Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

It’s been a busy morning. Besides knocking out a walk/jog with Becki, I scrambled to follow through with doing a roof repair on the roof of what we call “the red shop”—before the rain was to start up again. I think I now understand where the bad leak is coming from. This patch job will stop it. The rain did come and discouraged my finishing the whole plan, but I was able to complete the area most in need.

Half the day is history already. After sending this, I’ll try to arrange my priority list for the rest of the day from the overwhelming master list.

Blessings on the rest of yours.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This is a song composed and performed by the band called “THE SONS OF KORAH.” I just checked on YOUTUBE. Sure enough, there’s a contemporary group out there by that name. But they can’t be the same group that pumped out those great popular praise songs in David’s day.

This psalm features some valuable self-talk. The composer recognizes that his own demeanor has declined into a state of melancholy—and he doesn’t understand why. So he documents this heart-level conversation he has with himself in a quest to understand. It just doesn’t make sense—especially when he reminisces about his past experiences and commitments. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God…These things I remember as I pour out my soul: How I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng” (vv. 1, 4). But now? It seems that something is amiss so as to see himself so far down in the dumps.

I judge that this author gets it right. He doesn’t allow himself to get too high-centered on not understanding why he’s so bummed. Who really perfectly understands his own psychology anyway? He simply picks up on what he understands is his most basic obligation in life—a HEART AFTER GOD—and runs with it. He talks directly to his soul to reaffirm his hope in his Maker, to not let up in worshipping Him, and to trust that everything ultimately is going to be just fine because of that trust.

It would be fun to go back in a time machine and teach THE SONS OF KORAH a song from our own Gospel songbook—like COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. I think they would like it. “When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed; When you are discouraged thinking all is lost; Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the LORD has done.”