Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Once again, this is a production I began yesterday for yesterday…but became so congested with stuff that I didn’t finish it. I faced logistical challenges (picking up a bunch of stuff in SE Portland for a friend who is no longer living—he asked me to do it before he died—and I said I would), sign work pressures, and did an evening mill job. While away, two dogs belonging to Andy and Delaine were dropped off here for us to “dog sit” while they are on a road trip to Texas. The dogs, Bella and Paisley, are here on the floor of the studio as I type.

After sending this, I need to go see a lady about a tree job. It represents a major challenge if I take it on. One tree is a huge fir. It would need to be taken apart very carefully. The drop zone is relatively small.

Have a great day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

This is exactly the message I would like to be able to impart to my own children. I care not whether they are star athletes, wonderful musicians, prestigious professionals, wealthy, or famous. I care deeply that they make proper use of their God-given intelligence so as to seek and embrace WISDOM—which my personal bias equates with a HEART AFTER GOD. That disposition, in my humble (but dogmatic) view is the wisest wisdom available.

Once again, I find it easy to expand the meaning and impact of this fatherly expression by imagining it to be a heart-level word of advice spoken directly to each one of us by our Heavenly Father.

To what degree do you suppose the Heavenly Father is pleased over the spectacle of His human creatures engaging in racial prejudice? After all He fashioned them all. To what degree is racial prejudice intelligent or wise? More specifically, how smart is the mindset of ANTI-SEMITISM (hatred of the Jewish people)? The conclusion I draw is that God is not pleased with any of these perverted uses of human intelligence. And it’s amazing to behold the evidence that the ancient stupid of ANTI-SEMITISM is looming before us as a modern stupid. On the part of some, it’s an unreasonable obsession that desires to see Israel as a nation wiped off the map. On the part of others, it’s an indifferent attitude of, “Whatever,” or, “Maybe they deserve it,” or, “Look how those bad Jews have done harm to some of those nice Palestinians” while ignoring what “Palestinians” are doing and wanting to do against the Jews.

Does anyone see evidence of spiritual evil messing with human intelligence? I sure do. I fail to understand any explanation for the phenomenon of ANTI-SEMITISM independent of evil spiritual forces at play—influencing the minds of men. While the kingdom of evil hates the bloodline of the Messiah, the Most High loves it. His purposes and protection of this special people group will prevail.

Why am I touching on the topic of ANTI-SEMITISM? It’s because the accompanying reading in Psalm 83 is such a clear description of that mindset. “’Come,’ they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more’” (Psalm 83:4). I just took time to read again Ezekiel 38 and 39, as well as Zechariah 2. Wow! Things are heating up for the BIG BANG. And, amazingly, ANTI-SEMITISM is predicted to be the spark that detonates it. Practical bottom line: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28). All I know is that this attitude is closer to speaking right, pursuing wisdom, and pleasing our Heavenly Father than any of the dangerous alternatives.