SINGING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING: 'TIS MIDNIGHT, AND ON OLIVE'S BROW

Neal Pollard

SINGING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING: 'TIS MIDNIGHT, AND ON OLIVE'S BROW

Neal Pollard

I love the poetry and melody of the William Tappan hymn, "'Tis Midnight, and on Olive's Brow."  It is also so rich with meaning, but inasmuch as it was written 191 years ago it is possible that its wording gives younger worshippers, new Christians, non-Christian visitors, and a good many of the rest of us difficulty with comprehension.  Good worship requires not only proper actions, but mental engagement and a heart-connection with the lyrics.  

The first verse begins, "'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow." Some may have no idea what that means.  The song is about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was arrested and ultimately led to the cross.  Tappan seems particularly influenced by Luke's account of the events.  While scripture does not single out the hour of midnight, it does indicate Jesus was there at night (see Lk. 22:56, 66; cf. Jn. 18:3; Mt. 26:31, 34; etc.). Luke 22:39 indicates the garden's location as the Mount of Olives.  "Brow" would be a poetic, late Middle English word for the top of a hill.  The phrase, "The star is dimmed that lately shown" would simply reinforce the idea of darkness and the anxiety such would add to Jesus' suffering.

The second verse is pretty self-explanatory, though it might help some to remember that the phrase, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20) appears to be a humble term the apostle John uses to describe himself in his gospel.  "Heeds not" simply means "does not hear"; he had fallen asleep with the rest of Jesus' inner circle of disciples (Mk. 14:37).

The third verse is also straightforward, though we have another allusion to Luke's gospel, with "the Man of Sorrows weeps in blood."  Luke 22:44 tells us that Jesus, "being in agony" was "praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood…." The second line of this verse speaks of Jesus' kneeling in anguish, which Luke cites in the last part of Luke 22:44, saying Christ was "falling down upon the ground."

The last verse might cause some trouble, especially without consulting the footnote found under the song in the "Praise for the Lord" songbook.  "'Tis midnight, and from ether plains is borne the song that angels know," is, for many, incomprehensible.  "Ether plains," as explained in the book, is a poetic way to reference "upper regions" or "heaven."  The song seems to allude to that part of the garden experience where "an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him" (Lk. 22:43).  While this verse of the song seems to strain the meaning of Luke's words, it is a beautiful thought that angels or even the Father sang to comfort the suffering Son (cf. Heb. 5:7).

We should take the time to understand the words of the songs we sing in worship to God.  This keeps worship from being merely external, without heart, and a disconnection (cf. Mat. 15:8).  Perhaps, too, it serves as a notice that we should explain the meaning of older songs, especially those couched in language we do not use today.  It should also awaken the awareness that we need to incorporate songs in worship that are more contemporary in language and melody along with these beautiful, older songs.

The Russian Meteorite

This morning a meteorite flashed through the sky in Russia.  Experts estimate it weighed 20,000 pounds and was traveling at a speed of at least 33,000 mph!  When it hit the atmosphere it caused a massive explosion.  One source stated, “Infrasound data collected by a network designed to watch for nuclear weapons testing suggests that today's blast released hundreds of kilotons of energy.  That would make it far more powerful than the nuclear weapon tested by North Korea just days ago” (Nature.com).  The shockwave from the explosion was so powerful that it shattered countless windows, damaged structures, and even caused some buildings to crumble.  So far there are reportedly 1200 injuries and about $13 million in damages (Popular Science).

The last cosmic event of this magnitude was the famous Tunguska meteorite in Siberia in 1908.  This asteroid entered the atmosphere, exploded, and leveled about 80 million trees, spanning out about 820 square miles from the center of the blast (CNN).

Hearing and seeing this event brings many passages of Scripture to life.  There is a new sense of reality to the event in Genesis 19:24,  “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.”  In Deuteronomy 29:33, God’s people were warned to stay faithful or they would stuffer the same fate.  It’s easier to visualize the words of Psalm 11:6, “Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.”  We are even reminded of the comparison of God’s breath being “like a stream of burning sulfur” (Isaiah 30:33), and other passages (Isaiah 30; 43; Ezekiel 38).

A meteorite streaking through the sky is truly an awesome sight to behold.  Today billions of people around the world were able to witness the tremendous power of God because of one relatively small rock.  What an awesome and Almighty God we serve!  This event has brought even greater reality and authority to the Scriptures about God’s power.  Let’s close with a few of these:

• “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
• “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).
• “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

Watch These Videos of the Meteorite:

•  Video 1
•  Video 2

Never Become Jealous Of One Another!

Neal Pollard

• If You Do Not Want To Be Enraged, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Prov. 6:34).
• If We Do Not Want To Lend Our Hearts To Contradicting Scripture And Blasphemy, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Acts 13:45).
• If We Do Not Want To Be Part Of Chaos And Division, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Acts 17:5).
• If We Want To Behave Properly, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Rom. 13:13).
• If We Do Not Want To Be Fleshly, There Is No Room For Jealousy (1 Cor. 3:3).
• If We Love One Another, There Is No Room For Jealousy (1 Cor. 13:4).
• If We Wish To Avoid Being What We Do Not Wish To Be, There Is No Room For Jealousy (2 Cor. 12:20).
• If We Are Trying To Bear The Fruit Of The Spirit And Avoid The Lusts Of The Flesh, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Gal. 5:19ff).
• If We Wish To Avoid A Reputation For Loving Disputing And Controversy, There Is No Room For Jealousy (1 Tim. 6:4).
• If We Would Avoid The Unprofitable And Worthless, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Titus 3:9).
• If We Do Not Desire To Be Arrogant And Lie Against The Truth, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Js. 3:14).
• If We Do Not Wish To Engage In Disorder And Evil Things, There Is No Room For Jealousy (Js. 3:16).

The Bible has praise for zeal for the right things, but it roundly condemns that negative passion prone to strife, contention, and wrangling, that spirit that will “degenerate into a jealousy which makes war upon the good it sees in another, thus troubling and diminishing it” (Zodhiates on ZELOS, WSDict., elec. ed., 2000).  Let us discipline ourselves to be happy for the successes and happinesses of others, choosing never to let jealous feelings overcome a godly heart and attitude.  Never become jealous of one another!

SEEKERS

Neal Pollard

We are a world on a search, looking for happiness, fulfillment, and purpose.  Nation by nation, people are filing into and ultimately out of this world.  The majority never find that for which they look.  It is a timeless quest, one that has spanned the ages without respect of person--those of every race, status, and skill have sought.  The problem, most often, is they are looking in the wrong place for the wrong thing.

Near the end of the seventh century, Judah, who should have known better, had abandoned God in search of something better.  This, of course, was a futile quest from the outset. As the result, they faced 70 years of Babylonian Captivity as reward for their looking elsewhere for what only God could supply.  Jeremiah prophesied to them, and it was mostly an ominous, stern message.  Yet, in Jeremiah 29, peering down the corridor of time past their punishment in a foreign land, Jeremiah reveals God's great exhortation, telling Judah, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (13).  Upon searching, they would find reward, restoration, reunion, and rest (14).  Dark days would lie ahead in the captivity, but, given the proper condition of heart, Judah could find hope.  In this profound statement of Jehovah, consider these exciting truths.

God sees potential in us.  He looks beyond the capture, slaughter, and violence His people would endure for their sins and despite their false assurance.  God cannot let sin go unpunished, but even when He views His sinful children He looks with optimistic eye.  He saw the day when Judah would seek Him.  While others see the worst in us and see our past, God sees the best in us and knows what we could be.

God can be found.  Despite the mantra of modern muddiers of the mind, God is "findable." Paul preached that "He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist" (Acts 17:27b-28a).  Truth is knowable because the source of truth is knowable.  It would reflect on the perfect character of God for Him to create us, then remove Himself from the affairs of life, to be shrouded in an impenetrable cloud of mystery.  In the Bible, we have a roadmap that leads to the mind and heart of God! By it, we come to know Him (1 Jn. 2:3).

God must be sought with all our heart.  Judah was guilty of heartless religion, ritualistic worshippers drowning in worldliness during the week then pretentiously entering His presence on the Sabbath, as if He could not see them the rest of the time (cf. Jer. 7).  God rejects hollow honor and surface service.  He requires the heart!  But, remember that He is found when we search with all our heart (cf. Dt. 4:29).  Isn't this part of the greatest command, to "love Him with all our hearts" (Dt. 6:5; Mt. 22:37).  He wants service (Dt. 10:12), deeds (Dt. 26:16), obedience (Dt. 30:2), trust (Pr. 3:5), and repentance (Joel 2:12) to be done with all our heart. 

The great search continues.  How tragic that so many are on such fruitless quests, looking everywhere but where they should!  May we who know where He is to be found search ourselves and show others where to look!

The Pope Resigns

 

It has been almost 600 years since a Pope has resigned from the papacy.  At 85 years old, Pope Benedict XVI said he no longer has the mental or physical strength to carry on his responsibilities.  He went on to say, “Strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me” (CNN).  The Pope is expected to step down on February 28^th.

According to the Roman Catholic religion, the Pope is the worldwide leader of the church and the successor of the apostle Peter.  The problem is, the Bible doesn’t support this.  For one, the word “Pope” is not found in the Bible.  The first Pope didn’t come until several hundred years after the time of Christ.  While some say Peter was the first Pope, the facts don’t support this.  First of all, Peter never claimed supremacy but instead claimed he was just “an apostle” and a “fellow elder” (1 Peter 1:1; 5:1-2).  Beyond all of this, Peter was married (Matthew 8:14), which is contrary to the Roman Catholic Church’s requirement of their clergymen.  Also, the Bible never says Peter was the Pope, or that he was more significant than any other apostle, or that he ever even went to Rome.  Scripture simply doesn’t support the Pope, or Peter, as the leader of the church.  So, if the Pope isn’t the head of the church then who is?

Scripture makes it clear that Christ is the only head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; 5:22-23; Colossians 1:15-20; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 3:11; etc).  Christ is the true head and true leader of the church.  Notice what a contrast He is to the Pope.

• Christ will never grow old.
• Christ will never get tired.
• Christ’s physical strength is unlimited.
• Christ’s mental prowess is without limits and beyond comprehension.
• Christ is eternal.
• Christ is God.
• Christ will never resign, nor will He ever need to.

Let’s keep in mind who the true, and vastly superior, leader of the church is.  The head of the church is Jesus Christ.  There could not be a leader greater than He.  Let’s follow Him and no other.