GOD PROVIDING FOR HIS SERVANT
2 Kings 4:8-10 "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 was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither."
Elisha was truly a man of God. He was a companion and a student of Elijah. He passed this way on a regular basis. There was in Shunem what our Bible calls, “A great woman.” She was as one has said, “of great wealth and riches, of great benevolence and hospitality, and of great grace and piety.”
Elisha traveled by this woman's house on a regular basis. Elisha was spotted by the woman and she urged her husband to build a room on their house so that Elisha would have a regular place to stay when he came that way.
She said to her husband, “and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither."
Let us look at the provisions that went into the room prepared for Elisha.
FIRST, THERE WAS A BED
The first was a bed which is a symbol of rest which is found in Christ, by coming to Him, and in being yoked in God's will with Him. This is brought out in Matthew +11:28 29, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
As we think of this as a spiritual rest we have peace of conscience, ease of mind, tranquility of soul, through an application of pardoning grace, a view of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, and full atonement of sin by his sacrifice.
The truth of God's rest is spoken of in Hebrews 4:1 2, "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."
SECOND, A TABLE WAS PROVIDED
The table is a symbol of fellowship with Him, for He spreads a table before us in the presence of our enemies according to Psalms 23:5, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
Jesus speaks to the Church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
One of the great truths of our salvation is that we can now come to the table of fellowship with Christ and feast on heavenly manna.
THIRD, A STOOL WAS PROVIDED
The stool is a symbol of instruction from Christ, for we must sit at His feet, and learn of Him, if we would be initiated into the secrets of His will. Deuteronomy 33:3, "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words."
Luke 10:39 42, "And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Mary chose the stool of the student before the Master teacher and Jesus said it would not be taken from her. He also classified the importance of this choice by saying,
