Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-03-06
Misttllaneous.
A Mothers Victory.


The reason was that Israel was the forlOrn hoE
Of the world. All other nations were sunk in 81
Perstition and despotism. Israel was the lour
tain of faith, freedom, and knowledge. But I
save Israel herself from apostacy under the oYeI
whelming pressure of a worlds opposition, Pra
phets were necessary; and to have prophets the
must have miracles. Therefore miracles wer
needed, and are credible
Another domestic picture is painted for Us i
the house ola lady of Shunem. Shunem, was
village on the great Esdraelon plain, just north
Gllboa, where the Philistans encamped before tn
bate in which Saul was slain.
The picture is 50 contrived as to let us int
several matters not otherwise revealed. The la
dy was wealthy but childless, living with her hus
band in her native village, in house fronting o.
the highway.
| With the genuine hospitality of Oriental man.
ners, It seems she had constrained certain way
fsrng man whom she did not know, to eat bread
and lodge in her house. Afterwards the stranger
used always to stop there whenever he passed and
| repassed.
| This by the way shows us that Elisha, for il
was he, was man Of active habits. He was a
| pedestrian, an itinerant. Was there not pro-
| phet-school at Carmel, another at Jericho, and
others at intermediate points, and was he not in
the habit of visiting them in order going and re-
turning AT length she discovered his Office and
her speech to her husband throws light on the
housekeeping of those tines.
"Behold now, perceive that this is nan Of
God that passeth By us continually. Let US make
chamber pray thee OF tie wall; and let us set
for him there a bed, and table, aud stool, and
candlestick, and it shall be when he cnmeth I'M
TO US that he shall turn in thither.r
This room on the wall was probably over the
front gateway, like the rooms above the concer
gerie of an old French mansion. Houses were
built round square court. The front gate OPEN
ed into the court through half and over that hall
there were rooms furnished.
This simple little room, so pretty described,
OF how many prophets chambers" has it been the
model in all ages! Thousands Of pious mothers
have said just so to their husbands, and done Just
so, providing a retreat, home for Christ in the
person of his poor pilgrim wayfsrers And so,
when some people might ask, "whst is the use Of
such stories as this in the Biblel Did it need in
spiration to tell US smplcities ike this!' The
answer is ready. Only inspiration truly divine
would have incorporated such apparently trivial
incidents of home life, in professed revelation
from God, in such discretion as neither to over
burden the narrative, nor yet leave it bald and
barren.
By this very anecdote, SO vivid, yet simple, the
Holy Spirit knew how to strike just the right chord
in pious hearts in all ages And the little picture
has done more than the long charity sermon.
Thus domesticated Elisha bethought him of re-
warding his benefectress. For then it was true,
as it shall be hereafter, that none might give cup
of cold water to a prophet without prophets re-
ward He sends Gehazi, his seryant,-snd this
by the way is his first appearance in the narrative,
saying, "BehOld thou hast been careful for us
with all this care, what is to be done for thee!-
Wouldst thou be spoken for to the king, or to the
captain Of the host!'
Noticeable this. There must have been a
change since Elijah's time. Eijahs recommen-
datian at the court of Ahab and Jezebel would
is of some consequence. His word with the king
or captain would have weight. Probably the
death of Ahab, the burning of the two flties, the
translation of Elijah, the death of Ahaziah, and
the fate of the Bethel mob, had produced an effect
after the successful enterprise against
Moab.
Elisha, therefore, occupied much more infiu-
entail position than ever Elijah had done. To his
offers of court-services, however, the lady replied
81 dwell among mine own people, live on my
own inheritanee-in my native place, among my
own connections, and have all want, SO far as
social position is concerned. l am independent
in circumstances.
What them says Elisha, sis TO be done fer |
herr"
verify replies Gehaz, "She both no child |!
and her husband is old"
Accordingly the prophet gave her the promise |
Of a son-in those times, and particularly in Is |
greatest boon conceivable to woman |
For out of Israel Messiah must spring, aud who |
could tell -. /
After the child was grown to boyGood he was
suddenly cut off by sun-stfoke, SO common and |
so fatal in the East. He had gone TO his father
with reapers. The harvest sun 5hOne with H.
tense fervor. The boy was careless. All at
once his father heard him cry "My head! my |
heaG."
sCarry him to his mother!'' he exclaimed to |
one of the hands And he set on her knees till /
noon, aud died.
The conduct of the mother under these circum-
stances is peculiarly touching There is net /
more finely drawn sketch in any work of fiction !
or Of fact. She is too filed with emotion to |
speak. All her sentences are short, sbrupt.-
Her actions are imPetuous. She Is driven by a
rcsistless momentum of deep feeling.
She sends 10 her husband for servant and an |
ass. And here incidentally we have another
glimpse into the religious history Of the times
When he tells her Il IS neither new moon, nor
Sabbath, It seems to imply that she had been in /
the habit of attending religious meetings on such |
occasions, at which Elisha probably oficated.- |
And aside from this little conversational opening, |
we have scarcely loop-hole through which to
spy into the religious habits of the people
1t was as if he had said to her, "Why, what can /
you want of a travelling equipsge. You are not /
going to meeting are you!'
at is well, is the only reply she dare trust her
self to make. She will not ackno# ledge, even to /