Today we will go over Job 39:13-18
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
This may seem strange. Peacocks, in my opinion, do indeed have beautiful feathers. Yet from what I understand, they are very insanity creatures. Not taking care of their feathers and getting very dirty. I only know a little about them, due to some loose ones somewhat near where I lived in Cottonwood.
The second part about the ostriches clears is up though. Mostly because ostriches are large flightless birds that mostly use their wings for balance.
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
From what I understand, so feel free to comment if I am incorrect, but the peacocks are good with their eggs. The ostriches, on the other hand, do indeed leave their eggs in large shallow holes mostly exposed to the elements. Sometimes, even abandoned for large periods of time.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
I think that the "fear" word here is nicely placed. So is "vain".
Vanity, as we usually think of it today, is self obsessed, prideful, and mostly being focused on one's own appearance, whether physical or social. But generally in the past, vain has similar relations to fruitless. Like planting a tree, or vine, watering and nourishing it for years, and then it being burned down before you get the fruit, or rewards from your labor. Your efforts to grow the tree in order to get fruit from it was pointless, or vain. So the ostrich's labor, possibly actual labour, as in laying the eggs, would be pointless if the eggs are trampled and crushed.
Now "without fear". How many mothers and fathers worry and care about their children? They are afraid for them. So simply, that makes sense. But also, " fear" in the Old Testament, like the "fear of God" works as being actually afraid of punishment or retribution, but was initially meant as honor. God commanded that we honor our father and mother. So I think of two things. 1: the offspring do not honor the mother, because of the neglect, and that the ostrich has no honor. 2: that the ostrich shows no honor to the children, nor to her great Creator.
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
Why would God withhold blessings such as these? Maybe because she did not honor the blessing she already received, children, wings, feathers. Maybe because she was meant for other things,
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
With this scripture, my mind immediately goes to Prince of Persia. When he is captured by the merchant with the ostrich racing. The one time that the ostrich finds it's place, finds it's talents for running, it becomes prideful, and thus hates the horse and it's rider, because they are better. Like in 2 Timothy 3:3 "despisers of those that are good", so are all those who fall into the trap of pride, and are in wickedness.
So, a few things we can learn from this is, honor, and be thankful for the blessings God gives you. Then He will give you more. Then also shall the talents that you already possess be used for your good, instead of just causing you more despair because you are not like others. God will help you see the truth, that God has made you the way you are, for a reason, and that good things will come.
Until next time...
Love,
Elder Smithson
No comments:
Post a Comment