Dumb and Dumber Is Not Just a Movie

Two articles in the USA Today made me think. They had an emphasis on sexual exploitation and assault on college campuses. One article quoted a counselor who said, “IF you plan on overindulging, talk to your peer group about having somebody responsible look out for you.”

That probably hits at least a level two on the dumb, dumber, dumbest scale. Just planning to overindulge seems a little counter productive. I am going to a smorgasbord and eat two pounds of BBQ ribs. And fries and other stuff as well. Not because I will enjoy it, but because I can. “I paid for this and I’m going to get my money’s worth.” The tummy ache we got as a kid when we binged out on candy, cookies, or ice cream, or all three, seems to be forgotten.

Overindulging on inebriants is even more stupider. First it is a poison. People have and do die from alcohol poisoning. And, not in personal experience, but second hand testimony has  informed me that if you do survive, the aftermath makes you wish you were dead.

But the final level of dumbosity, that is one higher than dumbest, is “having someone responsible look out for you.” Think on this for a nanosecond. You all are going out to “par-tay!” The “responsible” person will be in a similar condition to the one being “looked out for.” Jesus said that if the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14) I would surmise that a drunk, watching out for a drunk, will be a little less than worthless. Maybe a lot less.

Nuff said. Then an article farther down the page reported that “Tainted alcohol worries travelers.” It went on to note that several tourist destinations, particularly in Mexico and Puerto Rico have had “guests” poisoned and even killed by methanol also know as wood alcohol that they consumed at a resort. (Maybe they should be signed in as “Victims,” instead of guests.) The first time this happened, it was a surprise. The twenty or thirtieth time is getting deep into the dumb scale.

My dad used to say, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” You can make the application here. In both of our stories, we see a level of repeated foolishness that is unnerving. Why are people so dumb? And why are they repeating that folly?

Another thing that Dad taught me was, “What is this for?” Is college or vacation a place to go to get hammered? That is not a sports term referring to how Clemson treated U of A in the  last college super bowl. That is a slang term for losing your senses, as in being whacked up side the head by a hammer. If you want to booze it up, stay home where it is relatively safe, providing you have someone to call 911 when you get into life threatening territory.

Or better yet, imbibe a great cinnamon spice tea–hot or cold. It “tastes great and is less filling.” And does not lead to assault or death. Just think of how many news reporters would be out of work if we all did that.

That is “nuff said.”

More on David

We looked at David’s Psalm to his little rescued lamb last time. Further meditation on that story brought up another line of thought. We commented that David cited his rescue of the lamb to Saul when he, David was attempting to convince the King to allow him to challenge the Giant.

Just before this encounter, David’s brother had rebuked him, charging that David was merely curious, looking for some entertainment. (1 Samuel 17:28) He belittled David’s contribution to the family by asking what had happened to the “few sheep in the wilderness.” Actually, David had responsibly left them in the care of another keeper, so he was “doing his job.”

The ironic thing is, that Eliab, the elder brother, was not “doing his job.” Goliath had come out and challenged the men of Israel to battle for 40 days. No one, including David’s soldier brothers, had responded. Then David arrived and was anxious to confront the Philistine who was belittling Israel and berating the God of Israel. This is the point at which Eliab charged David with dereliction of his duties in caring for those “few sheep.”

Based upon Eliab’s response to Goliath, we can surmise that had Eliab been the one in the wilderness with the sheep when the lion and bear attacked, the “few” would have been a couple less in number. David was not a coward. He did not run from lion, bear, or giant. His father Jesse may have not sent him to keep the sheep based only on his being the youngest and thus assigned the more menial tasks, but the father may have recognized the bravery inherent in his youngest son.

Whether David felt fear in his encounters is not known, but bravery is not a lack of fear. Rather it is acting in spite of fear. David not only “acted,” it says that he ran toward the encounter with Goliath. (V. 48) This is an interesting tactic and it possibly unnerved Goliath, causing him to hesitate just a second. A second too long, that is. And you know the rest of the story.

One other interesting sidelight is that this battle tactic was employed by Alexander the Great when he conquered the known world. His soldiers ran toward the enemy, again unnerving them and contributing to the successful defeat of enemy armies. This was even prophesied by Daniel in his dreams. (Daniel 7:6)
After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

Daniel’s vision was of four beasts that would conquer the world. First was Babylon, the nation in power as he lived. His vision occurred during the reign of Belshazzar, before Daniel saw and interpreted the “handwriting on the wall.” Babylon was overthrown by Medo-Persia which, in turn, fell to Greece represented by the leopard. Then a fourth, a “dreadful and terrifying” beast gained power, and we know that as Rome.

Greece, under Alexander, had overcome enemies by the tactic of running into battle, represented by a leopard with wings. This was reinforced by another vision two years later in chapter 8. This time, the kingdom of Babylon was not represented, but the successor, Medo-Persia characterized by a ram with two horns, one more prominent and larger than the other. (“Medo,” the lesser country and “Persia” the greater.) It “butted” west, north, and south, taking control of all of the land around it. History now identifies this entity as Medo-Persia, the consortium that overthrew Babylon.

Then in v. 5, we find the successor: a goat from the west.
While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

Note that the conquering force was “flying,” or moving rapidly. Again a leader is identified by a “conspicuous horn.” The confrontation between the two forces follows in v. 6. (The goat...)
He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.

The specific detail of “charging or rushing” the enemy is specified. And the kingdom of Persia was completely destroyed, just as Daniel had predicted about 300 years earlier. (A summary of the decisive battle may be found here. The final analysis was that Alexander lost about 100 men while killing over 300,000 and capturing many more. 301 BC)

David’s and Alexander’s strategy was also seen in the “blitzkrieg” unleashed by Hitler in WWII. Back to David. This teenager, of 16 or 17 as far as we know, began his career by protecting sheep from predators, then battling to the death, a nine-foot-tall opponent. He inaugurated a battle plan that led to many successful campaigns throughout history. And his brother had the temerity to challenge him and his courage.

Seems like the obvious is not always so obvious.

A Shepherd’s Psalm

A young lamb lies in the arms of his shepherd. The lamb’s legs dangle below the supporting forearm and his chin nestles into the crook of the shepherd’s elbow. He is a little bloody and mangled, but he is safe. The shepherd fondly gazes down on the helpless little bundle of wounded wool resting there.

He thinks back a few minutes. As he was tending his father’s sheep, to his horror a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock. 35 (He) went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against (the shepherd boy), (he) seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 (He) has killed both the lion and the bear. (1 Samuel 17:34-36)

“Just be quiet, little lamb. I will take care of you. You have nothing to fear.”  As he ruminated a little more, he mused, “I have a Shepherd too, you know.”
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Then he switches his focus to the Shepherd. Now he is comparing his own care for the lamb to the care that the Good Shepherd affords to him. This is particularly poignant to both the young man and the sheep.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The lamb has it pretty good, with a brave and dedicated care giver. But our friend, you have surely identified him as David, is comparing his own care with what he offered his flock. Even all the lovingkindness that he could lavish on his sheep could not compare to the prospect of living in the house of his Lord forever. (Psalm 23) Amen. Glory.

“The LORD is my shepherd.”  Is He your Shepherd too? Today is the best time to begin the relationship and let Him care for you–forever. If you are already there, just relax and praise Him.