“The Little Captive Maid” is a light, bright Bible song about one of the great healing records in the Bible. It has the sound of a “kid’s” Bible song — and the lesson it teaches is timeless. Please give it a sing-along listen and come back for a chat about our ability to help good things happen.
How beautiful are the feet …
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
[Romans 14,15 BSB]
We find many encouraging, valuable lessons in the record of Elisha healing the leper, Naaman (2 Kings 5…). This song gives us a compact version of the story and focuses on the significant contribution coming from one of the key players, the “little captive maid”. 2 Kings 5:1-5a tells us about her role:
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram [aka “Syria”], was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”
And Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
“Go now,” said the king of Aram …
How beautiful are the feet … !
The power of service
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. [Philippians 2:3,4]
I ran into a book years ago that knocked cobwebs from my brain and gave me light on that coaching from Philippians 2:3,4. (I am not positive, but I’m pretty sure the book was “Confessions of Shameless Self-Promoters” by Debbie Allen.) The author got me seeing that, though modesty has its vital place, so does letting our light shine — rather then hiding it under a bushel — especially when letting our light shine comes from a heart of service. When we are willing and able to help someone, we might not get the opportunity if we don’t speak up. So — let’s speak up — like this servant did.
Teaching idea
This is fun! Connected with this song, I found this teaching aid you might enjoy. Clever work!
This Bible record and song about Naaman and Elisha — and the servant girl — show us that God is able to get the words of deliverance from the mouth a captive servant to the ears of a king. Won’t He do that — to provides such opportunities and success — for you and me, too? Let’s let our light shine, as did the little captive maid.
God bless you lots
-Dale R.
LYRICS – The Little Captive Maid
TEXT: Author: Julia H. Johnston
TUNE: Towner, D. B. (Daniel Brink) (1899)
1 Long, long ago, a captive maid,
A wondrous message gave;
For she believed in Israel’s God,
With power to help and save.
The word she spoke, the truth she told,
Her haughty master moved;
And when he sought the way aright,
The way of life it proved.
2 No help or cure was in her hand,
She was a captive maid;
But she could tell the way to go,
To gain the prophet’s aid.
The sore disease and wasting pain
Were lost in Jordan’s wave;
The Syrian captain learned that God
Was strong to help and save.
3 So children now can spread the news
Of Jesus’ power to cure;
To heal the weary, sin sick heart,
And make the spirit pure.
’Tis Jesus only who can save
As in the olden day;
And all may find Him if they will—
A child may point the way.
Say hello … leave a note
Please feel free to add your thoughts to this conversation. Scroll to the bottom of the page and jot your note in the “comments” box just below the “Leave a reply” title. Easy!
One other thing that might interest you … I send a brief email to folks each time I update this collection of songs — which is about once a week. The email includes a brief summary of the new song, plus links to the song page, to the playlists and to “The Music Box”. (The Music Box is the place to go if you want to download — for free — song sheets and audio “MP3” files. If you’d like to get on this mailing list, let me know by leaving your request in a comment below. (No one but me will see your email address — your email address will remain private. I don’t share email addresses with anyone else.) I’d be happy to include you when these updates go out. I like not needing to depend on social media sites to stay in touch. God bless you lots! –Dale R.
That was delightful! Thanks!