Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good good morning, dear ones.

We have completed our jog/walk with the dog. Bimbo did fairly well for periods off the leash on the more country road section of our course. I even let Becki off her leash. Just kidding.

Becki gave me some pretty high marks with this composition…so you can partly blame her if you don’t like it. It’s nice to have someone with whom you can share blame.

May I suggest that you give some special attention to the section of Jephthah’s message to the Ammonite King in Judges 11:23-27. Note that Jephthah is responding to the King’s message to him in 11:13. Question: Is this not the very same conflict that continues in the Middle East (Israel) to this day? Interesting. The story ain’t over yet either.

Incidentally, I had a great time skiing yesterday with my extended family…even though my work was decisively placed on hold. Now…it’s back to work.

Blessings. Breakfast is on.

Love, Dad/Ray.

How is it that “the Spirit of the LORD” that genuinely comes upon a human individual is so typically linked with human stupid?!?! I see no basis for ANYONE (anyone who is human) being given a rating of infallibility—not even those who have been “filled with the Spirit.” Perhaps those who claim to be “Spirit filled” should be given the most scrutiny, care, and caution. Why? Because it’s so easy (tempting) for one who is given a sensational divine encounter to use that experience as a means of manipulating others into accepting their views and performances as infallible—another subtle questing for power. Is there a more common reason among unbelievers for rejecting “the church” and what it represents than this?—than beholding the common discrepancy between the genuine Spirit of God and the unrelenting residue of human nonsense?

This reading does nothing to elevate my regard for human nature. In fact it helps to confirm the psycho-spiritual diagnosis of Jeremiah 17:9. Let me quote it again: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” The evil, the dog-eat-dog power-grabbing, the arrogance, the violence, the magnetic attraction to backsliding and heathenism—it’s all right here in these three chapters—from this same book we call “The Bible”—the same one we regard as “the inspired Word of God.” I actually groaned again while reading it this morning and exclaimed—“Why am I reading this stuff? Is this included in the affirmation of Jesus when He said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God?’” (Matthew 4:4) Whew! It’s like watching a perverse violent movie.

It occurs to me that the value and edification of these raw unembellished accounts of human depravity is recognized not so much in their positive role-modeling, but by their warning and negative role-modeling—equipping me with a better understanding of who I am, who I am going to believe, and who I will live to please.

So, YES—Jephthah had a genuine and profound spiritual experience, yet promptly proceeded to make an incredibly stupid vow. Go figure.