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THE WIDOW’S OIL INCREASED
FROM every event recorded in the Old Testament, there is much useful instruction to be derived. For instance, it is impossible to read with attention the account of the miracle before us, and not to see, that, in our deepest extremity, God is able and willing to relieve those who trust in him. But there are often minute incidents, which a superficial reader is apt to overlook, but which, to a considerate mind, suggest very important reflections. Of this kind is the incident mentioned in my text: the increase of oil continued as long as there was a vessel left to contain it; but when there remained no more a vessel to receive the oil, the supply ceased. So remarkable a circumstance as this cannot have occurred without a special design on the part of God that we should make a suitable improvement of it: and, that we may draw from it the instruction which it is well calculated to convey, I shall mark,
I. The bounty of God towards this insolvent widow—
Certainly her distress was great—
[She was the widow of a pious minister. Her late husband was one of the sons of the prophets: and so decided had been his piety, that she could appeal to the prophet himself, “Thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord.” He had died in debt; not through any extravagance of his: for a man that will run into debt for the purpose of indulging his pride and vanity, has no pretensions to real piety. Piety would teach him to “owe no man any thing,” and to deny himself any gratification rather than obtain it at the expense of common honesty. But in the days of Ahab and Jezebel, when a hundred prophets were hid by fifties in a cave, and fed with bread and water, at the expense of a single individual, to prevent their falling into the hands of their blood-thirsty persecutor, we wonder not that a pious minister should be involved in debt. And, indeed, at any time a man may be so oppressed with misfortunes or with sickness, as to preclude a possibility of avoiding debt, especially if he have, like this man, a wife and family to maintain.
But, to add to her affliction, she was warned by her creditors, that they would take her two sons, and sell them for bond-men. This the law enabled them to do [Note: Lev_25:39-40; Mat_18:25.]: and this would exceedingly augment her trouble, since to her widowhood and poverty would be added the loss of her sons, who were her only hope and support.
Under this heavy calamity she applied to the Prophet Elisha; who, though not able to relieve her himself, might possibly obtain relief for her from God.]
The relief afforded her, through the instrumentality of Elisha, was fully adequate to her necessities—
[The prophet interrogated her as to the means which were yet left her of discharging her debts: and being informed that nothing remained to her but a pot of oil, he directed her to borrow as many vessels as she could of her neighbours, and, with her doors closed in order to avoid the distraction which might be occasioned by impertinent curiosity, to pour out the oil into the vessels, under a full assurance that it should be so multiplied as to prove a supply for all her wants. The event fully answered her expectations: and in one hour she had enough to pay all her creditors, and to support herself and family for the future. Thus, in the hour of her necessity, did she experience the truth of that proverb, “In the mount the Lord shall be seen.”]
But the point to which we wish more particularly to draw your attention is, the stopping of the supply, when there were no more vessels to be filled. And this, whilst it shews how large God’s bounty is, shews also,
II. Whence it is that we also are not more enriched by it—
Our state accords in a measure with that of the insolvent widow, inasmuch as we are loaded with a debt which we can never discharge, and are threatened with everlasting bonds as the just consequence of our insolvency. But from God do I declare,
1. That relief shall be afforded you—
[God is both able and willing to relieve all who call upon him. He is able; as the Apostle has said: “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work [Note: 2Co_9:8.].” And to God he ascribes all glory, in that precise view: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen [Note: Eph_3:20.].” And He is as willing as he is able. It is for this very end that he has treasured up in Christ all fulness for us, that out of it we may receive to the utmost extent of our necessities [Note: Col_1:19; Joh_1:16.]. In Christ is “the residue of the Spirit [Note: Mal_2:15.];” whom he has “received without measure [Note: Joh_3:34.],” on purpose that he may impart of it unto us, even to the most rebellious amongst us [Note: Psa_68:18.].]
2. That if we receive not to the fullest possible extent of our necessities, it is “not in God that we are straitened, but in ourselves [Note: 2Co_6:12.]”—
[Most free are the invitations given us to come and receive God’s blessings “without money and without price [Note: Isa_55:1.].” And so largely is our Saviour willing to bestow them, that “they should be in us a well of water springing up unto everlasting life [Note: Joh_4:14.].” Yea, to all, without exception, does he make an offer, that, if they come unto him for the waters of life, “out of their belly shall flow rivers of living water.” “And this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive [Note: Joh_7:37-39.].” He is represented by the Prophet Zechariah as an inexhaustible fountain, even as that golden bowl which by golden pipes supplies with golden oil every lamp in God’s sanctuary [Note: Zec_4:1-6; Zec_4:11-14.]. He bids us “open our mouth wide, that he may fill it [Note: Psa_81:10.].” He assures us that we may “ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us [Note: Joh_15:7.]:” and that “according to our faith it shall be done unto us [Note: Mat_9:29.].” Why, then, have we for the most part so scanty a supply of God’s Holy Spirit? The reason may be seen in the conduct of king Joash. Elisha had told him that he should destroy the Syrians who had oppressed him: and he bade the king to strike the ground with the arrows which he had in his hand. The king, being deficient both in faith and zeal, struck the ground only three times, and thereby greatly incensed the prophet against him; and was told, that the mercy promised should be reduced to the scale which he himself, by his want of zeal, had dictated: for he should smite the Syrians only thrice; whereas, if he had struck the ground five or six times, he should have utterly consumed them [Note: 2Ki_13:15-19.]. Thus, if we were more urgent in our prayers, and more enlarged in our expectations, who can tell what supplies of the Holy Spirit we might obtain? Verily I speak not too strongly, if I say, that God would “pour him out so abundantly upon us [Note: Tit_3:6.],” that we should “be filled with all the fulness of God [Note: Eph_3:19.].”]
This, then, I would desire of you, my Brethren:
1. Beg of God to make you sensible of your wants—
[You are not a whit less indigent than that insolvent widow. But the testimony of faith is weak in comparison of that of sense. You see how bent she was on obtaining relief: let me entreat you to follow her steps in this respect; and to ask of God himself, who has promised to “supply all your wants according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus [Note: Php_4:19.].”]
2. Assign no limits to the supplies which he will afford you—
[See what God did on the day of Pentecost: three thousand were converted in one hour! And why should not his grace abound in like manner towards us? He has said, that “a nation shall be born in a day [Note: Isa_66:8.]:” and that “when he shall breathe upon the dry bones, the dead shall arise a whole army [Note: Eze_37:9-10.].” Enlarge, then, your expectations, to the utmost extent of God’s power and grace. And, if a doubt arise whether your insignificance or unworthiness shall not divert his attention from you, or arrest his arm, know, and be assured, that no father upon earth would so readily supply the wants of his first-born child, as God would fulfil your desires in the gift of his Holy Spirit to your souls [Note: Luk_11:13.]. “Ask, and ye shall receive; and your joy shall be full [Note: Joh_16:24.].”]