Joram Restores The Shunammite’s Land
December 12, 2021
Commentary
The Lord had revealed to Elisha that he would bring a seven-year famine on the land. This was a punishment for apostasy. Elisha had warned the Shunammite woman and suggested that she move temporarily to the land of the Philistines which would not be affected by the famine. Returning to Israel the woman appeared before King Joram and begged for her former property which had been taken over by someone else in her absence. Her association with the prophet influenced the king to return her property.
Elisha visited Damascus where the king, Ben-Hadad, was ill. He was well known to the king for the many miracles he had performed. The king instructed his official Hazael to greet Elisha by taking him a gift. He also instructed him to find out if he would recover from his illness. Elisha replied that Ben-Hadad would recover but he would still die, and the prophet inferred that Hazael would cause his death. The servant returned to the bedside of his master to announce that the king would recover. Since Hazael was already informed that he was to become king, he decided to hasten the process by murdering his master. He suffocated his master in a manner that made it look as if Ben-Hadad had died of natural cause. As Elisha had predicted, Hazael was elevated to the throne (v. 13).
Application
There is no need to worry! Worry is a sin! I need to take time to read Matt. 6:24-34 again and apply it in my life.
Philippians 4:1– 7 (NET)
1 So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5 Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! 6 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Illustration: Rank Does All His Worring in One Day
J. Arthur Rank, an English executive, decided to do all his worrying on one day each week. He chose Wednesdays. When anything happened that gave him anxiety and annoyed his ulcer, he would write it down and put it in his worry box and forget about it until next Wednesday. The interesting thing was that on the following Wednesday when he opened his worry box, he found that most of the things that had disturbed him the past six days were already settled. It would have been useless to have worried about them. (Source unknown).