Sunday, I was scheduled to continue my series preaching through Ephesians. Saturday evening, I decided to preach something else. I had reasons for it. I believe it was what the Lord wanted me to do. I told the congregation I had changed my preaching plan for the day, and that I thought it was what the Lord wanted me to do.
And I also told them that I WASN’T going to say, “God told me to preach this,” and that I always get nervous and suspicious when I hear a preacher say that.
When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.
– Henry J Kaiser
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
– Solomon (Proverbs 27:2)
Last week in Edinburgh, the Holyrood Parliament approved legislation giving same-sex couples living in immorality the legal right to call their relationships “marriage.” These aren’t marriages, and legislation can’t make them so, anymore than legislation could hold back the tides, reverse aging, or give us snow in July. We just get another reminder that “the emperor has no clothes” and that there is abundant follyhood in Holyrood.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
In my last post (“O Assyrian, the Rod of Mine Anger!“) I looked at many artefacts showing the span of Assyrian history intersecting Biblical accounts. We looked at the Assyrian kings mentioned in Scripture down through the captivity of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
In this article, I want to look in detail at yet another item from this period in Room 6 in the Museum, the Astartu Panel. If you ever visit the Museum, don’t miss Room 6! (See Ancient Royal Propaganda as well as my last article.)
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Walk into Room 6 of the British Museum. It seems you are in the days of Ahab and Ahaz, the end of Israel’s Northern Kingdom, the time of Israel’s captivity and Judah’s terror, as the fearsome armies of Assyria came in, ordained by God to punish His people for their idolatry.
This winged lion is one of a pair from the throne room of Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria. Over 10 feet high, they were intended to make you feel they were constructed for a mighty king — exactly how they do make you feel. (As with others from the Museum, you can click through the picture to a larger one on their site.)
“Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife” (Proverbs 30:33).
Some of the visual imagery of Proverbs is a lot of fun. What is like churning butter or wringing someone’s nose? 🙂
Yesterday, I preached on Ephesians 6:1-4. These verses command children to obey their parents and give instructions to fathers for child training. In this post, I’d like to give some of my thoughts from yesterday on one of those instructions.
Mind Renewers 