Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones, near the end of the day.

The day started fairly early with our rising before 4am to taxi Joe, Katherine, Kate, and Nita to the airport. We did church and our Gospel Sing at Pheasant Pointe. I even got in a little nap. This composition also consumed a good deal of time. But the weather and beauty of the area with the fall colors coming on is simply spectacular.

Have a good evening. Be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Once upon a time, there was another king of great renown who was walking around on the roof of his palace one evening, perhaps pondering his success, perhaps carelessly entertaining the idea that a significant cause for his success was the fact that he was so wonderful, maybe even entertaining the idea that God particularly liked him because of that—he was just so irresistably wonderful even to Him. That may have caused him to reason how lucky God was to have him on His team to represent Him—placing him in a position toward helping others to become as wonderful as he was. But he was definitely not a eunuch!—extremely not a eunuch! So when he caught a glimpse of the beautiful female form of Bathseba innocently and at least partially in the nude a short way off—well, you know the story—and you know we’re talking here about King David.

This is not an attempt to get sexy. The urgent point is to recognize the common thread that characterizes failure in the view of an All-Seeing All-Knowing Holy God. It’s HUMAN ARROGANCE that messes everything up—EVERYTHING!—it messes up God’s plans for man and man’s potential for meshing with God’s plans. I’m seeing it as the deadliest kind of ideological poison in the universe! It either rejects or ignores the fact that WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT WAS NOT GIVEN US. And even the powerful pull of sexy gender-attractions can be handled appropriately by this heart-level recognition that flows from a well-maintained HEART AFTER GOD.

This is growing on me and rendering greater clarity over time. Let me try to put the main idea in the form of a thesis—so we can critique it and gather data to support it, or take it apart and discard it. HUMAN ARROGANCE, ALTHOUGH SELDOM INTENDED, TRANSLATES AS A TAUNT TOWARD THE SOVEREIGN MAKER/OWNER.

Reflect again on the episode of chapter 3—as it offers dramatic support to the thesis. That’s where Nebuchadnezzar screams with insane rage, “But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (3:15). I’m sure Nebby intended his shout to be a jab of intimidation toward these three young men. But for them, it was a no-brainer—not something to discuss or pray about. If the options they faced must come down to IDOL WORSHIP or DIE, then the clear choice had to be DIE. Nebuchadnezzar’s most serious blunder at that point was his arrogant self-deception and assumption that no one bigger than himself was tuned in to his tirade. But the Most High heard every word. With Him it registered as an arrogant challenge—a terrible taunt—coming from a mere creature who was no more self-made or self-preserving than a cockroach. In that case the LORD graciously and supernaturally intervened so as to give opportunity for repentance. But be reminded, the Most High may not do so in every case—even though in every case He will have the final say.

Please, please, please—don’t let arrogance come nigh your dwelling. Here’s a capsule of effective anti-venom—“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Think clearly—here we are living beings, which itself is a glaring “God-thing”—since dirt can’t do that—living in His world within His universe, eating His food, breathing His air, drinking His water, procreating by His giftings, residing in dwellings made from His materials—yet still choosing arrogance and independence over worship and submission?!?! Talk about wacko disrespect and self-deception!