Devotionals
Way Too Amazing
PR 30:18"There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: PR 30:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, the way of a man with a maiden. NIV
The first time I read this verse, it was one of those “What in the world was the Holy Spirit thinking when He wrote this?” That was about 30 years ago. I don’t pretend to have the whole scope of the passage, but if you wanted that, you’d be reading someone like Joyce Meyer. This is a nibble on the edge of a cookie.
“Too amazing.” That’s the hint: where it starts. In the utter amazement of the author, the wonder of creation, the child-like observation and a child’s eternal question, “Why?” Let’s for a moment join in child-like amazement, forgetting what we know from the Discovery Channel, biology class, and physics.
An eagle doesn’t fly. It soars. It stays aloft without effort. Wings reaching out, it glides and swoops almost beyond sight, certainly out of arrow range, but not beyond its own range of vision. From afar, it can and does dive toward earth, often pulling up with a fish from water or vermin on the ground. What unseen force lies within it to empower it so?
A snake will coil itself on a rock to warm itself in the sun after a frigid night on the dessert floor. In its early stages, it will remain there and usually not strike. It needs the warmth of a rock to survive. But who could ever be warmed by a rock?
A ship on the high seas amazes landlubbers. Plunging through mountainous swells, a ship rocks, pitches, yaws and rolls. Yet, with great plumes of spray it merely slices through the top of each wave, runs down the valley between swells, and up the slope of the next one, and manages to not only stay afloat, but exhilarates in the effort. How does it do that?
The way of a man with a maiden, when he is in love with her, makes him attentive to her. He notices everything about her: her clothing, her hair, if she looked at him, or if she shows signs of liking him back. In most of the cultures that I have learned about, there are unusual and strange (to the outsider!) customs and traditions surrounding courtship and marriage, one of the most basic of human relationships. While courting her, he becomes her servant, but after the wedding, she becomes his as well. And in Mideastern culture, he becomes the ruler of the home. So, how is it the servant becomes the ruler?
The eagle is a promise of eternity – movement and life without effort, obeying laws unseen, and enjoying ability beyond human comprehension. But the eagle is also a promise of life in God now on earth, carried on the wind of his Spirit. Our only participation is wings of prayer and praise offered to the Wind in submission and obedience. Vision and perspective are also a part of the package. Seeing things from God’s viewpoint changes how we interact with the surroundings. With startling precision we can strike in prayer as from nowhere to destroy the vermin of the dust of the earth (enemies of God) or pluck sustaining fish from the waters of life.
A snake, perhaps one of the most despised creatures of nature, finds its bounty from the most unlikely sources. Each of us, having corporately once obeyed a serpent, have become serpentine ourselves, but we can cozy up to the Rock and be delivered from coldness of soul, to be brought as though from death to life, be hidden in its clefts, and find shelter and safety. But the Rock is also used as the Immovable Strength that will allows the snake to shed its skin. Rubbing its nose on the Rock begins the peeling process. So, we, too, immerse our minds in the essence of Him (the Word) which allows us to transform from snake back again to Eden’s human servant of the Living God. The Rock, of course, is Jesus, our Rock and high tower, the deliverer of his people. And from a flinty, unlikely source, God brings forth his life-sustaining supply to even such a snake as me.
The ship is type of the Church Universal. Manned by a crew, each with his/her own assignment(s) the ship safely traverses high seas only by the crafty ply of trade: trimmed sails, battened hatches, balanced ballast, spied reefs and rocks, starlit navigation. Only then is it safely moored in its home haven by the sage and trusted guidance of Captain Jesus and First Mate Holy Spirit. Trimmed sails are sails adjusted to the ship’s best use of the wind related to where it’s going. For us it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to focus us on what our purpose in life is. Battened hatches are fortified coverings over openings to the cargo areas, which are vulnerable to flooding in rough seas. Spiritually, its fortification against temptation or other spiritual attacks that would sink us: the word of God and the character of Christ in us. Lookouts perched in the crow’s nest see and announce trouble spots. By the gifts of the Spirit, we are warned or foresee areas that may be unduly challenging so as to avoid them. Often these warnings come to us in the caring words of godly friends. Starlit navigation is the watches of the night: prayer that searches for direction on earth, hidden – but discoverable – in lofty heaven. But the ship would not stay afloat were it a wooden bowl. Its very design and purpose is to ride the mobile mountains of billowing seas. So, we must look to the Designer and Architect of our faith, the Builder who formed the very timbers. It is God who made the Church, who has crafted it for slicing through the heavy weathers of this time, empowered it with sails, and sails with it to the ports of call of His choosing. And in this journey we each have a part to play. But the ship would not stay afloat were it a wooden bowl. Its very design and purpose is to ride the mobile mountains of billowing seas. So, we must look to the Designer and Architect of our faith, the Builder who formed the very timbers. It is God who made the Church, who has crafted it for slicing through the heavy weathers of this time, empowered it with sails, and sails with it to the ports of call of His choosing. And in this journey we each have a part to play. All aboard!
There is a man who loved a woman so much, to win her attention and affection, he single-handedly went to war for her. In the end, it took his very life, but because he was completely pure in his love and because he gave his life freely and willingly, it was given back to him. The woman realized the treasure of the man’s heart, repented of her harlotry, and presented herself to him. In return the man was able, because of the life he lives after his death, to return her not only to original innocence, but also provide the promise of future glory and beauty beyond imagination. The Man who first became a servant to the Maiden Church is Jesus. He first became a Savior to then become Bridegroom King. He who should have been served came to serve. He washed his disciples’ feet, taught us God’s ways, and finally, laid his life down, and that by means of a cruel, bloody, and unjust death. And his service procreated a race of servants bearing his image, like-minded, self-sacrificing, and lovers all. He became the Servant King and the King of Kings. This King will return unquestioned and unchallenged. All the world loves a lover who goes to great lengths to win his beloved. In this, Jesus is the greatest Lover of all time. Hear the cry of the Lover’s heart: Will you be Mine?
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