The Power of a Praying Mother
Mike Stone
2 Kings 4:8-37
Woodrow Wilson said on May 9, 1914 when congress declared the 2nd Sunday in May as Mother's Day. President Wilson said that this day has been set aside as a time for ''public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.''
It is perfectly consistent to honor God and honor mothers at the same time. In fact, one of God's 10 commandments deals with this. Whether in Exodus 20 or Ephesians 6, we are commanded to ''Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise. (Ephesians 6:2).''
So, the OT and NT alike command children to honor and bless their mothers. But in this text, we find a mother who was a blessing to her son because this Mama knew how to pray. In this passage, we find an unnamed mother from the little village of Shunem. Bible students commonly call her ''the Shunammite'' because that's the title given to her by the prophet Elisha.
When we first encounter her, she is childless but God graced her with a son. And what a blessing that is. In the middle of our story, her child faced a crisis. In fact, it was a medical crisis that took the boy's life. And this mother knew how to pray to God on behalf of her child.
To be clear, this story is not about how to keep your child alive. Some of you today have faced the horror of losing a child. And I am told, nothing compares to that unspeakable grief. This story does NOT mean if your child died, you didn't pray. And yet there is much here about those who have children that are spiritually dead and in desperate need of a resurrection. Children who need a praying mother and a praying father for that matter.
1. Her Spiritual Description (8-17)
This woman is referred to as a ''great'' or a ''prominent'' woman. The word references financial prosperity and social standing. The ESV calls her a wealthy woman. Now we don't know how she got money.
I heard about a man who had a multi-millionaire father. ...
Mike Stone
2 Kings 4:8-37
Woodrow Wilson said on May 9, 1914 when congress declared the 2nd Sunday in May as Mother's Day. President Wilson said that this day has been set aside as a time for ''public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.''
It is perfectly consistent to honor God and honor mothers at the same time. In fact, one of God's 10 commandments deals with this. Whether in Exodus 20 or Ephesians 6, we are commanded to ''Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise. (Ephesians 6:2).''
So, the OT and NT alike command children to honor and bless their mothers. But in this text, we find a mother who was a blessing to her son because this Mama knew how to pray. In this passage, we find an unnamed mother from the little village of Shunem. Bible students commonly call her ''the Shunammite'' because that's the title given to her by the prophet Elisha.
When we first encounter her, she is childless but God graced her with a son. And what a blessing that is. In the middle of our story, her child faced a crisis. In fact, it was a medical crisis that took the boy's life. And this mother knew how to pray to God on behalf of her child.
To be clear, this story is not about how to keep your child alive. Some of you today have faced the horror of losing a child. And I am told, nothing compares to that unspeakable grief. This story does NOT mean if your child died, you didn't pray. And yet there is much here about those who have children that are spiritually dead and in desperate need of a resurrection. Children who need a praying mother and a praying father for that matter.
1. Her Spiritual Description (8-17)
This woman is referred to as a ''great'' or a ''prominent'' woman. The word references financial prosperity and social standing. The ESV calls her a wealthy woman. Now we don't know how she got money.
I heard about a man who had a multi-millionaire father. ...
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