Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good afternoon, dear people.

Interesting day. It took an unexpected turn. Days can do that. So we should expect the unexpected. Following our walk/jog and amidst our preparations for church, etc., Becki received a call that her sister, Lorna, had experienced another set back and was hauled by ambulance to the Silverton Hospital again. It’s still not entirely clear what’s hammering on her. We spent some time there this morning. Becki is still with her. I returned to follow through with our Gospel Sing schedule at Pheasant Pointe.

I won’t stick on photos here of this table project that consumes my attention of late. But if you would like a few photos, you could let me know and I could send them individually. I only have 4 more days to get it all done. The 5th day will be the day for delivery.

Blessings on what remains of the day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Question: Was Job a blessed man? We just finished the account of his deep dark dismal depressing season of life, so he should be fresh in our minds. Was he blessed only when he lived in health and wealth? Or was he also blessed during the test? It really is a question worth asking, because if you are able to give the correct answer, I’m certain that you will one day need to pull it up, review it, and draw from its benefits.

My answer: David’s inspired simple statement in the FOCUS VERSE above offers the best answer. From it we deduce that one’s levels of health and bank account really have near nothing to do with the long-range blessing of the Lord. If it is one’s heart-level choice to continually and constantly “take refuge in him” no matter what the circumstances—to trust Him with a HEART AFTER GOD—it computes as real blessing. And the strange fact of the matter is that unrestrained health and wealth tend to create a counter-productive delusion— having the natural affect of diminishing one’s taking refuge in Him—subtly prodding one to take refuge in health and wealth instead. And that, of course, plays out to be antithetical to blessing.

Speaking of delusions, my attention is grabbed by the expression in chapter 4 which David attributes to the LORD: “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?” (4:2). How long? I suppose men will continue with their anti-God delusions as long as the intoxication from their health and wealth and power and education, etc., lasts—and they are forced to face the unavoidable reality of God with absolute sobriety. Until then, David presents another legitimate related question that asks, WHY?—“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain" (against God and accountability to Him)? (2:1). If we can accept the Biblical premise of the NATURAL SIN NATURE, we have the WHY answer (Romans 5:12).

Let’s get this straight: THERE IS NO COMPELLING EVIDENCE IN ALL HISTORY AND IN ALL MANKIND HAS TO OFFER THAT ANY HUMAN BEING HAS EVER TRULY SUCCEEDED AT OPPOSING GOD—that any human has ever found a substantial refuge in anyone or anything other than the One Who has sovereign power over everything and knows everything about everything—all the time. Oh sure, someone will yell from the audience, “Well you don’t have any compelling evidence that being “saved” and seeking God has really succeeded either!” Oh yes I do! But the way you present your disagreement tells me you wouldn’t understand. Why? Because, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 3:14). “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19).