The Second Book of Kings
Chapter 4
¹ Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 1)
Oh God my Father You know how much we value our children, You also know about how sad it is for us to be separated from them or even worse experience their death. I pray for such men and women who for some reason or another have been separated or denied contact from their loved ones, so that You can stand up for us and settle this injustice Amen.
² Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" She answered, "Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God my Father if You did all for us and we were simply spectators we would have appreciated nothing and in time we would have forgotten Your acts of kindness. However, even though You want to help us, You want us to play that small part in collaboration with Him. However limited or extensive our skills and resources are, however big or small our jar of oil is You want us to use it, not only for ourselves but more for the good of others Amen and then God will think abundantly of our needs Amen.
³ He said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few. ⁴ Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full set it aside."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 3 to 4)
Oh God my Father I thank You for Your Divine providence. I am convinced that if I am generous with my wife, You will be more than generous with me Amen.
⁵ So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 5)
Oh God my Father, when we shut out all distractions in our lives and decide to focus on doing Your will alone, miracles do take place and I can testify to this Amen.
⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." But he said to her, "There are no more." Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father I thank You for Your providence. You know our wants needs and desires, You also know when we have our full share of both blessings and tribulations. Amen. I would also like to thank You again for Your providence Amen.
⁸ One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 8)
Oh God my Father I also thank You for accepting me before You in prayer. Every day You invite me for a healthy meal of Your Word in order to nourish both my body and my soul Amen. Thanks Jesus.
⁹ She said to her husband, "Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 9)
Oh God my Father people's perception can differ, today I am perceived as a priest, tomorrow as a dog trainer, and later on as an abuser. However, the only person who knows me as I really am is You my God and Father Amen.
¹⁰ Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 10)
Oh God my Father I pray that we have love compassion respect and kindness towards Your people, or to anyone of us who manifests Your presence even though the person might not be a Christian or a Catholic. May we be hospitable to others Amen.
¹¹ One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 11)
Oh God my Father I thank You for all the commodities such as my house that You have provided me. I pray that I make good use of such means Amen and thank You all the time for them Amen.
¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. ¹³ He said to him, "Say to her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?" She answered, " I live among my own people," ¹⁴ He said, "What then may be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." ¹⁵ He said, "Call her." When he had called her she stood at the door. ¹⁶ "At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son." She replied, "No my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 12 to 16)
Many times oh God my Father we welcome good news with doubts and fear, because we do not always base our trust on You but on what is human factual and logical as in the case of this woman. Teach us oh God my Father to change this mindset and become people who have full confidence in You and who are possibility thinkers Amen.
¹⁷ The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father, You have always kept Your Word now and forever. You are the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You always keep Your Word and Your promises Amen.
¹⁸ When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. ¹⁹ He complained to his father, "Oh my head, my head! The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother," ²⁰ He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon and he died.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 18 to 20)
Oh God, my Father I pray that we become more and more sensitive to the needs of others especially those who are closest to us so much that we can respond to their needs be they spiritual, physical or even emotional or psychological Amen.
²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 21)
A drop of faith is all that is required and even that is a luxury during these times. Teach us oh God to place our complete trust in You Amen.
²² Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 22)
Oh God my Father may we all have the faith of this woman and perform such acts of faith instead of losing hope and trusting solely our own resources Amen.
²³ He said, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She said, "It will be all right,"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 23)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for making males and females differ from each other because together they complement each other in seeing the world and making decisions from different perspectives. I pray for unity love, and understanding, among married couples and others in different forms of relationships. Amen.
²⁴ Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you." ²⁵ So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite woman; ²⁶ run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?" She answered, "It is all right".
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 24 to 26)
Oh God my Father I cannot stop and admire the faith of this woman, who humbled herself and did the job of her servant and saddled the donkey in order to reach her aim and meet the man of God. I pray for such faith and determination Amen. When we act in faith and with faith You start opening the doors that appeared to be locked one by one for our benefit. Amen.
²⁷ When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 27)
Oh God my Father our non-verbals speak faster than our verbals, our bodies show signs that we are experiencing distress and sadness. You are the one who is able to read our minds and hearts and show compassion and understanding to us. I pray for this gift in relation to others. Although I am trained in empathy skills, I pray for more sensitivity and understanding especially during such cases Amen.
²⁸ Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 28)
Oh God my Father when experiencing the reality of death we tend to throw the blame on You to make us feel righteous. This woman sort of said. Your God gave me the child because you asked Your God to give it to me and now Your God mislead me by taking my child away, by permitting him to die!.
²⁹ He said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand; and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 29)
Oh God, my Father, brothers and sisters, there are situations when You my God and Father can instantly intervene without our need to pray for such needs, however, as humans, You wish us to pay that little contribution in acts of faith. If you always responded positively automatically to our needs we would end up using You like a magician and we would no longer seek a relationship with You as our God and Father Amen.
³⁰ Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you." So he rose up and followed her.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 30)
Oh God my Father I pray that we have the same faith and persistence as this woman, for if she placed her trust in this man of God, how much more would she place her faith and trust in You my God and Father. She is an example for all of us Amen.
² Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" She answered, "Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 2)
Oh God my Father if You did all for us and we were simply spectators we would have appreciated nothing and in time we would have forgotten Your acts of kindness. However, even though You want to help us, You want us to play that small part in collaboration with Him. However limited or extensive our skills and resources are, however big or small our jar of oil is You want us to use it, not only for ourselves but more for the good of others Amen and then God will think abundantly of our needs Amen.
³ He said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few. ⁴ Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full set it aside."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 3 to 4)
Oh God my Father I thank You for Your Divine providence. I am convinced that if I am generous with my wife, You will be more than generous with me Amen.
⁵ So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 5)
Oh God my Father, when we shut out all distractions in our lives and decide to focus on doing Your will alone, miracles do take place and I can testify to this Amen.
⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." But he said to her, "There are no more." Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 6 to 7)
Oh God my Father I thank You for Your providence. You know our wants needs and desires, You also know when we have our full share of both blessings and tribulations. Amen. I would also like to thank You again for Your providence Amen.
⁸ One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 8)
Oh God my Father I also thank You for accepting me before You in prayer. Every day You invite me for a healthy meal of Your Word in order to nourish both my body and my soul Amen. Thanks Jesus.
⁹ She said to her husband, "Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 9)
Oh God my Father people's perception can differ, today I am perceived as a priest, tomorrow as a dog trainer, and later on as an abuser. However, the only person who knows me as I really am is You my God and Father Amen.
¹⁰ Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 10)
Oh God my Father I pray that we have love compassion respect and kindness towards Your people, or to anyone of us who manifests Your presence even though the person might not be a Christian or a Catholic. May we be hospitable to others Amen.
¹¹ One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 11)
Oh God my Father I thank You for all the commodities such as my house that You have provided me. I pray that I make good use of such means Amen and thank You all the time for them Amen.
¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. ¹³ He said to him, "Say to her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?" She answered, " I live among my own people," ¹⁴ He said, "What then may be done for her?" Gehazi answered, "Well, she has no son, and her husband is old." ¹⁵ He said, "Call her." When he had called her she stood at the door. ¹⁶ "At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son." She replied, "No my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 12 to 16)
Many times oh God my Father we welcome good news with doubts and fear, because we do not always base our trust on You but on what is human factual and logical as in the case of this woman. Teach us oh God my Father to change this mindset and become people who have full confidence in You and who are possibility thinkers Amen.
¹⁷ The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 17)
Oh God my Father, You have always kept Your Word now and forever. You are the whole truth and nothing but the truth. You always keep Your Word and Your promises Amen.
¹⁸ When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. ¹⁹ He complained to his father, "Oh my head, my head! The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother," ²⁰ He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon and he died.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 18 to 20)
Oh God, my Father I pray that we become more and more sensitive to the needs of others especially those who are closest to us so much that we can respond to their needs be they spiritual, physical or even emotional or psychological Amen.
²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 21)
A drop of faith is all that is required and even that is a luxury during these times. Teach us oh God to place our complete trust in You Amen.
²² Then she called to her husband, and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 22)
Oh God my Father may we all have the faith of this woman and perform such acts of faith instead of losing hope and trusting solely our own resources Amen.
²³ He said, "Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath." She said, "It will be all right,"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 23)
Oh God, my Father, I thank You for making males and females differ from each other because together they complement each other in seeing the world and making decisions from different perspectives. I pray for unity love, and understanding, among married couples and others in different forms of relationships. Amen.
²⁴ Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you." ²⁵ So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite woman; ²⁶ run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?" She answered, "It is all right".
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 24 to 26)
Oh God my Father I cannot stop and admire the faith of this woman, who humbled herself and did the job of her servant and saddled the donkey in order to reach her aim and meet the man of God. I pray for such faith and determination Amen. When we act in faith and with faith You start opening the doors that appeared to be locked one by one for our benefit. Amen.
²⁷ When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 27)
Oh God my Father our non-verbals speak faster than our verbals, our bodies show signs that we are experiencing distress and sadness. You are the one who is able to read our minds and hearts and show compassion and understanding to us. I pray for this gift in relation to others. Although I am trained in empathy skills, I pray for more sensitivity and understanding especially during such cases Amen.
²⁸ Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?"
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 28)
Oh God my Father when experiencing the reality of death we tend to throw the blame on You to make us feel righteous. This woman sort of said. Your God gave me the child because you asked Your God to give it to me and now Your God mislead me by taking my child away, by permitting him to die!.
²⁹ He said to Gehazi, "Gird up your loins and take my staff in your hand; and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 29)
Oh God, my Father, brothers and sisters, there are situations when You my God and Father can instantly intervene without our need to pray for such needs, however, as humans, You wish us to pay that little contribution in acts of faith. If you always responded positively automatically to our needs we would end up using You like a magician and we would no longer seek a relationship with You as our God and Father Amen.
³⁰ Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you." So he rose up and followed her.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 30)
Oh God my Father I pray that we have the same faith and persistence as this woman, for if she placed her trust in this man of God, how much more would she place her faith and trust in You my God and Father. She is an example for all of us Amen.
³¹ Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verse 31)
Oh God my Father You give special gifts such as the gift of physical and or spiritual healing to particular people. This is not a gift given to all of us. However if this gift is not practised in faith in Your Name it will become ineffective or end up becoming like witchcraft a series of actions and spells. However when healing is done by faith the consequences and witnesses are many and the healing is long term..
³² When Elisha came into the house he saw the child lying dead on his bed. ³³ So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 32 to 33)
Oh God my Father You know the level of our faith and You know how much we can afford to experience. The prophet closed the doors on the parents of the child because they may not have been ready to witness such an event. Oh God my Father I pray that You also handle me with care during the circumstances of my life Amen.
³⁴ Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm.
(The Second Book of Kings Chapter 4 verses 34)
Oh God my Father I thank You for giving humans the gift of healing both physical, spiritual and even psychological. I pray that one day You make of me such a person Amen for the good of others. I pray that You use me as a tool for the healing and salvation of many souls Amen.
