Psalm 58:9

Psalm 58:9

Some wilderness cooking tips

I loved lighting fires as a young man and because I spent many of my formative years on a farm, I had plenty of opportunities to build them and light them! In addition, the only source of heat at home was an open fire and so it was natural to learn different techniques and the way that flames react to wind, weather conditions and to the various combustible materials. In Bible times people were equally dependant on fire for heat and for cooking, and for keeping wild animals at bay during the night! One of the best materials for starting a fire, and that was in plentiful supply, was the humble thornbush. It’s not hard to imagine the wilderness travellers gathering sticks and branches from the bushes and getting their pots ready for an evening meal. Obviously, dry twigs burned faster and more easily, green ones were added to subdue the flames and keep the heat in for the cooking process. 

David is imagining here that his enemies, the wicked rulers, are preparing to light their fires and to cook their meals, but before they can do so they will be blown away like a whirlwind. Their food will still be raw, the cooking pots will have barely begun to be warmed. Such is the justice of the Lord God. Evil men and women plot and scheme, they make their preparations, they plan to devour their victims, they carefully put their traps into place but, before they can act, God will move in like a storm and blow them away. Is this just wishful thinking? I wouldn’t want to bet on it! Our God is a consuming fire. The days of men are nothing, they pass so quickly. Those who do not believe in the Lord think they have time and that they have control of their destinies, in fact they have no time at all and their evil schemes will inevitably come to nothing. 

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