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My Ramblings
- Thread starter steve
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Opening
Who is Steve?
Just an unknown curmudgeon who takes his brain cells out for a walk now and again. The nice lady who ramrods this outfit has kindly provided this little Corner as a repository for the contents of the baggies resulting from some of those walks.
In the deposits that I leave in this Corner I will refer to God as Yah and Jesus as Yeshua. It just seems to me a tad bit more respectful and I hope that you can humor me in this.
If you have been dipped in lemon juice and don’t find jocularity particularly humorous, this probably won’t be your favorite column. Not that I have any pretentions as a comedian, I merely enjoy the gift of humor that our Creator bestowed upon us. After all,He’s the one that came up with the duck-billed platypus.
Just a few thoughts for today;
Something that I heard about 50 years ago, Yah loves you just the way that you are, but too much to leave you that way.
Matthew 24:27 (KJV)
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
I had always assumed that this was telling us that Yeshua would return suddenly, but one day it dawned on me that lightning doesn’t travel East to West. Only daybreak starts in the East and spreads to the West. It is a slow progression of lightening when you are watching for it, but it does seem to change suddenly when you aren’t paying attention.
May we invite the light of His Kingdom into our lives each day.
Btw: Darkness flees before the light.
Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
According to this verse, there are angels walking amongst us that we assume are humans.
Somehow I doubt that they are just hanging out with us in order to test whether or not we will help them, although that has its own implications. What if their purpose is deeper? What if they are attempting to help perfect us?
What if that person that was a problem to me the other day wasn’t a person?
What if I gave the rough side of my tongue to an angel unawares? I’m not thinking that that is what Paul would have considered entertaining them.
Who is Steve?
Just an unknown curmudgeon who takes his brain cells out for a walk now and again. The nice lady who ramrods this outfit has kindly provided this little Corner as a repository for the contents of the baggies resulting from some of those walks.
In the deposits that I leave in this Corner I will refer to God as Yah and Jesus as Yeshua. It just seems to me a tad bit more respectful and I hope that you can humor me in this.
If you have been dipped in lemon juice and don’t find jocularity particularly humorous, this probably won’t be your favorite column. Not that I have any pretentions as a comedian, I merely enjoy the gift of humor that our Creator bestowed upon us. After all,He’s the one that came up with the duck-billed platypus.
Just a few thoughts for today;
Something that I heard about 50 years ago, Yah loves you just the way that you are, but too much to leave you that way.
Matthew 24:27 (KJV)
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
I had always assumed that this was telling us that Yeshua would return suddenly, but one day it dawned on me that lightning doesn’t travel East to West. Only daybreak starts in the East and spreads to the West. It is a slow progression of lightening when you are watching for it, but it does seem to change suddenly when you aren’t paying attention.
May we invite the light of His Kingdom into our lives each day.
Btw: Darkness flees before the light.
Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
According to this verse, there are angels walking amongst us that we assume are humans.
Somehow I doubt that they are just hanging out with us in order to test whether or not we will help them, although that has its own implications. What if their purpose is deeper? What if they are attempting to help perfect us?
What if that person that was a problem to me the other day wasn’t a person?
What if I gave the rough side of my tongue to an angel unawares? I’m not thinking that that is what Paul would have considered entertaining them.
The Power of Angels?
I grew up believing that angels were an extension of Yah and wielded His power. That they could perform miracles and healing.
I have come to realize that there is a problem with that view. If they have that type of power, where does the power of fallen angels come from? Their leader doesn’t have any kind of equivalency with our Creator. He was merely an angel, albeit a special one.
Why do I think that the strength and abilities of fallen angels is on par with good ones? I believe that the story of Daniel having to wait three weeks for an answer to a question is one proof. The angel that had been dispatched with the answer was held up by a prince of the fallen angels who was only overcome by assistance from the Archangel, Michael. It took the two of them to break through the power that the enemy’s prince over Persia held.
I am not saying that the angels are completely powerless, i am only making the point that they are more limited than what I grew up believing. We were created a little lower than the angels and I propose that in some ways they may be a bit closer to who we are than they are to who Yah is.
Remember that they can and do fall. Yes, I used the present tense. I don’t see anything in Scripture to indicate that it was a onetime occurrence. What would be the difference between then and now that would preclude it from happening?
An even bigger question, can fallen angels repent and return to the Light?
Scripture says that there are ministering angels (spirits) sent to help us. Is it possible that the propensity that we have to give in to temptation could in any way contribute to the corruption of an angel assigned to help us?
And here’s one more to consider, what do the numbers look like? Is it possible that there are more fallen than un-fallen angels?
I grew up believing that angels were an extension of Yah and wielded His power. That they could perform miracles and healing.
I have come to realize that there is a problem with that view. If they have that type of power, where does the power of fallen angels come from? Their leader doesn’t have any kind of equivalency with our Creator. He was merely an angel, albeit a special one.
Why do I think that the strength and abilities of fallen angels is on par with good ones? I believe that the story of Daniel having to wait three weeks for an answer to a question is one proof. The angel that had been dispatched with the answer was held up by a prince of the fallen angels who was only overcome by assistance from the Archangel, Michael. It took the two of them to break through the power that the enemy’s prince over Persia held.
I am not saying that the angels are completely powerless, i am only making the point that they are more limited than what I grew up believing. We were created a little lower than the angels and I propose that in some ways they may be a bit closer to who we are than they are to who Yah is.
Remember that they can and do fall. Yes, I used the present tense. I don’t see anything in Scripture to indicate that it was a onetime occurrence. What would be the difference between then and now that would preclude it from happening?
An even bigger question, can fallen angels repent and return to the Light?
Scripture says that there are ministering angels (spirits) sent to help us. Is it possible that the propensity that we have to give in to temptation could in any way contribute to the corruption of an angel assigned to help us?
And here’s one more to consider, what do the numbers look like? Is it possible that there are more fallen than un-fallen angels?
We (my husband Rob and I) would agree that Angels have the power to perform healing and more, but so do we, in faith and in the authority of Jesus’ name. We disagree however that Angels are above us. We were made in His image, became His children, and will accept His inheritance. That’s a lot of privileges to be lower than angels; also considering that they were sent to assist us, not the other way around. It is safe to say, I think, that we all are covered under The Father’s authority, and nothing escapes His will. What happens, happens for His glory. Curious thoughts on if fallen ones (and nephalem) can repent. I believe there is a scripture reference on some being “objects of His wrath” I can’t remember it exactly though - and that indicates some were allowed to exist only for His judgement. My last thought here is on the number of angels. It would be logical to assume that all the angels that would ever exist were already created in the beginning. We know that the enemy took his legion with him and they fell. Part of falling for the now evil spirits (because anything outside the will of God is evil) was taking human women and creating nephalem. Are the nephalem considered fallen angels too because of their blood? Curious...though we know our God is capable of all things, so if He willed it, He could redeem anyone, no? The rain falls on the just and the unjust all the same.
Thank you, @steve for the morning meditation!
Thank you, @steve for the morning meditation!
Do we have any examples of them doing that in Scripture?
The closest thing that I can think of is the belief that when an angel stirred the water in the pool at Bethesda, the first person in got healed. But that doesn’t seem like quite the same thing.
They did preexist us, the Angel of Light fell prior to the encounter in the Garden of Eden.
You are welcome. It is definitely something interesting to meditate on.
If we count Tobit as scripture, the angel Raphael instructs Tobias on what actions to take to drive out a demon and to heal his father's blindness. However Raphael himself did not actually do those actions, Tobias did, Raphael was just a messenger delivering instructions from God, and it is very clear that the actual healing power came from God. So that doesn't actually answer the question but it is the closest thing I could think of as an example.
Bingo.
That’s what angels are. If they could heal, we would wind up praying to them for healing in the same way that people seek healing from people with healing ministries.
I do believe that they assist us, but I haven’t seen evidence of them performing miracles in the process.
Can they smooth the way for us by putting ideas in people’s heads, I think probably so. But they cannot convince anyone against their will.
Weird Story Time
Don’t hold me to the details because I’m going from memory that dates a good while back, but I remember reading about a missionary and his wife who went to a very remote location to reach out to a tribe who were quite savage. The short version is that they got separated and she was captured. Did I say that they were extremely savage? You can use your imagination as to what happened next.
In extreme despair, he left the area and struggled with his relationship with Yah for years. As he healed, he felt Yah directing him to return to the people that he originally had felt called to. It was a struggle, but he finally went.
When he got there, he found them surprisingly open to the gospel. He asked them what had changed and they shocked him with their answer. They explained that Yeshua was in his wife and was now within them.
I was relating this story to a friend and he got this strange look on his face. “So that’s what happened!” he exclaimed. Then he proceeded to tell me a story of a missionary couple whose child was taken in the same way. They went through the same broken-heartedness and despair and were eventually directed by Yah back to the perpetrators who stated that they knew Yeshua and that they were waiting to be taught more.
Fast forward to when a friend of mine was working in Iraq and became acquainted with some Ugandans. They enjoyed eating with their fingers and explained that they could feel the spirit/s that were left in the food by the preparers. In fact, that is how the president of their country is protected from poisoning, the official tester doesn’t even have to taste it but can feel the vibes.
It may be that it is better to go hungry than to ingest the spirits placed in food by people who don’t have a good heart.
Proverbs 17:1 (KJV)
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
But the corollary is that you can serve up the heart of Yah without ever saying a word. The next time that you cook, or even deliver food, think and pray about what is flowing through your hands into the food. You can bless your enemies in more than one way by feeding them.
Don’t hold me to the details because I’m going from memory that dates a good while back, but I remember reading about a missionary and his wife who went to a very remote location to reach out to a tribe who were quite savage. The short version is that they got separated and she was captured. Did I say that they were extremely savage? You can use your imagination as to what happened next.
In extreme despair, he left the area and struggled with his relationship with Yah for years. As he healed, he felt Yah directing him to return to the people that he originally had felt called to. It was a struggle, but he finally went.
When he got there, he found them surprisingly open to the gospel. He asked them what had changed and they shocked him with their answer. They explained that Yeshua was in his wife and was now within them.
I was relating this story to a friend and he got this strange look on his face. “So that’s what happened!” he exclaimed. Then he proceeded to tell me a story of a missionary couple whose child was taken in the same way. They went through the same broken-heartedness and despair and were eventually directed by Yah back to the perpetrators who stated that they knew Yeshua and that they were waiting to be taught more.
Fast forward to when a friend of mine was working in Iraq and became acquainted with some Ugandans. They enjoyed eating with their fingers and explained that they could feel the spirit/s that were left in the food by the preparers. In fact, that is how the president of their country is protected from poisoning, the official tester doesn’t even have to taste it but can feel the vibes.
It may be that it is better to go hungry than to ingest the spirits placed in food by people who don’t have a good heart.
Proverbs 17:1 (KJV)
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
But the corollary is that you can serve up the heart of Yah without ever saying a word. The next time that you cook, or even deliver food, think and pray about what is flowing through your hands into the food. You can bless your enemies in more than one way by feeding them.
Maybe missionaries should bring angel food cake with them.
The Lord’s Prayers
First off, let me apologize to anyone who has allergic reactions to sermons. I feel you, if it smells like a sermon it probably is. Even if that is not my intention.
Prayer has become an art form. Those who can wax long and eloquent are very intimidating to those of us with faltering lips and a stammering tongue. They have seemed to me to exemplify the epitome of spirituality.
So it was with great interest I realized that of all the words written that were uttered by Yeshua we have very few prayers, and the one that was given to us as a specific example was quite short.
This prayer was recorded for us in Mathew and repeated in Luke. It dovetails nicely with the prayer that he prayed shortly before he was arrested.
What stood out to me was the phrase “Thy will be done” in both prayers. In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed three times, using slightly different words, that Yah’s will, not his own, be done.
After much consideration I’ve made this a principle part of my own prayers, having decided that no matter what my request may be, I would rather have what furthers the Kingdom of Heaven than my own desires and plans. I’ve come to realize that it is the heat of the fires that we go through that gives our iron the temper necessary to be a tool fit for Yah’s hand. If we were to be able to pray our way out of every hot spot that we got into, where would we expect our strength to come from?
May we be forged in our fires and not shrink from them. May we see each fire as an opportunity to become fit for His Kingdom. May we pray as Yeshua did: “...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Depending on how you interpret it, part of Yeshua’s prayer in John 17:15 may reflect the concept that we aren’t to be preserved from problems. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
It is difficult to watch friends and family go through hard stuff. We want to protect them and have Yah relieve them. Sometimes He does, but not as often as we would like. Instead, we were asked to bear one another’s burdens. Which, interestingly enough, is a subject for another day.
First off, let me apologize to anyone who has allergic reactions to sermons. I feel you, if it smells like a sermon it probably is. Even if that is not my intention.
Prayer has become an art form. Those who can wax long and eloquent are very intimidating to those of us with faltering lips and a stammering tongue. They have seemed to me to exemplify the epitome of spirituality.
So it was with great interest I realized that of all the words written that were uttered by Yeshua we have very few prayers, and the one that was given to us as a specific example was quite short.
This prayer was recorded for us in Mathew and repeated in Luke. It dovetails nicely with the prayer that he prayed shortly before he was arrested.
What stood out to me was the phrase “Thy will be done” in both prayers. In fact, in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed three times, using slightly different words, that Yah’s will, not his own, be done.
After much consideration I’ve made this a principle part of my own prayers, having decided that no matter what my request may be, I would rather have what furthers the Kingdom of Heaven than my own desires and plans. I’ve come to realize that it is the heat of the fires that we go through that gives our iron the temper necessary to be a tool fit for Yah’s hand. If we were to be able to pray our way out of every hot spot that we got into, where would we expect our strength to come from?
May we be forged in our fires and not shrink from them. May we see each fire as an opportunity to become fit for His Kingdom. May we pray as Yeshua did: “...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Depending on how you interpret it, part of Yeshua’s prayer in John 17:15 may reflect the concept that we aren’t to be preserved from problems. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
It is difficult to watch friends and family go through hard stuff. We want to protect them and have Yah relieve them. Sometimes He does, but not as often as we would like. Instead, we were asked to bear one another’s burdens. Which, interestingly enough, is a subject for another day.
Adam was right there
About twenty five years ago I read The Silence of Adam, by Dr. Larry Crab.
The premise of the book was that the way that the story is written in Hebrew, it appears that Adam was standing right there when Eve was tempted.
I grew up with the understanding Eve had failed all by her lonesome and that when she gave the fruit to Adam, he either heroically joined her in her sin or was tricked into it.
Neither of those scenarios sat all that well with me, so when I learned that it was probable that Adam had been an observer I liked how it flowed.
Scenic detour: As he watched the interaction between the upright reptile and his wife, was he secretly fingering his ribs and thinking that he could spare a few more, in the interest of science of course, in case this experiment didn’t work out well? Easy come, easy go. All that it had cost him was a nap and a small bone.
Back on the highway: So he knew that he had been given the command directly by his Creator and that his wife had only received it second-hand. As he watched, he apparently didn’t pipe up with something like; “Umm, honey, let’s not do this, the big guy was kinda specific about this tree.” No, he stayed silent and didn’t protect her. That’s a pretty big deal right there.
We aren’t given the details, but this is how I see the next part playing out. We know that their eyes in some way were opened after they ate and most people that I have talked to believe that it happened at the same time for both of them. But why the time delay for her? That is what would have to happen if her eyes opened when his did because she ate first and then gave it to him.
Personally, I believe that as he watched, he saw a change in her expression as her eyes were opened (whatever that means, it’s above my pay-grade). I believe that he realized that she now had understanding that he didn’t have. Being a guy, he probably couldn’t help himself at this point as he reached out and received the fruit from her to take a bite for himself.
This is why I believe that it was called the sin of Adam. She was deceived (and unnecessarily so if he was there), but he did it by choice.
I could be wrong, I was wrong once last year and I am fully aware that it could happen again.
About twenty five years ago I read The Silence of Adam, by Dr. Larry Crab.
The premise of the book was that the way that the story is written in Hebrew, it appears that Adam was standing right there when Eve was tempted.
I grew up with the understanding Eve had failed all by her lonesome and that when she gave the fruit to Adam, he either heroically joined her in her sin or was tricked into it.
Neither of those scenarios sat all that well with me, so when I learned that it was probable that Adam had been an observer I liked how it flowed.
Scenic detour: As he watched the interaction between the upright reptile and his wife, was he secretly fingering his ribs and thinking that he could spare a few more, in the interest of science of course, in case this experiment didn’t work out well? Easy come, easy go. All that it had cost him was a nap and a small bone.
Back on the highway: So he knew that he had been given the command directly by his Creator and that his wife had only received it second-hand. As he watched, he apparently didn’t pipe up with something like; “Umm, honey, let’s not do this, the big guy was kinda specific about this tree.” No, he stayed silent and didn’t protect her. That’s a pretty big deal right there.
We aren’t given the details, but this is how I see the next part playing out. We know that their eyes in some way were opened after they ate and most people that I have talked to believe that it happened at the same time for both of them. But why the time delay for her? That is what would have to happen if her eyes opened when his did because she ate first and then gave it to him.
Personally, I believe that as he watched, he saw a change in her expression as her eyes were opened (whatever that means, it’s above my pay-grade). I believe that he realized that she now had understanding that he didn’t have. Being a guy, he probably couldn’t help himself at this point as he reached out and received the fruit from her to take a bite for himself.
This is why I believe that it was called the sin of Adam. She was deceived (and unnecessarily so if he was there), but he did it by choice.
I could be wrong, I was wrong once last year and I am fully aware that it could happen again.
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Interesting take on that, Steve. Makes one think.
Completely deceived, thoroughly taken in. 1 Tim. 2:14, And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
The word used in the Greek text is a strengthened form of the verb.
And you can see that if Adam was actually there, it was extremely egregious that he allowed it.
Patriarchy is a heavy responsibility.
They have their reward
A concept that I ran across one day was that of someone doing the right thing for the Kingdom of Yah, who’s reward may only be the acclaims that they receive from the people that observe them.
While I don’t believe in doing things for reward itself, I am human and am not immune to the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from being rewarded.
In various Scriptures there is the idea of a crown that is given to those who have earned it. While I don’t really feel drawn to have one, it strikes me that those without one (or with only a minimal one) will be displaying for eternity the way that they made decisions during the short interval that they spent breathing oxygen on this blue/green orb. It just seems that one might feel a bit naked without one.
So I will continue to do what I believe are the right things for simply the reason that they should be done, and accept the collateral advantage of whatever reward Yah deems reasonable.
But back to the idea of an immediate, short-term reward.
Matthew 6:5 (KJV) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Contrast those verses with:
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
There is a concept that some hold that sounds pretty good to me that defines different levels of giving.
If you give to someone in need, that is the minimum basic requirement. It is, of course, a good thing.
The next level up is to give to a second party to disperse your gift to someone whom you have designated as the recipient. The receiver is not to know who blessed them, but you do. And you receive some satisfaction in knowing who they are and what need you alleviated.
Obviously the highest level of giving, where you have the least attachment, is to give in a way where you have no idea who receives it and they have no idea who has given it. I have to admit, this one isn’t easy. I kinda like knowing how my money is being spent.
Yeah, did you catch that? How MY money is being spent.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Ouch.
Oh, one minor little question.
If you are taking a tax deduction, have you received your reward? Maybe part of it?
Idk, judging that is above my pay-grade.
A concept that I ran across one day was that of someone doing the right thing for the Kingdom of Yah, who’s reward may only be the acclaims that they receive from the people that observe them.
While I don’t believe in doing things for reward itself, I am human and am not immune to the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from being rewarded.
In various Scriptures there is the idea of a crown that is given to those who have earned it. While I don’t really feel drawn to have one, it strikes me that those without one (or with only a minimal one) will be displaying for eternity the way that they made decisions during the short interval that they spent breathing oxygen on this blue/green orb. It just seems that one might feel a bit naked without one.
So I will continue to do what I believe are the right things for simply the reason that they should be done, and accept the collateral advantage of whatever reward Yah deems reasonable.
But back to the idea of an immediate, short-term reward.
Matthew 6:5 (KJV) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Contrast those verses with:
Matthew 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
There is a concept that some hold that sounds pretty good to me that defines different levels of giving.
If you give to someone in need, that is the minimum basic requirement. It is, of course, a good thing.
The next level up is to give to a second party to disperse your gift to someone whom you have designated as the recipient. The receiver is not to know who blessed them, but you do. And you receive some satisfaction in knowing who they are and what need you alleviated.
Obviously the highest level of giving, where you have the least attachment, is to give in a way where you have no idea who receives it and they have no idea who has given it. I have to admit, this one isn’t easy. I kinda like knowing how my money is being spent.
Yeah, did you catch that? How MY money is being spent.
Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Ouch.
Oh, one minor little question.
If you are taking a tax deduction, have you received your reward? Maybe part of it?
Idk, judging that is above my pay-grade.
When we were finally getting out of the poor category I remember opening the end of year giving tax receipt from the church and feeling my chest fill with pride. I have not opened one since.
Your Intentions Don’t Always Matter
As I go through life, it seems that more import is often given to people’s intentions than their actions. As I was pondering that, a story came to mind.
Uzza was a fella back in King David’s day that earned himself a place in history for doing what was right. Doing what was right, but getting smitten down by Yah for doing it.
To make a long story a bit shorter, the Ark of the Covenant had done some unauthorized traveling, causing the statue of Dagon (a main Philistine god) to fall and break it’s neck scaring the living daylights out of his worshipers when they found the pieces. Which made the Ark, the possession of which had been an incredible victory against the Israelites, suddenly persona non grata amongst the Philistines. They got it back into Israel territory, but it hadn’t been returned to the place of honor in the Holy of Holies where it belonged.
David, being now the king, proceeded to put it back where it belonged. With extreme honor, they placed it upon a brand new cart to transport it home. The problem with that is that Yah had intended for it to be carried by priests. There were rings built into the corners that long poles were put through so that the priests could carry it without ever touching it. David somehow passed over that part and assumed that putting it on a cart was just hunky-dory. I am sure that he meant zero disrespect for Yah, but that didn’t matter. His assumption caused a man to be struck down by his Creator for doing the right thing.
One interesting thing about Uzza is that his name means strength. I imagine him being a burly young man in the prime of his life. He and his brother were chosen to drive the cart carrying the Ark. We normally think of drivers as sitting in the conveyance and steering it, but in this case they may have been walking, one of them on each side. They did have responsibility for the Ark and when it jiggled on those unsprung wooden wheels going down an unpaved road, it started to slide. What could he do? He reached out to steady it and lost his life.
His intentions couldn’t have been more perfect. He did absolutely nothing wrong. David had made the mistake. He probably knew the technically correct method of transport, but assumed that it would be ok to do it this way. As long as he did it with honor and he had good intentions, right?
But it cost a man his life. A man who may not even have known that the Ark was not intended to travel that way.
I can imagine Yah saying; “Hey man, sorry about that. Nothing personal, but I had to drop you. My boy David just wasn’t taking my instructions seriously enough. You’re cool with me, though. Ya done good”.
So, yeah.
Intentions matter, but actions matter more.
As I go through life, it seems that more import is often given to people’s intentions than their actions. As I was pondering that, a story came to mind.
Uzza was a fella back in King David’s day that earned himself a place in history for doing what was right. Doing what was right, but getting smitten down by Yah for doing it.
To make a long story a bit shorter, the Ark of the Covenant had done some unauthorized traveling, causing the statue of Dagon (a main Philistine god) to fall and break it’s neck scaring the living daylights out of his worshipers when they found the pieces. Which made the Ark, the possession of which had been an incredible victory against the Israelites, suddenly persona non grata amongst the Philistines. They got it back into Israel territory, but it hadn’t been returned to the place of honor in the Holy of Holies where it belonged.
David, being now the king, proceeded to put it back where it belonged. With extreme honor, they placed it upon a brand new cart to transport it home. The problem with that is that Yah had intended for it to be carried by priests. There were rings built into the corners that long poles were put through so that the priests could carry it without ever touching it. David somehow passed over that part and assumed that putting it on a cart was just hunky-dory. I am sure that he meant zero disrespect for Yah, but that didn’t matter. His assumption caused a man to be struck down by his Creator for doing the right thing.
One interesting thing about Uzza is that his name means strength. I imagine him being a burly young man in the prime of his life. He and his brother were chosen to drive the cart carrying the Ark. We normally think of drivers as sitting in the conveyance and steering it, but in this case they may have been walking, one of them on each side. They did have responsibility for the Ark and when it jiggled on those unsprung wooden wheels going down an unpaved road, it started to slide. What could he do? He reached out to steady it and lost his life.
His intentions couldn’t have been more perfect. He did absolutely nothing wrong. David had made the mistake. He probably knew the technically correct method of transport, but assumed that it would be ok to do it this way. As long as he did it with honor and he had good intentions, right?
But it cost a man his life. A man who may not even have known that the Ark was not intended to travel that way.
I can imagine Yah saying; “Hey man, sorry about that. Nothing personal, but I had to drop you. My boy David just wasn’t taking my instructions seriously enough. You’re cool with me, though. Ya done good”.
So, yeah.
Intentions matter, but actions matter more.