In the Jewish scriptures there is a wonderful reminder from Solomon found in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon became king of Israel in 970 B.C. and was called the wisest man ever to be born. Here is what he wrote;
"The teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.
The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails -
given by One Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making
many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body." *
I love how he likened the words of the wise to goads. A goad is a spiked stick tool used to prod
cattle or sheep. A shepherd uses it to make his sheep move
forward!
1000 years after Ecclesiastes was written and included in the holy bible, there was a zealous Pharisee and honor student of the scriptures named Saul of Tarsus. He was on his horse traveling on the road to Damascus to murder followers of a sect called, "The Way." He heard a voice saying to him in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Could this voice be referring to the simile of the goad that was like the word of the wise written in Ecclesiastes? And Saul being such a student of the word, would know. If so, the goad the voice referred to would be the word of the wise moving people forward into the new way of faith. Just like a shepherd would need to prod his sheep to move in a new direction with an actual goad!
The voice reveals himself.
"Then I [Saul] asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.' "**
Saul was knocked of his horse that day, and 3 days later came to believe in Jesus. His testimony, witness and letters are recorded in the bible today and have helped others see the truth for over 2000 years.
Are you kicking against the goads? Is their a prodding in your life right now to move in a new direction? Maybe from a friend or relative or coworker to hear the gospel, but you refuse to pay attention? Could you too, like Saul, be at a place in your belief where you are zealous against the idea of believing in Jesus? He was knocked off his horse. What is it going to take for you?
*Ecclesiastes 12:10-12, **Acts 26:14-18
1000 years after Ecclesiastes was written and included in the holy bible, there was a zealous Pharisee and honor student of the scriptures named Saul of Tarsus. He was on his horse traveling on the road to Damascus to murder followers of a sect called, "The Way." He heard a voice saying to him in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Could this voice be referring to the simile of the goad that was like the word of the wise written in Ecclesiastes? And Saul being such a student of the word, would know. If so, the goad the voice referred to would be the word of the wise moving people forward into the new way of faith. Just like a shepherd would need to prod his sheep to move in a new direction with an actual goad!
The voice reveals himself.
"Then I [Saul] asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' " 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.' "**
Saul was knocked of his horse that day, and 3 days later came to believe in Jesus. His testimony, witness and letters are recorded in the bible today and have helped others see the truth for over 2000 years.
Are you kicking against the goads? Is their a prodding in your life right now to move in a new direction? Maybe from a friend or relative or coworker to hear the gospel, but you refuse to pay attention? Could you too, like Saul, be at a place in your belief where you are zealous against the idea of believing in Jesus? He was knocked off his horse. What is it going to take for you?
*Ecclesiastes 12:10-12, **Acts 26:14-18
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