"..he that touches you, touches the apple of His eye" Zech. 2:8 (8/24/1975)

         God's sentence upon the rebellion of Israel was captivity in Babylon. The persians were the super-power of that day, and deliverance did not look humanly possible--and it was not. But time was ripe with God. And Babylon, the chastening nation of Israel would find themselves being chastened--their evil way of treating Israel was not counted as righteousness. Babylon, too, was doomed--as prophesied--to fall, and be left in rubble forever (Jer. 51:26). They would suffer everything they had made Israel to suffer. It was marvelous how Babylon fell.
         For the first four years of the reign of Darius, rebel leaders stored in supplies for war. Darius had moved the capital to Susa. In the fifth year the flag of revolt was raised. Darius responded immediately with everything force and statagem could devise. The river water supply was diverted. Darius almost despaired of taking Babylon. Then--one day Zopyrus, his nobleman and friend came in his presence with his nose and ears cut off. Bloody wounds covered his body. "What on earth." "You did it sir," was the reply. "The desire I had of serving you put me into this condition for I was sure you would not consent, so I have consulted no one but my zeal for serving you."
         A plan evolved between the two by which Zopyrus would defect, with his infallible marks of Darius' wrath, to the other side. The leaders of the revolt fell for the trap. Three battles were fought in the ploy which cost Darius 7000 troops. (Wonder where we got that W.W. II term, They Were Expendable.") Then, on the pre-arranged signal, Zopyrus opened the gates of Babylon and Darius marched in without a shot. Generalissimo Zopyrus's deception had worked. He had been above suspect. Upon entering Babylon, Darius promptly ordered the gates torn down, and the entire walls leveled so the proud city would never again revolt against him. The people had killed off their own population in their fight against Darius. And thus did God recompense his own people because the Babylonians had greviously treated them. No wonder the historian Paul would emphasize that we "reap what we sow."
         Several lessons for us emerge. 1. That God will avenge the "apple of his eye."; 2. That he will fill his promises to the letter. 3. That the chastening nation will itself be chastened.           B. Loe

ALONENESS (10/4/1981)

         The earliest net result of the sin of Adam and Eve was loneliness, and ever since that time mankind has been devising various ways of coping with loneliness.

Several years ago, as a new Rotarian, I attended a Fireside meeting; a meeting to orient new Rotarians, only to be shocked to hear the host address the meeting by saying: "Gentlemen: welcome to the lonely, professional men's club!" I hadn't really connected my new venture with loneliness, but as I meditated, it was certainly true.

Over Eaters Anonymous in attracting new members stress that it is for persons who express their loneliness through over eating.

Then there are the really lonely. Houses, noisy from silence shout at them. Others, guilty of misconduct, feel alienated from man as a race. It is all a legacy of our proto-parents--Adam and Eve.

God, merciful to our alone-ness, has gone to every length to heal aloneness. First, he provided the idea of home--a place for children to be born into where love is to be given freely as water flowing downhill, just because we exist.

He provided the nesting it takes to make a home when two decide to put an end to the aloneness and become one. Ideally that will take care of heart-loneliness for decades to come. Unfortunately, however, many do not bring the commitment to the union to keep the oneness. It then becomes aloneness again.

Then, for a rounding out of a person's needs for being a part of and not apart from, came the ecclesia--the called out. Those who form the oneness of the Lord's body.        BL

THE DAY THE LORD HATH MADE (10/18/1981)

One morning, Frank Duckworth and I had our little taxi stop so we could watch the sun rise. We had already been travelling an hour so as not to be late to our preaching appointment in a remote village. We had been in India about a month and I had more than two to go, and the prospect was very burdensome. Then, a verse of scripture came to my mind and I said it out loud for tue use of us both. "This is the day the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). Our spirits were noticeably lifted, as they usually are when we recall the word of the Lord--his will on a given subject. It is wise to savor the moment and enjoy them to the most.

I oft wonder what I would do if I had my days to do again? There would be many changes! I'd go barefoot earlier in the spring! I'd ride more merry-go-rounds and pick more daisies. Yes, I'd plant more trees, and befriend more children. Forget more injuries and gossip injuries to others. Write more letters, and seek more wisdom. I'd give more generously, trust more quickly, and forgive more easily. I'd love more warmly, act more courteously and live more simply. Judge more charitably and pray more expectantly.                BL