Love and faithfulness irrevocably intertwine like threads of a hand-woven tapestry. One linked to the other–blending together in the way selfless love does. That was the way God intended from the beginning. Man and woman, designed to love each other, suffered the day they chose the unworn path to the tree. Love and faithfulness unraveled. Left a trail or broken bits along the path; the seam torn in two.

But another Adam provided the Way. We capture glimpses of Him in the Old Testament. Those times that foretold of His grace and offered the promise of more. More wholeness. More restoration. More life.

Such was the story of the Shunammite woman. But what can she teach us about Biblical love?

1. Love provides

Both the prophet and a wise woman develop prudence. Though unnamed, the Shunamite woman regarded the ways of Elisha and offered hospitality. She sought after the ways of God and desired His favor. In the same way, love seeks God whole-heartedly and provides space for Him to live. Move. Work.

One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by he stopped there to eat. ⁹ She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. ¹⁰ Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” (2 Kings 4:8-10)

 

2. Love gives without thought of self

The Shunamite woman gave selflessly. Purely. Without motive. In a world of me first, look out for number one, or you rub my back, the woman’s generous lifestyle seems opulent. Unnecessary. Profuse. But her example led to less of self-importance. Self-preoccupation. And God opened an unexpected door to joy.

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One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. ¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. ¹³ Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”

She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”

¹⁴ “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.

Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

¹⁵ Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. ¹⁶ “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” (2 Kings 4:11-16)

 

3. Love is faithful

Content with life, she didn’t enquire, beg, or complain about childlessness–yet this woman nursed a babe at her breast. Knew the heaven cloaked scent of an infant fresh from creation.

…the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.

¹⁸ The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. ¹⁹ He said to his father, “My head! My head!”

His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” ²⁰ After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. (2 Kings 4:17-20)

 

Unwavering and constant, the woman remained steady. Her response? “It is well.”  The word for well in Hebrew is shalom, which means complete peace. Serenity. This mother–long bereaved of a child, now confronted the unbearable. Yet in the face of death, she declared everlasting peace.

Why? I believe her love for the Lord and faith in His goodness wove their way through her heart, mind, and spirit. Drove her to the feet of the prophet at the base of Mount Carmel. Held her in the crook of the Creator’s arms as the man of God prayed and breathed into and over her son. Once. Twice. Until…

The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

³⁶ Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” ³⁷ She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. (2 Kings 4:35-37) 

Oh, the beauty and glory of God revealed in the lives of Shunamite woman and her little boy.

 

A Prayer to Love Like the Shunamite Woman

Father,

I long to open my heart, mind, and soul to you. To follow after you fervently. I know I can do nothing in my strength, Lord, and ask that you would help me in my weakness. When the good in my life seems to collapse, help me to focus on your goodness. Your promises. Your strength. Teach me that in giving of self, I’ll discover joy and peace. I thank you and praise you that your name is Faithful and True. I pray that I would be more faithful day by day.

In the powerful name of Jesus,

Amen

Peace and grace,
Tammy

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