Lectures on Female Scripture Characters

Aud he said unto bira, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to. the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

2 Kings, iv. 13.

Lord Bacon lias remarked, that the Bible is like the land of Canaan, wliicli flowed with milk and honey; or, like the Garden of Eden, where the Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree that was pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The remark is as true as it is striking, and the more we examine the sacred volume, the more we shall perceive that it abounds not only with the nourishing but the delicious — not only with the profitable but the delightful. Its communications, improve us while they entertain, and entertain us while they improve.

Take the historical narratives. In these there is a charm whicl;i it is impossible fully to describe. Yet who has not perceived it? Who does not, when reading, feel a certain quality, which, while it serves to demonstrate the truth of the facts, seizes, engrosses, enchains his attention?

One cause of this effect is, that the relation always states things just as they occurred, with the minute circumstances of time, place, and manner; and states them so naturally, that they are rendered present, and seem to strike not only our imagination, but our very senses. We find ourselves witnesses — we are parties concerned. What is related is so plain in language, that a child can understand it, and so replete with importance, that a preacher may derive pages and volumes of instruction from it.

Nothing exemplifies this observation more than the narrative we are now going to review; for who ever read it once that did not wish to read it again and again? — It is the history of the Shunamite.

We are told “She was a great woman.” She was possessed of some considerable rank and fortune. But what are claims merely adventitious? Character is personal, and does not depend upon of&ce, titles, or wealth; and the Scripture lays so little stress on these things, that it never mentions them for their own sake, but only to remind us of their danger, to illustrate the grace of God in the preservation of those who are intrusted with them, or to display moral and spiritual endowments to advantage. For if persons possessed of genuine religion occupy a higher station, they are not only more tried than others, but more seen, more exemplary, more influential, and have more opportunities and means of usefulness. While others, by the obscurity of their condition, are like a candle placed under a bushel, they are like “a candle set on a candlestick, which giveth light to all that are in the house.” They are “a city set on a hill which cannot be hid.”

“Not many mighty, not many noble are called.”

But in all a“”es there have been some who have brouG;ht all their distinctions to the foot of the Cross, willing to part with all to purchase the yearl of great price. These have been so few, as to make it obvious that the cause of religion has not been indebted for its support to worldly greatness, but to the power of God; while they have been sufficiently numerous to remove the reproach of those who would conclude that the Gospel is only suited to the vulgar and illiterate, and to keep from absolute despair those who find themselves awfully situated among the perils of eminence. “With God all things are possible.”

This Shunamite, therefore, will be found no less remarkable for her goodness than for her greatness. The place of her residence was Shunem, a town in the tribe of Issachar, in the road between Samaria and Carmel. This road Elisha often travelled, and one day as he was going by, she gave him an invitation to her house. It does not appear that at this time she had any particular knowledge of him. It was therefore an act of hospitality rather than of friendship. But friendship was soon the result of kindness; and we may observe that some of the most remarkable friendships that have ever been formed, have been formed incidentally. They have not grown out of any previous design, but have risen from casual intercourse, from some agreeable word, some seasonable attention, or the performance of some obliging office.

Indeed, while we are doing good to others, we are always in the way of finding good for ourselves; and the event before us brings to our recollection the words of the Apostle to the Hebrews, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaAvarcs.” This was the case with Abraham, this was the case with Lot, and this was nearly the case with the Shunaraite. While they accommodated some of the Heavenly Host, she welcomes a Prophet of the most High God. We cannot suppose that this will ever be our case, but it will be well for us to find at the Day of Judgment, that by the exercise of benevolence and liberality towards the poor, and destitute, and helpless, we have entertained not a projDhet, nor an angel, but the Lord of all; and to hear him say, “I was a stranger and ye took me in — inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.”

Why was Elisha so backward to comply with thi generous invitation? Did he feel the embarrassment which has often appeared so formidable to men of retired habits at their introduction to company? Was he unambitious of mixing with those above him in rank? Was he ignorant of the character of this great and good woman? Was he unwilling to give trouble? Would he ascertain his welcome by importunity? However this may be, importunity was necessary. “She constrained him.”

Elisha was so satisfied and delighted with the reception he met with, that from this time “as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.” But if she has gained his confidence, he has gained her veneratipn and esteen|; and, struck with her observation of the simplicity of his manners, the sanctity of his life, the frequency and fervency of his devotions, she said unto her husband, “Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 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; and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.” There are two things in this design that are worthy of our remark. The one is, that she would not imdertake this business without the knowledge and consent of her husband. Nothing can atone for the want of confidence in the marriage state. By the very nature of their union, the parties have given up themselves to each other, and are no longer their own. They therefore should feel not only a communion, but a community of joys and sorrows, and maintain a unity of views and interests. Nothing is more likely to subtract from domestic happiness, than the discovery or apprehension of carrying on any separate design. How shameful is the conduct of some husbands. They gamble, they speculate in business, they entangle themselves in the affairs of this life, and pull down ruin upon their families, while their suffering wives (though perhaps reflected upon as in some measure the cause) know nothing till they feel the crash, and their hearts are desolate within them.

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