A View from the Pew
Today’s Reading and alternate Reading from the Old Testament present us with 2 prominent Bible figures—Elisha, from 2 Kings 4 and David from 2 Samuel 11. Between these 2 readings, there is much to learn about Worship, Work and Witness, the theme of the Women’s Auxiliary, whose St. Luke’s Branch celebrates 80 years today.
Elisha, mentee of the prophet Elijah, is known for his many great miracles. David is known for his military exploits, but, perhaps, much more as a worshipper, from the many psalms he wrote. We may also recall the vision of his dancing in reckless abandon as he worshipped God in front of the Ark.
The snapshots we have of these two servants of God in today’s readings highlight sharp contrasts between them. David’s actions in committing adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating the contract killing of her husband Uriah – brave, committed and trusted officer and servant of the king, cast him in a negative light. However, his actions do teach us about our theme, albeit from a negative standpoint. Elisha, on the other hand, illustrates aspects of our theme from a positive perspective.
David is presented as idle. He is ‘chilling’ on his roof, in the season when kings go out to battle (2 Kings 11:1)—an open invitation to the devil to set up his workshop. Elisha, as usual, is seen at work; he is busy feeding the hungry, whereas David is ‘busy’ feeding his lust. Elisha is in the business of giving to the people; David is busy taking away Uriah’s wife and, after the failure of his clever plan to pass off her pregnancy on Uriah, he then takes away Uriah’s life.
Elisha’s actions of positive witness spring from his intimacy with God and therefore bring glory to God. David’s actions here cast a cloud on his witness; we are told in Chapter 12:14 of 2 Samuel that David’s actions had ‘given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme’. (NKJV)
To David’s credit, when confronted with his sin, he truly repented and returned to his usual posture of worship.
What about us? Are we truly worshipping God, or are we simply playing church? Are we working for the Kingdom, seeking it FIRST or are we placing more value on things temporal rather than things Eternal? Are we witnessing for Christ by lip and by life?
May we sincerely pray the Collect of Today “that, with [God] as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal.”
