504. 2KI 4:26. A NEW YEAR’S FRIENDLY INTERROGATION

2Ki_4:26. A New Year’s Friendly Interrogation

"Is it well with thee? Is it well with thy husband! Is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well."’972Ki_4:26.

Our subject takes us back to the time of the prophet Elisha. The holy prophet of God often had to pass in his journeys through a place called Shunem. In this place dwelt a distinguished woman, doubtless, a true servant of the God of Israel. Observing the prophet, she made him welcome to the hospitalities of her house. The prophet’s journeys being frequent, she at length said to her husband, "Behold. now I perceive," &c., ver. 9. Think of a prophet’s accommodation, &c. Elisha, grateful for the kindness proposed, said to Gehazi, his servant, &c., ver. 12. Her noble answer exhibited satisfaction and contentment with her lot. How worthy of our imitation. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." God favored this good woman, who had been childless, with a son. This son was the object of peculiar affection. He must have lived at least for some years. At length, however, the child died,’97died suddenly, ver. 18. Her affliction was great,’97the blessing given suddenly snatched away. Observe the course she adopted, ver. 22. Elisha witnesses her approach, and sends Gehazi to meet her with the interrogations of the text. The text exhibits resignation and submission under a very dark and trying dispensation. God’s government must be always well; his dispensations are all mercy and truth. But to feel this and confess it, and act accordingly, is difficult, but not impossible. But we leave the original occurrences of he text to dwell on the interrogation, "Is it well with thee?" We apply the text to the soul,’97to that thinking principle which is endowed with conciousness, and which bears the impress of immortality. Is it well with your souls?

I. Let me assist you to answer the question.

"Is it well with thee?"

1. If so, it is different with you now to what it once was.

It cannot be well with the person who is in his natural unconverted state. It cannot be well for the soul to be in darkness, in disease, in guilt, in fetters, under sentence of death, exposed to everlasting ruin. Now, this is the state of every person who is not changed by the grace of God. This was the state of every believer before they knew the grace of God in truth. Have you passed from death unto life? Have you been brought up out of the horrible pit, &,c.? Have you been plucked as a brand, &c.? Can you say, I, even I have obtained mercy. If it is well with you,

2. You are the children of God’s family.

Look at the prodigal famishing, ready to perish; look at him then clothed, with the ring of reconciliation, at the festive board. Every believer is a child of God. He resembles God. He loves God. He fears God. He serves God. If it is well with you,

3. You have an interest in the precious promises.

Word of God full of these; for body and soul, time and eternity; they refer to every possible condition, and ensure every blessing we can possibly need. "Hereby are given unto us great and precious promises," &c. With these we are rich and ought to be happy’97without them, we are wretched and poor. If it is well with you,

4. You have a sure title, and a bright hope of a better world.

Some persons never think of another world,’97care not, &c. Death is a step in the dark. The Christian knows by the conviction of faith in God’s word that there is a better world. He acts upon the direction of the gospel; embraces the offer of God’s grace; and confidently hopes and looks. Looking for the blessed hope, &c. "Rejoice not in this that the devils are subject," &c. "I know whom I have believed," &c. "For we know if this the earthly house," &c. If it is well with you 5. You are glorifying God in the world It cannot be well with the misanthrope’97such a one as Cain. With the slothful who labor not in their vocation, &c. With those who do no good; shed no influence abroad; remove no sorrow; diffuse no bliss. It is well with the active, useful, liberal Christian.

II. Let me urge the question upon a variety of characters present.

1. Professors, is it well with you?

Is your profession the title-page to the contents of your hearts? Have you the root of the matter? Have you a pacified conscience? Are you bearing fruit? Is it increasingly well with you? Are you truly the better for your religion, and is religion greatly bettered by you?

2. Young persons, is well with you?

Do you fear God in youth? Do you cleanse your way, by taking heed unto God’s word? Do you avoid evil company? Do you flee the scenes of folly and dissipation? Have you given your hearts to God? Do you daily pray, "My Father, be thou the guide of my youth?"

3. Parents, is it well with you?

Have you a strong impregnable wall round your families? Is the God of Israel your defence? Have you his blessing on your substance? Is God supreme ruler? Have you an altar,’97is the voice of prayer heard?

4. My aged friends, is it well with you?

As the outward man decays, &c. Do you bring forth fruit to old age? What is your conversation, experience, influence? Are you ripening for heaven? Are you sailing close to the shores of glory?

5. Inquirers, is it well with you?

Oh, you say, we wish it were,’97you are mourning, distressed, &c. Well, it is well with you,’97God says so. "Blessed are they that mourn," &c. "To that man will I look," &c. Was it not well with the publican, the woman who was a sinner, &c.

6. Careless sinner, is it well with you?

It cannot be, "Say unto the wicked, it shall be ill," &c. It is not now, and it must be worse and worse. But it may be well with you. "If you repent," &c.

IN CONCLUSION,

1. Let each ask the question. Is it well with my soul? Well in real experience? Well for the next world?

2. We cannot settle this question with absolute certainty for others. We are not called to judge. Examine thyself. Prove thyself, &c. Carnal people cannot judge.

3. Let our course be to please God, and then it must be well with us forever.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS