Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hi there, dear people.

Way too late again. Becki and I got in our walk jog…and became quite consumed with our great dialogue. Then I was somewhat distracted by an order I gave to Thano before he went to work…to start a fire in one of our burn piles, since the burn ban will soon be here to disallow any of that. I not only kept that first fire fed, but started two more, and kept them fed for a while.

No little boys today. They’ll be here Wednesday and Thursday this week.

The Psalmist David is really messing me up…giving me way too much material to think and talk about. I’ve got to turn it off somewhere and get some work done.

Blessings on your day. May you get some work done too.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Important question: Is that a true statement? Either it is and the Bible is important, or it isn’t and the Bible is just a bunch of you-know-what! Of course, those of us who are addicted to a Biblical worldview will overwhelmingly and passionately say, “YES!—ABSOLUTELY!” That answer flows naturally out of not just saying the “Lord’s Prayer,” but praying it at heart level—“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven!” There are many worldview addictions out there, and many will respond with equal passion in the opposite direction and say, “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” And many others will respond with some form of, “Whatever. Who knows? You can think what you want to think. It’s really quite unimportant and irrelevant. Please pass the potatoes.” Another question: Do you think we may have grounds here for a little bit of conflict? What an understatement! The conflict was hot in David’s day, and it’s hot in ours. Sorry, but it’s not going to end until the BEGINNING AND THE END brings it to an end. But since the BEGINNING AND THE END has no end, the end He brings will only be a NEW BEGINNING. Wow! I feel like standing and shouting! (So I did!)

Speaking of conflict, and one of the main issues around which the conflict revolves, I just went online and listened and watched a very moving choral presentation of the patriotic song, “This Land Is Your Land.” I was bouncing in my chair and singing along with the words that were appearing on the screen—just like I was in a modern-day church service.

“This land is your land, this land is my land
From California, to the New York Island
From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters
This land was made for you and me.”

What a great song! And I partly believe it. But not entirely. Why? Because I also believe the second line of the FOCUS VERSE—“ the nations will perish from his land.” You see, when all the smoke has cleared and dust has settled in the constant global conflict over whose land is whose, and who is going to rule as king over who, it will be clearly revealed Whose land it really has been all along—and Who the real King is. No, it’s not wrong to have patriotic feelings that sing that song and recognize the sacrifices of those gone on before to preserve this beautiful land of intended freedom—based on a God-honoring Constitution and Bill of Rights. Just bear in mind it’s really not your land and my land in the absolute sense—it’s His land—and we are simply assigned and allowed to reside here as tenents with accountability to the Owner.

I’ve already spent my two cents-worth. Let me quickly raise one more question: How in the world did David know so much about our modern world and modern political movements? For example, he exclaims with contemporary relevance, “The wicked strut about when what is vile is honored among men” (Psalm 12:8). David’s descriptions help to confirm that the NATURAL SIN NATURE has been around a very long time. It helps to confirm that there are still only TWO KINGDOMS at large—that are still in conflict (by the permissive will of the Sovereign King). And it helps me to confirm which KINGDOM I choose to seek first—or in which KINGDOM I choose to be a citizen in good standing.