Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

I slept in till 5am this morning…so things are running kind of late again. I should get a call to breakfast any minute—sweet potato hash browns with a fried egg on top—consumed on our creekside deck—tossing a few little morsels to the cut-throat trout. Man—it doesn’t get much better. But then I’ll need to turn to the reality of THE LIST.

I mentioned my new running shoes that like. But now I have a worry. Considering the fact that the soft ride is the result of a capsule of air in the sole…can only mean that I risk having a blow-out at some point. Does that mean I should be running with a spare? Now it gets complicated because both feet are not equal—there’s a left and a right—and I could never be sure which would blow first. Phooey! I guess I should have bought another identical pair.

Anyway…try to have a good day. Above all, make sure you don’t have a blow-out in your HAG—your HEART AFTER GOD.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Yippee! What a wonderful encouraging word!

“Heman the Ezrahite” is credited with authoring Psalm 88. It would be interesting, and most likely revealing, to know what was going on in his life at the time of that writing. It’s nothing short of depressing. Quite honestly, I’m questioning why this psalm was even allowed to be included in the book of Psalms. The closest Heman ever comes to saying anything positive is verse 13—“But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes to you.”

After a short time of thinking deeper than my initial negative criticism, my regard for Heman and his Psalm 88 is taking different shape. Perhaps I should be applauding him for his candid honesty. If I use his expressions as a kind of mirror, I have to admit that I see a reflection of myself there. Indeed, life has not been designed to be wall-to-wall gleeful giddy glamour—seasons of glaring glum and gloom cannot be avoided. So now I am finding reason to commend Mr. Heman rather than condemn him. He is demonstrating a valuable resolve to channel his honest complaints in the right direction—letting it all hang out before his Maker. There is no evidence that he’s kicking his dog, punching holes in walls, or beating his wife as a release for his stressed mind. While I can’t quite agree with all of his expressions, he is doing his utmost to cast all his care on the Lord. And so should I. The Lord is not offended—He actually invites it.

“Ethan the Ezrahite” contributes his poetic expression in the next psalm—Psalm 89. (I wonder if he and Heman were competing brothers?) He expounds from a more upbeat disposition. He may have been enjoying a season where he was on a roll—with things in general going his way. When he got to that part where he sang, “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness” (89:15-16), Heman could have been tempted to get up and walk out.