I dwell among mine own people. A great woman in the Old Testament spoke this simple, yet eloquent and very profound statement. 2 Kings 4 gives the record of this great woman. Interestingly, the name of this great woman is not recorded. Today, she is known to us as the Shunammite woman. 2 Kings 4:8 records the beginning of the communal and spiritual relationship that grew between the prophet Elisha and the great woman. The Shunammite woman perceived that Elisha was a holy man of God. No doubt, the times of eating bread in her home revealed Elisha to be just that. Knowing that, she has a private furnished room prepared for him to stay when he came through. In this way, the great woman could assist the prophet in the great work of God he was involved with.

       As Elisha reclined upon his bed, he thought upon the blessing this great woman had bestowed upon him and resolved to bless her in return. Upon Elisha’s command, his servant, Gehazi, found her and brought her to Elisha. The prophet made this great woman an offer many would have been flattered by. He offered to mention her to the king or the captain of the host. Here was her opportunity for advancement. Here was the great woman’s opportunity to be even greater. That is, depending on how one defines greatness. And after all, this question came from the holy man of God. Surely, this would seem like the right thing to do. But, in the lexicon of today, she turned him down cold. I dwell among mine own people, was her response to the prophet’s question.

       What made this great woman answer so? Why deny herself the opportunity for prestige, fame, and position? We could probably correctly assume that this would have also meant financial gain. She had a husband, but no children that needed her care and direction. Yet, in her greatness, she seemed to see past the glitter and the short-lived pleasure of the pomp and fame of that lifestyle. She apparently saw this request from Elisha as not just something that prudence required her to deny herself, but also an option of far lesser quality than her current place. In the great balance of pros and cons, her value system rose as a wall that she did not desire to circumvent. She chose to continue with her people. Truly, this Shunammite woman was a great woman!

       There lies within the heart of mankind a desire for the improvement and betterment of one’s position. What that is and how that is found, is what separates the great from the weak, the wise from the foolish, and the prudent from the reckless. Did her people frustrate her? Were they unkind? Were they selfish? No doubt they were all of those at times. She knew them well. She surely knew their faults, their failures, and their flat spots. Despite her awareness of those things, this great woman chose to continue dwelling with them anyhow. She might have thought that the people she could be with in this new option would have to be better than the ones she was currently stuck with. Surely, the grass would be greener there in the king's presence. Yet, I dwell among mine own people, was her definitive reply.

       We conservative Mennonites also choose to dwell among our people. Some of this is simply the natural result of our inclination to be around those like us. But there is Biblical precedent for our faith-based communities. The great woman of Shunem is one of them. Acts 4:32 records that the new believers were of one heart, and of one soul, and they had all things in common. There is a similar record in Acts 2. This means that they essentially gave up ownership of all their things and shared them with the others in the group who were in need. How strongly and dearly do we value our possessions? How quickly do we part with time and money to support our communities? To whom do they belong? If our sense of community is like the new believers of Acts 2 and 4, is there, perchance, an aspect of our possessions belonging to our communities? Have not our communities helped in some part to our gaining possession of them in the first place?

       Who were these people that the great woman of Shunem claimed as her own? Mine own people, she referred to them as. Obviously, they were not her children, for she had none at this time. Were they part of her extended family? That was possible, even likely. The Scriptural record does not answer this question, so we are left to surmise. One could suppose that it was a collection of extended family and an assortment of other people. But to the Shunammite woman, they were “hers.” She belonged with them, and they with her. Her needs were met there with her people. 

       One of the critical needs of the human soul is to feel secure. The great woman of Shunem did not mention specifically that she felt secure where she was, but her response to the prophet reveals that obvious truth. Truly, to be among those where appreciation, respect, love, and encouragement are expressed and lived out must be the closest thing to heaven on earth. But that is what we, as humble followers of Jesus, are to show to the world. That is the new commandment of our Lord: ...That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another (John 13:34-35). Is the love of Christ for each other an obvious fruit of our church communities? That is what Jesus gave as one of the tests of discipleship. 

       Mistakes, failure, sin, sickness, disease, and death are all a part of life on this sin-cursed earth. Financial reverses, misunderstandings, and disappointments abound. Bitterness, hopelessness, and despair can all too easily take root in any Christian’s heart. Most assuredly, these things were also present in the great woman’s community of Shunem. What is our response when these things happen to us? What is our response when these things happen to others? Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up (Ecc 4:9-10). It has been said that there are two classes of people: givers and takers. In a vibrant and healthy community, we will probably all take our turn at being in the receiving place at times. But for there to be receivers, there must needs be givers. God loves cheerful givers, and so do the people around us! It is easy to slide into the expectation of what others should be giving, but giving must start with ourselves. Am I a giver or a taker? Which one is illustrated by our lives?

       The great woman of Shunem did get spoken of to the king. Later, in 2 Kings 8, the king of Israel was speaking to Gehazi, and when he asked to hear of the works of Elisha, Gehazi began to tell the king about Elisha bringing the woman’s son back to life. Lo and behold, while they were speaking, the woman appeared before the king to request that her house and lands be restored to her. The king granted her request. We can surmise that she wished to continue as before, to be a part of her people again after being away as a stranger and living with a people not her own for seven years.

       May we allow the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to first penetrate our own hearts and then flow out into the communities of “our” people. When that is in place, our communities can be like that city on a hill that is a beacon in this dark world.

Morgantown, PA