Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: David said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and refuge . . . “ (2 Samuel 22:3a)

There are many scriptural references to horns, in both the Old and New Testaments. Animal horns, the “usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates,” especially those of cattle (the ox) and sheep (ram’s horn) were used for musical instruments and as containers.
The shofar, a ram's-horn trumpet, was blown by the ancient Hebrews in battle and high religious observances and used in synagogues before and during Rosh Hashanah and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.
A horn was used to hold oil for the sacred rite of anointment (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13, where the Lord instructs the prophet to anoint David as king.)
The altar used during the Exodus journey had ‘horns’ on the four corners, overlaid with bronze. (See Exodus 27:1-8) The Book of Ezekiel also mentions an altar with four horns extending upward from the hearth. Blood from the sacrifice was to be placed on the four horns as part of the ceremony. (Ezekiel, 43:15; 20)
The Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the temple of Jesus’ day in The Wars of the Jews, Book V, Chapter V. The altar, which stood in front of the temple, had “corners like horns.”
The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28).
The phrase ‘horn of my salvation’ is typical of many scriptural references, in both the Old and New Testaments where it is obvious that “horn” had significance beyond trumpets and anointing vessels.
. The Bible uses ‘horn’ as a metaphor for strength; its loss as dishonor.
Moses compares the tribe of Joseph with a firstborn bull, with horns like the horns of a wild ox, (Deut. 33:17) denoting strength.
Lamentations 2:2-3 describes how the Lord, in fierce anger, has cut off the horn of Israel (strength) and brought her kingdom down to the ground in dishonor. Job, also, laments that he has “defiled my horn in the dust.” (Job 16:15, KJV)
Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defense with the animals endowed with them. The books of Daniel and Revelation are rich in prophetic imagery of horns, signifying royal dignity and the might of kings, especially military power, (Jer 48:25; Zac 1:18; Dan 8:24). John saw beasts with horns in Rev. chapter 13, vss. 1 and 11.
Zacharias echoes David’s psalm of triumph in Luke 1:69, that the Lord has “raised up a horn of salvation for us,” in the Christ, the Messiah, of John 3:16. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Paul proclaimed that all things - of the world, of life, death, things present or things to come - “all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3:21-23)
February 4, 2007

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: David said, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and refuge . . . " (2 Samuel 22:3a)

There are many scriptural references to horns, in both the Old and New Testaments. Animal horns, the "usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates," especially those of cattle (the ox) and sheep (ram's horn) were used for musical instruments and as containers.
The shofar, a ram's-horn trumpet, was blown by the ancient Hebrews in battle and high religious observances and used in synagogues before and during Rosh Hashanah and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.
A horn was used to hold oil for the sacred rite of anointment (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13, where the Lord instructs the prophet to anoint David as king.)
The altar used during the Exodus journey had 'horns' on the four corners, overlaid with bronze. (See Exodus 27:1-8) The Book of Ezekiel also mentions an altar with four horns extending upward from the hearth. Blood from the sacrifice was to be placed on the four horns as part of the ceremony. (Ezekiel, 43:15; 20)
The Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the temple of Jesus' day in The Wars of the Jews, Book V, Chapter V. The altar, which stood in front of the temple, had "corners like horns."
The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28).
The phrase 'horn of my salvation' is typical of many scriptural references, in both the Old and New Testaments where it is obvious that "horn" had significance beyond trumpets and anointing vessels.
. The Bible uses 'horn' as a metaphor for strength; its loss as dishonor.
Moses compares the tribe of Joseph with a firstborn bull, with horns like the horns of a wild ox, (Deut. 33:17) denoting strength.
Lamentations 2:2-3 describes how the Lord, in fierce anger, has cut off the horn of Israel (strength) and brought her kingdom down to the ground in dishonor. Job, also, laments that he has "defiled my horn in the dust." (Job 16:15, KJV)
Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defense with the animals endowed with them. The books of Daniel and Revelation are rich in prophetic imagery of horns, signifying royal dignity and the might of kings, especially military power, (Jer 48:25; Zac 1:18; Dan 8:24). John saw beasts with horns in Rev. chapter 13, vss. 1 and 11.
Zacharias echoes David's psalm of triumph in Luke 1:69, that the Lord has "raised up a horn of salvation for us," in the Christ, the Messiah, of John 3:16. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Paul proclaimed that all things - of the world, of life, death, things present or things to come - "all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Cor. 3:21-23)
February 4, 2007

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Under [Christ’s] direction the whole body [of the Church] is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4: 15b-16, Living Bible)

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, the backyard mechanic could service his own automobile. Fast forward to the 21st Century. The electronic diagnostic equipment required in a modern auto repair facility to interact with the computer systems monitoring and operating your vehicle exceeds that of a radio and TV repair shop in the 1960’s. When that little warning light on the dash comes on, you know you are headed for a computer read-out.
Still, at heart, the modern internal combustion engine beats much like the lowly lawnmower engine: intake, compression, ignition, power, exhaust. Sure, there are some differences, as purists will no doubt argue, but the entire process involves the explosion of a fuel mixture pushing on a piston or rotor coupled to a crankshaft, coupled to whatever work you want the engine to do.
I can still tinker with a lawnmower or small utility engine to satisfy my wistful mechanic longings, and sometimes get them back in running condition. And if I don’t? I have had the fun of tinkering, gained knowledge by taking something apart, and and the pleasure of recycling scrap metal.
So let’s consider the more simple engine as an example of how something needs to function as a whole, requiring all the parts of it to work as intended.
The piston started it by boasting, “Hey! I’m the heart of this engine; without me nothing works.” “Which is true enough,” said the connecting rod. “But take me out and see how much ‘heart’ you have. It is one ‘boom’ and you are done, without me keeping you on the move.”
“Well, I’m the spark that lights your fire,” sputtered the ignition system. “Turn me off, and see how well this engine runs.”
“We are the gatekeepers,” interjected the valves. “Nothing comes in or goes out except by us. And we do it on time, every time.”
“Without my energy, the rest of you are just cold metal,” harrumped the carburetor, nearly choking on his words. ”The fuel system gives and gives, and when I run dry, you don’t run at all.”
The crankshaft listened patiently while all of the systems and their related parts presented their case, each disputing loud and long how important they were. Turning slowly, the crankshaft noted that each followed the movement, in their own way. The piston moved up and down, kept on schedule by the connecting rod. The valves opened and closed, admitting the fuel mixture, which the carburetor gracefully shared from its fuel supply. The ignition watched intently, becoming so excited that it discharged like a miniature lightning bolt, but right on time. “This way out,” urged the exhaust valve, opening wide the passageway.
“You see, each of us is important in our own way. When we work together, we can accomplish things that none of could do by ourselves.” The crankshaft was on a roll now, fairly humming. “Our designer and master mechanic fitted us together perfectly. Even the tiniest bolt and screw is necessary to bring us all together as a whole. If anyone fails, our entire organization suffers because of it. Let each part in its own special way help the other parts, without strife and bickering.”
So, too, “God’s people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the Church, the Body of Christ to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our savior, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord - yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ.”
(Ephesians 4:12, 13)
February 28, 2010

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* It Might Have Been
* Scripture: Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul.” Mark 8:36, NKJV

Baseball catcher Yogi Berra is reputed to have said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Well, I suppose one could just sit there, in a state of stultification, or turn around and go back. Chances are, though, one fork or the other will be taken. Choices, decisions, alternatives. If this, then - What? What will the answer be?

John Greenleaf Whittier brought two people to such a fork in the road in his poem, “Maud Muller.” Maud was a farm girl, “Of simple beauty and rustic health,”raking hay in the meadow on a summer’s day, when a Judge stopped his horse to rest in the shade of a tree, and asked the maid for a drink of water. While he tarried, they:

“talked of the haying, and wondered whether
The cloud in the west would bring foul weather.”

When he at last rode away, Maud’s thoughts wandered to what it would be like that she the Judge’s bride might be.

“He would dress me up in silks so fine. . . ”

The Judge looked back at Maud and considered her pastoral world - the

“low of cattle and song of birds,
And health and quiet and loving words.
But he thought of his sisters, proud and cold,
And his mother, vain of her rank and gold.
So, closing his heart, the Judge rode on,
And Maud was left in the field alone.“

The years pass, and their roads diverge:

“He wedded a wife of richest dower,
Who lived for fashion, as he for power . . . .”

“She wedded a man unlearned and poor,
And many children played round her door.”
Often over the years each thought back to that summer day:
“In the shade of the apple-tree again
She saw a rider draw his rein;
And, gazing down with timid grace,
She felt his pleased eyes read her face.”

while he wished to be

“Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay.”

Oh! For the fork in the road not taken.
Choices, decisions, alternatives.

“Alas for maiden, alas for Judge,
For rich repiner and household drudge!
God pity them both! and pity us all,
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.”

“For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: `It might have been!`”

As Jesus observed, many take the fork that promises the “riches” of the the world, only to find that it leads to a soul lost for eternity. Too late, too late, one can then only look back and sigh, “It might have been.”
May 8, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Wishes
* Scripture: Paul wrote, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26, NKJV)

One thing has always puzzled me about those folk tales and fables that involve granting of wishes. I’ve never heard of even one smart-alec wise-guy that wishes for a never ending supply of wishes. That would be number one on my wish list. Then, even if I blew a few on stupid things (as typically happens) I would have wishes to spare to get me out of trouble.
Desire without wisdom often leads to disaster. Many things that seem to be a good idea at first glance may bring unintended or unthought-of consequences.
A typical wish expresses the desire to acquire something that we do not have. Many wishes are for wealth. The legendary Phrygian king, Midas, wished for the power to turn everything he touched to gold. It was fun for a while to turn clothing and other objects to gold, but the king gave no thought about eating until his food also turned into uneatable gold. Midas loved his daughter very much, but one touch turned her to gold, cold gold, which is not the same as hugging a living girl. Alas! Poor King Midas.
In most stories, the final wish is used to correct the troubles caused by foolish requests, usually leaving the person a little wiser, but no better off than before the wishes were granted.
One story of this genre, The Fisherman and His Wife, tells how a fisherman catches and then frees a magic flounder, which of course can fulfill wishes. The wife first wishes for a nice cottage to replace the hovel they had been living in.
Tis aptly said that power corrupts, and the wife soon desires a castle, then a kingdom, an empire, and finally to be able to order about the sun and moon. The wish-granting flounder has had enough of the wife’s delusions of grandeur, and returns them to the hovel from which they started.
Pure desire is seldom tempered with wisdom, especially in fables, where the wish recipient has no one to counsel them, no instructions as to responsible wishing.
It is tempting to use prayer the same way wishes are used in fables, but covetness and raw desire should not be the subject of our prayers. Fortunately, the Bible provides a lot of guidance about using prayer. For example, Jesus said to His Disciples, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40) For what purpose, for what power, will we sell our soul? (Satan loses one battle - see Matthew 4:1-11)
We also have one power, one resource that I’ve not found in fable, and that is the Holy Spirit. The One who walks alongside us, and makes intercession for us. One who groans for us.
May our prayers ever be, “Not my will, but Thine.”
April 10, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Pressure Relief Valve
* Scripture: Jesus said, "But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement” Matthew 5:22a, NRS

Power! Energy! For centuries, people have depended upon wind and water as the force to grind their grain and turn their machinery. There is a problem with natural sources of power, however. Wind and water don’t always occur where you need them, and in the necessary quantities. Too little of either will not power the equipment; too much can be destructive.
Enter the steam engine. Now, power could be produced anywhere, and in the amount needed to get the work done. Essentially a genie in a bottle, except that the genie sometimes burst the bonds of its confinement with an explosion of the boiler. Pressure relief valves were often difficult to adjust, and sometimes failed. One little flaw in the boiler structure can also lead to massive destruction of the engine.
Our human engine is like that sometimes, also. Fueled by pent-up anger, people sometimes seem to explode in a burst of very destructive behavior. Road rage is a constant headline in the news. Fights and confrontations break out at athletic events. Multiple killings at schools, businesses, and even in courts of law leave us in stunned disbelief.
It’s not a new phenomena, however. Genesis 4:8 describes how Cain slew Able in a fit of anger. The problem remains. The solution is elusive. Often, everything seems to be going well, until . . . BOOM!
Anger is a reality. Paul associates anger with bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking and malice in his letter to the Ephesians (4: 31). Jesus counsels that anyone who is angry with his brother (or sister) will be subject to judgment.
Obviously, we need to find a ‘pressure relief valve,’ lest anger lead us to sin. The best remedy seems to be steeping oneself in ‘attitude adjustment’ practices. Paul advises prayer on the matter, (1 Timothy 2:8) and Jesus recommends reconciliation with the ones with whom you have a dispute (Matthew 5:24). It probably wouldn’t hurt if we read the Sermon on the Mount frequently, especially in trying times, to remind us to change our outlook toward others. (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7; Luke 6:20-49. ) Note that Matthew chapter 6 includes the model prayer, including petitions for forgiveness for both ourselves and others.
Remember that we are to love God and our neighbors, including our enemies and those who curse and spitefully use us. (Mt. 5:44)
We need to be both listeners and sharers; communications is the essence of community. In so doing, we build that pressure relief valve that will help keep us from disaster.
March 20, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Joshua said, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 NIV

A few Sundays ago, I spoke about the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who became the Queen of Persia. We are studying the book of Daniel now for Thursday evening Bible study. Our Sunday Bible study concerns the time period that Judah was taken into captivity in Babylon, and later restored to their homeland by the King of Persia.
As with many ancient civilizations, their grand cities now lie in ruins. Under normal circumstances, you could visit those sites as a tourist, much as you might visit the Colosseum in Rome, or Capernaum in Israel. As an American Christian, you might not desire to travel there right now, though: the area of ancient Babylon is now Iraq; Persia is in the modern country of Iran.
Lebanon still exists, of course. As does the city of Damascus. Syria is another country that is not too friendly towards modern Israel, the Jews, and the USA. The tug and pull of history goes on, and Israel (the Jews) find themselves in the midst of things, just as they did 2,500 years ago. Whatever you feel about these people, you have to admit they have survived in spite of persecutions for thousands of years.
In the cases of both Esther and Daniel, their strong belief in God, and their courage to hold fast to their principles, made a difference in the survival of their people at times when they faced annihilation. They were not the only ones, of course, who made a difference at a critical period in the Jew’s long history. For each person who made the “books” there are thousands of others who were faithful, and passed on the legacy of God, teaching their children, and their children’s children. A community doesn’t exist without people holding something in common. Sociologists speak of “mores (pronounced more-rays) the fixed, morally binding customs of a particular group. One of the things many people decry today is the lack of moral attitudes, of habits and manners that are uplifting and supportive of other people. It takes a strong person to say “No!” when the world all about you seems to accept all and any fad or fetish. Drugs, sex, dishonest dealings - “It’s everywhere, so ‘just do it’ and enjoy.” NOT!
We have access to the same power that Daniel and Esther, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Peter and Paul had: The LORD God Almighty! That power will anchor us to pass on these morally binding customs to our children, and our children’s children. And to each and every person we meet where we have an opportunity to witness by our stead-fastness in holding to principles that nothing in this world will compromise them.
September 22, 2002