But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
—Psalm 10:14
Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife...So [Naaman] went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
—2 Kings 5:2, 14
And Jesus said to [the scribes and Pharisees], “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
—Luke 6:9-11
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
—Revelation 22:15
Sometimes deceit tries to dress itself up as sophistication. But the consequences can be clear, even to a little child.
The “little girl” had been kidnapped from her home and sold into servitude. But with the simplicity of a child, she set an example of the teaching of Jeremiah even before it was written—to seek the welfare of the place of exile. She didn't understand all the ins and outs of power politics and military might, but she could see Naaman's need and she knew the power of God.
When Naaman first received the second-hand instructions from Elisha, he became angry. Perhaps he expected attention and deference because of his rank. Perhaps he expected somebody else to perform a ceremony. Perhaps he expected a more prestigious venue. But when he humbled himself (like a child), he was healed to a child-like condition.
Any child in the synagogue could see the need of the man with the withered hand. And even a child who remained puzzled by the angry reaction of the scribes and Pharisees could see the power of God when the man's hand was healed at the word of Jesus. The same Jesus, who said, “Let the little children come to me” and “to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The same Jesus, who taught His disciples that they had to “become like children.”
Conventional wisdom holds that children are challenging audience members for illusionists. Children see what they see and are less susceptible to the misleading and misdirection that are essential parts of illusions. While illusions created only for entertainment can be fun, illusions are a tragic way to live.
Even a child knows the difference between inside and outside. When the thunder rolls, the winds blow, and the rain falls, inside is safe and warm. And outside is where those who love and make lies are found.
Simple Truth
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
—Psalm 10:14
Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife...So [Naaman] went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
—2 Kings 5:2, 14
And Jesus said to [the scribes and Pharisees], “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
—Luke 6:9-11
Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
—Revelation 22:15
Sometimes deceit tries to dress itself up as sophistication. But the consequences can be clear, even to a little child.
The “little girl” had been kidnapped from her home and sold into servitude. But with the simplicity of a child, she set an example of the teaching of Jeremiah even before it was written—to seek the welfare of the place of exile. She didn't understand all the ins and outs of power politics and military might, but she could see Naaman's need and she knew the power of God.
When Naaman first received the second-hand instructions from Elisha, he became angry. Perhaps he expected attention and deference because of his rank. Perhaps he expected somebody else to perform a ceremony. Perhaps he expected a more prestigious venue. But when he humbled himself (like a child), he was healed to a child-like condition.
Any child in the synagogue could see the need of the man with the withered hand. And even a child who remained puzzled by the angry reaction of the scribes and Pharisees could see the power of God when the man's hand was healed at the word of Jesus. The same Jesus, who said, “Let the little children come to me” and “to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The same Jesus, who taught His disciples that they had to “become like children.”
Conventional wisdom holds that children are challenging audience members for illusionists. Children see what they see and are less susceptible to the misleading and misdirection that are essential parts of illusions. While illusions created only for entertainment can be fun, illusions are a tragic way to live.
Even a child knows the difference between inside and outside. When the thunder rolls, the winds blow, and the rain falls, inside is safe and warm. And outside is where those who love and make lies are found.