December 2
:
Prefiguring the Incarnation

♫ Music:

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Wednesday, December 2

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:32-37
When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.”  She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

PREFIGURING THE INCARNATION

A parent’s love for their children often knows no bounds and this may be especially true of a mother and her children. The connection is special and unique. When we read of the loss of the Shunammite mother, we grieve with her for the loss of this connection.

The day likely began like many others: the family arose to eat, the son went to work in the fields with his father, and the mother worked at home, awaiting her family’s return. But this day was not like the other days. Sometime in the morning, the family servant returns home, carrying the child who has taken ill. The mother holds her son in her arms, and he dies at noon. (Notice the explicit foreshadowing here of the death of Jesus Christ at noon on Calvary.) Calmly, it appears, she places her son on the bed, saddles a donkey, and rides to find Elisha, believing that this man of God can help her. Hearing her report, Elisha goes to her house, prays to the Lord, and breathes new life into the lifeless body: the dead comes back to life! By breathing the breath of God on the boy, Elisha helps to bring life anew.

The breath of God brings life, for it is none other than the Spirit of God; the Spirit of God that hovered over the primordial face of the waters was nothing other than the breath of God, speaking creation into existence. That same breath is also He who came to a young woman named Mary in Nazareth and spoke life into her virginal womb. The Holy Spirit came upon her and she was with child. And it is the same Holy Spirit of God who breathes life into the lifeless Son of God on Easter Sunday, and it is the same Holy Spirit of God who breathes life into every believer. In every movement, we see the incarnation, we see life given to lifeless flesh—physically and spiritually.

PRAYER
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart. Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move. Stoop to my weakness mighty as you areand make me love you as I ought to. Breath on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what you love and do what you would do. Breathe on me breath of God, until I am wholly thine, until this earthly part of me glows with your fire divine. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me and use me. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Amen.

Greg Peters, Pastor and Associate Professor of Medieval and Spiritual Theology, Torrey Honors Institute

 

About the Artists and Art

Artwork #1
Elisha Raising the Son of the Shunamite
Frederic Leighton
Oil on Canvas
Leighton House Museum, London, England

Artwork #2
Annunciation

Nicolas Poussin
Oil on Canvas
The National Gallery, London, England

Frederic Leighton (1830–1896) was an English painter and sculptor whose work depicted historical, biblical, and classical subject matter. Leighton’s images propelled him to a position of eminence; his first artwork was purchased by Queen Victoria in 1855, and in 1878 he was named the President of London’s Royal Arts Academy. He was also given the prestigious title Lord Leighton (Baron of Stretton)—the first painter to be awarded a peerage. His work is representative of Neoclassicism. Elisha Raising the Son of the Shunamite was painted in 1881. It depicts the biblical story of the miraculous raising of a boy by the prophet Elisha, as told in 2 Kings 4:8-37.

Nicolas Poussin (1594 – 1665) was the leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome. His art favors line over color and is often characterized by clarity of expression, logic and order, and “nobility of design.” In Poussin's masterpieces, the ideals of the Renaissance period are coupled with conscious references to the art of classical antiquity as the standard of excellence. Today, Poussin is considered one of France’s greatest artists. In his Annunciation, Poussin depicts the moment when the Holy Spirit descends and impregnates the Virgin Mary.

About the Music
“Spirit Medley”

Lyrics
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart.
Wean it from earth, thro' all its pulses move.
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
and make me love Thee as I ought to love.

Breath on me breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what Thou dost love,
and do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine.

Spirit of the living God,
fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living God,
fall fresh on me.Melt me,
mold me,
fill me,
use me.
Spirit of the living God,
fall fresh on me.

About the Composer/Performer
Steve Green (b. 1956) is a Christian singer, notable for his high vocal range and flexible solo style. Over his 35-year career, Green has been honored as a four-time Grammy Award nominee and a seven-time Dove Award winner. He has released 33 albums,  had 13 No. 1 songs, and sold over three million recordings. Green desires the kind of spiritual growth that J. C. Ryle describes: “When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply this—that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual mindedness more marked.” Website: www.stevegreenministries.org

 

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