03.15. The Augmentation of the Oil: 2Ki_4:1-7

Chapter 5 The Augmentation of the Oil
2 Kings 4:1-7 The spiritual Zion is no abode of famine, drought, or desolation. Its fields are always green with abundance both in summer and winter; because "the Lord is there." Of this we are furnished with a pleasing instance in the history before us.

"Now there cried a certain woman 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. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him. and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. The Moabitish war having terminated in the signal defeat and reduction of the revolters, Elisha, who had returned home, is again employed in ministering blessings among the lowly and quiet in the land. Thus we have now to contemplate another instance of the peculiar character of his mission as a messenger and instrument of grace. The account is beautifully affecting, and well adapted to the strengthening of our faith. It relates, I. A poor widow’s distress;

II. Her application to the prophet; and III. Her miraculous relief.