Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Kings 17:26 (New Living Translation)

26 So a message was sent to the king of Assyria: “The people you have resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know the customs of the god of the land. He has sent lions among them to destroy them because they have not worshiped him correctly.”

This is part of the (hi)story of the people who lived in the northern ten tribes or Israel (as opposed to Judah). After centuries of rebelling against God, the king of Assyria swooped in, captured everyone, and deported them all over the place. So the land would not be empty and barren, the king of Assyria brought in other conquered and deported people to live in the towns of Samaria. Lions came in to destroy these people.

Let’s pause a moment. Your a conquered people taken from your homes and sent someplace. Then your moved again and sent to this place called Samaria. Folks didn’t have good maps, so where was Samaria anyways? Regardless of geography, you are put in some towns that other people built. Well, okay, a roof over your head and adequate food and clothing.

But there is this proble with lions wandering through town and killing anyone who wasn’t careful. (These are more like mountain lions or cougars instead of the African lions with the big mane and all that.) Lions? Walking the streets? Huh? What kind of place is this Samaria?

Word is sent to the king of Assyria about this situation. Send in game wardens? Send in wildlife control experts? Nope. The next verse tells us: 27 The king of Assyria then gave this order: “Send one of the exiled priests from Samaria back to live there. Let him teach the new residents the customs of the god of the land.”

Send in a priest? Huh? Lions? One priest is the answer?

All the people in the (hi)story are religious. All look to something and someone beyond physical explanation. There are spiritual beings that control situations. There are gods who would prevent the lions from bringing havoc to the streets. We just have to learn how to talk to the gods who rule here.

No matter how much we deny it, people are religious and spiritual. People know there is something beyond themselves. People seek answers. Let’s try to provide them answers from Jehovah, God the creator who sent Jesus Christ to us. We can do this.