Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones, on another gorgeous clear fall morning…on the heels of another beautiful clear full-moon night. I went to bed with the moon shining bright…and got up before 4:30am with it still shining bright, now through the cedars along the creek.

After taking some time to discuss the devotional with Becki and fabricating a breakfast fruit salad (our little tradition), I returned to my studio and noticed that I had apparently left my door ajar. I stepped inside, and immediately realized I was not alone. A female chickadee had flown in and was going nuts trying to get out—especially with this big ugly human coming close and trying to grab her. Well, the big (bigger than she was, that is) ugly human finally did grab her and paused to contemplate the fingerprints of the Creator which she represented. Outside, I simply gently tossed her up into the air—and she flew away like a bird. Amazing.

Be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There is more evidence given here to show the striking parallel between ancient times and modern times. For example, consider this expression: “’Even if we had a king, what could he do for us?’ (Collective Israel speaking.) They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field” (10:3-4). Does this present a noteworthy connection of societal cause and effect—showing that corrupt politics leads to a corrupted legal system? Interesting. All I know is that our own present-day legal system is riddled with corruption, to the point that criminals and illegal aliens seem to have more legal rights and protections than do straight law-abiding citizens. Just last week I did a sawmill job for a customer who told me of his recent painful legal battle with neighbors. He has a long-standing documented and deeded right of way through the neighbor’s property, which the neighbors decided was not acceptable—so they began disagreeing, blocking, and raising a big fuss. Police and the courts had to become involved. So three years and over $50,000 later, the court finally passes a ruling to confirm what this property owner already knew—he does indeed have a legal long-standing documented and deeded right of way through the neighbor’s property. Duh! Does anyone smell a corrupt money-trail here? I remember a little comment James Dobson wrote with tongue-in-cheek—something like, “If we could take all the lawyers and judges in the world and lay them end to end—it may be a good idea to just leave them that way!” (This is not to ignore individuality—that there are some within this field with balanced views and motives.)

The metaphor of farming with its dependence upon plowing, cultivating, sowing, and reaping is used often in Biblical text to illustrate the causes and effects within both physical life and moral/spiritual life. We’ve already referenced a touch of it above—“therefore, lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field” (10:4). Of course, we as individuals cannot control all the sowing and reaping that goes on within our culture and nation, but we can, and must, control the sowing and reaping that goes on within our own lives. Indeed, doing that is the most substantial way to contribute positive influence to our culture and nation at large. Just think what the effect could be if the majority of citizens contributed that cause! I don’t think we can be guilty of “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7) if we quoted once again Galatians 6:7-9: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Don’t ever give up! It’s always “time to seek the LORD.”