What can be the object of this Shunammite in this journey? Are not all her hopes now gone? The child is dead. Had he still life in him there might be hopes. But now he is dead; wherefore go to the prophet? Doth she really believe that the prophet can raise him from the dead? Yes, Reader; depend upon it she thought so. I do not, for myself, hesitate to conclude that she really did believe that Elisha would give her son to her again. For observe, she said to her husband as she went: It shall be well. And I confess that I am the more inclined to this conclusion, because the apostle Paul, under the Holy Ghost, tells us in his animated account of those illustrious heroes of faith in the Old Testament scripture, that the faith of the woman was such as to receive their dead raised to life again. See Hebrews 11:35. Hence therefore this woman, with a faith in God's covenant-love and mercy, and which is equal to almost anything we meet with in scripture, was so firmly persuaded that the gracious God who gave this child to her, on her part unasked, could as easily restore him to her again, that she hastens to the prophet to seek an interest in his prayers for the accomplishment of it. So that she leaves her dead child to fly to the living God. She makes no preparation for his burial; as if confident he should not be buried; but tells her husband all shall be well; and like a true descendant and daughter of the patriarch, goes in faith and confidence to God, accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead. Hebrews 11:19. Stop, Reader, I pray you, before you go further in the relation of this wonderful history, and ask your own heart whether, amidst the lesser trials for the exercise of your faith, you can imitate such an illustrious example! have not you the same gracious covenant God to fly to as she had? Hath the Lord anytime raised your expectations in his pardoning love and mercy; and hath any thwarting providences afterwards intervened so as to cloud your hopes; how do you feel upon those occasions? It is true you have not the prophet Elisha to intercede for you. But I hope you do not overlook and forget that you have one infinitely higher, even the Lord God of all prophets, Jesus, Jehovah's High Priest forever, an everlasting advocate with the Father, and the propitiation of our sins. Oh! precious Jesus! how faded appear the most splendid actions of all thy ministering servants, when thy glory is beheld in view.
Related Commentaries of 2 Kings 4:22
2 Kings 4:22-24
22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.d
24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slacke not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.