November 2017


November 2017

I will light (in your heart) the lamp of understanding (which shall not be put out).
2 Esdras 14.25 (NRSV)

Ezra was a priest and prophet, he was known as a scribe learned in the law of Moses. We read that the Lord I AM commanded Ezra to withdraw for forty days from his everyday life, and to take several wise men with him. In that space of time, Ezra was going to write sacred books as inspired by God. In verse 46 of chapter 14 we read that some of the books would be revealed to the people while others were to remain sealed and only given to the wise among your people. They contain a stream of understanding, a fountain of wisdom, a flood of knowledge.
As a prophet Ezra was concerned for future generations and he wanted to warn those, as yet unborn, so that they would know where to find and follow the right path in life. In verse 22 Ezra says to God fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may write down the whole story of the world, everything that is contained in your law ; then men will have the chance to find the right path and, if they choose, gain life in the last days. God's promise that a lamp of understanding would be available to Ezra ensured that his visions became sacred books through the power of the Holy Spirit.
So our Lord promises to us that we too will have a lamp of understanding enabling us to work as His disciples.
Our minds have understanding and knowledge of God's Word and our hearts have a fountain of wisdom. Wisdom, in the dictionary definition, is having experience and good discernment and judgement. We have an intuitive awareness, and God given ability to search for wisdom of the heart.
Those of us skilled in creative writing have gifts breathed into us by the Holy Spirit. Do we acknowledge the Spirit's part in our creativity? We are inspired by many sights and sounds, tastes and smells every day. May we appreciate the source from which these come.

(You may like to shorten the Saying for use as a Watchword, I will light the lamp of understanding: and check out Psalm 119 verse 105)