Not Just a Musical Group

Not Just a Musical Group

This devotional Not Just a Musical Group considers how the name of a popular music band can be used to reflect upon God the creator through the elements of Wind and Fire found in scripture.       

THOUGHT: 

Antithesis – a word that is the exact opposite of another word. The Bible, Gods’ Word always fascinates me in the magnificence of its’ language, specifically its symbolism and various defining scenarios. Like the word: “WIND.”   In the Book of Psalms, it says:

God throws his hail down like crumbs—
who can endure God’s freezing cold?
 Then God issues his word and melts it all away!
God makes his WINDS blow;
the water flows again.

Psalm 147:17-19

I cannot even imagine that scene in which there is extreme cold and then, with Gods’ breath, the natural water flow is redeemed with warmth that revives. Or consider the antithesis:

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce WIND filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

—Acts 2:1-4

After Jesus was resurrected, the apostles were crouched and frightened and hiding away in a room. There was an eerily cold spirit of fear amongst them. Yet, God sent (in a closed room by the way) not only a wind but also tongues of fire above their heads. The stormy wind that enticed the waves to crash against the disciples’ boat and caused them to hunker down, screaming for Jesus to save them was the same wind that was sent by God, the Holy Spirit, to warm their spirits and cause them to be able to boldly step out and preach the Good News!

Antithesis. God is a God quite capable of creating and allowing one force to perform two completely opposite actions with two different purposes. Yes, He controls nature in EVERY way.

How about the word: FIRE?

Smoke went up from God’s nostrils;
out of his mouth came a devouring FIRE;
flaming coals blazed out in front of him!

—Psalm 18:8—

This excerpt from Psalms is written by David, who spoke the words of this song to God after he was saved from the power of Saul and other enemies. You notice the adjective “devouring” before the word “fire,” denoting a sense of fire as a destructive entity in order to save David.

Yet, in this scripture:

I will baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with FIRE.

—Matthew 3:11—

In this case, the word FIRE is of a constructive connotation and the antithesis of the initial scripture from Psalms. Again, Gods’ power, symbolized in His Language, and in Nature, can both break down, and build up.

The words in The Bible are more than just words because they are divinely inspired. God can use the same word to inflict meaning way beyond the ink and the papyrus. His Word can chastise or encourage. His Word can break down or build up. His Word is representative of His Power, His Omnipotence.

It seems no author, no book, no words can ever come up against the Word of God or be as descriptive as His Thoughts. His words are priceless and powerful.

PRAYER:

Author and Creator, hear our prayer. Help us to realize the veracity and impact of Your Word. You breathed Creation into existence and then recorded that Creation and History in the pages of the Bible. Help us to soak up every word, every meaning, every subtle nuance of Your being and character. Help us to realize that your narrative is one replete with deep and eternal meaning. Guide us through Your Word, word by word, and stopping as if on a journey, along the way to contemplate your intricacies. AMEN.