A search in Wikimedia Commons for lion/lamb combination came back with lots of pubs. And, the explanation about heraldry. A search in Google for that same image combination came back with pages of paintings, photographs, drawings, and clip art, along with references to:
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6 KJV)
The images of lions and lambs do not match the verse. This one comes close:
It is so easy to misquote the Bible, taking from it what we would like to hear, or taking something that sounds biblical and accepting it as so. CNN wrote a blog about such biblical misquotes earlier this summer.
The article begins with “This too shall pass,” but that one does have a biblical base in:
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35 KJV)
Even though the words are not exact, that verse tells us that all things shall pass – but God’s words will not. See, we also forget “the rest of the story” even when we get the gist of the verse.
People get so tied up in correcting misquotes, or looking for conflicts, that they neglect to study for content and meaning. We forget why we study God’s word, and where it should reside:
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:10-11 KJV)
How do we seek God? By listening to others, or asking Him directly? Why do we seek Him? Because others have said we should or because a part of us wants to know Him? Why do some deride those who say they have found Him? Jealousy, because of a personal lack or fear of Him?
Those are very personal questions and while they have no exact answers, some are afraid of even thinking of them.
Finding out what God is, and isn’t, is a very personal journey. I doubt that there are two people on the planet that have exactly the same answer. For those two to find each other would take a lot of people discussing Him and sharing those discussions. Whatever their religious beliefs are, they must search their foundations, know the source of their beliefs, during any discussion.
For a Christian, that would be getting to know their Bible. Being able to go to the source, understand where those books came from. Who wrote them? When were they written, and in what language? Who did the translation and why?
Knowing what I believe and why I believe it still comes down to faith.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)
Someone else told me first, then I sought to know for myself. Take care when that seeking is done. There will come a time when He cannot be found.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)
This is so true, and it is important to quote scripture correctly, often some take some old wives tale and say it in the bible, if we know our bible well we know what is bible and what is not, it is important to know what saith the lord, when in question I always ask, chapter and verse please, thanks for this truth, and have a lovely day, hugs my friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Grammy Blick -
ReplyDeleteThis is a very helpful rich message. Thank you.
The Word of GOD is vital in our intimacy with our Lord. A daily minimum is what we need - sometimes more than once a day. If we, typically, eat natural breakfast, lunch and dinner, surely we can spend time with our Lord morning, afternoon, and evening. My morning devotions are my lengthiest,...
Daniel prayed three times a day.
And Psalm 55:17 - KJV, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,..."
You mentioned here Isaiah 55:6. Regularly, I pray that scripture.
Thank you, Grammy Blick, for your steadfast loyalty to our Lord and His Word. He and His Word are one.
Glory Hallelujah.