III. (Continued from page 64.)
(2 Kings 4.)
In our first paper on this subject we have touched on the root of what is now before us the journey of Elijah and Elisha together as illustrating the journey of our Lord Jesus Christ through this world. The results of this-sweet fruit indeed-follow in the chapters which are now to occupy us. Delightful work it is to trace the outcome of the visit of the Son of God to this world of ours. He came; He suffered; He obtained eternal redemption for us. He has gone home again. We reap the blessed results.
Our present chapter opens with a woman in trouble and great need. As light reveals things which are not seen in the dark, so the passage of Jesus through the world has made manifest much that was hid. Diseases and ailments but dumbly felt by men before were now made manifest, and they crowd around Him for healing. So this woman's distress is brought out by the presence of the Prophet. Preach reformation or anything but Christ, and needs are not made manifest. But preach Christ, and soon men show their need and distress of soul.
The woman's husband is dead. She is in debt, and as righteousness demands payment of the debt, her two sons are to go into bond service to pay it by their labor. True picture of the sinner this is. All communion with God has been broken by sin, as a widow bereft of her husband. She is in debt, even as the sinner is toward God. Justice demands payment, as the law thundering from Sinai, but Christ suffered on the cross to meet its claims and deliver from it.
But this is the gospel of the grace of God, which comes in so sweetly to deliver and restore us to happy communion with God. This gospel meets our need from two sides, and is presented from these two sides.
The apostle Paul presents it from one side especially, and the apostle John from the other. The first reveals man as a guilty creature-in debt toward God, and sets forth the work accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross to meet the claims of justice and clear us from our guilt. The other reveals man's ruined state, his need of being born anew, and from above, and Christ as the giver of the new life-eternal life. There must be a nature according to God to have free and happy intercourse with Him; we have to be born of God, therefore-must have eternal life before enjoyment with God can be realized. This is John's side of the gospel-a work of the Spirit of God within us. This marks John's Gospel and Epistles.
The present chapter of our Constellation presents chiefly Paul's side of this truth-though neither side is ever presented apart from the other; they run parallel to each other. To neglect one side or the other would falsify the true gospel. As with the two rails of a railroad, we must have both.
The woman's need having come to light in the presence of Elisha, he proceeds to meet it. He does not say, What canst thou do for me? but, "What shall I do for thee?" What a difference between the two! He goes even further:"What hast thou in the house?" he asks. There is a big difference too between, What can Jesus>/<7 for me? and, What has Jesus done for me? If Jesus has yet to die for my sins, then my sins are yet upon me, but if He has died for them, then they are no more upon me. They were laid upon Him, and they are gone forever from me and from the face of God. This brings peace with God on a righteous basis.
The woman has nothing but a "pot of oil." Ah, but a pot of oil means the "grace and truth" which came by Jesus Christ. No doubt the poor woman knew as little about the wealth in that pot of oil as many sincere believers now know what the grace of God has for them. They have to learn it, as she had.
The oil had come from the olives, brought down, crushed and pressed. So had grace come by our Saviour's leaving His home in glory, humbling Himself down to the estate of a man; still further, by suffering death; and further yet, by submitting to the malefactor's death-the death of the cross. Righteousness thus was fully met, and grace in all its love can go out to repentant and believing men, even the worst, and speak peace to them.
The woman is to borrow vessels of her neighbors, just as we do when we go about among our neighbors, inviting, urging them to come, to hear and receive the gospel. Their only qualification for the grace of the gospel is that they be ' empty vessels," having nothing to give, only fit to receive. Oh, the cruelty and guilt of so-called preachers of the gospel who, instead of telling men what they
are in God's sight, and what Christ has suffered to obtain salvation for them, occupy their minds with self-improvement, new resolutions, determination to win afresh honor and respect among men, and what not!-flattering the pride of man instead of seeking to deliver him- from it. This may make crowds of "converts," but converts to what, and to whom?
To come as an empty vessel is quite another thing. The past, full of guilt and shame, bows the soul in repentance. Then comes the forgiveness of sins, justification or clearance from all guilt, cleansing from unrighteousness, acceptance in Christ, and all other blessings enclosed in the "grace and truth" brought by Jesus Christ.
Even if a true gospel is preached, sin may be so lightly passed over, and the love of God spoken of in such a way, that His righteousness is well-nigh lost sight of, and converts may in the end be as the guest of Matt. 22:12 who dared to go in without the wedding garment. No wonder if such become a source of trouble among the people of God, as their pride has never been broken nor their will surrendered to the Lord. It is the truly humbled alone who can walk suitably under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
We cannot therefore press too earnestly that "God requireth that which is past," and that justice demands full payment of the debt – not passing it over. Having the atoning sacrifice of Christ to present to convicted sinners, we may well seek that conviction be deep and thorough. To bring souls to peace is not the first object, but to bring them to God-suited to His mind. The woman was to borrow vessels "not a few." God delights in the large-heartedness which covets for Christ every soul it meets.
The whole business was God's whose resources are endless. The oil would not fail therefore as long as there was an empty vessel to be filled, even as the five loaves and two little fishes failed not for the thousands of hungry men (John 6). And salvation provided by the atoning sacrifice of Christ (ever precious to God, and of unchangeable value) will fail no man who desires it as long as this day of grace lasts.
The woman was to shut the door upon her and upon her sons while pouring the oil. The entrance of truth into the soul of man is the secret work of the Holy Spirit, and the more we realize this in gospel work the more we shall keep it free from sensational things. Our business is to pour out the oil-preach Christ, fervently, lovingly, with the seriousness which the subject calls for. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Oh, the dishonor of all the clap-trap associated with modern evangelism! The frivolous ways and words to attract the crowd; the entertaining element to stir up an interest! How all this tells of want of faith in God. God blesses the gospel where it is preached, for He loves men and His gospel, but how sadly Christianity is degraded. Men applauding the preacher instead of weeping over their sins and embracing the feet of the Saviour. How can the after-history be holy which has been started in such a fashion? Who shall control for Christ a people gained by un-Christ-like means?
"Thou shalt set aside that which is full," said the prophet to the woman. So they who, through grace, by faith have become Christ's, are no longer of the world, though left in it. As a bride, chosen by her husband from among all other women, exclusively belongs to him, so do believers to Christ.
The end came when there were no more empty vessels. So this wonderful day of God's grace will end when no more repentant, empty sinners can be found. The various antichristian systems of our times all tend to make men well pleased with themselves. Sinners therefore-men who have lost hope in themselves – are growing fewer and fewer; so the end hastens.
The woman is bidden, "Go, sell the oil, pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest." Mark how insistent is the demand that payment of the debt be made. The atoning death of Jesus is what pays our debt. Take that away, and we are hopeless. But not only is the debt paid but there is enough beside to give her and her children a living. This is wealth itself. Indeed believers are not only saved, but they are rich besides. They are "heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ "(Rom. 8:17), and that means far more than having escaped the wrath to come.
To illustrate this new condition another woman is required – a "great woman" of Shunem. The children of God are not great in the eyes of this world, but they are very great in the eyes of the world above. The chief characteristic of this "great woman" is her- appreciation of the prophet. She welcomes him, serves him, provides him with all that will make him feel at home with them. This is communion. So every true Christian loves the company of Christ -to hold intercourse with Him. This makes one fruitful. Accordingly, this heretofore barren woman has a son. But mere natural fruit does not satisfy God. It must be the fruit of redemption – of death and resurrection. So the child dies and is raised again.
The chapter closes with a feast being made to the sons of the prophets. Poor fellows, how little like the "great woman" they are! One of them, not having his senses exercised to discern good from evil, gathers poisonous gourds, puts them into the pot, and causes the outcry, "O thou man of God, there is death in the pot!"
How soon will evil doctrine make great disturbance among God's people, for they have souls to be fed, and if the food is spoiled all goes wrong. "Bring meal," says the prophet, and all is well again. Meal is the crushed grain-our Saviour and Lord in suffering. Let Him be displaced by anything:by the work of the" Holy Spirit, if you like; by the Church, or some fancied Christian attainment, and death is in the pot at once. Give Christ His rightful place again, and all are fed and made happy.
Thus does this remarkable chapter present God's provision for His beloved people from the bondage of Egypt to the holy joys of Canaan. Who in all the world is in trust of such treasure as the man who possesses such a gospel? May every one who possesses this jealously guard it from what would obscure it.