Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special ones.
Out this window I’m watching little Kaden and Nicholas goof off with Dandy the dog. Nick is scooping pan-fulls of water from a sawed-off plastic barrel and tossing the water in the air toward the dog who has another strange quirk—a love to chase flying water. When anyone is operating a hose, he loves to be squirted. I guess he thinks he’s subduing the water by attacking it and biting it. It’s crazy and entertaining to see. Thano is already at his Safeway work shift.
Once again, I’m not sure how this day will go. I have a roof to repair, a van to deliver, and a power-steering pump to repair (hopefully) on the crane truck. I may have wrecked it in my last use. We’ll see. We may even participate in a little bit of an apple-cider-making-party with some friends.
Blessings on your activities.
Love, Dad/Ray.
We are beholding history in the making—and Biblical prophecy in the fulfilling. I do not claim brilliance in putting everything together. I’m not that smart, and don’t have the time nor capacity to research it all and weave all these prophetic oracles of Jeremiah into a tapestry of continuity and meaning—nor do I believe the Author intends it that way—to the point of perfection. However, there is one bottom-line truth that stands out with light-flashing clarity—a truth that should be translated into a solemn warning for all nations on planet earth—DON’T MESS WITH ISRAEL!—THIS SPECIAL PROPERTY OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY! ANY NATION RISING TO OPPOSE ISRAEL WILL DO SO TO THEIR OWN HARM—IN SO DOING THEY PROMPT THE LORD ALMIGHTY TO PROMPT ANOTHER NATION TO RISE TO SQUASH THEM, AND ALL OTHER OPPONENTS OF HIS SPECIAL PROPERTY. Although Babylon was used by the LORD to punish Israel (i.e., “my servant Nebuchadnezzar,” 25:9; 27:6; 43:10), Babylon herself will be punished for her anti-God arrogance by still another conquering nation (in this case, Media and Persia, who conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.—51:11, 20ff). Don’t you agree that the rule DON’T MESS WITH ISRAEL really should be an international law written into the charter of the United Nations? But it never will be. So fasten your seatbelts, folks, and hang onto your hats!—we’re in for a wild ride. The fireworks show is about to begin. That’s my humble opinion. Although I would be quite OK with being wrong.
Think of it—the very fact that little tiny Israel is a focal point of world attention in our own day—the very fact that Israel even exists as a nation and distinct people group is nothing short of miraculous after so many centuries of ceasing to be one—after so many attempts through history to exterminate them. And why the attempts? Why the hatred? Why the unreasonable prejudice and discrimination? If we fail to recognize the spiritual component in the mix, I judge we are entirely flawed in our perspective, and will never even begin to connect dots of cause and effect. That too is my humble opinion.
Since I’m offering opinions, perhaps I will suggest another. It’s not a hard and fast one—it’s more like a worry or a wonder. I wonder if our own nation of America is reflected in the condemnation of Babylon. True, we have been Israel’s ally for a long time, but that appears to be on the verge of change. I think you know what I mean. Furthermore, I can’t seem to exclude America from the announcement of the doom of Babylon in Revelation 18. What’s your opinion?
However it all plays out, just do the right thing. Understand that there is no more right thing to do than to nurture a HEART AFTER GOD—and don’t oppose Israel. With that in your possession, you’re in good Hands!