The air was cool and crisp for it was still early on this bright spring morning. The sounds of a city beginning to stir broke through the silence. Shopkeepers opening up their shops, the bleating of the sheep and goats headed for the marketplace, and sellers shouting out trying to sell their wares. But there in the middle of the town could be heard a sound that was louder than all of these, for their in the middle of the town square, where a small crowd had already gathered could be heard the sound of the ...auctioneer.
Six shekels!! I’m bid six shekels and who will make it seven? You sir.. will you go 7? I’ve got 7 shekels and now I need 8. Eight shekels is a small price to pay for this slave woman. She is worth much more than that! Who will give 8 shekels?
The bidding seemed like it would take forever. The one selling this woman was in no hurry to end the sale...hoping to eke our every last shekel possible. The men that had gathered there looked upon the one who was now on the auction block. The seller said she was worth much more than 8 shekels, but just by looking at her one would not think so. She stood naked before them and it was obvious that she was not well taken care of. She was rather thin and frail, her ribs could be seen protruding through her scared and bruised skin. Her dark black hair was dirty and matted together in places. It had once been her pride and joy...a place for combs and ribbons, but now it was just a home for dirt and lice. How long had it been since a comb had gone through it? Her eyes told the whole story...her eyes that at one time had been so beautiful that they drove many a man to their knees in adoration. But now her eyes were empty. Her eyes were black, not from any cosmetic or make-up, but rather from fatigue and abuse. She stared blankly into the crowd of men that were bidding for her; not even concerning herself with who was bidding or even what the bid was. Yes, her eyes told it all...her empty expression made it plain that true happiness had left her long ago.
Eight shekels!! Yes, thank you sir...and now nine! Who will go nine shekels? This is still a great buy! Where will you ever find another slave woman for only nine shekels? I’ve got 8 and I need Nine...
As the bidding continued the woman thought back over her life. She had not been born a slave. No, she was born just as free as any of the ones now bidding for her. Rather she chose to be a slave...well...not exactly! Her life had been so good at one time. She remembered back to another place, another time...a time that seemed so long ago, it almost seemed like a dream. She thought back to the joy of her wedding day. For yes, this woman had had her own husband at one time. O the joy of that day. And the wedding feast...there was so much fun and laughter. The food that had been set out...why her husband had spared no expense for that meal. There was fruit and vegetables and three kinds of meat and the wine flowed freely. O how she longed for just a taste of it on this day. How long had it been since she had had a real meal?
Turn around woman and show your backside! Now you can see there are no lash marks on her back. Who will give me nine shekels? You can see she has been well disciplined. Yes nine shekels there in the back and now ten...who will give 10? This woman won’t give you any trouble...10 shekels anyone?
Yes that had been quite a wedding feast and her husband had been so good to her. He was not rich, but he did all he could to provide for her. He had been so patient and kind., Never once had a cross word come out of his lips, even when she would spend more than he thought she should on her cosmetics and fine clothing. On this day any type of clothing would have been welcome. And when the children came...her husband had been so gentle to her through the childbirth and beyond. He was a good father. As the woman thought back over these memories, she felt like she wanted to cry, but no tears would come. She had had it all. A husband who really loved her and two fine sons and a beautiful daughter. She wondered now why she wasn’t satisfied with it all.
Ten shekels...ten shekels...where will you ever find a woman for only ten shekels? Gentleman, we’ll never get to the better slaves if we don’t sell this one first. Now who will give me 10 shekels? OK 10 shekels over here and now how about eleven?
As the men continued to gaze upon her naked body and make their bids, she thought back to another time when other men had gazed upon her body. Her body had been so beautiful back then. Instead of being scarred and bruised, her skin was soft and smooth. The fancy clothes and make-up only enhanced her beauty. And when ever she would leave her house, she would notice that men’s heads would turn and follow her beauty. She not only noticed it, she delighted in it! She delighted in the catcalls and the whistles and the affection from other men. Her husband would beg her not to leave looking like she did, but the desire for attention proved to be too much for her. In fact, she soon found out that just having men notice her wasn’t enough...and it wasn’t long before her flirtations led to strange bedrooms.
Eleven shekels... I need 11 shekels. Gentleman, I know she is not a virgin, but I am not asking a virgin’s price...I’m only asking for 11 shekels. She may not be a virgin, but she still has some good use left in her. Now who will give me 11 shekels?
As time went on the strange bedrooms increased and the nights spent with her husband lessened. She could see the pain written all over his face. He would have done anything for her. But something compelled her. It was like there was a deep emptiness within her that drove her out of her husband’s loving arms. The lustful trance that her sins had put her in soon drove her from her husbands arms into the arms of her lovers for good. For a long while she relished this new life of going from man to man, from one bedroom to the next. Each of her lovers poured gifts upon her such as gold and perfumes...as well as pouring out their lust. Each new lover seemed to offer her more and each new lover seemed to expect more.
OK this is it. No one will give 11 shekels? I’ve got 10 shekels going once..10 shekels going twice...
She had been reduced to a harlot. A mere prostitute selling her body to her many lovers as if the number of men she had could somehow fill the deep longings that she had deep inside. It was only a matter of time until the men stopped calling and she became commonplace in the town. For as her lovers had increased, her self respect had diminished and has her self respect left, so did her beauty and as her beauty left so did her lovers. She found herself in the streets with no place to go. Her many lovers now wanted nothing to do with her. She knew she couldn’t go back to her husband after the way she had treated him. He was a godly man and would want nothing to do with her. And besides, the law clearly said what should happen to a woman who had done the things that she had done. The thoughts of stones being thrown against her body was hardly a welcome thought. Her hunger drove her to the garbage pit outside of town where she would rummage through the trash looking for a scrap of food to eat. It was there at the garbage pit where she had come in contact with the one who was now selling her. He had found her there and with the offer of just a cup of warm soup he had brought her into his home. Fro a few months, he too poured out his lust upon her, but now he was finished with her. He was tired of her and was ready to discard her like a used rag. She with no place to go and an empty look in her eye, didn’t even object when he stripped her and put her on the auction block.
Ten shekels going twice...ten shekels...what’s that you say sir? 15 Sheckels? 15 shekels and 10 bushels of barley? Why sir we’re bidding on this woman the better ones will be ...uh...well then it’s a deal. 15 shekels of and 10 bushels going once...going twice...and sold!
And so the deal was done. The one who had bought the woman made his way to the auction block. The seller held out his hands as he counted the coins falling into his hands as well as counting his good luck that he had got such a fine price for this one. The woman didn’t even raise her head to look...just one more man to use and abuse her. Expecting hands to grab her and drag her away, she was shocked when she felt a soft robe gently being placed upon her shoulders. Slowly she turned around, and looked up into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen. It was her husband...and he stood there with tears in his eyes. He took the robe and covered her nakedness and ever so gently stroked her face. Without a word of condemnation or even a look of disgust, he looked at her and asked her to come home...not as a slave woman, but as his wife. Her eyes told it all. Tears began to well up as she went into his outstretched arms. As she felt his strong arms embrace her, she knew that she was finally going home and the emptiness was filled.
After telling the story, you can talk about how God’s grace comes to us while we are naked in our sins and he clothes us with his righteousness.
