Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, dear people.
Bimbo is here beside me in his dog bed. Thano is just outside pressure washing the crane truck. No task is straight forward and easy. That called for special attention to the pressure washer, set up of a garden sprayer for applying the cleaner, and I spent a good deal of time trying to repair an optional pressure washer nozzle…as the one we’re using isn’t working quite right. But years of grime are coming off.
Earlier, Becki and I did a walk/jog. It was cold enough to motivate us to wear out insulated britches. It was below 40…but beautiful.
I have a lot to squeeze into the day. I’m sure you do too. Happy squeezing!
Love. Dad/Ray.
Chapter 13 presents the account of two un-named prophets. I don’t really understand why the one bearing the authentic “word of the LORD” was punished so severely while the one with the deceiving “word of the LORD” seemed to face no consequence for his lying. At any rate, it offers an implicit warning for us: Be wary of “words from the Lord” as presented by those who claim to speak special messages on His behalf. There are still those who absolutely love to be mediums of divine guidance for others, and will grasp at subjective straws to be one. Gullibility is dangerous. John articulates the same warning in the New Testament: “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1-2). Jesus Himself commanded caution—“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' (or claiming to have messages from Him) and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-6).
There are a lot of people presented in this reading who come and go—like plants according to their season. In the mix I can only find one attractive and encouraging flower—the rest are destructive weeds. I’m thinking of Asa. Another way to view him is representing good soil that receives the good seed that grows up to produce a good crop of beauty and benefit (Matthew 13:1-9). His soil type is a HEART AFTER GOD—allowing God’s Word to grow and be fruitful—so that everything he did and wanted to do was governed by seeking “first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).
This passage through time and human experience (history) leaves me with absolutely no hope of my own chances to “beat the system”—to rise above the fact of my own NATURAL SIN NATURE so as to become truly successful “in the eyes of the LORD.” By comparison, the eyes of man are fairly easy to please, even though no one can please them all. All I need to do is conform to the moral and ideological flow of the majority, and bingo—I’m in—I’m accepted—I’m successful. But that only confirms that I’m deceived! So there’s really nothing new about this matter of choosing—or the basic conclusion I must draw. The essential choice to be made back then is the same as the one I must make now. It all boils down to this: WHO DO I CHOOSE TO PLEASE? WHO’S EYES (view) ARE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME?
Please be different.