The Heaton File

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him … By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5)

He Had A Testimony

The story of Enoch is intriguing because so little is known of an incredible life. The father of a man who lived almost a thousand years would bear some note but all we know is that he was and then he was not. Only in the book of Hebrews do we get a hint into the life of a man that so pleased the Lord he did not see death. Jude mentions him as one who prophesied. The one kernel of truth we have in the life of Enoch was that he pleased God.

Worship. We gather today to present the sacrifice of our hearts to the Lord. Our assembly is not done begrudgingly. The command to assemble for worship today is clearly defined in scripture but our motivation is from a heart of love to please our Father. The spirit of Enoch must fill our minds today in knowing how much we love God because of how much He shows His love for us. John 3:16 is not the final word on God’s love; His love is every day. All that we have comes from Him. He holds our breath in His hand. We live and breathe because of Him. In every part of our lives the Lord fills our spirits with mercy and grace. There is so much to be thankful for

Worship. Today is a day to show our lives in sacrifice to please God. There is nothing in this world that we should want to do but to please God.

Man’s love of God is identical with his knowledge of Him. (Maimonides, Guide For The Perplexed, 1190)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. (Exodus 32:1-6)

Chick-Fil-A Religion

Man has an attention span as long as a second. Exodus is the story of the redemption of the Hebrews from slavery. The children of Israel had been in Egypt four hundred years but when a Pharaoh rose to power that did not remember the benevolence of Joseph they became an embittered people. Pharaoh had enslaved them to make bricks for his building projects; they were persecuted, beaten and treated harshly. God in His mercy sent Moses to deliver them. Ten plagues showed the might and power of Jehovah God upon the Egyptians. Crossing the Red Sea on dry land the Hebrews could see how wonderful and mighty their deliverance was formed by God. Time and time again the omnipotence of the Lord was manifested before the people.

From a rational point of view one would think no one would ever doubt God again. Shortly after the Jews leave Egypt they arrive at Mt. Sinai. Moses communes with the Lord for some time and the people get restless. They do not know what happened to their leader and they want action. Instead of asking for the power of God they want what they had in Egypt – gods. Aaron fails miserably as a leader of men. He does not encourage the people to wait on the Lord. He falls victim to the pressure of his peers and forms a golden calf. Here is the remarkable part: they proclaim this graven image their deliverer from Egypt. Aaron even has a “feast to the Lord” in honor of this cow.

I enjoy Chick-Fil-A for two reasons. First the food is always good. Second the marketing is very enjoyable. They have made a franchise on cows convincing people to eat chicken instead of hamburgers. Sadly this ploy has been used since the beginning of time. What happened at Sinai is a prime (not like beef) example of how Satan wants us to serve someone else. What did a cow have to do with the deliverance of the people from Egypt? How did the bovine part the red sea? Remember the people have only left the scenes of death and destruction in Egypt just a month or so previous. How soon they forget.

Aaron could have been a great leader but he failed. He allowed the people to pressure him into making a cow to worship instead of Jehovah God. The greatest tragedy is when men bow down to a golden calf and proclaim it delivered them from bondage. We have golden calves today. We believe in our wealth to deliver us. Our lives are so wrapped up in our stuff we do not have time for God. The world fills our hearts with golden calves we worship as our deliverer.

Three thousand people were killed that day because they refused to change. A plague swept over the people as punishment. Sin has consequence. Golden calf. Lessons to learn. This is a great story.

Man has thought to do without God. In those terrible words of Nietzsche’s he has proclaimed: “God is dead”; now he is discovering that it is he himself who is the first victim of this negation. It is he who is cast helpless into that abyss of nothingness into which he had designed to cast God. (Henri Daniel-Rops, Christianity and Freedom, 1952)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered.

I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter–“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11)

The American Dream

Prestige. Popularity. Pleasure. Power. Possessions. The five pillars of the American dream. What do these things profit? According to Solomon – not much. The son of David may very well be the richest man that will ever live on the face of this good earth but his conclusion to the whole thing is telling. Education is a valuable tool but the brain will diminish over time in old age. The fame that comes today is lost in the dust of yesterday to a generation yet to come. Seeking after fleshly enjoyment is only temporary at best no matter how many pills, surgeries and vitamins are taken. Men can feel the rush of power for only a short time and then it will be taken away. The stuff we spend all our lives accumulating and hoarding is left behind in death. America is built upon a foundation of sand pillars dissolving before our eyes.

Solomon was not suggesting life is depressing. Education is invaluable and knowledge necessary. Men should always seek to better themselves in the field of learning. Finding a place in the world with notoriety does not have to be a bad thing if it brings about something good. So often in our idol driven world ungodly people are hailed for their physical appearance or talents that will fade away. Good people can do good things and find an element of success. The Lord created man to have pleasure and enjoy the fruits of life. Godliness exalts the joy of pleasure in the manner of His design. Later Solomon will tell young people to enjoy their youth because they are young and to know the lesson of sowing and reaping must be remembered. Our possessions are blessings we should use to help others. The New Testament disciples were taught to work with their hands so they could have something to give others. Earthly possessions are not the evil; the evil heart of covetousness is what makes hoarding stuff useless.

The book of Ecclesiastes is about life. Every part of life is dissected in this volume showing man the values of true living. Solomon can speak from experience because he experienced everything offered in life at the highest level. His conclusion about all the things we seek in our headlong pursuit of the American dream has little merit or worth. The old know the lessons well. Youth has a hard time believing it. We build bigger barns today and die tomorrow. Sad. Life is short. The American dream is only that – a mist of thoughts that have no tangible realities.

If you want to know what life is all about go to the end of Solomon’s book and see what he says. We are not supposed to read the end of the book before the beginning but in this case it will help. Read the last two verses. That is not the American dream. That is the Believer’s reality.

Fame is like a river that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid. (Frances Bacon, Of Praise, 1597)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:2)

The Faithful

A number of years ago during an introduction of a lecture speaker Colly Caldwell referred to the man as a “faithful gospel preacher.” The significance was not so much the man as the term “faithful” that resonated with me. It was not a suggestion this individual was of a better cloth than other men but a simple manner of describing the character of the person. Paul used the term often in his writing calling the brethren “faithful.”

Trying to define the character of faithfulness takes a broad brush. The manner of life is one that is consistently trustworthy and loyal. This is a spirit Christian’s should use in every part of their life. As soldiers of the cross we define our service with a devotion to live each day fighting the good fight. Disciples of Christ are students of His word daily implanting the riches of the knowledge of God in their hearts. Courageous men of God stand in the gap serving the King with courage. Women of God refuse to wear the mantle of this world clothing themselves rather in garments of righteousness.

Faithful brethren show loyalty by example. They do not shrink back from opportunities to serve Christ. To be a child of faith the saint is set apart in the manner of speech, dress, attitude, duty and examples before others. Jesus implored His disciples to be salt and light so that others can see the Father in them. Faithfulness springs from the salty lives of those who stand as beacons of light in a dark world. It is not enough to be brethren. There is a need in the church today to be filled with brethren that are faithful.

Faithful brethren struggle but they persevere. The race is long, battles hard but the faith is kept with a devotion of courage withstanding the constant assault of Satan. Being a child of God is not an easy task. Jesus illustrated devotion to the Father as bearing a cross. Daily there is a need to reinforce the spirit to be faithful. Consider the alternative: unfaithfulness. This is defeat, destruction, hopelessness. The Hebrew writer rallied the early Christians to fight on because they were not those who drew back to perdition but those faithful brethren who believed to the saving of the soul. Be faithful. Stand fast. Have courage. The victory is assured. We serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

There are many accolades given by men. To be called “faithful” is eternal. One of the greatest joys we will ever hear is when standing before the Lord we look into His eyes and hear Him say, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Faithful. What else matters?

Devotion, which is a derivative of the Latin word for ‘to vow,’ means to yield oneself, to commit oneself, to consecrate oneself to the object of devotion, without regard to the sacrifice of suffering involved. (Douglas V. Steere, Door Into Life, 1948)

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” (Luke 24:44)

The Hagiographa

When the Holy Spirit authored the sixty-six books of the Bible they were not sixty-six books. Moses wrote down the words of God contained in Genesis through Deuteronomy as the Law for the children of Israel. Over a period of 1400 years the Bible took shape into what we know today as “The Bible.” There have been some changes to the structure of the Bible over time. It will come as a surprise to most people the first effort to divide the Bible into chapters was in the year 1228 by Stephen Langton. The Old Testament was divided into verses by R. Nathan in 1448 and the New Testament by Roberts Stephanus in 1551. The entire Bible divided into chapters and verses first appeared in the Geneva Bible of 1560.

Jesus read out of the same Old Testament that you and I have today. However it did not have 39 books but three divisions of the same material. After His resurrection the Lord spent a lot of time teaching and preparing the disciples to “go into all the world” from the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. The third division of the ‘Old Testament’ was called the ‘Hagiographa’ or ‘Holy Writings’ and “consisted of the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles” (Albert Barnes).

What is important about our study today on the Psalms is to see that the reference of Jesus to this portion of scripture is about Him. It is easy to get lost in the poetry of the Psalms but we should never lose sight of the will of the Holy Spirit to express the clear identity of the Son of God in Psalms. We can look at the Old Testament with a view of a law faded by the coming of Christ but it is rather the opposite. There is a misnomer in the language of ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Testament that can leave the impression the Christian only need to focus on the new revelation. Jesus affirms the Psalms (Hagiographa) are about Him.

When we look at a portion of the Hagiographa as the book of Psalms we must see Jesus on every page. Psalm 1-150 is a declaration of the character of Jesus Christ. Paul used this same material to explain the kingdom of God to the early Christians (Acts 28:23). The book of Psalms must be viewed with an investigative eye of uncovering who Jesus is and why He came to save man. It is not uncommon for brethren to have little knowledge of the Old Testament and by so doing have little knowledge of the full measure of Jesus Christ.

My friend Marty Pickup made a revealing application in a lesson when he reminded us that we must always look at the scriptures as if it is the first time in our lives. That has helped me tremendously. The Old Testament should not be viewed as a book of dark mystery hard to understand. The book of Psalms cannot be laid aside as simply a book of poetry. Our thirty-nine books of the Old Testament are saturated with the image of Jesus Christ. We have to look for Him to find Him – but He is there!

It could well be called a “little Bible’ since it contains, set out in the briefest and most beautiful form, all that is to be found in the whole Bible. (Martin Luther, Preface to the Psalms, 1528)

Tuesday Morning Early Start – Important Doctrines

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Death

The greatest reality of life is the greatest denial. Man has faced the certainty of death since the blood of Abel cried from the ground but we act as if we will live forever. Death happens to other people not me. The vibrant chords of life flow through our veins in youthful splendor with little acknowledgment death hovers near. There is an appointment that all men will keep. Why is it we live in such a way that we deny death?

Death is real. That is not hard to understand because the touch of its hand is all around us. The news is filled with tragedies of planes crashing, chemical explosions, murder, wars and accidents taking young lives. Cemeteries are filled with marble reminders of the shadow of death. The old must die and the young can die. It matters not the age of a person or their station of life. Death is real.

Death is the equalizer. Many people live in squalor and die from starvation and disease. Those who live in sumptuous wealth die also. Jesus tells the story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus who had one thing in common: they both died. The rich man had a wonderful life and Lazarus knew nothing but misery and death came to both of them. The rich man may have been entombed in a lavish crypt but he was still dead. Good people die and evil people die. It matters not the education, influence, lifestyle or place in life death is an appointment all men face.

Death is the judge. The finality of life is found in the moment of death. There is no changing. There is no coming back. There are no more chances to do something else. Life is only lived once and after this a judgment awaits. The sum total of a man’s existence is found in the moment of death because at that moment his eternal existence is forever unchanged. If there was a single part of life that is seldom considered it is the manner of life at the moment of death. This will shape the decision of where we will spend eternity. It does not matter whether we believe in eternity or not. Disbelieving there is life after death does not change the fact there is life after death. Man does not live for what he gains here but where he will find himself at the throne of God. Death is a judgment of the character of man. This decision is sealed at death. No going back. No second chance.

Death is life. The greatest lie Satan whispers in our ear is that death is not real. We live in our own way and do what we want to do because other people die, not me. Death becomes life when I see that life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then is gone. I am that vapor. Living with the reality of death and what it means will change the way I serve the Lord. Our Creator did not give us death to fill us with fear but to help us see the clarity of life. Pain is the evidence that we are alive. Death is the reality we will live forever. Sin would have less appeal in our lives if we would accept the fact the dying is real, it comes to all men and our eternal fate is sealed in the embrace of death.

Are you ready to die today?

Men shun the thought of death as sad, but death will only be sad to those who have not thought of it. It must come sooner or later and then he who has refused to seek the truth in life will be forced to face it in death. (Francois Fenelon, Spiritual Letters of, c. 1700)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Matthew 16:21)

Jesus Knew

During the talk at the Lord’s Table, Sunday Rick Carlton made an observation about what Jesus went through on the cross that is often overlooked. There are many things to examine in the story from the garden of Gethsemane, the prayers to His Father, arrest and trials, scourging and then finally the crucifixion. But one thing that made His death so amazing is that Jesus knew when and how He would die.

Death for man is seldom with notice. It is fanciful to imagine knowing the day of death and even the means of death but no man can know. Knowing the character of man he would use it to his advantage to live unrighteous until the final moments of life. Regardless no man can know how he will die nor when as clearly as Jesus.

Jesus knew the plan for man’s redemption before coming to earth. God knew He must become man in the flesh and suffer as the created one. At the age of twelve Jesus knew He must be about His Father’s business. When He began His ministry at the age of thirty the Lord knew how His life would end. He only had about three years left. He knew He would suffer at the hands of His own people. He knew He would be delivered up the Romans and be crucified on a cross.

He knew why He came to earth. He knew He must be about His Father’s work. He knew He would be rejected by men. He knew He would suffer humiliation at the hands of men. He knew He would suffer emotionally. He knew He would suffer physically. He knew He would be scourged. He knew He would be beaten. He knew He would have to carry His cross. He knew they would nail His hands to a cross. He knew they would nail His feet to the cross. He knew they would laugh Him to scorn. He knew they would part His garments. He knew His mother would be there. He knew what His Father would do. He knew he would die. He knew.

He also knew He would be raised. Praise God for that!

Poor was His station, laborious His life, bitter His ending; through poverty, through labor, through crucifixion His majesty of nature more shines. (Gerald Manley Hopkins, Notebooks and Papers of, 1937)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

“Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

Six Hours That Changed The World

This morning we prepare ourselves to worship Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago He prepared Himself to worship His Father.

We are in the comfort of our homes. Jesus was agonizing in grief in a garden.

We enjoy a breakfast meal. Jesus will forgo eating.

Our day is planned with joy. His day is planned for horror.

We had a nights rest. He would have a restless sleep on Wednesday and find no sleep before death on Friday.

No one will betray us today. Judas betrayed Jesus.

No one will come to arrest us. Jesus was bound with chains and dragged away.

We will assemble with people who care about us. A huge mob will descend on Jesus to kill him.

We will sit for an hour in the comfort of a building. Jesus will be dragged from place to place in mock courts of shame.

We will fret about the sermon going to long. Jesus will be beaten, spit on, slapped, scorned, humiliated, taunted and mocked.

Our day is filled with naps, watching a movie or shopping. Roman soldiers will tie Jesus to a post and beat him with a whip shredding His back in ribbons of bleeding flesh.

We will decide not to attend an evening service this day. Jesus will be nailed to a cross.

Our day will quickly be over with an hour of church this morning and maybe an hour of church tonight. Plans will fill our minds as we think of what we want to do this week. Children will laugh, couples will enjoy a meal together, recreation will fill the hours of our day and life will be remembered as good.

Jesus will suffer for six hours on the cross. His body will writhe in agony for six hours. The back scourged earlier will scrape against the blood covered cross for six hours. He will cry out to His Father. He show love to His mother. His forgiveness will be uttered to the rabble below Him. He will endure a burning thirst. A fellow prisoner will receive grace. His mission will be finished. He will die.

Six hours. The world was created in six days. Jesus suffered for six hours to redeem the world from sin. God rested on the seventh day. Jesus rested in the seventh hour. His work was finished. Thank God for those horrible six hours that Jesus suffered for me. As I worship may I never forget the final six hours of the life of Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord.

In the Cross and Him who hung upon it, all things meet; all things subserve it, all things need it, it is their center and interpretation. For He was lifted up on it, that He might draw all men and all things to Him. (John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons, VIII, 1843)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.

Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves. So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.” Then Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1 Samuel 12:13-25)

When The People Demanded A King

Israel had a tumultuous past. Formed from the Hebrew slaves of Egypt they became a great nation of people wandering four decades through a wilderness because of rebellion against the Lord. They constantly murmured, complained, argued, and failed at every turn. The day finally came when they entered the land of promise dwelling in a place of milk and honey. This was not enough. They became filled with their own desires and forgot God. He punished them. They repented for a time before lapsing back into sin. The cycle continued throughout the time of the Judges ending with the final judge, Samuel. Now they want a king. Unsatisfied, jealous of the nations around them, they plead with Samuel to give them a ruler.

This was not a surprise to the Lord as He knew they would eventually call for a man to rule over them. Sadly the greatest king they would ever have would be the protection and benevolence of the Lord but they lacked faith to see Him. Samuel was heartbroken because of their rejection of him. He granted them what the Lord approved – their own king. He warned them of the responsibility to accept a man as king. The faithfulness to the Lord God as King did not diminish with the coronation of Saul. They still must be obedient to God.

This is a great story because Samuel proves to them how serious their choice will be. He calls for God to send thunder and rain that day and He did. It must have been some kind of thunder and rain because they got the message. It would be easy to assume any thunder storm after that reminded the people of what Samuel said to them about serving a man as king rejecting the Lord Jehovah God. The lesson was simple: obey God and He will bless you; disobey God and He will punish you.

We should not miss the message of a rain storm or thunder storm. The ‘Samuel Lesson’ is still powerful today reminding us whom we serve. We can serve man and turn from God or we can serve God alone and find blessing. When it rains it should remind us who is in charge of the world. As the thunder and lightning blasts through the heavens we should remember the One who commands the elements by the power of His voice. We are puny compared to His might. Remember what Samuel said: “Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” I hope it rains today! That will be a great story!

The greatest question of our time is not communism vs. individualism, not Europe vs. America, not even the East vs. the West; it is whether men can bear to live without God. (Will Durant, On The Meaning Of Life, 1932)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth? Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young? They bow down, they bring forth their young, they deliver their offspring. Their young ones are healthy, they grow strong with grain; they depart and do not return to them.

Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager [swift donkey], whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling? He scorns the tumult of the city; he does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.

Will the wild ox be willing to serve you? Will he bed by your manger? Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you? Will you trust him because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him? Will you trust him to bring home your grain, and gather it to your threshing floor?

The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s? For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust; she forgets that a foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them. She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; her labor is in vain, without concern, Because God deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding. When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider.

Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder? Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; he gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, “Aha!” He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of captains and shouting.

Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? On the rock it dwells and resides, on the crag of the rock and the stronghold. From there it spies out the prey; its eyes observe from afar. Its young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there it is. (Job 39)

The Animals Testify Of God

The animal kingdom is one of the greatest testimonies of the creative power of God. Job has tried to understand the nature of the Lord challenging the reasons for his awful condition. There is justification for his questions merited by the agony he feels physically, spiritually and emotionally. Elihu has finished his rebuke of the friends of Job and the patriarch himself. The Lord God now takes up the mantle of wisdom declaring to this most humble man that it is not in man to understand the infinite wisdom of the Creator. He challenges Job to consider the animals of His kingdom.

The mountain goat, wild donkey and ox, ostrich, horse and majestic hawk are not dependent upon man for their existence. There are thousands of species of creatures roaming the earth created by the word of God on the fifth and sixth days of creation. They were created before man. It is important for Job to remember that man did not create the beasts of the field. How the wild goat survives is not because of man’s wisdom. The wild donkey lives in its own world searching for every green thing to eat. One of most curious animals is the ostrich who seems to be a dumb creature leaving her eggs to be crushed by the others. She treats her young harshly. Man has tamed the horse but what a magnificent creature he is with his beauty and might. Flying high above the earth the hawk cares for its young. This happens every day and has continued from the beginning of time.

Job wants to understand the nature of God. The Lord reminds him he has yet to understand the mysteries of the animal kingdom. With all the scientific knowledge of man today there are still deep mysteries to why animals do what they do. Often when men come in contact with animals there is tragedy because they forget these animals live in a wild world governed by their own laws. Man can domesticate different animals but the majority of creatures are not tamed by man. This should remind man that God’s infinite wisdom is greater than man’s knowledge; and the animals prove the contrasts.

As you go about your day today take note of the animals. Remember they are fed by the hand of the Creator. They give birth and survive without the wisdom of men. Why? Because we are not as smart as we like to think we are. God takes care of the animals. The good news is that Jesus tells us we are of greater value than the animals. He died for man to save man. Thank God for His beautiful creation. They testify!

To assert that a world as intricate as ours emerged from chaos by chance is about as sensible as to claim that Shakespeare’s dramas were composed by rioting monkeys in a print shop. (Merrill C. Tenney, Science and Religion, ed. J. C. Monsma, 1962)