It has been well said that creation, with its change of the seasons, rejoices and praises the Creator as it brilliantly displays the process by which God replenishes the earth. The transition of the seasons is one of the truly remarkable attributes of God's creative process. The shortness of the days and the gray of the skies in winter is exchanged for the bursting forth of vibrant and rich colors as the world seems to remember that very first creation in the spring. The warmth of the sun and the vitality of summer is fast replaced by an incredible palette of colors in autumn. As you might guess, there is a song about this. It is written and performed by Keith and Kristyn Getty (also, writers of "In Christ Alone"). Here is "Creation Sings":
Keith and Kristyn Getty Creation Sings
On October 19, 1938, a musical would premiere at the Ethel Barrymore theater that would change literally hundreds of musicians lives. Knickerbocker Holiday would only remain on Broadway for 6 months. Included in the musical is a song that has been recorded, vocally as well as instrumentally, by some of the biggest names in the music industry. The original singer was theater star Walter Huston. The most recent recording was by his granddaughter, Angelica Huston, for the television series Smash. Its highest peak on any chart would be in the late '70s as a recording from Willie Nelson's Stardust album. And now relax and reminisce as you listen to the lilting strains of Willie Nelson and....
"September Song".
September Song Willie Nelson
"September Song" is about one man's reflections of his life and how he will attempt to spend the "precious days" he has left with his loved one. Reflection is a theme that runs through the Bible as well. In the book of Jeremiah, God takes the opportunity to reflect on the sins that the nation of Israel had incurred. He has an intense desire to spend "those precious days" with His chosen people, yet He cannot until they repent. He is detailing to Jeremiah what the discipline for their lack of obedience would be. Israel had passed the point of no return and they were about to be punished by being taken away from their homeland. In Jeremiah 8:18, a lament is given up for the lostness of Israel,
18 My joy has flown away;
grief has settled on me.
My heart is sick.
19 Listen—the cry of my dear people
from a far away land,
“Is the Lord no longer in Zion,
her King not within her?”
Why have they provoked me to anger
with their carved images,
with their worthless foreign idols?
20 Harvest has passed, summer has ended,
but we have not been saved.
21 I am broken by the brokenness
of my dear people.
I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
So why has the healing of my dear people
not come about?
My heart is sick.
19 Listen—the cry of my dear people
from a far away land,
“Is the Lord no longer in Zion,
her King not within her?”
Why have they provoked me to anger
with their carved images,
with their worthless foreign idols?
20 Harvest has passed, summer has ended,
but we have not been saved.
21 I am broken by the brokenness
of my dear people.
I mourn; horror has taken hold of me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
So why has the healing of my dear people
not come about?
With the sense of incredible despair, the writer morns the loss of his nation. Are we any different from the people of Jeremiah's day? It is so easy to judge ancient Israel from our perspective, however the question must be asked, "Are we in the same situation?" On an individual level as well as a national level, have we waited too long to repent and seek God's forgiveness? As we watch the news or read about world events, it is easy to see behavior that is against God's plan. That is the very definition of sin. Repentance that leads to God's forgiveness is the balm in Gilead that the writer of this lament seeks. God's desire is to spend an eternal amount of "precious days" with us. As Jeremiah laments, "Harvest has passed, summer has ended, but we have not been saved". Friend, please consider your life. God desires to bless our remaining days on earth and allow us to spend eternity in His presence. We must however seek his face and turn away from those things that would make us less like Jesus. Summer has ended.....have you been saved? "Oh, the days dwindle down....to a precious few....."
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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