Welcome to Tuesday the best day of the week!!! It's time for your blog about music and The Message (not the paraphrase of the Bible, the Actual Message, the Good News about Jesus), Tuesday's Musical Notes!!! Here each week we take a moment and pause from the busyness of life and just enjoy a great song and a theme that you may have never considered before. Like your favorite blended beverage (do you use kale?), Tuesday's Musical Notes is your favorite balance of musical flavors with Message themed fun! So let's get started with this classic from the 70s, brought to you by a singer/songwriter whose life ended way too soon.
Follow the advice in this song, especially the wind one!!!
Like so many Jim Croce songs, "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" came from a place that many listeners, especially those in the pool rooms and billiards parlors of downtown areas, could relate. Even if those were not establishments frequented, everyone knew of a hustler like Jim and the crew of folks that surrounded him, calling him "boss". The overwhelming theme of the song comes from Willie McCoy's (Slim) desire for revenge. (remember that theme, we are going somewhere with it later)
Instantly likable, the debut single by Croce soared up the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at #8. It finished the year at #68 for 1972 in the Billboard Charts end of the year countdown. It would be the first of 12 singles that would be released by Croce with the last 5 being released posthumously. Of the 12 singles, 8 would make the top 40 and 2 ("Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" and "Time in a Bottle") would make it all the way to the top spot on the charts. If you have about 45 minutes, take the time to learn more about the musical legacy of Jim Croce in the following clip.
(And now back to the previously hinted at promised theme)
According to dictionary.com the word revenge is defined: to exact punishment or expiation for a wrong on behalf of, especially in a resentful or vindictive spirit. We confess at being geeky enough to love the following reference to revenge...
The overwhelming theme of the Bible is love. Revenge is placed in its proper perspective in passages like Leviticus 19:18 - New American Standard Bible/The Message paraphrase of the Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel and the even more well known "turn the other cheek" passage of The Gospel of Jesus according to the apostle Matthew, chapter 5, verses 38-42 NASB/The Message/KJV As you can see, the Old Testament and the New Testament have the same opinion when it comes to seeking revenge on your enemies. However, that doesn't mean that folks, even God's chosen folks, were immune to the desire to be vindicated by the wrong others did to them. Here is one example: (Caution: This passage has some physical procedures that should be better explained to those who are under 18 in the confines and safety of one's home)
As Israel, formerly Jacob, was beginning to build a life for his family in Shechem, his daughter Dinah decided to go seek out some friends. She soon caught the eye of one of the princes of the land whose name just happens to be the name of the land, Shechem. His actions toward Dinah were not honorable, but he fell in love with her. He sent his father to seek out Israel with the desire to persuade him to give Dinah to him as a wife. Israel's sons had been working in the fields. Upon their return, they were informed of the defilement of their sister. As you would imagine, they were angry. Not only had the prince raped Dinah, but he was not part of Israel's kinsman. Remember, they had been instructed all of their lives in the ways of Abraham, Issac and their father regarding whom they could take as wives and husbands. The brothers devised a way to get revenge on the entire community.
Israel's sons were deceitful in their promise to give Dinah to Shechem (the prince, not the land) if every male in the area would be circumcised (again, explain in a safe place, preferably NOT in mixed company), Shechem could have Dinah as his wife. Women at that time, while loved and cherished, were considered a commodity that could be traded or exchanged to the benefit of both parties. Three days after all of the men of the town had been circumcised, at the height of their pain, Israel's sons, Simeon and Levi, raided the town, rescued Dinah, killed all of the men and looted the town.
When Israel found out about Simeon and Levi's revenge, he realized the stench that would fall upon his family and was very afraid that relatives of the slain would seek him out and destroy his family. The only defense the sons could muster, "no one treats our sister that way and gets by with it" (Randy paraphrase of verse 31).
We don't hear of Israel, Simeon, or Levi consulting with God in the process of Dinah's disgrace. We see a group of men taking things in their own hands and the results being calamitous. While God does bless Israel in the future, the reputation of the clan would follow them as they traveled and few alliances were able to be made with the people of the land.
Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, would put revenge in its proper perspective. Romans 12:17-21 NASB/The Message/KJV
We must remember, that the vengeance in which Paul quotes about being written is God's revenge on sin and the enemy. Ultimately, each and everyone of us will be counted among those who receive God's mercy and grace, or God's revenge and destruction. We make this choice, by either submitting to the leadership of Holy Spirit in our lives and believing Jesus was who He said He was, did what the Bible says He did, and WILL DO what the Bible promises He will do at the end of all times. This is the most important decision you will make. Will you believe today? His love is waiting for you.
But remember, if you choose to reject His love... The warning has been given. "You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind. You don't pull the mask of the 'ol Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with HIM..."
'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving You,
randy
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