M"AGE HEALED. Elisha bad within himself a monition what to do. He said, " Briner 0 meal." The meal was brought, and cast into the pottage, and the evil was at once cored. There seems no reason for using the meal except that it was cW1tomary to accompany these prophetic miracles with an outward symbolical act; and the meal, as a symbol of what was wholesome and nutritious in food, was as appropriate a medium as any to be used. We get this idea-that the unwholesome is to be displaced by the wholesome. If the bane is to be destroyed, we must use as antidote that which i.£ c,f opposite character. .As a work of God's power, the miracle was a pledge to the Oil, V, 1-27.] THE SECOND BOOR OF 'l'HE KINGS. 91