GREAT WOMAN OF SHUNEM

2 KINGS 4:8

A. "AND IT FELL ON A DAY THAT ELISHA PASSED TO SHUNEM WHERE WAS A GREAT WOMAN; AND SHE CONSTRAINED HIM TO EAT BREAD. AND SO IT WS THAT AS OFT AS HE PASSED BY, HE TURNED IN THITHER TO EAT BREAD"
  1. Here we have another providential inspired story of one of the brilliant stars in the galaxy of God's jewels:
    1. A nameless Bible woman
    2. Elisha called her "Shunemite" - 2 Kings 4:25
  2. Here identity becomes very plain:
    1. Not because of a name given to her by mother
    2. But her outstanding personality and hospitality
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS SHUNEMITE
  1. The Bible says:
    1. That she was a great woman
    2. What makes a person great? An outstanding character; a special accomplishment; and extended influenced; and the blessings of God make a person great; Examples: Jochebed was great because of what she dared to do to save the life of her son - Ex. 2; David was great because of his daring to save the honor of God and his country - I Sam. 17; Zacharius and Elizabeth were great because of their godliness Luke 1:5-6; Daniel was great for a number of reasons - Dan. 10:11
  2. The greatness of the Shunemite:
    1. She was magnanimous - given to hospitality Heb. 13:1-3; Gen. 18:2-9
    2. She appreciated the work of servants of the Lord; she noticed the toil of Elisha
    3. She persuaded her husband to share their home with the prophet 2 Kings 4:9-10
    4. All this without any charge to the prophet of God
  3. Reward of her hospitality:
    1. God never leaves our services unrewarded - Matt. 25:31-42; Matt. 10:42
    2. Her reward was a son - the gift of God as truly as Isaac and Samson were the gift of heaven - 2 Kings 4:13-17
  4. Her faith tested:
    1. About three of four years of family joy graced the home of the Shunemite; those must have been wonderful days
    2. But this joy was broken; her son fell sick and died - 2 Kings 4:18-20 c, Why this? Not to hurt that great woman, but to help her to realize that that son was the gift of heaven; she got him back again
C. WHAT WE MAY LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THAT GREAT WOMAN - THE SHUNEMITE
  1. That God has always had outstanding persons who served His cause well in the hour of need:
    1. The Shunemite woman left during the time of great apostasy in Israel; idolatry was rampant in Israel
    2. But God had His Shunemite who loved Him and had not bowed her knees before Baal
    3. She treasured the ministry of Elisha and sought to support it with her hospitality
  2. That true greatness is found:
    1. In a person's attitude toward God and His cause; the Bible is full of vivid examples - Hebrews 11
    2. True greatness manifests itself in one's service for God and mankind - Christ the Son of God stated the principle of true greatness in these words, "He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief as he that doth serve" - Luke 22:24-27
  3. Interest in the well-being of the servants of the Lord is a mark of distinction of a true saint:
    1. We might never have known the Shunemite of our subject had it not been for hospitality to Elisha
    2. One never knows but what angels come to share our hospitality - Heb. 13:1-3; Gen. 18:1-26
  4. Also, God does at times, test our reliance upon Him:
    1. By taking from us what he had given to us; He did that to Abraham - Gen. 22:1-12; He did that to the Shunemite; and He did to Job - Job 1:21
    2. This may explain some of our experiences that perplex us - when reverses fall after having been blessed in a marked way


Design © John Bryant 2011