Rare commodity- Time

 

Rare Commodity- Time

           Ecclesiastes 3; speaks in volume of Time! The poetry of this list;  – describes the different seasons and facets of life, and all is beautiful. This also casts a dark shadow. This is because it reminds us of the inevitability of trouble and evil, sadness and misery and of the relentless monotony of life.

 

Strong's Greek: 2540. καιρός (kairos) -- Time, season, opportunity

Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time -- X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. Compare chronos.[i]

Strong's Hebrew: 6256. עֵת (eth) -- Time, season - Bible Hub

עֵת (eth) -- Time, season. From ad; time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. -- + after, (al-)ways, X certain, + continually, + evening, long, (due) season, so (long) as, (even-, [ii]

         God made man in his own image; and the greatness of our origin that those faculties of the soul attests it. All we have to observe with intense is our inside!  Birth and death are the boundaries of life under the sun.  In the list of (Ecc. 3)  even the tragic, dark aspects of life are artfully, powerfully, and wisely presented. We observe a sense of balance and wisdom in this poetic list.

        Death is our greatest enemy of our present life! Death itself is the greatest mentor for diligence, sobriety, love, forgiveness, generosity, reverence, humility and above all the fear and reverence for our Creator!  

          One needs to pursue God with every fiber of our being! The world is passing away and all things there in too. Times and seasons change and the things around us as well.

 

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end; Ecc. 3: 11.

Now what is the right thing to do?

          We flee to no other refuge, wash in no other fountain, build on no other foundation, receive from no other fullness, rest in no other relief, but our Rock and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

         Time and time again, time is a fleeting moment, a vapour, and allots enjoyments are empty bubbles, fleeting blast of wind, in this planet earth.

Wisdom to learn from Eagle:

Shall mount up with wings.—Better, shall lift up their wings, or, shall put forth wings’ feathers, the last, like Psalm 103:5, implying the belief that the eagle renewed its plumage in extreme old age. For the faithful there is no failure, and faith knows no weariness.[iii]

           In this journey, we learn that in every fall we may sink lower in our knees, and we rise to loftier heights to devotion and praise to Him and in every cross: we learn to gain in the loss, in denial spiritual advantage, in dark days hide in His shadow, and in nights of trial plunge in His enduring song. 

“All this leads on the part of man to fear, not a craven terror in the face of the monstrous or the unknown, but rather the opposite, reverence and awesome regard for God.” (Eaton)[iv]

Redeeming the Time

       Time is a rare commodity, very precious. One cannot retrieve, relieve, borrow, stretch, loan, or save it. One can only invest it or waste it. If one invests the time wisely, it is a good choice. If one wastes it, it is a wrong choice. Bible says, redeem the time and it means, invest the time and make the best use of it.

Turn challenges to opportunities!

         The law of diversion states that when something is firmly denied, as to no hope for it; the brain has the ability to divert to other pursuits! What are the old sayings? When God closes a door He opens a window. Better to have good frontal line activity approach!

        Italians believe that when God closes one door HE opens two: and we all can relate to that in life! That also means our worst experiences pave way to, “an open door or stepping stones to greater things”! The trials in our lives are not the rocks to crush us but stepping stones for greater things.

 “The Preacher’s vast researches have found nothing in the finite earthly realm which can satisfy the human heart intellectually or practically… This is the nearest he comes to Augustine’s maxim: ‘You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find peace in you.’” (Eaton)[v]

 

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[i]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=Time+Greek+word

[ii]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=Hebrew+word+for+Time

[iii] Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers: (Isa. 40:31).

[iv]https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=Ecclesiastes+3+enduring+word

[v] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/ecclesiastes-3/

Silence

 

God was silent: Science and Goodness to Silence

Strong's Greek: 4623. σιωπάω (siópaó) -- To be silent, to hold …

Word Origin: [from siope (silence, i.e. a hush; properly, muteness, i.e. involuntary stillness, or inability to speak, and thus differing from G4602 (σιγή - hush), which is rather a voluntary …[i]

Strong's Hebrew: 1827. דְּמָמָה (demamah) -- Silence, stillness, calm

דְּמָמָה (demamah) -- Silence, stillness, calm. Feminine from damam; quiet -- calm, silence, still. blowing (1), silence (1), still (1).[ii]

          Silence, away from the noises of this world is need in many ways, for human system. Different noises can enter our brain, as well as our hearts and this can distort the right thinking process. The right thinking process is needed to evaluate the systems of the world, so that what we are meant to be, will be! It is wiser to remember that God has created us fearfully, and wonderfully for a purpose. What is our purpose?  

Silence helps us to avoid sin in our lives; Prov. 10: 19; gain proper perspective; Prov. 11: 12; and is considered to be wise and intelligible; Prov. 17: 28. 

           In other words, we may be blessed by holding our tongue often. Ultimately, refraining from speaking in certain situations means we are practicing self-control, and retain inner calmness beyond our understanding. When we focus on ourselves to be quiet, we breathe in and breathe out, without the need to force ourselves into saying another word or think another thought,  This is the time our inner faculties work and when we can hear our inner voice, our heart, intuition, and our brain and heart connection takes place and we tend to analyse any situation in a wiser way. 

God was silent for 400 years:  (Good Biblical Example)

       These are called the silent years, and God did not speak through any prophets and God did not revealed anything to the Jewish people.  

      The 400 years of silence refers to the time between the Old Testament and New Testament, during which, so far as we know, God did not speak—no Scripture was written. The 400 years of silence began with the warning that closed the Old Testament;

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse" Mal. 4: 5-6. 

          Between the time of Malachi and the coming of the Messiah, several prophecies were fulfilled, including the 2,300 days of desecration between 171 and 165 B.C. (Daniel 8:14).[iii]  This 400 years of silence, ended with the coming of John the Baptist, the Messiah’s forerunner.

 There is a Science and Goodness to Silence.

          Think about the goodness we can experience within us, cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically as well! Silence provides a tranquil space that promotes a sense of peace, and mental clarity. It can enhance concentration; boost creativity; heighten self-awareness; inner calmness;  and improve learning capacity as well. Research suggests that excessive noise hinders learning, making silence essential for optimal information processing and knowledge retention.

          Pain is very much the part of human experience, ever since The Fall (Ref. Gen. 3). Trials are orchestrated differently and uniquely for different humans by the counsels of God. When we walk through our trials and pain, with God’s word and His Spirit’s guidance, the way we handle this valley of pain becomes our testimony! Think of the beautiful thing of our neurological wiring! Neurologically God has wired us in a way, that only through hardships and trials we grow! God wants us to grow tall!

        The DMN (default mode net work), is that part of the brain, lights up when we are inwardly reflecting in prayer and meditation, and this DMN FUNCTIONS BETTER AND PROMOTES Healing and gives us peace. God’s word talks about peace!

The Default Mode Network (DMN), often referred to simply as the default network, represents a distinct neurological pattern of brain activity that emerges when an individual is not engaged in a specific external task, essentially when the brain is in a state of ‘rest.’ This fundamental concept in neuroscience has been extensively explored through advanced brain imaging technologies, most notably functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Such technologies have revolutionized our understanding of brain physiology, allowing researchers to observe intricate patterns of activity, periods of relative inactivity, and the complex web of connections and relationships between various brain regions.[iv]

           The brain has this beautiful ability to rewire itself during trials, and this happens, when we shift our focus on heavenly things, which we do not see with our physical eyes. We begin to realize that the things we see around this globe are very temporary. New neural pathways are formed and emotional and cognitive growth happens for our better thinking process! There is absolute space within our neural system for lament. In our grief and lament, God meets us there!

Deep calleth, unto deep!

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Psa. 42: 7-9.

          Silence also promotes physical relaxation. Example: While we sing! Our vocal cords, throat muscles, and even facial muscles experience, welcomes rest. Deeper breathing becomes more natural, promoting relaxation, good supply of blood flow,  and potentially lowering blood pressure and heart rate. This also enhances, mental Clarity; less distractions,  and our mind can be more focused. 

       Thoughtful; sensitive, quiet people, often are less likely to get angry, and less frustrated and often peaceful. We can observe that when we move with them there will be a form of peace around them, which all of us long for!

 [i]Bible Hubhttps://biblehub.com › greek

https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=greek+word+for+silence

[ii] Bible Hubhttps://biblehub.com › Hebrew

https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=Hebrew+word+for+silence

[iii] https://www.gotquestions.org/400-years-of-silence.html (silent years)

[iv] https://scales.arabpsychology.com/trm/default-mode-network-dmn/#google_vignette

Cost of Rejecting theTruth

                                               History to Remember and not Forget

Meaning: truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth of idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man, straightforwardness. Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word ἀληθής (alēthēs), meaning "true" or "truthful."[1]

Hebrew Definition: Strong's Hebrew: 571. אֱמֶת (emeth):Truth, faithfulness, reliability, firmness Meaning: stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness. Word Origin: Derived from the root אָמַן (aman), which means to confirm, support,[2]

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all; Jn. 18: 33-38.

        The clash of powers between Roman and Jewish authority; the enigma of Jesus’ responses with the conflict of realms; The above passage has an enduring legacy of Jesus Pilate conversation.

         Pilate, though defensive in his dialogue was reluctant to condemn Jesus, because he knows Jesus was the Truth; and he has never seen a man like this in front of him before; and this man has a bearing of a King! Jesus said, but now is my Kingdom not from hence. This means the kingdom was once before, will be again. Pilate was very intrigued; and there was a huge divide in his mind; and he knew that Jesus was the King! Jesus puts the axe at the root when he said, Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  Jn. 8: 31-32.

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free; indeed, Jn. 8: 34-36.  

          Pilate had the privileged opportunity to witness the truth, meet the King of Kings! Jesus in his dialoguing with Pilate was offering Eternal Salvation- the Truth of the Gospel.

         Pilate knew it would be the political disaster to free Jesus, and he said he had the power to let Jesus go. Jesus said you have no power, unless given from above, and Jesus knew he was fulfilling the prophecies.

        Pilate would have been free, despite political disaster, or losing his job, possibly even the worst disaster to himself. We knew from history, that he could not live  because of his conscience; and he killed himself!

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; 1 Jn. 1: 8

          I find in him no fault at all; Pilate, had all the power in himself to choose Christ who is full of Truth; and now his moment has gone. Pilate had all the answers he needed from Jesus, the King of Kings, yet, he turned his back. He rejected the Truth and lost Salvation.

        There is significant conflict between earthly and spiritual authorities. The dialogue also reveals human weaknesses and compromise. This is a costly compromise, and the consequence is very huge. Serious warning and a costly lesson to learn from this as well!

 

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[1] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › greek

Strong's Greek: 225. ἀλήθεια (alétheia) -- Truth - Bible Hub

[2]Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › hebrew

Strong's Hebrew: 571. אֱמֶת (emeth) -- Truth, faithfulness, reliability ...

 

Finding Joy in Turbulence!

Finding Joy in Turbulence as an Eagle stirs up its Nest....

As an eagle stirs up its nest,
Hovers over its young,
Spreading out its wings, taking them up,
Carrying them on its wings,
So the LORD alone led him,
And there was no foreign god with him; Deut. 32: 11-12.

 

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's, Psa. 103:5.

To the moulting of the eagle and the growth of the new feathers, which we meet with in Psalm 103:5 (cf., Micah 1:16) as a figurative representation of the renewal of youth through grace.[i]   

Strong's Hebrew: 5782. עוּר (ur) -- To rouse, to awaken, to stir up, …

The Song of Songs features repeated warnings: “Do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases” (Song of Songs 2:7; 3:5; 8:4). The term warns against prematurely arousing passions outside …[ii]

 

“The ‘apple of his eye’ (Deuteronomy 32:10) is an English idiom for ‘anything held extremely dear’ or ‘much cherished’ and is a fitting translation for the Hebrew ‘the little man of his eye,’ that is, the pupil.” (Kalland)[iii]

"As an eagle, which stirreth up its nest and soars over its young, He spread out His wings, took him up, carried him upon His wings." Under the figure of an eagle, which teaches its young to fly, and in doing so protects them from injury with watchful affection.[iv]

         Briefly looking at these great facts hidden partly mysteriously: the election of Israel; Deut. 32:8-9; deliverance at the time of  exodus, Deut.32:10–12; and finally God’s gift of entrance into Canaan for his people; Deut. 32:13-14.

        Moses describes the care with which the Lord came to the relief of His people in their helplessness, and hopelessness. God enabled them in their insecurity, weaknesses, and assisted them to develop their strength. The figure of speech upon eagles' wings, can be explained and this signifies specifically on the following three areas:

a. The protection and assistance from God experienced by Israel in their journey through the Arabian desert; and also further in their journey.  

b.  This also embraces both the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt by the outstretched arm of the Lord; Exo. 19:4. The Lord brought His people out of Egypt the suffering, oppressed, persecuted Israelites.

c. The introduction into Canaan, when the Lord drove the Canaanites out from before them and destroyed them. 

What is so special about eagle?

        They represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power and freedom. The eagle, is powerful, swift, far-sighted, and cares for its own. As they roam the sky, their strength and dignity are related in God’s Word and His attributes.  

Eagles are known for their ability to fly at high altitudes and for soaring in solitude or with other eagles. Some of the lessons are that eagles have excellent vision and focus, feed on meat, are reborn through metaphorical death of the old self, and nurture the next generation.[v]

Application for us?

         Through the shadows and the silence of life, when our soul is dry, thirsty and bare, when the storms of life engulf us,  the raging tornado winds blow, through oppression and in the valleys, deserts and mountain tops, we can and we should fully trust God, as He is our Father in Heaven.  

         He promised us to carry us , and shelter us beneath His wings! Elshadai our hiding place, and Jesus Christ will be our refuge. This is our anchor, our fortress, and the only hope and joy our heart knows, because it is written in God’s word. He has the power and the love and the care to support us and protect us in turbulence. We can find joy in turbulence! 

 

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[i] Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: (Isa. 40: 31).

      [ii] Bible Hub https://biblehub.com › hebrew   https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=I657DF&PC=I657&q=stiring+up+the+nest+in+Hebrew

[iii] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/deuteronomy-32/

[iv] Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

[v] The Canadian Encyclopedia https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca …

   Eagle - The Canadian Encyclopedia