A Canaanite Woman
(A poem by Maurice Dyson)
Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David! Matthew 15:22
A Canaanite woman cried out unto Jesus,
Have mercy upon me, O Lord!
My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.
But He did not answer a word.
The men who were with Him: His trusty disciples,
Were urging Him, Send her away!
But she kept persisting with her interjections,
And would not be silenced this way.
Then Jesus declared to this woman who followed,
The purpose for which He was sent:
I came not except to the lost sheep of Israel.
But she did not lose her intent.
She worshipped Him openly, saying, Lord, help me!
But Jesus went on, Furthermore,
It’s not good to take bread prepared for the children
And cast it to dogs on the floor.
The woman said, True Lord; she caught His expression,
Alluding to those in her land,
Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs from the table
That fall from it onto the ground.
Then Jesus acknowledged this woman’s persistence,
O woman, how great is your faith!
So let it be done for you as you desire it.
Her daughter was found well and safe.
*******
Devotional Lesson:
“The Faith That Persists”
Theme Verse:
“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”
— Matthew 15:28 (ESV)
1. The Cry of Desperation
In the poem, the Canaanite woman cries out,
"A Canaanite woman cried out unto Jesus,
Have mercy upon me, O Lord!"
"My daughter is grievously vexed with a demon."
"But He did not answer a word."
This initial silence from Jesus can be disheartening. The woman’s plea is urgent, her need desperate, and yet the silence seems to echo. It can feel like God is distant, or worse, indifferent. But this silence isn’t a rejection. It is an opportunity to strengthen her faith and deepen her reliance on Him. God’s delays are not denials; they are invitations to trust Him more deeply.
Reflection: Have there been moments when you felt God was silent in your life? How did you respond?
“For the Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.” — Lamentations 3:25
2. Persistence in Prayer
The poem continues,
"The men who were with Him: His trusty disciples,
Were urging Him, Send her away!
But she kept persisting with her interjections,
And would not be silenced this way."
When faced with opposition, she did not give up. Sometimes, the path of faith is full of distractions, discouragements, and even the well-meaning voices of others who may tell us to stop. But this woman’s faith pressed on, refusing to be silenced. It is a lesson for us that faith must be persistent, even when others doubt, or when we feel like giving up.
“Let us not grow weary in doing good,
For in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
3. Faith in the Face of Rejection
Jesus speaks to the woman,
"I came not except to the lost sheep of Israel."
In the poem, the woman’s response is simple yet profound:
"She worshipped Him openly, saying, Lord, help me!"
She did not argue with Him. Instead, she acknowledged her position and placed her trust in His mercy. Her humility did not diminish her faith. In fact, it only magnified it. Despite Jesus’ statement, her heart remained steadfast—she was not dissuaded by what seemed like a rejection. Instead, she worshipped.
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel rejected or overlooked? Can you still worship God in those moments, trusting in His goodness?
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6
4. A Humble Yet Bold Response
In the poem, Jesus responds with a challenge:
"It’s not good to take bread prepared for the children
And cast it to dogs on the floor."
The woman does not take offense. Instead, she humbly responds,
"True Lord; she caught His expression,
Alluding to those in her land,
Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs from the table
That fall from it onto the ground."
Her response reveals great insight. She acknowledges her unworthiness, but her faith in His mercy remains unshaken. She understands that even a small portion of His grace is enough to bring healing. This kind of humility and boldness moves the heart of God.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” — James 4:10
5. The Reward of Unshakable Faith
Finally, Jesus marvels at her faith:
"O woman, how great is your faith!
So let it be done for you as you desire it."
"Her daughter was found well and safe."
Her persistent faith moved the heart of God, and her daughter was healed. Faith that doesn’t give up, faith that trusts in God’s goodness and mercy, always finds reward.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:24
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You for the example of the Canaanite woman’s persistent and humble faith. Teach us to trust You even when we feel overlooked or discouraged. Help us to persist in prayer and worship, knowing that even the smallest touch from You is enough to change our lives. We believe You are good and that Your mercy is great. We ask for the faith to never give up, even in silence, opposition, or difficulty. Amen.
Reflection/Application:
What areas in your life require persistent faith? Are there specific prayers or situations where you need to keep seeking God even when it feels like there is no response? Consider writing those down and committing to pray with the same faith and persistence as the woman in the poem.
