03.27. Death Familiar among the Heirs of Heaven

Death Familiar among the Heirs of Heaven The pottage is prepared, and brought to table, and the brethren, cheerfully, and without suspicion, sit down to their repast. And have they no warning from on high? None: the Lord permits them to begin their meal. But while eating the deadly mixture, they become sensible of its pernicious qualities. They rise from the table in anguish, and cry, "O thou man of God, there is death in the pot!" It was indeed a heart-rending spectacle. They had seated themselves at their simple meal, so happy and joyful in God, so full of fervent gratitude for renewed supplies of food; thanking the Keeper of Israel for his bounty and faithfulness; and now, all at once, behold, death looks them in the face. What a dreadful change! What a sad interruption of their cheerful confidence and faith in Jehovah! It might well have shaken the strongest faith: though when the Lord afflicts his people in such mysterious ways, it is generally to draw forth from them Job’s sorrowing declaration: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." But it is sometimes to prepare an occasion for the triumphant display of his grace and willingness to save; and to open a channel for those tears of godly shame, which generally flow after seasons of distrust and discontent.

Here, then, we behold disciples of Elisha, and, for aught we know to the contrary, servants of God, indiscriminately exposed to a violent and sudden death. But we have here no discovery of strong faith, except in the prophet Elisha. We see only the common feelings of nature alarmed, and in dreadful commotion. How blessed then is it to be armed against any sudden invasion of the king of terrors! to have put on "the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand!" And do not the promises of God in Christ Jesus teach us, that the chambers of death itself are only chambers of repose, and thus show us death itself only as a friend? Our great Forerunner ascended visibly to heaven in his human form, that our hopes might have a sure foundation, leaving us the cheering assurance: "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also!" It is not, therefore, against death that we have now need to arm; but it is against sin only, that comprehensive evil, which consists in slavery to the world, the flesh, and the devil. And we should be the more concerned about this, because death, which is always an awful thing to nature, becomes indeed awful, unless we are thus determined warriors against sin. Yield then to the Redeemer the most unlimited possession of your body and your soul. Our death is a call from God. No one dies by chance, but always at the moment appointed; neither sooner, nor later. Our days are all numbered. "Thou hast appointed" to man "his bounds that he cannot pass," Job 14:5. Real Christians, therefore, may well leave this matter with God. For no accident can befall them, till the Lord’s appointed time arrives. And when it arrives, it is to them as a Father’s messenger, calling them into his more immediate presence. Death is even numbered among the possessions of the children of God; so that the apostle writes, "Death is yours," 1 Corinthians 3:22. It is as Samson’s slain lion. When Jacob saw the wagons, which Joseph had sent to carry him to Goshen, "the fainting spirit of Jacob revived." This effect should be experienced by the true Christian, when he contemplates his last hour; for to him "the day of death," as Solomon speaks, "is better than the day of his birth," Ecclesiastes 7:1. It is the ascension day of believers, the commencement of their happier life. To them "to live is Christ, and to die is gain," Php 1:21.

Ill then does it become our sons of the prophets to raise such a cry of terror. Dread of this kind should be reserved for other occasions, as, for instance, when a scheme of human wisdom would commend itself to us as independent of the atonement of the Son of God, and would point out a way to heaven in another direction than that of Golgotha; when a theology without Christ, without a priesthood and a sacrifice, would assume an evangelical disguise; or, with open front, and shameless audacity, would offer itself to our acceptance, either by books or from the pulpit; then we may well start back with horror, and cry, "There is death in the pot!"—for then, indeed, has poisoned food been placed before you, even wild gourds planted by the great destroyer of souls. He who is seduced to partake of these "dainties," eats and drinks in that death, against which there is no antidote. Alas! that even the pulpit as well as the press should have furnished such subtle and deadly poison, and in such abundance; but so it is; therefore take heed of their highly garnished productions. Alas! how many of our seminaries also provide nothing better for the nurture of the rising generation! Where in them is to be seen "the nurture and admonition of the Lord?" The peril which now threatened the sons of the prophets was undoubtedly great, and to all human apprehension desperate; and the danger to which their faith was exposed, was even greater than that which threatened their lives. For had they not implored the Divine blessing on their food? Had they not implored it in the company, and by the mouth of one of God’s most eminent prophets? We may be sure they had. What then were they now to think? Yet the Lord’s thoughts were not as their thoughts. His were "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give them an expected end," Jeremiah 29:11. This appalling incident was only to commend to them his saving power and mercy. The greater the apparent difficulty, the greater and more glorious the deliverance. The prophet has received his instructions, and he knows that God will support him. If any one has cause to rejoice, it is Elisha. His embarrassment was not trifling, when the hilarity of their social meeting was so suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted by their alarming cry. Yet his anxiety, instead of repelling him from God, served to direct his thoughts immediately upwards. He poured out his alarmed spirit in fervent ejaculations to Him who was able to save from death, and an answer of peace was instantly returned, that the brethren should not die, but live. That they should live, not to be justified in their distrust of God, but to find reason with shame to lament it. God had yet work to be done by these prophets in Israel, and would not suffer their violent removal to become a triumph to Satan and his idolatrous adherents.

Elisha calls for a handful of meal. Who would have imagined that so unpromising an expedient should have conquered death, and deprived hell of its triumph? But the prophet prescribes it in the name of the Lord; and how potent will the most insignificant means become when thus employed! Then a cruse of salt is sufficient to remove from an entire district the horrors of a desolation that has prevailed for many years. Then a piece of wood can make the bitter waters of Marah sweet and wholesome. Then can the anointing with clay impart sight to the blind, and that of oil restore health to persons sick unto death. The healing power of every medicine depends upon the presence of one single ingredient, the blessing of God. If this be present, it matters not how insignificant are the means.