A World without Birds
Read: Jeremiah 4:23-28 I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled. (v. 25) The July 2, 2021, issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac contained an article about birds’ sensitivity to temperature and barometric pressure. Watching their behavior can help us predict the weather. For example, they are […]
A Descending Dove
Read: Matthew 3:13-17 The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22 NIV) The nurses in a local hospice facility attach a laminated white paper dove to the wall outside the […]
Like a Hen and Her Chicks
Read: Isaiah 31:1-5 How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37 NIV) The word woe expresses grief, regret, or distress (Webster’s). Isaiah 31 begins with a “woe . . .” warning to those who trust in military […]
Worth More Than Sparrows
Read: Matthew 10:26-33 You are of more value than many sparrows. (v. 31) If you are familiar with gospel tunes, the song “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” probably comes to mind when you read this passage. The repeated phrase “I know He watches me” provides comfort and reassurance because God is good, and as our […]
The Praise of Birds
Read: Psalm 104:10-17 Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. (v. 12) Before I sat down to write this, I opened the window so I could hear the birds in the background. I’m not skilled in identifying individual bird calls (or imitating them, as my sons are), but listening to […]
The Ostrich Paradox
Read: Job 39:13-18 The ostrich flaps her wings futilely—all those beautiful feathers, but useless! (v. 13 MSG) What an enigma! This large, flightless bird, averaging eight feet tall with a long neck and long legs, is not described in complimentary terms in this passage. She neglects her offspring and lacks wisdom and common sense, yet “when […]
A Song without Words
Read: Psalm 139:7-12 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (vv. 9-10 NIV) One of Emily Dickinson’s popular poems speaks of a little bird as a metaphor for hope. “‘Hope’ […]
Know When to Fly Home
Read: Jeremiah 8:6-22 Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the LORD. (v. 7) Springtime in Michigan is exciting for backyard birders as we anticipate the return of robins, orioles, hummingbirds, and more. Some […]
An Owl’s Full-Circle Vision
Read: Psalm 102:1-18 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins . . . like bird alone on a roof. (vv. 6-7 NIV) An owl is a haunting image with its piercing eyes, statuesque stillness, and mournful sounds. Its nocturnal nature adds to the mystery. You may find it hard to believe, but while […]