692. 2KI 7:2. THE UNBELIEVING LORD
2Ki_7:2. The Unbelieving Lord
"Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said. Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof."’972Ki_7:2.
One of the greatest scourges of our race has been war. In itself, it is a fearful evil, an unmitigated woe. It is the harbinger of many sorrows,’97death and hell follow in its train. Where war triumphs, desolation reigns; and misery and want prevail. It has been the occasion of the greatest atrocities, and it has transformed even the lovelier sex of our race into living monstrosities.
Our text relates to the siege of Samaria; chap. 2Ki_6:25. Then follows an account of the woes which succeeded.
We see, in the sequel, the wrath of the king towards Elisha, instead of being indignant with his own sins. How men quarrel with any thing rather than the evil of their souls, and the idol of their hearts! At length, deliverance draws near, Elisha is the message-bearer of the glad tidings; 2Ki_6:1.
To these, one of the lords, leaning on the arm of the king, ventured to express his unbelief; to which Elisha replied, "Behold, thou shalt see it," &c.
Observe,
I. All events are under the Divine control. God ruleth in the heavens above, and on the earth beneath. In all the ordinary arrangements of the world, he ruleth. His power and wisdom are in constant exercise. In all the extraordinary events, he is working by his Almighty arm. All events on a grand scale! All those on the smallest. His government is universal’97taking in all. It is minute, including every event.
(1.) Observe, a recognition of this is highly important.
(2.) To live under the influence of this, is one part of true religion.
(3.) Where this is the case, there will be waiting upon God, and resignation to his will.
II. There is no misery or calamity which God cannot avert, or overrule for good.
This necessarily follows the last proposition. See it, when Pharaoh pursues the Israelites. Humanly speaking, there was no hope. But how God delivered Israel, and destroyed Pharaoh, &c. Look at the case in the text. There seemed no ray of hope for the people of Samaria; and observe how God opened an effectual door of deliverance; 2Ki_6:3, &c.
The spoils and plenty of their besiegers enriched them. They were relieved from the camp of their enemies.
When we think of the knowledge of Jehovah’97
His irresistible power!
His numbered resources!
Then we may conclude, that there is no misery which he cannot remove.
Observe,
III. The folly and wickedness of unbelief in reference to the doings of Jehovah.
It is foolish for a worm of the earth to dictate to God. To limit his working hand. To pronounce what he can, or cannot perform. A child might laugh at the discoveries of Newton. A savage might despise the reasonings of Bacon. But neither of these equal in infatuation, the mind which ventures to set bounds to the arrangements and workings of God.
But unbelief is wicked.’97It despises God.’97It gives the lie to God.
God spake by Elisha in the text; and a creature of the dust throws back the declaration, with unbelieving derision. Now, think of the pride and presumption of such a course! And yet, alas, how common!
Thus all skeptics treat the Word of God, and revealed religion. Disputing and denying God’s ability to declare his mind, &c.
Thus all presumptuous sinners treat the threatenings of future punishment.
Thus all rejecters of the gospel treat the overtures of dying love.
Thus all unbelievers treat the promises, when they despond in the day of trial and affliction, &c.
Unbelief under the gospel is a denial of the love of God’97a rejection of the grace, that gave the Lord Jesus to death, &c.
IV. Unbelievers are often overwhelmed with irresistible evidence.
So it was with the inhabitants of the old world, when the flood came.
So with the unbelieving Jews in the wilderness.
So with the unbelieving lord.
So often with sinners in this life, when overwhelmed with remorse.
So it shall be at the day of judgment, with all the ungodly. They shall see and hear what they have refused to believe.
So with the lost in perdition, through all eternity.
V. The convictions produced by the judgments of God, bring no relief to the unbelieving.
"Thine eyes shall see, but thou shalt not eat;" 2Ki_5:18, &c.
This is just emblematical of the state of the lost.’97They shall see Christ, but have no interest in him.’97They shall see heaven, but have no right to its glories.’97They shall behold the tree of life and the rivers of pleasure, but shall not have access thereto, or enjoy the light or joy of the blessedness they behold.
Application
1. How evil and disastrous is unbelief. It now prevents the salvation of the soul.
It keeps men from the cross of Christ. It keeps men in a state of guilt, and misery, and condemnation’97beneath the curse and wrath of God.
2. How sweet the message of mercy.
To the slaves of satanic war and besiegement. To the starving sinner, it offers deliverance and plenty. Let the message be heartily embraced. Receive it with all gladness, and enjoy the blessedness it declares.
3. From these blessings none are excluded, but those who unbelievingly exclude themselves.
"Ye will not come unto me," &c.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS