Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

I’m going to have to keep a hand on my fingers (smile)—since they’re getting old and have a hard time learning new things—like learning to type 2016 rather than 2015.

This computer is actually sitting on the dining table in the home of Elvin and Eunice Huston—Shady Cove. It’s sure not very shady out there in this cove—the sun is blazing—but very cold—about 24 degrees.

Lots of options for the day. I think we’ll start with a dash down to Ashland. Today is a fun unfolding adventure.

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Psalm 2 opens with a rhetorical question that is extremely relevant for us today in our modern world. We God-seeking Bible-believers who are forced by conscience to resist “political correctness” are constantly grappling with the same question. “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed” (Psalm 2:1-2, KJV). Why indeed?! Let’s take a moment to examine that basic question.

Look no further than our reading of Proverbs 2 for very clear answers. In that passage a father-figure prescribes to his son the antidote for stupid (being a fool). He affirms that avoiding this default setting of our NATURAL SIN NATURE is not easy—it cannot be achieved by casual, whimsical conformity to personal feelings and/or pop culture. It calls for persistent, full-throttle, passionate seeking for wisdom, understanding, and God. Listen again to these words, noticing the if/then reasoning: “My son, IF you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and IF you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:1-6).

So, WHY “do the heathen rage?” Closer to home, why are Christians maligned and persecuted as narrow-minded bigots? It’s basically because these raging opponents fit the description of Biblical fools—never taking time to heed the straight-forward advice of Proverbs 2. It’s really simple math.

Consider this: The whole spectacle from the vantage of heaven—the crazy show of little frail ignorant arrogant earthlings running around, trying to oppose Sovereign God and those who follow Him, is like telling God a funny joke—He laughs (Proverbs 2:4)! He laughs with the understanding that this is no laughing matter—yet all the while “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV). While we don’t normally blend serving and worship with fear and trembling, this concept takes on fresh meaning: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.”

At the risk of being repetitious, it seems most fitting to end with the same quote as yesterday…