Watchword
(1 Kings 18.1-24; Matthew 2.1-12)
O save your people and bless your heritage, be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28.9
Jesus had compassion on the crowd; they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. Mark 6.34
Proverbs 26:11
Like a dog that returns to his vomit
Is a fool that repeats his folly.
First of all, for those of you barbarians who are not dog-lovers, I need to vouch for the simile in this proverb. Dogs do sometimes retch, vomit, look around mournfully, and then regretfully consume the Eukanuba, now at least partly given way to stomach acid. I’ve looked on and asked myself why. The only answer I’ve come up with is that, in the puke, they at least have a guaranteed next meal. So delicacy and decorum give way to brutal certainty.
Years later, Peter in his second letter quotes this proverb along with an additional image: a sow washing herself but then heading right back for the muck. (2 Peter 2:22) Both of these pictures portray animal instinct overriding humane goodness and appropriateness. But also let the shock hit: Middle-easterners, specifically Jews, would have alarming connotations raised by invoking the dog and pig.
Repeating foolish acts is shockingly offensive. Not learning from mistakes is, if nothing else, ugly.
But let me confess how often my silliness has reruns. “The follies of sin I resign” is for me more a nice turn of phrase than an established, observable fact. WHY DO I KEEP DOING STUPID THINGS?
I’ll admit my silliness, but I’m not alone in it. In counseling people this is often the wall we come up to: People admit their foolishness but don’t know how to leave it behind.
Let me tersely say several things. It’s your life and in your control. The fact is that some people do change. Jesus said, “I am the Way…Come and learn from Me” - we’re not going to succeed while ignoring this help. The Father said, “Throw your cares on Me” - a prayerless life is overwhelming. Man, as opposed to all other creatures, can remember and alter course even without repeated physical stimulus. You’re not an animal so don’t rely on instinct!
Bible Reading: Romans 10: 5-13
Paul says, the righteousness that is by faith is just as accessible as the message of Jesus Christ is accessible! There is nothing that needs to be added to the events; the key is to hear what has happened and believe!
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