2 Kings 4:18-37 “And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. (19) And he said to his father, "My head, my head!" So, he said to a servant, "Carry him to his mother." (20) When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. … (32) When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. (33) He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. (34) And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. (35) He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (36) And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So, he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son." (37) So, she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.”
The second account as quoted in the above passage of scripture is the account of Elisha raising a young boy from the dead. In this passage we see that the child came back to life in response to Elisha’s intersession.
Mark 5:39-42 “When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." (40) And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. (41) Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." (42) Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.”
And then we have the account as quoted above, of our Lord Jesus raising the little girl from the dead. It is important to note that the Lord refers to her in this passage as not being dead, but sleeping. The bible only refers to those who die in the Lord as having fallen asleep, whereas it never refers to unbelievers who die as having fallen asleep. And so we can clearly see from these accounts in scripture that children are counted among the His kingdom, because they also fall into the category of those whom God the Father has allowed to be raised from the dead.
2 Samuel 12:19-23 “When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore, David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." (20) So, David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. (21) Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food." (22) And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' (23) But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
David also understood that all children are born spiritually alive to God. He knew this when he prayed for his new born son that he might live. You will recall the account of Bathsheba falling pregnant with David’s child through his act of adultery. God judged his act by taking his child away from him through death (2 Samuel 12:13-14). As a result of God’s judgement pronounced through the prophet Nathan, David then fasted and interceded to the Lord that He would spare his son’s life. In the above quoted passage of scripture we see that when God did not answer David’s prayer and his son died, David did not mourn. The reason for that is because David knew that he would see his son again, for he said that he would go to be with his son when he also fell asleep. Obviously, David is in heaven right now rejoicing in the presence of God. And David’s son, who died as a new born infant, is also in heaven rejoicing alongside his father.
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments