The Prophet's Chamber

Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. The Prophet's Chamber. And she said unto her husband, "Behold, now I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick. And it shall be when he cometh to us that he shall turn in thither." Second Kings four nine through ten.

This sparsely furnished little room, built by a kindly woman and her elderly husband, was the prototype of all the so-called prophets' chambers that have been built for traveling teachers and evangelists ever since. Little did this simple couple anticipate what fruit their kindness would bear one day. But not forgetful to entertain strangers, the Bible says, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. In the first place, to show his appreciation, Elijah prayed that the Lord would give them a son, and God miraculously answered. Then, tragically, the boy died quite suddenly several years later while Elijah was at Mount Carmel, some fifteen miles away.

The Shunammite woman laid her son on Elisha's bed in the prophet's chamber, then rode hastily to find Elisha and bring him to the boy. The round trip must have taken her two days or more, and the boy's dead body lay on the prophet's bed in the little room all that time. But then Elisha prayed once again, and the most amazing event took place there, for only the second time in history, a dead person was restored to life. The Shunammite mother and her son are never heard from again. But for three thousand years, the testimony of a little chamber and the love and faith of the godly woman who prepared it as a simple service for her Lord and His Prophet has been an inspiration and example to multitudes.

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