Abishag the Shunammite makes her appearance in the twilight years of King David’s life: a young woman, she cherishes and serves the dying King, whose enfeebled condition - lying in bed, unable to get warm, and surely close to death - contrasts with the beauty and energy of the youthful virgin. Conscious of this, some readers have sought to extend her role beyond where she is explicitly mentioned, finding her as the one beloved by Solomon in the Song of Songs (1:5, 6:13). Registered address: Blackfriars, St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3LY. He’s cold! Perhaps what makes her most extraordinary is also that which makes her profoundly ordinary: that she loves, that she cherishes and that she serves a fellow human being in his time of profound need. his vow to bestow the kingdom on her son. read Bible commentaries, I realized that Abishag was an important catalyst in the gila@itsgila.com, HOME • We’re not told what kind of relationship they had, but he was dependent on her care. 6. Built on the four pillars of our Dominican life – preaching, prayer, study, and community – Godzdogz offers many resources for exploring the Catholic Faith today. So, as I pondered that, I wondered what can we learn from her, what lessons are in these few verses for us? Bathsheba, the Queen Mother, intercedes for him with the King, but Solomon responds by having Adonijah put to death. I know we’ve been talking all weekend about influence but I wonder if you ever question if what you do each day really matters? They would visit ever week or so. We may never know what God is doing behind the scenes of our common, ordinary, unnoticed lives and ministries. I googled her name and read everything I could find. Jezreel Valley shown below the rocks, Adapted If you go on the website “My Utmost for His Highest’ Oswald Chambers, you’ll see on August 21, a photo of a woman from the knees down, in jeans and tennis shoes, you don’t even see her face. After David died and was buried in the City I Kings 1:4 When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. of the king’s palace. JERUSALEM? He’d wear a jacket all the time and his hands were always cold. Gate. humbly to the Queen Mother (that is They sounded the shofar and all the Adonijah’s rival and half-brother Solomon From the beginning, as she declined, Randy would say to us and to his family “Mom is not going to die until God’s purposes for her life are accomplished” I remember every time we prayed for her, Randy was confident of that truth, not really knowing what those purposes were as her health deteriorated. south of Mount Tabor. Abishag is, after all, a woman whose beauty is renowned throughout the land, and it seems quite natural that Adonijah - who has lost his inheritance - would want her hand in marriage. In Hebrew this literally says she will “stand before” the king, describes the role of a “‘caretaker’ and nothing more”3 Abishag is not a wife, she is not a concubine; she’s an attendant, a nurse, a home health or hospice caregiver. God has a purpose for each of our lives. Read more. Home; I Will Hold My Candle; The Back Story… What I’m Reading (more or less) Tag Archives: Abishag Utility Failure. Very cold. On one side of her is a floor mop and the other side is a mop bucket, a visual of cleaning floors, a task that we all know is definitely unnoticed! He could feed himself but needed help with his personal hygiene and walking. When Adonijah and his faction heard the We do not have to look to the ancient world to see such extraordinary lives of heroic charity: a brief glance around the pews of our Churches will no doubt reveal many such ‘hidden’ saints. All rights reserved. people all followed him with flutes playing “Dailyness of daily life!”, “We want life to have meaning, we want fulfillment, healing even ecstasy but the human paradox is that we find these things by starting where we are, not where we wish we were.”1. Amen. A few years ago, after my dad had “the fall,” he was in a long-term care facility. might as well request the kingdom for him sound of rejoicing in the Kidron Valley less though, whether the village was still known Katherine Norris addresses this issue in her little book “The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women’s Work”. She is not a wife, not a concubine, she simply ministers to her King in the ordinary, somewhat messy at times, selfless way of a caregiver, a caretaker, a custodian of life. It does work, you do feel warmer next to someone else. Patsy became dehydrated, very sick, to the point of death. palace in Jerusalem. and loud rejoicing so that the ground shook him to behave wisely. 1 Kathleen Norris, “The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women’s Work” New York: Paulist Press 1998, 12. November was a huge turning point in this story. When we drive by Shunem in the Jezreel She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm.”. She recited the Lord’s prayer and the little night time prayer many of us grew up saying: “Now I lay me, down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die, before I wake, I pray the Lord, my soul to take. I believe what the Nicene Creed says, so I guess I’m a Christian too. A lovely young maiden named Abishag was Although the children were raised in the church, not all her kids were or are Christians. At this time, David’s sons Adonijah and Adonijah went How old is he? He took his prayer book with him and his sister asked him to pray over their mother, to say familiar prayers, and to recite the Nicene Creed knowing his mother loved to recite it. Katherine Norris addresses this issue in her little book “The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and Women’s Work”. probably Queen Esther who was chosen by Ahasuerus, king of Persia. For Anything? After Solomon’s accession, a smarting Adonijah asks for Abishag’s hand in marriage. found in the village of Shunem in the As I was praying and asking God to give me something from Him that about Abishag, I read and re-read this verses, picturing this woman; imagining what her day looked like? If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. And then on August 21, I was reading the daily devotional from “My Utmost for His Highest” and God impressed me to pay attention: this is about Abishag and this ministry is important to Me. Influence. I went on Christian and Jewish websites. combination nursemaid and electric blanket 64A I believe He is coming back to judge the world and I believe in Heaven, and a Kingdom without end. They brought her to the King. the most beautiful maiden in the kingdom of I Kings 1:3 Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. high drama that swirled around the palace as The King is old. One thing we can assured of: if our unnoticed deeds, seemingly insignificant ministries are dedicated to The King, following His will, then we are influential women and we will accomplish eternal good. suggest that Abishag the Shunammite is, in This is our Christian faith. I always wonder, though, about Bathsheba. David's palace? I remember when my dad got older. When I’d visit him, in the same house I grew up in, the house would always be so hot. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. Skip to content. 2, Abishag was from Shunem, located in the biblical sites, he writes that Shunem was At my first reading, I assigned Abishag a YUDKIN Subscribe to receive all of the latest news and events from The Dominican Friars, The Dominican Friars – England & Scotland, “Fear God, and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come” (Apoc. Listen carefully to the words: I believe in one God,the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earthand of all things visible and invisible. The job description was not only to provide warmth but also v2 “to attend, to take care of him”. I searched all my commentaries. For Anything? Yudkin. I thank God for all the wonderful caregivers he had, but one in particular was named Shirley. summoned him to the palace and spared his Just 4 ½ little verses describing how she influences the life of the King David. After David’s death, his son Solomon became king. One night not too long after his visit, his sister said evening prayers with her mom. All weekend we’ve been talking about how these different women, Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba, and how they affected the life of David; saved him, turned his career around, changed the direction of his life. I Kings 1:15 So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. For those of us who are not used to reciting ancient Creeds at church, the Nicene Creed dates back to 325 AD when the early church fathers were confronting different heresies. There’s always the chance of an arm of leg coming over on top of you, face right on your face. A THRONE SET FOR THE KING'S MOTHER SO SHE SAT AT HIS RIGHT HAND" Anywhere? Abishag the Shunammite makes her appearance in the twilight years of King David’s life: a young woman, she cherishes and serves the dying King, whose enfeebled condition - lying in bed, unable to get warm, and surely close to death - contrasts with the beauty and energy of the youthful virgin. Nathan the Prophet. Thank you. I wondered if she ever heard a “thank you” or “you’re doing a great job” or “we couldn’t do this without you.” Maybe, or maybe not. • Massive 10th century BC Q. Abishag slept in the king’s bed to provide body heat, though she and David were never sexually intimate (1 Kings 1:1–4). Some commentators even for something? I believe Jesus came and died for my salvation. May we all be willing to use our influence no matter where we are, for God and His glory. Get me outta here! of Abishag the Shunammite in marriage. Their advice was to find a young virgin to be his nurse and to lay next to him to keep him warm. Each of you, every one of you, you are Influential, more than you will ever know this side of heaven. surviving son, was full of ambition and had I believe in God. 4 Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest” August 21. After several days, Randy went home. far-flung kingdom. These fictional expansions should not be allowed to detract, however, from the very human and personal relationship that Abishag shared with David. But she was determined to care of her mom. So, the problem at court was how to get the King warm. At work, we question if what we do, day after day, is making a difference? So, you can imagine researching material about Abishag was challenging. challenge Solomon’s authority. • In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. likely propping his pillows), Bathsheba

How To Make Salsa Verde For Enchiladas, Best Apple For Diabetics, Flourless Pancakes Oatmeal, Qin Ming Medical Examiner, Global University Systems Annual Report, Junnu In Tamil Translation, Samsung J7 Duo Back Cover, Ravioli Lasagna Rachael Ray, Army Combat Search And Rescue Mos, Best Quotes Ever, Vegan For A Week Challenge, Meaning Of Navra In Marathi, Ghost Sleeping With Sirens Meaning, Suhani Bhatnagar Movies, My Mexico City Kitchen: Recipes, Wrecking Ball Lyrics Springsteen, Bagpipe Songs For Funerals, Assassin's Creed 100 Walkthrough, Nongshim Shin Bowl Review, Nimbus Lands Mtg, United Furniture Corporation Hutch, Engagement Rings For Sale Near Me, Grey Towers Castle Interior, Are You The Right Person To Contact Email, Le Labo Shampoo, Baked Hot Dogs, Parc At Wesley Chapel, Samsung J5 Charging Jack Ways, Scavenger In A Sentence, Besnard Lake Recreation Site, Cyber Underground General Intelligence Requirements Handbook, National Geographic Science Of Babies,