Chapter Outline
Elisha prophesies plenty. (1, 2)
The flight of the Syrian army. (3–11)
Samaria plentifully supplied. (12–20)Verses 1, 2
Man's extremity is God's opportunity of making his own power to be glorious: his time to appear
for his people is when their strength is gone. Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and
displease God, and deprive themselves of the favours he designed for them. Such will be the portion
of those that believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it at a distance, but shall never
taste of it. But no temporal deliverances and mercies will in the end profit sinners, unless they are
led to repentance by the goodness of God.
Verses 3–11
God can, when he pleases, make the stoutest heart to tremble; and as for those who will not
fear God, he can make them fear at the shaking of a leaf. Providence ordered it, that the lepers came
as soon as the Syrians were fled. Their consciences told them that mischief would befall them, if
they took care of themselves only. Natural humanity, and fear of punishment, are powerful checks
on the selfishness of the ungodly. These feelings tend to preserve order and kindness in the world;
but they who have found the unsearchable riches of Christ, will not long delay to report the good
tidings to others. From love to him, not from selfish feelings, they will gladly share their earthly
good things with their brethren.
Verses 12–20
Here see the wants of Israel supplied in a way they little thought of, which should encourage
us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. God's promise may be
safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground. The nobleman that questioned the truth
of Elisha's word, saw the plenty, to silence and shame his unbelief, and therein saw his own folly;
but he did not eat of the plenty he saw. Justly do those find the world's promises fail them, who
think that the promises of God will disappoint them. Learn how deeply God resents distrust of his
power, providence, and promise: how uncertain life is, and the enjoyments of it: how certain God's
threatenings are, and how sure to come on the guilty. May God help us to inquire whether we are
exposed to his threatenings, or interested in his promises.
Chapter 8
Chapter Outline