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    From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models
    From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models
    From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models
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    From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models

    By Mark G. Boyer

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    Contemplation is a spiritual process involving long, thoughtful, steady, serious, and attentive consideration or observation in order to achieve closer unity with God and to discover and understand God's will for the contemplative. Contemplation gives rise to activity, and activity, in turn, gives rise to more contemplation. The result of contemplation is often called discernment, seeing clearly what is at first not very clear or obvious, understanding what is not immediately obvious, resulting in accuracy of spiritual perception. Divine discernment is contemplation in action; it results in insight, inspiration, and an awareness of inner truth upon which one must act. While there are countless models of contemplation leading to action, the ninth-century BCE prophets Elijah and Elisha are the examples used in this book. Both are seers, messengers, and heralds of the LORD. They appear in activity when they are needed, and they disappear into solitude and silence when they are not.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWipf and Stock
    Release dateSep 10, 2018
    ISBN9781532653803
    From Contemplation to Action: The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models
    Author

    Mark G. Boyer

    Mark G. Boyer, a well-known spiritual master, has been writing books on biblical, liturgical, and devotional spirituality for over fifty years. He has authored seventy previous books, including two books of history and one novel. His work prompts the reader to recognize the divine in everyday life. This is his thirtieth Wipf and Stock title.

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      Book preview

      From Contemplation to Action - Mark G. Boyer

      From Contemplation to Action

      The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models

      Mark G. Boyer

      10408.png

      From Contemplation to Action

      The Spiritual Process of Divine Discernment Using Elijah and Elisha as Models

      Copyright ©

      2018

      Mark G. Boyer. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

      199

      W.

      8

      th Ave., Suite

      3

      , Eugene, OR

      97401

      .

      Wipf & Stock

      An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

      199

      W.

      8

      th Ave., Suite

      3

      Eugene, OR

      97401

      www.wipfandstock.com

      paperback isbn: 978-1-5326-5378-0

      hardcover isbn: 978-1-5326-5379-7

      ebook isbn: 978-1-5326-5380-3

      Manufactured in the U.S.A.

      08/20/18

      The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

      Table of Contents

      Title Page

      Abbreviations

      Notes on the Bible

      Characters

      Introduction

      1: Elijah

      Elijah Appears

      Water and Food

      Zarephath

      Revived Son

      The Plan: Part 1

      The Plan: Part 2

      Terms of the Contest

      No Answer

      Preparing a Theophany

      End of Drought

      Fleeing for Life

      Under the Broom Tree

      Sheer Silence

      Elisha Appears

      Naboth’s Vineyard: Part 1

      Naboth’s Vineyard: Part 2

      Ahaziah’s Death

      Preparation to Leave

      Elijah’s Disappearance

      Elijah’s Power

      Elijah Summary

      2: Elisha

      Purified Spring

      Bears

      Wadi Pools

      Oil

      Shunammite Couple

      Resuscitation

      Purified Stew

      Loaves

      Naaman: Part 1

      Naaman: Part 2

      Naaman: Part 3

      Naaman: Part 4

      Naaman: Part 5

      Floating Ax Head

      All-Knowing

      Samaria under Siege: Part 1

      Samaria under Siege: Part 2

      Shunammite Woman again

      Hazael Becomes King

      Jehu Becomes King

      Arrows

      Elisha’s Death

      Elisha Summary

      Recent Books by Mark G. Boyer

      Dedicated to my godson,Zachary Douglas Kinler,and his bride,Elsa Anne Kavajecz,September 16, 2018,their greatest adventure ever.

      . . . A mystic is simply one who has moved from mere belief or belonging to actual inner experience of God. . . . Without a contemplative mind, we are offering the world no broad seeing, no real alternative consciousness, no new kind of humanity. Unless people have had some mystical, inner spiritual experience, . . . [they] don’t have the power to follow any of Jesus’ major teachings about forgiveness, love of enemies, nonviolence, humble use of power, and so on, except in and through radical union with God.

      —Richard Rohr

      . . . [T]he choreography for prayer includes three steps: devotional active praying, a more passive prophetic receiving from God that requires a response on the part of the pray-er, and a degree of mystical transcendence.

      . . . [B]reathing is to physical life what praying is to spiritual life. . . . [V]arying prayer activities promote ongoing spiritual transformation. . . . Prayer is about having a romance with the Divine.

      —The Heart of Religion

      Abbreviations

      BCE Before the Common Era (same as BC = Before Christ)

      CE Common Era (same as AD = Anno Domini, in the year of the Lord)

      CB (NT) Christian Bible (New Testament)

      Acts Acts of the Apostles

      Heb Letter to the Hebrews

      Jas Letter of James

      John John’s Gospel

      Luke Luke’s Gospel

      Mark Mark’s Gospel

      Matt Matthew’s Gospel

      Rom Letter of Paul to the Romans

      HB (OT) Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

      1 Chr First Book of Chronicles

      2 Chr Second Book of Chronicles

      Deut Deuteronomy

      Eccl Ecclesiastes

      Exod Exodus

      Ezek Ezekiel

      Gen Genesis

      Hab Habbakkuk

      Hos Hosea

      Isa Isaiah

      Jer Jeremiah

      Job Job

      Josh Joshua

      1 Kgs First Book of Kings

      2 Kgs Second Book of Kings

      Lam Lamentations

      Lev Leviticus

      Mal Malachi

      Nah Nahum

      Num Numbers

      Ps Psalm

      1 Sam First Book of Samuel

      2 Sam Second Book of Samuel

      Zech Zechariah

      OT (A) Old Testament (Apocrypha)

      2 Esd Second Book of Esdras

      1 Macc First Book of Maccabees

      Sir Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)

      Wis Wisdom (of Solomon)

      Notes on the Bible

      The Bible is divided into two parts: The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the Christian Bible (New Testament). The Hebrew Bible consists of thirty-nine named books accepted by Jews and Protestants as Holy Scripture. The Old Testament also contains those thirty-nine books plus seven to fifteen more named books or parts of books called the Apocrypha or the Deuterocanonical Books; the Old Testament is accepted by Catholics and several other Christian denominations as Holy Scripture. The Christian Bible, consisting of twenty-seven named books, is also called the New Testament; it is accepted by Christians as Holy Scripture. Thus, in this work:

      —Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), abbreviated HB (OT), indicates that a book is found both in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament;

      —Old Testament (Apocrypha), abbreviated OT (A), indicates that a book is found only in the Old Testament Apocrypha and not in the Hebrew Bible;

      —and Christian Bible (New Testament), abbreviated CB (NT), indicates that a book is found only in the Christian Bible or New Testament.

      In notating biblical texts, the first number refers to the chapter in the book, and the second number refers to the verse within the chapter. Thus, HB (OT) Isa 7:11 means that the quotation comes from Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 11. OT (A) Sirach 39:30 means that the quotation comes from Sirach, chapter 39, verse 30. CB (NT) Mark 6:2 means that the quotation comes from Mark’s Gospel, chapter 6, verse 2. When more than one sentence appears in a verse, the letters a, b, c, etc. indicate the sentence being referenced in the verse. Thus, HB (OT) 2 Kgs 1:6a means that the quotation comes from the Second Book of Kings, chapter 1, verse 6, sentence 1.

      In the HB (OT) and the OT (A), the reader often sees LORD (note all capital letters). Because God’s name (Yahweh or YHWH, referred to as the Tetragrammaton) is not to be pronounced, the name Adonai (meaning Lord) is substituted for Yahweh when a biblical text is read. When a biblical text is translated and printed, LORD (cf. Gen 2:4) is used to alert the reader to what the text actually states: Yahweh. Furthermore, when the biblical author writes Lord Yahweh, printers present Lord GOD (note all capital letters for GOD; cf. Gen 15:2) to avoid the printed ambiguity of LORD LORD. When the reference is to Jesus, the word printed is Lord (note capital L and lower case letters; cf. Luke 11:1). When writing about a lord (note all lower case letters (cf. Matt 18:25) with servants, no capital L is used.

      figure%2002.jpg

      Characters

      In the Elijah-Elisha cycle of biblical stories, a number of characters appear. The following alphabetical list is presented as an aid to the reader.

      Abraham founder of the Hebrews

      Ahab son of Omri, King of Israel (874–853 BCE)

      Ahaziah son of Ahab, King of Israel (853–852 BCE)

      Ahaziah succeeds Jehoram, King of Judah (843 BCE), killed by Jehu

      Asherah Canaanite goddess, consort of Baal

      Athaliah daughter of Ahab, married to King Jehoram of Judah, queen mother (843–838 BCE)

      Baal fertility god worshiped by Ahab and Jezebel

      Ben-hadad King of Damascus (880–842 BCE)

      company of prophets group of prophets who live together, some of whom are married

      Elisha son of Shaphat, successor to Elijah, eighth-century BCE prophet in Israel

      Elijah eighth-century BCE prophet in Israel

      Gehazi servant of Elisha

      Hazael succeeds Ben-hadad, King of Damascus (842–806 BCE)

      Isaac son of Abraham, father of Jacob

      Israel other name for Jacob, son of Isaac; name of the Northern Kingdom

      Jehoash called Joash, succeeds Jehoahaz, King of Israel (801–786 BCE)

      Jehoahaz succeeds Jehu, King of Israel (816–801 BCE)

      Jehoram called Joram, son of Ahab, King of Israel (852–843 BCE)

      Jehoram succeeds Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (849–843 BCE), married to Athaliah

      Jehoshaphat King of Judah (870–849 BCE)

      Jehu son of Nimshi, succeeds Jehoram (Joram), King of Israel (843–816)

      Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal of Sidon, wife-queen of Ahab, fosters worship of Baal

      Joash kept alive by Jehosheba, succeeds Athaliah, King of Judah (838–800 BCE)

      LORD replaces YHWH (Yahweh) in biblical translations

      Moses leader of the Hebrews (Israelites, Jews) out of Egyptian slavery

      Naaman leprous, Aramean army commander healed by Elisha

      Naboth owner of a vineyard in Jezreel; murdered by the plot of Jezebel and Ahab

      Obadiah chief steward of Ahab

      Royal Chronology during the Time of Elijah and Elisha

      Kings of Israel

      Ahab (874–853 BCE)

      Ahaziah (853–852 BCE)

      Jehoram (Joram) (852–843 BCE)

      Jehu (843–816 BCE)

      Jehoahaz (816–801 BCE)

      Jehoash (Joash) (801–786 BCE)

      Kings of Judah

      Jehoshaphat (870–849 BCE)

      Jehoram (849–843 BCE)

      Ahaziah (843 BCE)

      Athaliah, queen mother (843–838 BCE)

      Joash (838–800 BCE)

      Kings of Damascus (Aram)

      Ben-hadad II (880–842 BCE)

      Hazael (842–806 BCE)

      Ben-hadad III (806–?)

      figure%2003.jpg

      Introduction

      Contemplation and Action

      Contemplation is a spiritual process involving long, thoughtful, steady, serious, and attentive consideration or observation. It is deep spiritual thought or meditation in order to achieve closer unity with God and to discover and understand God’s will for the contemplative. Once a person understands or grasps inspired insights into God’s spiritual work, then he or she has discerned God’s will. However, the activity draws the person into even deeper contemplation to discover further refinement, deeper perception, and greater connectivity that flows outward into more activity.

      Contemplation is best done in solitude. Sitting, standing, walking, or kneeling alone in silence fosters stillness within a person that raises his or her awareness to the presence of God within. Simplicity free from the distractions of telephones, computers, radios, TVs, and other people enables solitude and, consequently, transformation from dullness to awareness of the divine presence. Only in solitary silence can a person listen deeply to his or her life and know the change that leads to transformation of self. The basic meaning of conversion is a strong commitment to the process of transformation so that one is aware that God lives in him or her more than he or she lives in himself or herself. One must consent to transformation, which takes place through the dispossessing of all one lays claim to, such as body, mind, and spirit. When one has nothing, then one has all!

      It is not a matter of contemplation or action, but one of contemplation and action, action and contemplation. They are in dialogue with each other. Contemplation gives rise to activity, and activity, in turn, gives rise to more contemplation. For way too long, the focus of spirituality has been on either one or the other without melding them into a simple process. This book is an attempt to escape the dualism of contemplation and activity in (the spiritual) life and present them as one process of spiritual reciprocity. As will be explained below, the very process presented for each exercise moves from contemplation of Scripture to activity that flows from the contemplation and leads the reader back to deeper contemplation. While traveling the road from contemplation to action and back to contemplation, the individual discovers ongoing spiritual transformation. In other words, listening deeply in silent solitude brings one in contact with his or her spirit, which is a manifestation of Spirit. The result of the process is spirituality.

      People search diligently for God through all types of practices within and outside all world religions, and they give up in exhaustion when they haven’t found the divine. Paradoxically, God cannot be found and can be found! God cannot be found by those who are less mighty than the all-powerful One. If a person can find God, then he or she is greater. God can be found by making contact with one’s spirit; [i]n him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28a). Furthermore, God finds people; this is a fundamental biblical truth of spirituality that has been overwhelmed by individualism’s quest to be in control of all of life. When people state that they cannot find God, it is because they don’t know that he has already found them! Ear plugs, cell phones, blogs, tweets, etc. are distractions from solitary solitude and silence in which God finds people and their awareness is raised to recognize the event.

      This paradoxical truth is hugged by those who make vows of silence—monks and nuns in monasteries and convents, hermits and anchorites in wilderness hermitages, and all men and women who choose to live as solitudinarians for all or part of their lives. They know how to be quiet within and without and hear God’s voice in their own thoughts and words, in inspirited texts, and in nature surrounding them. Not only is such awareness known as inspiration, but it is spirituality through contemplation and action. Even ordinary people can be ministers of spirituality if one’s clutter and noise

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