TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, Week of October 31 to November 6, 2022, “Raise your son”, Prepared Speech.

TREASURES OF THE BIBLE, 31-October-6-November 2022, “Raise your son”, Prepared Speech.

“Raise your son” (10 mins.)

There are few misfortunes in life that are as painful as the death of a child. And it is that when it comes to knowing that a child will come, there are so many emotions involved, so many illusions, a lot of planning. and when that child is already in the arms of the parents, there are indescribable sensations. And of course, it is generally expected that it will be the children who see their parents die and not the other way around. For that reason, in our section on Bible treasures, we are going to look at the topic “Raise up your son”.

These words were spoken by Elisha to a very beautiful and apparently wealthy woman. Although we don't have a name. we do have some qualities that are expressed at precise moments. we know that she was from a region where women were very beautiful, because one of them was the inspiration for the Song of Songs that Solomon wrote under divine inspiration and now we are going to examine other qualities that she had. Reading 2 Kings 4:8 -10.

LET'S READ 2 KINGS 4:8-10 .

One day, Elisha went to Shunem, where an important woman lived, and she insisted that he stay to eat. Whenever he passed by that place, he stopped to eat there. So she told her husband, “I know that this man who often comes this way is a holy man of God. Please, let's make a little room on the roof and put a bed, a table, a chair and a chandelier there for him. So he can stay there every time he comes.”

It is indicated that she was an important woman, so it seems that with her husband they had some economic resources. She showed very good qualities such as hospitality since the text mentions that he insisted that he stay with her and of course, he consulted with her husband to adapt a permanent place so that Elisha could condition and rest. As we can see, she recognized that he was a holy man of God, that her spiritual things brought her a lot. 

However, there was something she needed, a son. she was a barren woman and thanks to the generosity that she had shown with her prophet Elisha, Jehovah rewarded her with a son. Let's see what Elisha told her in 2 Kings 4: 16-17.

LET'S READ 2 KINGS 4:16-17.

Then Eliseo told him: "By this time next year you will have a son in your arms." But she said, “No, my lord, man of the true God! Do not tell lies to your servant.” However, the woman herself became pregnant and she gave birth to a son around the same time the following year, just as Elisha had told her.

A woman who, due to her age, had possibly lost all hope of being a mother, but it did not take away her desire to be generous, hospitable and to help a man of true God. And so it was on the announced day that Eliseo's prediction came, it came true, she had a child.

We can imagine the joy of that couple, especially this woman, who, thanks to her generosity, was rewarded. Without a doubt, she must have had beautiful feelings, happy to constantly thank Jehovah for what she had, a true gift from God.

Unfortunately, the joy did not last long. A few years later, while the boy was in the fields, he began to complain of a terrible headache. They immediately took him to his house, but the little boy died in his mother's lap. What did this woman do? She had lost what she had begun to love so much, where she had unloaded all of her emotions on her, her feelings of caring for something as beautiful as her child. 

Disconsolate, the woman placed him gently on her bed, on the bed where the prophet had slept so many times. What did he do?A journey of about 30 kilometers is 20 miles. She came to Mount Carmel, where she knew the prophet of God was. She surprisingly didn't tear up. Why? Because she knew that the Predecessor of Elisha, that is, the prophet Elijah, had already resurrected the son of a widow. We don't know if she had faith that Elisha could be the same. 

In any case, she did not return home until she convinced Elisha to come with her. And so it was. The story that we are going to see indicates what happened once Elisha and the boy came to be together, let us please read the book of Second Kings chapter 22 verses 32 to 37. If you found it, accompany me with reading please goes like this:

LET'S READ 2 KINGS 4:32-37.

When Eliseo entered the house, the boy was there dead, lying on his bed. 33 Then he went in, locked himself in with the child, and began to pray to Jehovah. 34 Then he got on the bed and hovered over the child. He put his mouth on the boy's mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and the palms of his hands on his, and he leaned over him, and the boy's body began to warm up.c 35 And Elisha walked up and down the house, she got on top of the bed and leaned over him again. The boy sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes. 36 Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” He so he called her and she went in where he was. So he said to her, "Lift up your son." 37 She entered, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground before him. She then she picked up her son and came out of her.

If we see in the scene of our activity guide, it must have been an emotion that did not fit in the chest of this woman, very grateful the first thing she did was pick up her son and stand at Elíseo's feet thanking him and Almighty God for what she had achieved then raised her son, she was a truly spiritual woman who recognized this special occasion, this miracle.

Without a doubt, having seen that woman in those moments brings to mind what many of our brothers and sisters, especially mothers, will feel shortly when death no longer exists. How does it say here at the end of our Bible treasures section Are you grieving the death of a child? Jehovah also hurts him very much because we remember that Jehovah also lost his Son. His firstborn, only begotten and beloved, as he once said when he was baptized. Jehovah knows firsthand what it is like to lose a child.

And rest assured that very soon he wants all the children who have died for different circumstances to return to the arms of their parents in Job chapter 14 verses 14 and 15, let us note these beautiful words: if a man dies, can he live again? ?

I will wait every day of my immigration service until my Release arrives. you will call and I will answer you. You will long to see the work of your hands again.

Perhaps you have reviewed in Let us sing with joy that we use in our meetings where are the songs that praise Jehovah the number 151 where it says, "Jehovah will call them" the lyrics have been slightly modified, but it is beautiful when one understands what Jehovah hopes to do in a very short time, a part says in the chorus I will call those who sleep they will answer me, I miss seeing them so much, that day will come, we will kiss again, we will be able to hug them, we will always live giving thanks to Jehovah. All those parents who have suffered the loss of their son rest assured that they will be able to have the same words from Eliseo to this woman "Raise your son" 

Jehovah is such a loving God. He wants to see us happy and he will very soon fulfill his word to make all the dead, including the children, very soon return to the arms of his parents.