Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Becki and I had plans for doing our walk/jog before the little boys were to be delivered around 8am. But a guy called about that time with a request to roll in right away with a load of logs that he wants me to mill. I granted his request and spent some time running the track hoe to unload his big trailer. He had also hauled in a load of logs last night. I’m not lacking for things to do. If I let myself, I might even go nutty. I know what you’re thinking.

We’ll probably take the kids to the kiddie’s Buckeroo Parade this evening…then the big one in the morning on the 4th. I kind of like small town parades.

With or without a parade, have a great day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

A comparison between the first lines of Psalms 90 and 91 is stimulating some new observations in my mind. Psalm 90 begins, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” Whereas our very existence as living beings is by His intent and design—that He is the Creator and Sustainer of life—then this can be regarded as a general description of all human life—He is indeed “our dwelling place.” Inanimate dirt (or “dust”—90:3) could not have thought up life on its own. Impossible! And to put forth the notion that it could (or did) is to defy sound scientific information and reasoning. In fact, those who choose to argue that life spontaneously self-created actually calls for a much greater volume of “faith” than anything required by a Biblical worldview. Furthermore, it confirms, in my view, the validity of the very Biblical truth that they so desperately wish to deny and discredit. Their spiritual orientation locks them onto a course of mind-altering deception—God gives them over—stupid begets stupid. I don’t wish to be demeaning, but it is what it is. If one begins with a stupid premise, the conclusion will also be stupid. How can it be otherwise?

Now consider Psalm 91:1 that seems to disclose a specific option within this general realm of existence—“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Most translations carry the idea that this “shelter” is an exclusive special place—a “secret place”—a place that many (or most) never find or really know about in terms of personal experience. And that is so because they never seriously seek it. And that is so because they’re simply not interested. And that is so because they allow their NATURAL SIN NATURE to prevail—a self-deceiving mindset that naturally chooses to avoid being made accountable to a Holy God. I have reason to believe that Jesus is stating essentially the same thing when He says, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14).

If you are able to flow with my thinking, you should be able to also accept a paraphrase that I think could be applied to Psalm 91:1. It could go, “He that chooses to acquire and maintain a personal HEART AFTER GOD shall receive God’s special attention and blessing.”

“Teach us to number our days?” Using a little of my learned knowledge of math, my quick calculation reveals that my days on earth have totalled well over 25,000. But that’s not what it means. Certainly, it’s not how many we get, but what we do with them that counts—and where we spend them. It just makes a lot of sense to me that if you and I will seek His presence here, we gain His presence hereafter—and forevermore. But if we insist on NOT seeking His presence here, we get what we want hereafter—and forevermore. I see absolutely no serious risk attached to believing this equation. But both the benefits of believing and the risks of NOT believing are mind-boggling. Besides, this is just simple straightforward Bible math. The Gracious Sovereign Lord has provided abundant resources that “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” If I do not “gain a heart of wisdom”—well, what do I have left?