The situation was pleasant, but the water was bad and the ground barren. Such is this world: at times outwardly fair, but overall the blight of the curse. Its sources of refreshment fail to satisfy. It promises much but brings nothing to fruition. It cannot meet the needs of man.

Elisha, however, is present with healing grace—a beautiful picture of Christ who, having nothing of this world’s goods, yet dispenses blessing on every hand, using His grace for the good of others. The men of the city have faith to avail themselves of the grace that is in Elisha. They come to him with their need. The prophet asks for a new bowl with salt in it, speaking of the preserving character of grace linked, not with the flesh, but with a new vessel. Was not Christ the “new vessel,” filled with the preserving grace of God?

Then we read, Elisha went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’ So the water remains healed to this day” (2 Ki. 2:21). So will it be in the days yet to come: in the very scene where the curse was pronounced, where the curse has fallen, there the curse will be removed: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away … And there shall be no more curse” (Rev. 21:4; 22:3). God will dwell with men, new vessels, made like to Christ, filled with preserving grace. Then indeed there will be no more death nor curse, for the former things will have passed away.