Do You Show Respect?

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Do You Show Respect?

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Who shows respect these days? Politicians? Celebrities? Not so much. Disrespect for those in authority is commonplace; and we regularly see angry reactions when people disagree with a decision.

What about the Bible? Is there any respect for God's Word? From the first century A.D. until around the end of the last century, the Bible had a prominent place in individual lives and in the surrounding culture. Now the Bible is portrayed in academics, the news, and film as a book of stories or myths, definitely not the Word of God.

Disrespect is nothing new, however. Elisha, the prophet, felt the sting of disrespect in 2 Kings 2. It was the end of Elijah’s work and God planned a safe exit for him, so Elisha stayed by his side as they walked from Gilgal to Bethel, then to Jericho (both cities had a “college” of prophets) and, finally, to the Jordan. Before Elijah was taken by the whirlwind, Elisha requested a double portion of God’s spirit which was granted, and Elisha inherited Elijah’s mantel and responsibilities (spiritually and physically). He then retraced his journey back to Jericho and then to Bethel.

As he came to Bethel, a group of young people came out of the town and cursed Elisha, saying, “Go on up, you baldhead!” Elisha, in turn, pronounced a curse on the group, at which time two bears came out of the woods and mauled them.

Critics point to this account as evidence of an example of the violent and uncaring nature of God. How could He punish these young ones in such an extreme way? Is God so insecure or uncaring that He would simply kill those who question or criticize His prophet? This doesn’t sound like the just God that we know.

But there’s more to the story…let’s find out the background.

The time period is shortly after the death of Ahab. Ahab’s wife, Jezebel had promoted and supported pagan worship on a scale never before seen in Israel. Bethel had a long history as a place of honoring God – this is where Jacob slept and had his vision of the ladder going up to Heaven – but it had become a center of calf-worship during the time of Ahab. Ahab and Jezebel set the standard for the rest of the nation in the mocking and derision that they heaped upon God’s prophets.

The “youths” of 2 Kings 2:23 were of the age-range that we call adolescent – but possibly young adults as well. They were mocking Elisha by telling him to go “up” (we might say, “get lost” nowadays) as Elijah had done, so that they wouldn’t have to see or hear from him or God anymore. They were actively showing complete disrespect for both God and his prophet, Elisha.

God takes the sin of disrespect seriously, so much so that He had instructed the Israelites that if a child disrespected his parents or cursed God that they were to be put to death bearing their own sin (Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 24:10-15). God does not tolerate disrespect; because once it starts it has a way of growing and expanding. We must be careful not to disrespect those God has allowed to placed be in authority (Ecclesiastes 10:20, Hebrews 13:17) – whether in national governments, leaders in business and community, or especially in His Church.

“Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him.… Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable… (1 Peter 2:13-19, NKJV).