Tuesday 13 September 2022

 Psalm 48

Background

This long passage from 2 Kings is a montage of Elisha’s extraordinary deeds. We can read about the filling of empty jars with oil, the granting of a son to a childless couple, the raising to life of one presumed dead, the making safe of poisonous food and the feeding of a multitude of people. When we read of Elisha in this role as worker of wonders, we cannot help but look forward to the worker of wonders presented in the New Testament. The miracles of Jesus will, of course, surpass the wondrous acts of Elisha but they have the same effect of pointing to a God who acts in powerful ways through an appointed agent. Although these marvellous acts do serve to demonstrate that the one who performs them does so in the power of God, they are not performed only for their awe-inspiring effects. In each case, the wondrous action is for the sake of others – to enhance and restore life, to avert death. The power of God’s agent to perform these miraculous deeds testifies to the power of God over life and death.

Although this narrative is about the miraculous nature of Elisha’s ministry it is also about his responding to everyday needs. The needs which he addressed are quite commonplace. He engages with the issue of freedom and life for the destitute, hope for the childless, restoration of a dead child to their grieving parent, food for the hungry. This passage does not show Elisha only as a prophet who exercises ministry on a grand political scale bringing God’s word to kings and leaders. The ministry shown here is about the ordinary, personal needs of people living through the challenges of everyday life.

Does this not speak to the Church today about how we might decide upon our actions in mission? Yes, of course, it is important that the Church speaks to power and challenges the processes and systems that cause life’s hardship for so many men and women. The Church is also called to engage directly with those men and women, responding to the crises, supporting the needy, being a supportive presence. In the midst of the continuing cost-of-living crisis, there are many opportunities for the Church to be a prophetic, caring and loving presence. We might be all in the same storm, but we are not all in the same boat. There are many people who are not even in a boat and are at the mercy of the waves.

To Ponder:

• How does your local church balance the mission of engaging with power and helping those in need?
• In the developing cost-of-living crisis, could you encourage your local church to engage with a ‘Warm Bank’ or ‘Warm Spaces’ scheme? You can contact your local council for details of how to help.
• Have a look at the connexional ‘Enough to Live’ project and consider how you might engage in some of the actions it suggests.