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The center of the Traditional Anglican Communion; adhering to the Holy Bible (KJV) in all matters of Faith and Doctrine, a strict reliance on the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, The two Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, the Two Creeds, and the Homilies and formularies of the Reformation Church of England.

Verse of the Day

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Devotion for Saturday after Ascension Sunday 26 May 2012 Anno Domini

14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.  (Eccl 9:14-18)
The Sunday after Ascension Day.
The Collect.

O
 GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us un-to the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.  Amen.

     The Old Testament Parable today is found in verses 14 and 15 of the text above. The parable bears out a truth that is evidenced in all of the endeavors and experiences of civilized peoples – those who are wise and prudent are generally not highly regarded by those greater numbers among us who live for the present moment and who make no provision for future needs. The wisdom that comes from God is deposited in the hearts of those who seek and cherish wisdom. This was true of Solomon, and it is true of all who seek wisdom and are willing to obey its voice. Of course, the mere possession of wisdom will not avail – its voice must be heeded else we do not possess it. The gentler and more passive voice of wisdom is oft drowned out by men whose hearts are bent on making wealth on the backs of future generations, or by those beating the drums of war for the sake of conquest for speculation in arms and materiel of war. Only when the circumstance of a people or nation become hazardous will they sometime hear the voice of wisdom which speaks without greed or selfishness. The brilliance of a gifted writer is to put an abundance of meaning in concise letters, and God is the Author of greater brilliance than any other. The parable is brief, abounding  with meaning, and enlightening to all who will read for understanding.
     14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: The city is small and therefore one in which any one of note would be well known to all inhabitants. It is a city that is not equipped to defend itself from so great an army as has come against it in the erecting of bulwarks against her walls. With no standing army, what shall the city do? It is the nature of life that the greater will always oppress the weaker. The Great King, Cyrus (the anointed of the Lord), was the first to take a benevolent approach to those people whom he had conquered. His policy is encoded on the walls of the Hall of the Nations and by the stairway of the Appadana at Percepolis, written in Mesopotamian Cunieform, which I was privileged to observe in 1975: "All these nations have I, Cyrus, conquered by the strength of Ahuramazda (God). I lifted the unbecoming yoke from off their necks and caused the stronger not to strike the weaker." But this sentiment is not the usual one demonstrated in the policy of nations. Wars are caused, almost without exception, by greed and lust. The victor, through rapine and pillage, oppresses and humiliates the nation or people who fall their victims. This city is nearly defenseless. They have fashioned no war engines, and know not the art of war. In such circumstances, the only element that can compensate for such lack is that rare element of wisdom. But in order to discover wisdom among a population not given to the study of it, a search must be made for the exceptional man among them who does know Wisdom and has attained it.  He will most likely not be well-known for he has been consulted seldom by a people whose bent has been to throw `caution to the wind' heedless of the counsel of God in wisdom.   
      15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Desperation being the mother of invention, such a quiet and goodly soul was found in the city. It is perhaps likely that this wise soul offered many gems in times past from the Psalms and Proverbs to no result other than scoffing and ridicule. Perhaps he did so even as the enemy began to array his forces in resplendent and gleaming armor outside the walls, to the ignorance of the inhabitants of the town, until the threat became too much apparent and too late for  preparation for a viable defense.  They sought the advice and counsel of this wise, but poor, man. Wisdom holds no grudges and is ready to offer itself to all seekers.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5) I have personally observed that wisdom often resides more profoundly among poor farmers and miners sooner than among the elite in government, banking, or academia. Those who seek wisdom most often do so in the same manner as Solomon – without asking for wealth and riches to go along with it. Wisdom is sufficient in itself for our satisfaction and comfort. You will not find a source for it on NBC, CBS, ABC, or CNN – if you hear it being proclaimed, it will most likely come from less prominent voices. Once the threatened multitude have been rescued by the words of the wise man, they return to their thoughtless and complacent ways. The poor man is forgotten for his essential wisdom is not valued as much as present pleasures and filthy lucre. That disregard for wisdom is much as Rudyard Kipling spoke of God and the soldier: God and soldier, we adore, in time of danger, not before. The danger passed and all things righted, God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.     16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. It is true that Wisdom is more precious than gold and silver, and it is a special benefit that comes from God. The world, however, despises wisdom and will silence it except in moments that the enemy is overrunning the walls and foxholes. The fleshly allurements of the world have a stronger draw on the ungodly soul than wisdom because wisdom smells of the halls of heaven – a prospect they cannot endure. Now the danger has passed, the wisdom of the poor man is no longer sought after.
     17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Yes, wisdom speaks in low tones and never proudly proclaims itself from the parapets.  It is the Currency of the Realm and needs no other guarantee than its own Minting Authority. It speaks with the voice of God from the silent shadows of the mountain heights, and the stormy gales that threaten the beleaguered seafarer. The noisy multitudes at the foot of Sinai cannot hear Wisom's voice for their heart is not seasoned to hear it by study of the Word of God.
      18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.  Wisdom is even stronger than weapons of war because it is spoken by God. Moses and the Children of Israel saw Wisdoms power demonstrated as their hearts sank on the Red Sea Banks, but God had sent his Pillar of Fire by day and of Smoke by night to confuse, frustrate and destroy the mighty army of Pharaoh's gallants. Gideon saw that Wisdom destroy thousands at the hands of hundreds. Joshua saw Wisdom destroy the walls of Jericho by listening to that still, small voice that whispered to a heart that was receptive. But one sinner in the Garden brought ruin on all of his posterity. Have you, my friend, listened and heard the Voice of Wisdom in your own life?