Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear special people.

I was amazed at how much time was consumed yesterday with the van graphics. I still need to do a little touch up. But now, with the two little grandkids here again, I guess I’ll lay aside work for the better part of the day and we’ll go down to Salem to take in the Fair. I think I heard someone say, “That’s not fair!” Oh yes it is—it’s the State Fair. Fair enough. And, of course, we’ll need to get out our fair fare at the gate.

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There is no doubt that the accurate intepretation of Bible prophecies like this one is not a straightforward and easy assignment. I’m convinced that the cryptic illusiveness of prophecy is intended by the Author so that our lives would be governed by a humble dependent HEART AFTER GOD rather than by an arrogant heart of we’ve-got-it-all-figured-out—which attitude can turn to date-setting.

I’m choosing again to lean heavy this morning on my own quest for a HEART AFTER GOD—that He knows what He’s doing, knows what’s best, and is totally just and righteous in all He does. Leaning on my own limited judgments and range of understanding, I’m made to seriously squirm with the idea of “vengeance”—an idea, incidentally, that Jesus left out when He read that passage in the Nazareth Synagogue in Luke 4 and claimed to be its fulfillment (Luke 4:21). He actually stopped mid-sentence and did not read, “…and the day of vengeance of our God…” (Isaiah 61:2). That day of settling accounts is yet to come. The 63rd chapter expounds more on the vengeance idea—describing the slaughter of people from among the nations in a way that seems to have a higher X-rating for violence than any movie out there. Here’s some of that description: “Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ‘I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations…I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing’” (Isaiah 63:2-3).

We know a little about big bad saltwater crocodiles. I’ve visited three people in different hospitals in the Solomon Islands who incredibly survived attacks by those critters. I understand that crocodiles claim more human lives than any other beast on the planet (excluding little mosquitos). So I was amused yesterday when I heard over and over a “big” story in the news about one little account of a crocodile attack—where a foolish Australian guy went swimming in an Australian river known to be full of crocs. Why would that account be so big in the news? Why would he or anyone be so surprised about his being gobbled up by one of those carnivorous giants?!? Even though there may not have been a sign that said, “NO SWIMMING,” did he not break the rules, and pay the consequences?

Can we lace this story into our difficult discussion? Is it not reasonable that the Sovereign Lord would be a little ticked over His human creatures violating His rules on His earth?—perverting His purposes and giftings—especially when He sees them trash with wholesale rejection the obvious display of His existence, greatness, and worthiness of being sought and honored—even without any Biblical revelation? Is not the offense increased in the light of Biblical revelation? Perhaps the passage in Hebrews 10:29-31 can help to balance the matter: “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Notice too that the same One Who describes His vengeance in Isaiah 63 is the One Who also precedes that description by saying, “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save” (63:1). So, salvation or vengeance?—that is the question.