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THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS

Text: 2 Kings 4
23 February 2010

(I) THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS

1. The sons of the prophets

a) There were “schools of prophets” existing

i) In the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 19:22)

ii) In the days of Elijah (2 Kings 2; 3, 5, 7)

iii) In the days of Elisha (2 Kings 2:3, 5, 7; 2 Kings 4:1)

b) Some of these pupils were well-to-do

Together they had 50 servants who did their bidding (2 Kings 2:16)

c) Some of them had families (2 Kings 4:1)

d) Some were quite poor (2 Kings 4:1)

2. Plight of a woman whose late husband was one of the sons of the prophets

a) Profile of the late son of the prophets

“He feared the LORD” 2 Kings 4:1c

b) He had obviously incurred debts

c) His creditors threatened to take away her two sons to pay off the debt

(II) A GLIMPSE OF THE MINISTRY OF ELISHA AMONG THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS

1. Elisha’s questions

“What shall I do for you?” 2 Kings 4:2a

“Tell me, what do you have in the house?” 2 Kings 4:2b

2. Widow’s reply

“Nothing in the house” 2 Kings 4:2c

“Except a jar of oil” 2 Kings 4:2d

3. Elisha’s order

a) Borrow vessels

“Go, borrow vessels everywhere, from all you neighbours- empty vessels; do not gather just a few.” 2 Kings 4:3

b) A special divine blessing

“And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” 2 Kings 4:4

4. Obedience of the widow

a) Borrowing done (assumed)

b) Behind closed doors

“So she went from him and shut the door and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out.” 2 Kings 4:5

c) All vessels filled

“Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ And he said to her, ‘There is not another vessel.’ So the oil ceased.” 2 Kings 4:6

5. Reporting to Elisha

“Then she came and told the man of God.” 2 Kings 4:7a

a) Accountability

b) Appreciation

6. Final instructions from Elisha

“And he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 2 Kings 4:7b

a) Sell the oil

b) Pay off the debt

c) Live off the money the sale of the oil fetched

(III) MIRACLE PERFORMED

1. Provision

2. Power