03.10. The Kings Visit Elisha
The Kings Visit Elisha To Jehoram’s desponding exclamation, Jehoshaphat, the noble king of Judah, quickly replied. His words evince more firmness and composure, and appear to have proceeded from a heart accustomed to recognize in the God of heaven not only a Judge, but a Friend. But, it may be asked, if Jehoshaphat was so in favor with the Almighty, why was he involved in the same calamity with apostate Jehoram? We answer that for this he had himself to blame. If good men make common cause with the ungodly, they must not complain if the lightning, which descends upon the house where they are met, should involve them in one common ruin. The king of Judah was justified in lending help to Jehoram; but to reply with such an excess of cordiality and friendship, "I am as thou art, and my people as thy people," and to abstain from every, the most remote, intimation, that he had merited the revolt of the Moabites by his own apostasy from the God of his fathers, was unworthy of a son of David. Such obsequiousness to an idolatrous renegade, was, to say the least, very weak and ill-judged. It was necessary that a sense of this fault should deeply affect the good king’s mind, for present humiliation and for future wisdom; hence even he was not exempted from the common calamity. In one respect it was the same scourge alighted on them both, but in another respect it was not the same. Jehoram was punished, but Jehoshaphat was chastened. But chastisements are visitations of our heavenly Father’s love. The cup of Job was not sweet; the chastening appointed to Lazarus was not joyous; the messenger of Satan permitted to buffet the apostle, was still less welcome to flesh and blood. But these things are all very different from the curse of the law; otherwise the Redeemer died and rose in vain. King Jehoshaphat then, instead of breaking out into pusillanimous despondency, directs his thoughts to God; to the Lord Jehovah, in whom is the help of everlasting, strength. "Is there not here a prophet of the Lord," he asks, "that we may inquire of the Lord by him?" How cheering is this voice crying in such a dreary wilderness! The cry of God’s people cannot remain long unheard. But the noble prince inquires for a prophet. Why did he not in person approach the throne of God, and make known his solicitude? Does it not seem, as though some consciousness of guilt had closed and barred the way? Perhaps his sinful compliance with the world had given rise to fears, which had now ascended like a dark cloud between his soul and God. Prophets, however, were often consulted upon any great public or private emergency. God’s oracles, delivered through prophets and apostles, still remain to us in the Holy Scriptures; oh that these were oftener consulted by ourselves, for they are suited to every emergency, rank, and condition!
One of king Jehoram’s attendants replied, that there was a prophet at hand. And who was he? No other than Elisha, the son of Shaphat, "which poured water on the hands of Elijah;" that is, who had acted as his servant and attendant. But how was it that Elisha is suddenly so near at hand in this burning and frightful wilderness? We remember that after the bloody scene at Bethel he retired into solitude to Mount Carmel. After remaining some time there in communion with God, by whose gracious visitations his spirit appears to have been strengthened, he returned in the name of the Lord to the field of his labors and directed his steps towards Samaria. Upon his arrival there, the united armies of Israel were about to march against Moab. Incited by love, and guided by the Spirit of the Lord, he appears to have attended at a distance the camp of his nation. The weapons, indeed, with which he had girded himself, were not carnal. His sword was the word of God, and faith was his shield and buckler. He probably considered, that circumstances might arise in which his important services for the honor of the Lord God of Israel would be pressingly required. A timely word of his might decide the fate of battle; and he knew that prayer, the prayer of faith, is better than weapons of war. He remembered the uplifted hands of Moses, and the wonder-working prayer of Samuel; and, animated with cheerful courage, he followed the host to the field, bearing the whole people upon his interceding heart; but who would have imagined that this plain, unarmed man, covered with a mantle, should be the instrument of preserving the armies of Israel from the most terrible destruction? The name of Elisha was scarcely uttered before their desponding hearts revived, and Jehoshaphat joyfully exclaimed, "The word of the Lord is with him!" He knew the prophet, and believed in his Divine inspiration and commission. Here "the king" discovers that he "putteth his trust in God;" a sparkle of the concealed gem, which he bore about with him, and which in every situation rendered him essentially different from the world of the ungodly, now showed itself.
What a spirited and faithful delineation of real life is Scripture history! It can scarcely be said to narrate: short and simple are its sketches, yet its pictures are the most animated and impressive. It sets us in the middle of every scene, and we seem familiarly acquainted with all its personages, in their difficulties, dispositions, and characters. The prophet was now to be consulted. But how was it to be done? In some less promising emergency a messenger might have been sent to fetch him. But at present, even Jehoram is of opinion, that this would not be treating the honored servant of God with becoming respect; therefore the three kings resolve to go to him themselves in person, and they repair immediately towards the quarter where he had been seen. It was not long before they found him, and ready to comply with their wishes. Imagine the holy man seated under some solitary shelter in this wilderness of Idumea. The princes approach him, and their submissive and supplicating attitude sufficiently indicates the nature of their visit. What an affecting scene of three monarchs, the rulers of Israel, Judah, and Edom, in the humble attitude of suppliants, before the lowly husbandman of Abel-meholah! Of him are they seeking counsel and help, under circumstances wherein their own wisdom had "utterly fallen;" at his hand they look for a change of affairs, which all their own power had failed to accomplish. He was to intercede, as their representative, with the Almighty, and to obtain for them deliverance and victory. Elisha is now their sole remaining earthly counsellor. What a triumph for the prophet, or rather for Him in whose service he appeared, and whose cause he conducted! And thus it not infrequently happens that in times of severe distress, the servants of God are called forth to sudden honor. When earthly supports are found too weak, when the resources of human wisdom and power are exhausted, then have even slanderous enemies become disposed to confess, that the people of God are to be envied; and to them will they now have recourse, as if they thought themselves safer near them than elsewhere; yes, as if they were sensible of the invisible defence with which the righteous are always encompassed. Those who previously would have spurned the exhortations of "the quiet in the land," show at once a ready ear for them, and even find comfort in knowing that the prayers of some one of this despised community are offered up in their behalf. At such times a wicked Ahab will put more confidence in his devout chamberlain, than in all his generals and ministers, yea, than in all his own majesty, his chariots and horsemen. Thus the world is obliged, in many ways, and often against its will, to acknowledge, "Ye are the blessed of the Lord which hath made heaven and earth." Your Lord, he is the God, and to you He grants such access as we are unconscious of Testimonies of this kind extorted from the ungodly, redound greatly to the honor of the gospel, and serve as additional proofs, that the world in itself possesses nothing but poverty and despondency. Then let his people give glory to His name, that He has chosen them out of the world and translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son.
If it be true that destruction would not have come upon the city of Sodom, had ten righteous persons been found there; if it be true that "the Lord will fulfil the desire of those that fear Him," and that he who prays in the name of Jesus, shall never pray in vain; then it is not superstitious fancy that induces men in times of imminent danger to place peculiar dependence on the presence of righteous persons among them. Such persons, like living conductors, turn the lightning from the neighborhood in which they dwell. Wherever they reside, eternal Love resides with them, and the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them; the windows of heaven are open to pour down blessings on such a place, and invisible bulwarks are planted about it.
Therefore I prize thee, my own beloved valley, wherein so many of the children of God can be numbered; that thou canst rejoice in entire districts, where every house is a tabernacle of God among men, and of many houses in which not a single ungodly character can be discerned. Dost thou not perceive, that, for this reason, God hath made an hedge about thee? How often have threatening dangers enveloped thy very confines, and then rolled away like angry clouds, so that in thy sky scarcely anything has been visible, except the rainbow of peace, and showers of blessing! Value then the people of God residing in the middle of thee; despise them not, but bless them. Thou partakest of the goodness with which He crowns them; and, though they cannot save thee at last, except thou become entirely the Lord’s, they are a blessed means of thy temporal prosperity and security, a means whereby the bounties of Heaven descend upon all thy children.