Title: Guiding Arrows – Teachable
Theme: Family series about how parents guide their children, or mentors guide their mentees.
Text: Psalms 127
Carol did a masterful job describing the parts of an arrow on Mother’s Day. She broke down the three parts of the fletching of an arrow to love, God and values. These are like foundational truths that we want to pour into the next generation. Not only our natural born children but to those whom God has given us influence over.
We are constantly reminding them that they are loved by us and God, God exist and is real and died for them and there are values that we hold dear that do not change with time.
Love – first love a child has is by us.
God – Psalms 127 uses the word LORD. This is usually capitalized in your Bible because it is the word Jehovah in Hebrew. The “self-existent one”. It is interesting that this word describes God as God above all but is also used in combination with other Hebrew words to bring out the characteristics of this God.
JEHOVAH-JIREH-the Lord provides. Or God sees to it. He makes sure there is provision.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
JEHOVAH-ROPHE: (ro-FEH) "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.
When I am in a battle I call upon:
JEHOVAH-NISSI: (nis-SEE) "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6. He is the one who goes before me
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: (se-ba-OATH) "The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God
When I can’t sleep I call upon:
JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.
When I feel unrighteous I call upon:
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU (tisd-KAY-nu) "The Lord Our Righteousness" Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.
When I need guidance I call upon:
JEHOVAH-ROHI: (row-EE) "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh" (to pasture).
When I am lonely:
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH:(SHAM-mah) "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35).
Most of all I call upon:
JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.
Then you have values. These are the “As for me and my house lines that we draw in the sand”. This gives them direction.
I also wanted to remind you another point that she made that was very important. Look at this video.
The music was added by me for dramatic affect. I just couldn’t watch that video with out this song coming in my head.
There are other parts of the archery set that is important.
The arrow
You have the shaft – which we learn is flexible and pliable. Video
Flawed
Teachable – arrow as we should be
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
You have the nock – which is where the string is placed in the arrow
Respect of the arrow – understanding and knowing where the previous generation came from.
Respect of the bow – remembering and respecting the noise.
Teachable
Ephesians 6:2-3 "Honor your father and mother," [17] which is the first commandment with promise: (3) "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
You have the tip – usually dull when born, but be sharpened.
Proverbs 27:17 NASB 1977 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
Other Parts of Archery
Bow
In the biblical sense is the older generation. This could be parents of a child or it could be an older generation of people who is guiding the next generation.
Two kinds of bows: long bow & recurve bow
Long bow - on long bend, represents longevity
This older generation is a generation that gathered lots of knowledge and gained much wisdom.
The problem today is that we have much knowledge with very little wisdom.
We have access to much knowledge and information.
Two Problems with today’s Information: (from Bryan Cutshall’s book Bows & Arrows pp. 22)
1) The information doesn’t agree, because in the world of free speech, anyone’s opinion seems to be as valid as the next
2) The information is changing so fast that is is not memorable
3) Information is not the same as wisdom. This new age of information infusion is leaving us more confused about life. It gives us so many choices that it is almost impossible to predict the outcome of a decision.
Recurve bow – two curves, represents a definite change in life. From a life without God to a live serving God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Quiver
Holds the arrows. In the quiver is where the arrows can learn from one another. The quiver also allows for protection before the arrow is launched out.
Protection in preparation.
A safe place to mess up.
Target
This is the key. Knowing what you are aiming at.
There is a famous quote that is attributed to Charlie Brown but goes all the way back to 1961. It is from a comic strip called Brother Juniper. A young boy who gives funny wisdom. This time he is found with targets and arrows on a fence. He is praised by the monk for being such a good shot. In the cartoon he says, ““It’s easy! First you shoot the arrow, then you just take your paint brush and . . . “
This is how we aim our arrows too many times.
Archer
Psalms 7:10-13 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. (11) God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. (12) If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. (13) He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts.
Other: Psalms 64, Psalms 21
Psalms 21:12 Berean For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.
Communion
Exo 12:3-10 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. (4) And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. (5) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. (6) Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. (7) And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. (8) Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (9) Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. (10) You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire.
This represented:
Receiving all of God’s purpose.
Receiving all of Christ
