WOODLAND SONG

Joyfully, joyfully, the feathered friends call,
the chickadees and grosbeaks and orioles all,
to sing a lyric melody at opening of day,
and start the winging choir, a-chirping all the way!
 
Over high, over there, beside the babbling brook,
the cardinals and veeries resound in every nook;
the drumming of the ruffed grouse, the cooing of the dove,
the tapping of the woodpecker that echoes high above!
 
“Yahweh God! Yahweh God!”, into the evening night,
hummingbirds and nuthatches turn in from their flight.
And in the final light of day, the robin sings her song.
What joy to hear the woodland birds sing praises all day long!

 

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Luke 1:46-47

 

 

WOODLAND SONG

The veeries are very glad, here in Veery Glade. And so am I. These deep-forest thrushes have returned to the woods. Their mystical, swirling tones lift my spirit and remind me to call on God in prayer. The robins, also thrushes, are equally vocal here in the woodland realm.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Luke 1:48

We join with Mary, who knew she was blessed, in magnifying the Lord and rejoicing in spirit. Let the birds sing their full, lyrical song that Creator God is loving, rich in mercy, and compassionate.

The prophet Hosea gives a beautiful message of blessing gained from repentance. He was the prophet whom God instructed to marry an unfaithful prostitute. His marriage would ultimately show how God kept loving Israel despite the people's turning to other gods. In the last chapter of the book named after this man in the Bible, we read:

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless find mercy.

Hosea 14:1-3

Israel had fallen by their iniquity and needed to come to their senses. There is a Bible verse that states that all of us have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory. But thanks be to God who provides the Great Physician and Savior. His Son, Jesus, heals. His Son, Jesus, saves.

Take with you words. There is another Bible verse that says the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, and even another about the power of the tongue. Words are powerful. Even as I write this post, I carefully consider my words. They are purposeful. I am deliberate, here on my blog, wishing to share a deliberate message.

Who can fix the sin problem that we all face? Can we remedy it ourselves before our Creator? Only Creator God, Giver of grace and mercy, Giver of eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, provides the solution. Only those who realize their need and apply His solution are healed.

When we go to the LORD, let us prepare our words of repentance from keen awareness of our personal need.

So will we render the calves of our lips. Bull calves were sacrificed in the days when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness. The priests smeared the blood of the bulls on their finely-made garments that had been consecrated holy by God to make atonement in the Tent of Meeting. Blood was on God's glory, a foreshadowing of our beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ, the anointed, the Glorious One, being smeared with His own blood to satisfy God's wrath against the guilty. He is the only One able to save. And, to render something is to give. For example, money serves as a reward for services rendered. Jesus was rendered to us for salvation. In response, we give, or render, the sacrifice of our lips. In other words, we praise the LORD.

Freedom from sin is worth everything. 

Bondage to sin is worth nothing.

Asshur shall not save us. Assyria is a nearby nation and they also had a god named Ashur. When we realize only the true God can help us, we don't depend on anyone or anything else, including fabricated gods, riding on horses, or our own hard work. Mercy doesn't come from what we do for ourselves. Self-help is Satan. Self-help is against God. When a person relies on himself, there is no reliance on God. How can an independent, non-submissive sinner accept the remedy God provides?

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

Hosea 14:4-7

I will heal. How many people did Jesus heal when He walked on the planet? How many had faith? Miracle Healer. Great Physician. God is able to heal the disease of sin. Trust Him to do it.

Returning to God brings beauty and restoration. Repentance promises blessings. The bird's songs, here in the woodland glade, tell of God's love. They sing of growth, like the return of spring after the dead of winter, and beauty, like the majestic trees around the glade for all of them to rest on. God's sweet goodness is for the one who admits need to Him. They shall revive. Our local farmers are planting corn on their fields and hoping to reap a future bountiful harvest. When you're exhausted and lacking, isn't it refreshing to be revived? When the church flounders, isn't it wonderful to see it set sail with clear vision? When you're heart is heavy, isn't it soothed when lightened?

Cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Lebanon is north of Israel, or Ephraim, and often associated with beautiful cedar trees and white snow-capped mountains. Timber was used for the temple during King Solomon's time. Isaiah 60:13 speaks of the glory of Lebanon. Glory is promised to the one who calls on the LORD.

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Hosea 14:8-9

As a result of turning to God and relying on Him, idols don't mean anything. What kinds of idols exist today? What things are loved, admired, and revered more than God? How about loving money? Or, boasting knowledge? Or, self-pride in accomplishments in school and the world? Or, following strange therapies and philosophies? Or, playing video games all day long? Or, convincing yourself and others you're already prefect in your own way and salvation is not needed? Or, your own personal time, space, and mirror? The list goes on of idols that take the place of a personal relationship with God.

Who is wise? The wise man built his house upon the rock. Wise people know Creator God is right. Even when judgment is declared through the book of Hosea (because God is the God of justice who makes correct decisions), the invitation to receive His offered grace is far more lovely than the sin that had abounded.

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17

How gracious is our Savior to not force us but that we would willingly come! The whole have no need of Jesus. They have deceived themselves and are not called. Stop and listen. Hear the bird's woodland song. Admit need, because we are all sin-sick. Take the Great Physician up on His invitation to repent.