The Shunammite — The Woman Whose Hospitality Was Rewarded

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son (II Kings 4:16).

   This story of the hospitable Shunammite is a parable upon all those who are in desperation concerning their children. The Shunammite needed help from the prophet because the child whom God had given to her had an accident and died. Most people stand in need of help for their children, not because of accident, illness or death, but because of moral problems such as violence, crime and sex.

   Parents are perplexed, distressed and helpless in the face of the revolt, transgression and intemperance of youth. These young people have rejected all authority, restraint and control by their parents. It is now a common thing for graduates from high school to stay up all night of their senior prom. Even otherwise very well trained and integrated young people seem to be impelled by the mass spirit to live dangerously and to do things which they otherwise would not do. The repudiation of chaperonage, the demand for freedom and action, and the resort to antisocial actions are becoming far more prevalent than we like to admit. Insurance companies and newspapers report the rising accident rate in the use of automobiles by those under twenty-one.

   In addition, social agencies report the increase of immorality and illegitimacy in the high-school age. The secretary of

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the Child Welfare Agency of the N.A.E. declared that the age of unmarried mothers was becoming lower and lower until even 12-year-olds were involved. The juvenile delinquency resulting in crime and violence is now deplored over the whole nation. It seems impossible to pick up the morning paper without reading about a murder perpetrated by some boy or girl on a companion, a parent or stranger. One principal of a high school was driven to suicide by the pressure of these juvenile delinquents in his own school. The looseness of morals in many college communities has reached a new high.

   All of this reflects a failure on the part of an older generation but presents a problem with which we have to deal. The juvenile problem has arisen from too many working women, too many broken homes, too many orphan families, too much drinking, too much loose living, and too much pleasure seeking. Self-discipline and discipline of families have gone from American life. Our parents stand in great need of help with their children.

   One source of help that can be given is a change in the laws of our nation which deal with the education and working habits of youth. There was a time when child labor laws were necessary to prevent the exploitation of youth by unprincipled employers. These laws have now made it necessary to keep young people in school until they are 16 or 18 when they would be far better off working in some creative activity or some responsible duty. When a child has no aptitude or desire for education beyond a certain age, say junior high school, he ought not to be compelled by law to remain in school but should be permitted to go to work. It is a tragedy for any nation when its children become evil doers. Compare Isaiah 1:4,5.

   But a far greater source of help to parents in dealing with the needs of their children today rests in knowing where to turn for such help and in finding it in God's truth, in Jesus Christ and in Christian fellowship. With this in mind, let us look at the story of the hospitable Shunammite woman for instruction.

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THE WOMAN'S HOSPITALITY

   The incident occurred in one of the four great eras of miracles in Biblical history, namely, the time of the preservation of the true religion from oblivion in the days of Elijah and Elisha. The four eras to which I refer are: the era of the inauguration of the Old Testament religion under Moses, the era of the preservation of this religion under Elijah and Elisha, the era of the inauguration of the New Testament religion under the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles, and the era preceding the second coming of the Lord when lying miracles will be done (miracles designed to deceive).

    Elijah was now dead and Elisha had taken his place. The mantle and spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha. He was the head of the school of the prophets, he was the spokesman of Jehovah, he was the teacher of the people. The school of the prophets was located by the Jordan River. The seat of the prophet's dwelling and ministry was Mr. Carmel, whereas the center of the government was in Samaria and the location of one of the palaces in Jezreel. Hence, Elisha traveled about from one place to another on foot, fulfilling his responsibilities of teaching, preaching and administering.

    In the midst of these it was necessary for him to pass through the town of Shunem, which is located on the western slope of the hill three and a half miles northeast of Jezreel and five miles north of Mt. Gilboa where Saul had fallen before the Philistines. Shunem was just 16 miles from Carmel across the plain of Esdraelon. It was here that the hospitable woman dwelt. Elisha's figure was a common sight as he passes through the town.

    The Shunammite woman is described as "great" (II Kings 4:8-37). That is, she was of the higher class. Her husband was a landowner with servants and a considerable estate. The house of the estate was located in the town of Shunem, surrounded by a wall, and the fields of the estate were outside of the town on the sides of the hills. The Shunammite woman was occupied as any virtuous woman would be in the directing

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of the interests of this estate. The very fact that she lived in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, when Baal worship was popular, and yet maintained her integrity, virtue and piety is a great commendation of the woman. Hence it was that she had interest in the servants of Jehovah, but especially Elisha. No doubt, she had gone to Carmel where the worship of Jehovah was held in the days when Baal was worshiped in the temples of Samaria and Jezreel. Thus, seeing Elisha pass by, she "constrained him to eat." This Shunammite reminds us of Lydia in the New Testament who said to St. Paul, "If ye have judged me to be faithful... come into my house, and abide" (Acts 16:15). Her gratitude for blessings received spiritually was expressed by extending hospitality to the servant of the Lord. This generosity was repeated in an unostentatious way," As oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread." Elisha became a true friend of the family, a constant visitor, a recipient of hospitality and generosity, and a source of great blessing.

    These circumstance caused the Shunammite to consider the erection of a room to meet the prophet's need. She said unto her husband, "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick." In contrast to the imperviousness of the many in Israel to the needs, comforts and conveniences of God's servants, this Shunammite had consideration for him. It is a strange anomaly that many believers think that missionaries and Christian workers and teachers should always be living on a very narrow financial margin. If intense and harrowing sacrifice is not part of their experience, these Christians believe that the missionaries or Christian workers are not sacrificing enough. They are indifferent to their tiredness, their pinched economy, their self-denial and their unheralded heroism. But not so with this Shunammite woman. She gave heed to Elisha's needs. It was her intention to provide for him, to share her security, and to make life a little easier for this hardworking servant of God. What joy some Christian couples have taken in inviting the servants of the Lord to break bread

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with them or in preparing for them a prophet's chamber, or in meeting their other needs!

   This was "a little chamber" but it was apart from the world. It reminds us of the invitation the Lord gave, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment" (Isa. 26:20). This little chamber was to have in it "a bed" for the rest of God's servant. It was the divine intention that His disciples should come apart and rest awhile. When the Lord Jesus invites us to come to Him, it is to find rest, not to be overburdened or overtired. The little chamber had in it "a table" which is a place of fellowship and of communion (I Cor. 1:9). It had in it "a stool" which is a place of humility, study and learning (Luke 10:38-42). The little chamber had in it "a candlestick" which symbolizes a testimony (Matt. 5:14-16). The little chamber was "on the wall" where the watchman was normally lodged, suggesting that the prophet is watchman unto Israel (Ezek. 33:1-11). In all this, Elisha did not have much from the viewpoint of the world for he had exchanged wealth for it. When he plowed, it had been in the last of a series of 12 yoke of oxen on his father's farm, which reveals that his father was a man of wealth (I Kings 19:19). Many are the servants of the Lord who have given up so much to sacrifice and work in God's vineyard.

   The contributions which the Shunammite made was for God's sake. She said to her husband, "I perceive that this is an holy man of God." Her love and her loyalty were to Jehovah and only incidentally expressed unto Elisha as gratitude to Jehovah. Even the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples in their evangelistic travels to stay in the houses of those who were worthy and there abide until they departed from the city. This advice from Jesus was misused and in the Didache, or the teaching of the twelve, a warning was raised against anyone who tarried in someone's house too long. The action of the Shunammite was for "God's sake." Thus, the hospitality, generosity and service which we do should be for Christ's sake.

   A good illustration of this in the Old Testament is found

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in David's treatment of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan. After David was established king, he asked, "Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?" (II Sam. 9). Upon investigation, Mephibosheth was found who was lame in both his feet, but David elevated him to sit at the king's table for the rest of his life because he was the son of Jonathan. This Shunammite's ministry and interest in Elisha were without any ulterior motive. She did not desire anything from him when she expressed her hospitality. This is reminiscent of the service and worship of Job who loved and served God for God's sake and not for what God did for him. Yet when Satan would accuse Job, he said, "Doth Job fear God for nought?" Yet Job's subsequent trial proved that he had no ulterior motive in his worship.

THE WOMAN'S HEART'S DESIRE

   On one occasion when Elisha was using the room on the wall as his place of rest and study, he was so appreciative of it that he decided that he should do something for the Shunammite woman. Hence, he commanded Gehazi to call her unto him. As the woman stood before him he asked. "What is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the King, or to the captain of the host?" Elisha's heart was so filled with gratitude that he thought that he must confer upon this woman some manifestation of his appreciation. With noble disdain, the woman responded, "I dwell among mine own people," meaning that she had no need, had no desire, had no ulterior motive. With this she made her exit from the chamber. Hers was truly a disinterested piety and service which was done for God's sake. Others might have taken advantage of the prophet's request and have asked for some favor with the king or with the captain of the host. After the woman had gone Elisha offhandedly said to Gehazi, "What then is to be done for her?" the servant revealed his intuition and perception by saying, "Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old." In this he put his finger upon the deep desire of this woman's heart for a child.

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   Immediately Elisha commanded Gehazi to summon her. We can picture her as she responded, came to the door of the little room, and stood there awaiting the prophet's word. Little did she know what a blessing her hospitality was to bring her. Elisha said, " About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son." Here was a woman who had waited through her married life for a child and received none. Now, like Sarah who reached an advanced age before Isaac was born, or like Hannah, who was barren until God undertook for her and gave her Samuel, or like Elizabeth who had no longer hopes for a child when she was advanced in her age, God now met the desire of this woman in promising her a child. Her deep satisfaction in receiving the promise is revealed by her incredulity in which she said, "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid." Hers was a sincere questioning in the light of the conditions but she nevertheless believed.

   The text moves on immediately to the fulfillment of the promise (vs. 17). The day came when the child was born into that Shunammite household. What a celebration took place in the estate! The little town of Shunem rang for joy as the neighbors and fellow townspeople joined in with the happy Shunammite father and mother in the gift which God had made to them. All of the Shunammite woman's desires had centered in this gift, and now she was completely content with her blessing. Life was full for a number of years, and how fast those years passed as she trained that little child, taught him what she knew, exercised her creative influence, molded his character and directed his thought until the time came, "when the child was grown." Little do people realize the joys that they have in the days when their children are young, for they soon come when they are no longer under their control and when the problems multiply.

THE WOMAN'S HELP RECEIVED

   When the child was grown, that is, when he reached an age that he could run about for himself, pass in and out of the walls of the town, accompany his father into the fields, and

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take part in either the planting or harvesting, a sad and tragic accident took place. Whether he suffered from sunstroke, or brain hemorrhage, or some other thing, we know not, but he cried out, "My head, my head." His father was busy, so he commanded a lad to carry him to his mother. When she received him, she gathered him into her arms and held him upon her knees until at noontime he died.

   What tragedy can strike in a believing household! Recently I attended a funeral for the daughter of an intimate friend. This man is a manager of an estate worth upward of a hundred million dollars. His daughter was a beautiful girl, seventeen years of age, and about to graduate from high school. She took an active part in Youth for Christ, was a soul winner and daily had her devotions of Bible reading and prayer. However, the week before her graduation she was riding with her boy friend to a neighboring town. A car which had been following her testified that the boy was driving at 45 miles an hour and on the right side of the road. Suddenly, another car, driven by two drunken marines, careened around a curve at 85 miles an hour. It smashed into this car and instantly killed the daughter and her boy friend. It was found that on the day before she was killed she had turned in a theme in her high school in answer to an assignment on "My Philosophy of Life." At the services which were held for her and which were attended by upward of a thousand people, this testimony was read. It displayed her as a mature Christian and a soul winner. I give it for your inspiration. It symbolizes what tragedies can strike, even in a Christian home.

   "My philosophy of life is based on the Holy Bible and the God that wrote it. I know that He has a plan for my life and through daily prayer and reading of His Word I will be able to see it. As far as my life work or life partner, I am leaving it in His hands and am willing to do anything He says.

   "I feel that this philosophy is very practical and can be applied to everyday life. Every decision can be taken to the Lord in prayer and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour is something many cannot understand.

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Many search for a purpose and reason for life. I know that I am on this earth to have fellowship with God and to win others to the saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that after death I will go to be with Him forever.

   "Jesus Christ teaches love and respect for everyone throughout the New Testament and we are not to judge anyone because He will on the judgment day. In God's sight no one person is worth any more than another.

   "Knowing and loving Jesus Christ personally makes me want to please Him and accomplish things for His glory. Paul says in the New Testament. 'Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,' and 'For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.'

   "This philosophy contains all of the seven points given in your lecture of April 20th. As I stated in the beginning, it is very (1) practical to have someone to turn to for any decision or problem, small or large. What could be more (2) optimistic than knowing that God has a purpose and plan for one's life and is willing to keep in constant fellowship with anyone who will. To know I have accepted Jesus Christ's gift of salvation and will have eternal life in heaven is a most wonderful thing and brings peace to my heart. God has the best for us and if we let Him He will improve our lives and solve our problems. (3) God in His Holy Word teaches us to have love and a burden for every person as Jesus Christ Himself. (4) One of my main purposes in life is to share this experience I have had with Christ and to show them the peace and happiness that it brings. (5) This is an important goal in itself, but more completely, my aim in life is to accomplish what the Lord has for me to do; which is certainly the most worthwhile goal in life. (6) The closer I grow to Him the more happiness I find and the busier I am. He has things for me that the world could never offer and I learn to appreciate more and more how fortunate I am. (7) God's standards are higher than anything attainable and present a great challenge and make me realize how futile it would be for me to do the best I could, because I, being human, could never reach God's standards, and therefore

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never be worthy of entering heaven. God has given me contact with the best; in His world, in my born-again friends, and in my fellowship with Jesus Christ. It is well known that the highest beauty, truth, justice and goodness is found in God's Word.

   "This is my philosophy, and yet it is not mine, but I am God's and whatever I have is His and I have faith that He is the only answer and I do love Him so."

   But often things worse then death can come unto the children of believers. In the trial for rape in Tallahassee, Florida, the Christian mother of one of the defendants wept as she told of her attempting to train her boy, send him to Sunday school and to lead him in the right way. Yet, he was involved in this terrible crime which ordinarily would draw the death penalty in Florida. One thinks of the youthful slayings in different areas in this country and of the sorrows which are caused to the parents. Those who are faced with such tragedies can find comfort in one thing alone, that is, in knowing where to turn as did the Shunammite woman (vss. 21-25). She turned to Elisha and to Elisha's God, for she knew that He alone would be able to meet her need.

   When the Shunammite came to Elisha, he perceived her sorrow and burden and said, "Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me." This picture of the vexed soul of this Shunammite woman is a picture of countless fathers and mothers who have been vexed over the tragedies which have befallen their children. Just recently a woman with three children wrote me about one of her boys who had been brought up by her to go to Sunday school, to do odd chores, to attend the regular school and to be faithful. Suddenly he repudiated the church, he took up with evil companions, he began staying out late, he drank liquor and finally was guilty of a crime. The distraught cry of that vexed mother was like unto the distraught soul of this Shunammite. All who have had their children struck down by illegitimacy, shame, prison sentence or crime share that sorrow.

   Yet succor was given unto this woman by Elisha. Her

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faith is displayed in her answer to Gehazi when he was instructed by Elisha to ask her, "Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child?" and she answered, "It is well." She believed that Elisha had the answer for her problem. Let there be faith on the part of parents that God does have the answer for their problem. I think of the transformation in a teen-age boy who, in his home in Arizona, belonged to a gang who fought with other gangs composed of Mexicans and half-breeds, using brass knuckles, billies and other instruments of violence. But his parents prayed for him, brought him into contact with other young people who knew Christ so that he heard the Gospel and was converted. He was taken out, put in a Christian school and then ultimately sent to Wheaton College where he became a leader in the college and student life. God had met the need of those parents.

   When the Shunammite woman came to Elisha, she fell at his feet and clasped them in her arms in fervent petition that he would help her. Gehazi would have thrust her away but Elisha said, "Let her alone," for he realized that there was a deep and persistent need in her life. She would not be satisfied with the ministries of Gehazi or any lesser servant but only that of Elisha.

   The response, therefore, came in Elisha's going to her home, praying for the child, resusciating it so that the child could be presented to her alive. Only a spiritual resurrection or rebirth of those in moral and spiritual need is the answer to the problems faced by parents today. When such resuscitation comes, the need may easily be met.

   The woman served the Lord with disinterested piety exemplified in hospitality to His servant. As a result, she received a reward in help for her own family and her own son.

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