Dwelling among mine own people...

"And he said unto them, Say now unto her, Behold; thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people." -II Kings 4:13 [KJV]

What an interesting account, though short, is here given of the Shunamite. The sacred historian calls her "a great woman," and certainly, she here manifests that she had a great mind. What she had done for the prophet, she sought no recompence for. Neither the favours of the king, nor the captain of his host, were of any value to her and her husband. Dwelling with content in what she had, and "among her own people," was in her view enough of earthly enjoyment.  

But is there not a spiritual improvement to be made of the passage? Do not the people of our God "dwell alone?" And have they not been from everlasting so appointed, in the purposes of God their Father, and chosen in Christ, and called? They may, and indeed they ought to desire to be spoken for to the King, the Captain of the Lord's host, as a people near to himself.  

Yes! I would say, Let me be spoken for, that I may always live under an abiding sense of my Lord's presence and His love; and that my constant views of Him, and His gracious tokens of kindness to me, may be my daily enjoyment.  

Methinks I would always be spoken for to Him, in this point of view, and always myself be speaking to Him; and tell my Lord that one smile of His, one whisper to assure me of my interest in Him, and my love for Him, and His love for me, will be more grateful than all the revenues of the earth.  

Here, like the Shunamite, would I centre all my desires. And while living upon Jesus, it will be my happiness also to "dwell among mine own people," who are also the Lord's people, and who, like myself, keep aloof from all unnecessary acquaintance and connection with the world, to "enjoy fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ!" 

-Robert Hawker (1753-1827 A.D.) 

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