Nothing in the Scriptures About the Matter of Abortion? You're Kidding Yourselves, The Holy Bible is Simply Full of It...If, That Is, You Consult the Writings of the Sweet Psalmist of Israel, (King) David, Or the Classic Older Testament Tome of the Patriarch Job...
Yes, many know and as often quote (verbatim or otherwise, the Authorized Version being so very well known by so many - at least of an earlier (including even (arguably) my own) generation)
*David in Psalm 139 in which, amongst many other equally worthwhile thoughts, he mused
For [T]hou hast possessed my reins: [T]hou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise [T]hee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are [T]hy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from [T]hee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in [T]hy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them.
(Verses 13-16.)
*But how about the following, remarkably similar-sounding musings, from the patriarch Job himself:
Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about...
Remember, I beseech [T]hee, that [T]hou hast made me as the clay; and wilt [T]hou bring me into dust again?
Hast [T]hou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
Thou hast granted me life...
(Job 10:8-12a).
But the longsuffering Job, whose name has come down to our day as expressing the epitome of patience, as perseverance personified, had much more to say in response to his equally (in)famous 'comforters':
When he took his respected place in the city gate, then the site of law-giving and justice/judgment for the community-at-large, the assorted 'young men' and 'the aged', the 'princes' and 'nobles', instantly held their tongue, nodded in assent to his wisdom and bore witness to his nobility...
And why such incredible, such unwonted tribute to this one man?
Because [Job] delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me...
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Job 29: (7-) 12-17.
But that wasn't all he had to say...In his litany of self-defence, he declared that
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when [H] visiteth, what shall I answer [H]im?
Did not [H]e that made me in the womb make *him? and did not [O]ne fashion us in the womb?
*Of course 'her' would have been equally appropriate here.
Job 31:13-15.
So let it never be said, much less intimated, that the Scriptures say little or nothing on the subject.
No, not directly as such, but who ever only communicates so directly and bluntly, and never employs subtle nuance and/or clear implication or obvious inference to get his or her point across?
Comments
Post a Comment