Christmas, day 8. The Day of the Lord, part i.

Malachi is the final prophet in the Old Testament and his final verses promise that Elijah will return before the day of the Lord. The book as a whole is a whirlwind of accusations and indictments against a people who think they are religious but who have lost their spiritual integrity. It is a relevant read for today and I highly recommend reading it in one sitting. It won't take long. 

Then reflect on how 2600 years hasn't made much of a difference in our indifference to a Holy and Mighty God.

Christmas, day 8.  The Day of the Lord (part 1, meditations on Malachi)

Malachi 2:16b Guard yourself in your spirit and do not break faith.

For calling the arrogant blessed,

we lost our blessing.

For calling the evil good,

we lost our discernment.

For offering blind and crippled sacrifices,

we lost our generosity.

For showing partiality in the law,

we lost our justice.

For breaking faith with our marriage partners,

we lost trust.

For not defending the orphans, widows, and aliens in our land,

we lost righteousness.

For using violence to protect ourselves,

we lost our security.

For marrying sons and daughters of other gods,

we lost our God.

Malachi’s litany of charges, LORD, so heavy

—My yoke is easy

besides, it’s all that Old Testament stuff

—My burden is light

You’re much more compassionate

—take My yoke upon you

in Your human-saviour role

—and learn of Me

those Mosaic covenant laws!

—my covenant was with him of Life and Peace

of course we’re better off now under grace

—guard yourself in your spirit

Christmas, day 6. The Double Portion--Otherwise Not

This idea of Elisha receiving his request dependent on his own ability to keep the connection with Elijah is complex. A deep reflection of spiritual truth: another "to him who has, more shall be given; and to him who has not, even what he has will be taken away."

We are not pre-determined beings, not without potential. Our will, a gift--like our faith, is still ours. And God allows us the mercy to approach Him and the grace to receive Him.

Christmas, day 6. The Double Portion—Otherwise Not

2 Ki 2: 9-10 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said,”yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.”

Otherwise not—the thing you ask

slips from your grasp.

The boon you strive and yearn to keep

lost if you sleep.

The treasure that his spirit bore

will be no more.

To gain the goal requires reach

to heaven breach.

Consumed by love, avoid the rot—

otherwise, not.

Christmas, day 5. The Mantle and the Jordan

As Elisha now turns to his life without his master, he realises the burden that has been passed to him. And he now has no buffer between himself and God. This is a pivotal moment: when Elisha leans into the pain and loss and pushed through to meet God.

Christmas day 5. The Mantle and the Jordan

2 Ki 2:13-14 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

My fingers sense its weave is rough and coarse

And more abrasive than a cloak should feel

whose years of wear, now gentled by the sun

Should comfort and protect the one it shields.

And heavy, O Father, it is not

The faded, time-worn thing it would appear:

Its weight is like the one which burns within,

Deep this loss of father-friend does sear.

Now grasp this cloak and claim it for my own,

But is the Spirit with it as I pled?

My shoulder feels the weight and years of wait

Within and desert scents the sandy threads.

Just hours ago he parted Jordan’s flow,

We crossed a riverbed of smooth dry stone:

Will I my father’s double spirit know?

I lift the mantle high and bring it down—

Christmas, day 4. The Chariots and the Horsemen.

Elisha's somewhat obscure exclamation about chariots and horsemen when Elijah is taken up to heaven in the whirlwind has produced much scholarship and speculation. Especially since this is the exact greeting that the king Jehoash cried when he visited at Elisha's deathbed. Is it a prophetic title? A reference to trusting God rather than chariots and horses? I love the mystery of it.

Elisha had a unique and deeply personaly connection with one of the mightiest prophets, and truly his grief was heartfelt when the time came for them to part. Sometimes we must grieve the good things, a wise friend recently reminded me. Because in this life, all things are for a time. So Elisha braces himself for life after Elijah and becomes a prophet deeply immersed in politics and calling people back to God. 

Christmas day 4. The Chariots and the Horsemen

2 Ki 2:12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

Walking with a giant made me see things skew:

Dangers were diminished wherever God’s breath blew.

His strides were long and hurried; I trotted to keep pace—

He walked this world so lightly, his footprints seemed erased.

A father he became to me—

And through his eyes I learned to see

That things which I thought most profound

Were not as crucial as they sound,

And smallest details might inspire

Deep reflection on heaven higher

Than temporal thoughts are trained to go.

Then Israel’s horsemen took him, so.

The chariot drew him from my sight:

My robe I tore; took his by right.

Christmas, day 3. The Prophets and the Leave-taking. part iii Elijah.

Today we reflect on Elijah's thoughts as he turns his head to the home he has longed for but where he has never been.

Christmas day 3. The Prophets and the Leave-taking. 

part iii. Elijah

1 Ki 2:11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

after years and decades

finally, this day

through drought and floods

hunger and raven food

alone and in a mob

at last, the wandering is nearly done

the homeless heads home.

No more starlight sleeping

looking in at bright fires and warm lamps—

No more pulling that cloak tighter

against the wind—

No more races with chariots

or fire bolts from heaven—

No more tantrums from queens

or “my enemy” from kings—

I’ve searched every scene 

for glimpses of redemption,

sure my God of Hope

would leave some signs:

few they were

shafts obscure

of grace eclipsed

by mist and shadow

now my soul rises

to the One I have awaited—

an ordinary afternoon

an unremarkable path

in mid-conversation

the gentle chariot pauses for me

he saw fire—I see Light

that lightens hearts of men

Christmas, day 2. The Prophets and the Leave-taking, ii Elisha

Today's poem is from Elisha's perspective: he has been prepared, but it's still a bit intimidating to take on the mantle of Elijah. Even the Elijah of Israel who hadn't grown into the mythical proportions described in Malachi. But despite knowing that he was facing much more than he could take on on his own, Elisha determined to ask the outrageous, the un-grantable: a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It is nothing short of asking for the status of firstborn son. But his audacity is encouraged and Elijah says that it is up to Elisha what he will get, how much he will benefit.

And we, too, if we come prepared to receive and ask for the blessing of the spirit, will receive it as much as we are able to take it in. This is a gift that depends upon the ability of the recipient to receive, not the giver to give.

Christmas day 2. The Prophets and the Leave-taking.

part ii. Elisha

2 Ki 2: 5 The company of prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.”

Today he leaves this wanderer’s life

for places of his dreams—

I don’t feel ready to say farewell,

Still much to learn; yet it seems

That now is the time to take up the task

he laid upon me with his robe.

Facing the struggles and hardships together,

our hearts are weighed down by the load

Of speaking God’s heart to people intent

on breaking it by their defiance.

This half-way existence of living on earth

while each step and breath is reliance

On Yahweh on high—sometimes it’s more

than I’m able to grasp in my heart. 

To continue alone is daunting, it’s true—

but I’ve been prepared for this part.

Closely I follow to Bethel and Jericho,

though he tells me I should stay behind.

“As the Lord lives, I’ll never leave you”, (for

there’s something I’m hoping to find.)

When he asks, then I tell him my deep heart’s desire:

his spirit times two, my request.

He says he can’t give it, but that I may have it

if I see him transported to rest—

Birthright  of firstborn is mine to hold dear,

the reward when I follow and persevere.

Christmas, day 1. The Prophets and the Leave-taking. i. Sons of the propets.

Christmas, day 1. The Prophets and the Leave-taking

Today is the start of a three part poem about Elijah being taken up into the whirl wind. We hear from the perspective of the prophets's sons who knew that Elijah would be "translated" and were curious about Elisha's reaction. It is fascinating that they are more absorbed in the apprentice's response than Elijah's departure or what they might have learned of him. How often do I find myself sidetracked by a logical or worthy aspect and miss the main event?

part i. Sons of the prophets of Gilgal and Jericho

2 Ki 2:1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

those two in desert sandals and ragged robes

a familiar sight hereabouts:

not your run-of-the-mill prophets,

but that’s the point, isn’t it?

unattached

displaced

marginalised—

in a good sense of the word

living in the margins

while we live in the middle of the scroll

—the message comes to them

they carry it from the edge

to where we can hear it

we halt over words,

stumble over letters,

living troubles us

they wander deserts,

commune with mountains,

connect to wild things,

making us uncomfortable—unsure

that ease on the borders—

on the edge

like the blade of a knife:

cutting, sharp

they balance as if by nature

they, at peace—poised;

today the old one goes

we got the message

this is a day to watch and

one day tell our grandchildren:

we knew,
we saw him go.