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Historical Background:
- The united kingdom (Saul, David, Solomon) has
divided (931 BC)
- 10 Northern Tribes (Dan, Benjamin, Reuben, Gad,
Ephraim, Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, both
1/2 tribes of Manesseh) follow Jeroboam (as prophet
Ahijah said) Southern Tribe of Judah (Simeon by now
been consumed) followed Rehoboam
- Our Text takes place around 850 BC - Jehoram (son
of Ahab & Jezebel) is the Northern king (not to be
confused with the Southern King of 2 K 8:16-17, son
of Jehoshaphat (jih-haush-uh-fat) who reigns Judah
about the same time). He was judged less harshly
in the Bible than his parents because he “put away
the pillar of Baal which his father had made“ (2
Kgs 3:2).
- Elisha was God’s prophet to the Northern kingdom.
He was the son of a farmer, Shaphat, an understudy
of Elijah who found him behind oxen and plow (the
12th, 11 of which he was directing). At Elijah’s
ascension into heaven, Elisha picked up the mantle
he had been anointed with, tore his own, used it to
part the Jordan, and began his prophecy.
Introduction: The older I get, the more often I wonder what kind of mark I’ve made on the world. When I’m dead and gone, will it have made any difference that I’ve lived on this earth? We are going to study a women, who is nameless - we’ll have to wait ‘till we get to heaven to find it out, but notice what our text says about her (vs. 8) - She was great! Talk about leaving your mark! In God’s divine word, which will endure eternity, this un-named women is characterized as great.
What She Wasn’t: It’s impressive to me to note the things she wasn’t.
- Apparently she isn’t from royal blood
- Nothing indicates that she has great rank, or
wealth, or high social status
- She apparently wasn’t endowed with great
knowledge, or skill
- She wasn’t strikingly beautiful such as Sarah, or
Bathsheba, or Esther
- She didn’t save her people as did Esther, nor lead
her people to God, as did the Samaritan women by
the well
- She wasn’t a great leader or judge, like Deborah
she didn’t even have a child who became great,
like Hannah, or Jochebed
So why study about her? We can imitate the same reasons for greatness that characterized her existence.
The Story Begins: (vs. 8)
Elisha is traveling through a little town called Shunem. This was his job, he was a “traveling preacher,” going from town-to-town, proclaiming God’s will. We have them today (guest speakers).
This women, for whatever the reason, was willing to “keep the preacher.”
Point #1 to Greatness - Her Spirit of Service (vs. 9-10)
It’s a curious thing to me, the text doesn’t give us her name, but takes time to identify the specific items of furniture in the room (list in vs. 10)
This is the first reason for her greatness - it was her service!
What she did didn’t make front page of the Shunem Gazette. Frankly, I doubt if anyone in town even knew about it, or took notice. Who noticed this women’s spirit of service? God did!
I think we often struggle today with service because we think it has to be some great act. If it’s not some great, newsworthy deed (saving a life or something) it’s not worth the effort. What kind of service is God looking for out of us? Matt. 25:22-40 (turn & read). If a neighbor is sick and needs a hot meal, you don’t have to tell anyone, just take them one. If we know a poor family and the kids need shoes, or a winter coat, just get one. If we know someone going through tough times, be there for them.
Point #2 to Greatness - Her Contentment (vs. 11-13)
Think about this text, here we have Elisha, he’s been staying in this little room prepared by this “common” family, he’s appreciative, and says to her, “look, I’ve got a little pull, I know the king, I know the army commander, I owe you a favor, just tell me, give me the word and I’ll get it done for you.” By the way what would you do? Some might ask for a better job, perhaps a government job; some might want to be on the kings payroll, or the kings staff; some might try to get some sort of government assistance, a medical card.
Look again at her response (vs. 13). I want you to understand it, it’s easy to miss the point - she’s saying, I appreciate your offer, but I’ve got a home, my basic needs are provided for, I don’t really need anything.
Was she rich? Was she living “high on the hog?” Could she have bettered herself? Why didn’t she? She was Content!
We live in a society today where everyone wants more, more, more. A bigger house, a higher paying job, a better, newer car, and the list goes on and on!
1 Cor. 10:1-10 (turn & read) The key is vs. 10 - you know the story, God’s people, Egyptian bondage, they were not content, they cried & cried, Moses delivered them, very intense scene at the Red Sea, but God delivers them. They get into the wilderness, what do they do? Gripe & complain! No water, God gives it. No food, they get manna. Tired of manna, they get quail. Eat too much quail, get sick, and they complain about that too!
What’s the secret to being content? Paul’s the master: Phil. 4:11-13. The secret to being content is perspective! It’s not how much money you have in the bank, how big your house is, or how new your car is. It has nothing to do with what you have, for no matter what you have, most people will always be discontent—wanting more!
So what’s the right perspective? (Glass of water illustration - 1/2 glass of water, what do you see? A content person will see 1/2 full glass, rather than 1/2 empty). It’s not what you don’t have, rather being thankful (content with) for what you do have!
Back to the Shunammite women’s response—she was looking at what she had rather than griping about what she didn’t have!
Back to the Story (vs. 14-18)
Point #3 - Everything is alright! (vs. 19-26)
When asked by her husband why she was going to see the prophet – she states, “everything is alright”.
When asked by Gehazi - she says, “everything is alright.” Was everything alright? By no means!
She knew the boy was dead, a son she didn’t ask for, a son she had grown to love - her only son, who died in her arms.
I’ve never lost a child (can’t image it). Ms. Laura (98 yrs old) lost her 1st child, when he was about 18 months old - he died in her arms. After 98 years, she still can’t talk about it without crying. How has she dealt with it for 98 years? Faith! She has told me more than once that soon she’ll be able to hold him again in heaven! Were things well at the Shunammite household? Not at all! The lad was dead, she knew it. She knew she was about to ask the prophet to do something unprecedented, she didn’t know whether or not he would do it (vs. 27-28).
But she knew everything would be alright! That’s faith!
Let me tell you the number one reason this un-named women was great in the eyes of God. It was her unshakable faith! What do men often put their faith in today? Their wealth? Some slick talking evangelist?
Family traditions?
What did Paul say from our earlier reading of Phil 4?
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
We can also get through all things:
Tragedy
Sickness
Death
You name it! If we have faith!
Point #4 - I will not leave you! (vs. 29-30)
Elisha was a man of God. To this women, he was her direct link to God No matter what the end result, no matter what the outcome, live or die, she wasn’t going to leave God! Have you ever known someone who, when faced with tragedy, turned to God, prayed and prayed, but when things didn’t work out the way they wanted them to, what do they do? Blame God, turn their backs on Him!
God hears & answer’s our prayers. Sometimes we don’t like the answer. Sometimes we don’t understand the answer. That doesn’t mean He’s against us, or punishing us. He’s will for a greater purpose is often hard for us to see.
No matter the outcome, no matter how things turn out for us in certain situations - We’ve got to tell God “I will not leave you.”
Conclusion: All’s Well that Ends Well (vs. 31 - 37)
Finish reading the story
I love the ending of this story - it’s a classic!
Of course the outcome is not the focal point for us today.
If you want your life to count for something, you don’t have to: Do something great and have a street or building named after you. You don’t have to invent some great device the world couldn’t do with out. You don’t have to make tons of money, live in the biggest house, drive the fanciest car.
What do you do to be great as a child of God?
Perform little acts of service that the world never notices. You go through life with a spirit of contentment. You have a faith such that no matter what happens to you and your family, you can say “Everything is alright!” No matter the outcome, you never leave God!
