Satyrs and Dragons

Isaiah 34:13-15. “And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow; there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.”

The description of the desolation of Edom (Idumea) continues and is completed in these verses. The following paragraphs are copied from my post on Isaiah 13 that I mentioned yesterday:

“The owls in verse 21 could also be a reference to ostriches. Owls give a rather plaintive call, and I understand that the call of the ostrich is quite hideous, and that it can groan as if in great pain.

Satyrs were supposed to be half man and half goat, with horns on the man’s  head; the body was all hairy, with feet and tails like a goat.  The Edomites worshiped images like those described. The word probably refers to any rough, hairy animal that tends to be solitary and wild.

In verse 22, the wild beasts of the islands, or coastal lands, are beasts that are unknown and maintain a very superstitious reputation, something like the Loch Ness Monster.

The dragons?  That word has been variously translated.  My Dake’s Study Bible took me to Exodus 7:9, and the miracle of Moses’ rod becoming a serpent.  It’s the same word used in our passage today, and would seem more likely to indicate some type of marine/land animal, perhaps the  crocodiles that were ubiquitous in Egypt along the Nile. We don’t know for sure. It’s the entire picture we’re interested in, which in my mind ranks right up there with a really ugly horror movie.”

It will certainly not be a place that welcomes human habitation.

Edom

Isaiah 34:11-12. “But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and He shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.”

You  will find a similar description of the fate of Babylon during the Millennium in Isaiah 13:19-22. Go here to read about the strange creatures that will inhabit both Babylon and Edom (Idumea).

Israel will own and control all of the Promised Land during the Millennium, so there will be no royalty  there.  Edom will pay dearly for her alliance with Antichrist.

Confusion and Desolation

(I took a week off from Isaiah while we vacationed last week.  Back home now, ready to dig in again, so here we go!)

Isaiah 34:9-10. “And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night nor day: the smoke thereof shall go up for ever; from generation to generation it shall be waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.”

One commentator I read says these verses are metaphoric.  They are not. There is nothing in the text to tell us that God is speaking in metaphors here.  This is going to be a terrible time for Israel’s enemies. If you look at the tiny print along the bottom of this graphic, you’ll see other scripture references that bear out this prophecy in Isaiah.

Edom is singled out for particular punishment for its close association with Antichrist in his efforts to destroy Israel.  It is very clear that those who stand against Israel, against God Himself, will come to a terrible end.

 

Sunday Morning Coffee: Safely Home

The flight home was uneventful. We landed in Allentown right on time, and we pulled into our own driveway around 5:30 last night.  It was a wonderful week, and I’m so glad we decided to go.

I’m not a bit glad about what I brought back with me, though. I actually have a temperature this morning, which of course makes me wonder about the flu. Trouble is the temp is only 98.3, which won’t impress any doctor.  My normal temp hovers just under 97, so when it goes to 99 I’m feeling really sick.  Right now?  Yeah, I’m feeling really sick. I’m controlling the cough with Mucinex,  soothing my sore throat with something Dan brought me from California called Strepfen.  Works really well, and I’m going to have to see if I can find it here or online.

And I’m drinking hot tea with honey.  Coffee just didn’t appeal this morning.  In fact, my appetite is gone.  I was pleasantly surprised when I stepped on the scale this morning to see that I’ve lost four pounds.  Now, if only I can keep it off after I start feeling better!

I heard Terry coughing in the night, and he’s still in bed. Seems I shared my misery with my friend Deb, as well as with my husband. How kind of me, right?  I did my best to always cover my coughing and sneezing.  I have no idea where I caught it, but I’m beginning to think it’s just in the air.

Well.  This too shall pass. It was worth it, I think.  I was probably going to be sick anyway, and at least I had the pleasure of ocean breezes, dolphin sightings, pelicans flying, the beautiful city of Savannah, some really excellent seafood, and the company of close friends.

I miss being in church. And I know Terry must be feeling pretty lousy, too, for him to stay home. So we’ll pamper ourselves today and hope for better things tomorrow.

Heading Home

We’re packed and ready to get back on the airplane. While I look forward to being back home, I’ve caught a really bad cold and I don’t feel good at all.  I’m dreading the plane ride because it’s going to aggravate my already stuffy nose and ears.

Yesterday, we went to take a look at the Hilton Head lighthouse in Harbour Town.

Davina loves lighthouses, so Deb and I found her a little replica of this one.

Once we were home, I’m afraid I pretty much vegged out for the rest of the day. Huddled under a blanket and enjoyed watching the videos of Anne of Green Gables.  We all did, actually, and that was fun, too.

Yesterday, in the morning, we spent quite some time sharing favorite passages of scripture. It is truly a delight to be able to enjoy fellowship with old friends around the thing that brought us all together. God’s Word is eternal, unchanging, always fresh and new every morning.

So.  If I’m feeling better, it will be back to work on Tuesday, and life will resume as normal.

And that’s a good thing, too.

Savannah!

Yesterday, (Thursday)  we drove to Savannah and took the tour via bus of the historic area of the city.

Our guides were a lot of fun.  Humorous and knowledgeable.  One was British, and had that stiff upper li[ humor that sends me into gales of laughters.

 

It’s really a lovely city, with lots of history for people like me who love the history of America.

For supper, we stopped at Five Guys on Hilton Head.  Oh boy, was that good 🙂

Back at the condo, we played a couple of games, laughed a lot, had a pleasant evening. But there is a sense of sadness, because today is the last day.   We’ll be flying back home tomorrow morning, and our vacation will be a wonderful memory.

I’ve caught a cold–coughing, mostly, with some sinus aggravation.  Using a good over the counter remedy, but still not feeling tip-top.  Glad it didn’t start until the latter part of the week.

We’ve naturally done a lot of reminiscing. When you’ve been friends with people this long, you have lots of shared memories.  It’s a good thing, bringing both tears and laughter.

Right now, Joe is making French toast; Davina is frying bacon and sausage,  and Deb is being a general assistant.  Haven’t seen Rick yet, and Terry is in our room getting ready for the day.

Beach time today, I think.

 

 

Dolphins and Pelicans

Yesterday (Wednesday)  we went on a dolphin cruise in the marshlands of the island. It was wonderful!  I love dolphins, and I wished my daughter were with us because she loves them too. We saw at least ten, maybe more, and at one point they were near enough our little boat for us to almost be able to touch them.

At times,  it seemed they were paralleling our boat. Then they would split off, submerge, and reappear some distance ahead of us. Our guide pointed out a pair like this one, a mama and her baby.

Then our guide took us to what looked like a sandbar, but was actually a clam dune of dead clams that have washed up over the years.  There were two sets of pelicans.  One set’s members were brown with yellow heads, and the other set were pure white with black tips on their wings.

It was a beautiful day, with the sun hiding now and then behind broken clouds. Got a little chilly when our guide  increased the speed, but I didn’t mind a bit.  To see all those dolphins, and have them come so close to the boat, was just so exciting!  It reminded me of the whale watch we did up at Bar Harbor several years ago, another breath-taking excursion.

God’s creation is so amazing.  I don’t know how anyone can truly believe that it “just happened,” with all the diversity and precision that exists. I remember Terry telling me about a science teacher he had years ago who encouraged his students to lie on their bellies and just watch one square foot of ground. The amount and variety of life Terry remembers observing was incredible. They all have their own systems, their own habitats, their own social groupings. No one will ever convince me that it was all due to evolution.

No.  There is a Master Designer, and He must have had such an amazing time putting His world together for us to enjoy.

I love it here.  People told me Hilton Head is special, and they were right.

I could write poetry about the incredible seafood we had last night, but I think I’ve already said enough 🙂

The Beach

 

Synonyms for the beach (or, as my PA friends would say, the shore):  Calm. Relaxing. Hypnotic, Beckoning. Soothing. Beautiful. Restful, Peaceful. 

It was about 63º yesterday afternoon, so we had a perfect January beach day. Jackets, of course, because there’s always enough of a breeze to make it feel cooler than whatever the temperature says.

I still can’t walk very far because of my back issues, but I was able to enjoy a slow stroll with Terry.  He’s not as big a fan of the beach as I am, but he endures it because he knows I love it.  He’d rather be in the woods.

We all have a place that we wind soothing and safe.  When I do trauma therapy, I ask my  clients to create a safe place in their minds; a place where they feel protected, calm, and safe from their fears. The beach is popular. So is the forest. Some choose the home of their grandparents or some other people in their lives who sheltered them.

Thinking about all that, I thought of this passage:

Psalm 121

121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

² My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

³ He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

⁴ Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

⁶ The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

⁸ The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

We had devotions from this passage on Sunday morning, and I know it to a lovely melody that has been in my mind ever since.  The Lord is my safe place. He is the One I go to when I am stressed or fearful, feeling unable to cope.

: 

Sunday Morning Coffee: Hilton Head

We’re in a lovely condo with two couples we’ve know for years.  We were up late last night, so no one was stirring much this morning.  Late breakfast, and now we’re settling in for a time of Bible reading, maybe some singing, and prayer–our church service while we’re on vacation.

I’m already feeling more relaxed.  Slept like a rock last night.  We had no problems with our flight, except that the pilot took the plan north for a while to avoid a big flock of birds, probably geese. 

Being with friends you’ve known for years is a delight.  This will  be a good week.

An hour later, we’re still talking about the things of the Lord.  Laughter, tears, shared blessings.

Yes, this will be a good week.

 

Time for a Break

 

I’m stepping away from my study of Isaiah for a week or so.  I need a break, and we’re taking one 🙂  We’re traveling southward, to enjoy warmer temps and maybe some beach time for a few days.

We’ll be with friends we’ve known for 40+ years, so the fellowship will be sweet and a lot of fun.

I’ll have my laptop with me, so I will probably pop in now and then. Or maybe every day, who knows?  Blogging is such a habit now that I’m not sure I can go a whole week without writing!