Post by Lydia Robledo on Nov 8, 2009 1:58:46 GMT
Excerpts from John Stott's Book, The Birds, Our Teachers
(Biblical Lessons from a lifelong bird-watcher)
"It was Jesus Christ himself in the Sermon on the Mount who told us to be birdwatchers! 'Behold the fowls of the air' (King James version-Matthew 6:26). Translated into basic English, his instruction becomes 'watch birds!' So we have the highest possible authority for this activity. Moreover, he meant more than that we should notice them. For the Greek verb employed here means to fix the eyes on or take a good look at. This will certainly include our study and appreciation of their plumage and behaviour. But the Bible tells us that birds have lessons to teach as well.
"As a matter of fact, Scripture bids us go beyond birds and include in our interest everything God has made: 'Great are the works the Lord, studied by all who delight in them' (Psalm 112:2 NRSV)
Martin Luther wrote:
You see, he is making the birds our schoolmasters and teachers. It is a great and abiding disgrace to us that in the Gospel, a helpless sparrow should become a theologian and a preacher to the wisest of men. We have as many teachers and preachers as there are little birds in the air. Their living example is an embarrassment to us... Whenever you listen to a nightingale, therefore, you are listening to an excellent preacher... It is as if he were saying 'I prefer to be in the Lord's kitchen. He has made heaven and earth and he himself is the cook and the host. Every day he feeds and nourishes innumerable little birds out of his hand.' (Martin Luther, 1521. The Sermon on the Mount.)
(Biblical Lessons from a lifelong bird-watcher)
"It was Jesus Christ himself in the Sermon on the Mount who told us to be birdwatchers! 'Behold the fowls of the air' (King James version-Matthew 6:26). Translated into basic English, his instruction becomes 'watch birds!' So we have the highest possible authority for this activity. Moreover, he meant more than that we should notice them. For the Greek verb employed here means to fix the eyes on or take a good look at. This will certainly include our study and appreciation of their plumage and behaviour. But the Bible tells us that birds have lessons to teach as well.
"As a matter of fact, Scripture bids us go beyond birds and include in our interest everything God has made: 'Great are the works the Lord, studied by all who delight in them' (Psalm 112:2 NRSV)
Martin Luther wrote:
You see, he is making the birds our schoolmasters and teachers. It is a great and abiding disgrace to us that in the Gospel, a helpless sparrow should become a theologian and a preacher to the wisest of men. We have as many teachers and preachers as there are little birds in the air. Their living example is an embarrassment to us... Whenever you listen to a nightingale, therefore, you are listening to an excellent preacher... It is as if he were saying 'I prefer to be in the Lord's kitchen. He has made heaven and earth and he himself is the cook and the host. Every day he feeds and nourishes innumerable little birds out of his hand.' (Martin Luther, 1521. The Sermon on the Mount.)