Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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March 22, 2010
            Good morning, dear people.
            This is my first time to make use of a new laptop computer…that has set here for a few months without any use.  Hope it handles this document OK. There’s a lot of stuff I’m not familiar with.  I feel kind of like the guy who said, “I’m all for progress…as long as no one changes anything.”
            I need to run to Oregon City and drop a couple big trees for a guy.  Then I need to get busy painting two sides of a big 8’x16’ sign that I have set up in my shop.  We’ll also need to find time to take Daisy in to see the vet for a check up on her broken leg.  Lots more…but I won’t bore you.
            Have a great day.  And why not drop me a note and confirm that this was received OK.  If you don’t receive it, I guess you don’t need to respond.  (Tee hee.)
            Blessings.
                        Dad/Ray

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22 March 2010
Passage: Acts 23:12-35
Focus: “The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.”  Acts 23:12.

            An OATH is a vow or binding promise made with deep feeling and commitment. People regularly make OATHS when they are married, when they borrow money from a bank, or in regards to their faith as when a Christian convert dedicates his life to loving and serving the Lord.  The Bible warns that it is a serious matter to make an OATH because God sees and has ways to hold people responsible for the promises they make.  See Numbers 30:2 and Ecclesiastes 5:4-6.
            We could say that the central conflict in our reading is actually a battle of OATHS.  More than 40 men had made an OATH to kill Paul based upon their hatred of anything and anyone who interfered with the comfort zone of their established religious system.  What they did not realize, however, was that Paul had also made an OATH.  It was a solemn vow based upon his love for Christ and the people He died to save.  Nor did these men understand that ONE MAN PLUS GOD ALWAYS EQUALS A MAJORITY.  They could not fathom the fact that their contempt was not really directed toward a little loud-mouthed preacher, but toward the Sovereign God.  They were seriously bound by deception that resulted in their being bound by this ugly OATH.  These men made an OATH to kill.  Paul made and OATH to give life.  These men intended to use the sword of men.  Paul employed the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
            The sad and predictable outcome of this story is that over 40 new graves soon had to be prepared for these men who died of dehydration and starvation…unless, of course, they failed to keep their OATH.  Paul, on the other hand, went on living and preaching under the protective care of a mighty God.
            To be sure, the same battle continues today.  And you’re involved.  Please do not allow your personal OATH to serve your Lord as an agent of Light and Life to deteriorate.  A lot of eternity depends on it.