Birds of the Bible - Raven (by Lee Dusing)

According to Thayer’s Birding Software, the Common Raven in the U.S. is 24 inches long (from beak to tail), with about a four foot wingspan, has “entirely black plumage, a large, heavy bill, wedge-shaped tail, long shaggy feathers on chin and throat, larger than crows and has relatively short legs.” It resides more out west than here in the east, though they show up in some areas in the east. You might find them in the desert, forest, canyons, foothills, mountains, and other places. “They are “often seen along highways eating road kill.” They are in the same family as Crows, Jays and Magpies.

Two Ravens mentioned in Israel: are the Brown-necked Raven and Common Raven.

Bible Facts about the Raven
They were on the ark and the first to leave. (Gen 8:7)

Noah opened the window of the ark and let a raven fly out, for the purpose of ascertaining the drying up of the waters. The raven went out and returned until the earth was dry, but without being taken back into the ark” (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)

Two thoughts I have. The raven was the first bird to see the new world after the flood and if the raven had re-entered the ark, he would have corrupted it, since he was “unclean.”

Ravens are considered an unclean bird. They eat mostly carrion. (Lev 11:13-15)

Ravens fed Elijah. (I Kings 17:4-6)

“Elijah was commanded to hide himself. If Providence calls us to solitude and retirement, it becomes us to go: when we cannot be useful, we must be patient; and when we cannot work for God, we must sit still quietly for him. The ravens were appointed to bring him meat, and did so. Let those who have but from hand to mouth, learn to live upon Providence, and trust it for the bread of the day, in the day. God could have sent angels to minister to him; but he chose to show that he can serve his own purposes by the meanest creatures, as effectually as by the mightiest.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

"and these provisions were ready prepared, the bread made and baked, and the flesh boiled, broiled, or roasted;” (John Gill’s Exposition of the OT)

The hair was “black as a raven.” (Song of Solomon 5:11)

Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?” (Job 38:41)

“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry.” (Psa 147:7-9)

They are mentioned in Luke 12:24 as not sowing or reaping, nor gathering and that God feeds them.

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?"

A hymn that mentions Ravens:
Sometimes a Light Surprises
It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe His people too:
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give His children bread.

World List of Ravens:
Little Raven, Relict Raven, Forest Raven, Chihuahuan Raven, Brown-necked Raven, Common Raven, Fan-tailed Raven, White-necked Raven, Thick-billed Raven

Other interesting facts:
Ravens are considered one of the most intelligent birds.
They have a Raven Master. “It’s said that when the ravens leave the Tower, the Tower will crumble and the kingdom will crumble with it.” To see the article: Tower of London
A Raven Defending His Nest

The Birds of the Bible ~ Eagles (by Lee Dusing)

Birds of the Bible – Eagles

Today we will start with the Eagle. Here in North America we have the Bald Eagle (our National symbol) and the Golden Eagle. The Bald Eagle’s "bald spot" doesn't appear until they are 4 or 5 years old and develop a white head and tail. The Bald Eagle is only in North America. In Israel you might see a Short-toed Eagle, Great or Lesser Spotted Eagle, Steppe, Imperial, Golden, Booted, or Bonelli’s Eagle.

I love to watch an eagle flying; it stops me in my tracks. We are lucky here in Polk County to have many this time of the year. Stay alert and also visit the South Lake Howard Nature Center to see a pair sitting either on the tower or at the nest. Ask most anyone there and they will point out the nest.


Eagle on Tower Near Lake Howard and Eagle in Nest at Lake Howard Nature Park.

• Job 9:26 – “Like an eagle swooping on its prey.”
• Pro 30:19 – “The way of an eagle in the air”
• Jer 49:22 – “fly like the eagle”
• Hab 1:8 - “They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.”
• Pro 23:5 –“They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

An African Eagle

“Birds display a wide range of patterns in flight. Swifts and swallows use a fast, gliding motion. Ducks and geese have sustained, powerful flight. Birds of prey such as eagles and falcons usually catch their targets by swooping from high in the sky, capturing their victims after a swift dive—which may reach speeds of 250 kilometers an hour (165 mph). As the bird swoops to the ground, it spreads its powerful wings to act as a brake.” (“Created to fly,” Creation 16(3), June 1994)

Click link to see a Bald eagle hovering and landing on rock.

Bald Eagle hovering and landing



For those of us in the “older generation,” Job 9:25-26 (NKJV) reminds us that we need to stay active for our Lord because our life passes by swiftly. "Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its prey.”

A few more facts about eagles:

• Eagles are mentioned in hymns such as:
  They That Wait Upon the Lord –“They shall mount up with wings as eagles:”
  The Mercy Seat – “Ah, there on eagle wings we soar,”
  Art Thou Afraid? – “On eagles' wings they mount, they soar, Their wings are faith and love,”
• In Israel, the eagle is the largest bird and has an eight foot wing span.
• There are at least 25 verses in the Bible that mention the eagle.
• The eagle is an "unclean" bird.

There is much more to say about eagles, but we will leave them to continue with the many other birds mentioned in the Bible. A parting remark by C. H. Spurgeon quoted on Pg 57 of John Stott’s The Birds Our Teachers, follows:

"Brother, your failure, if you fail, will begin in your faith. The air says to the eagle, Trust me; spread thy broad wings; I will bear thee up to the sun. Only trust me. Take thy foot from off yon rock which thou canst feel beneath thee. Get away from it, and be buoyed up by the unseen element.' My brethren, eaglets of heaven, mount aloft, for God invites you. Mount! You have but to trust him."

Birds of the Bible - Introduction (by Lee Dusing)

(Wood Stork taken at Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland)

Introducing The Birds of the Bible

Goal: To encourage your understanding and help you form a mental picture of the fowls or birds of the air found in scripture.

God has created the fowls and birds and they are mentioned throughout the Bible. When you read the name of a bird, does a mental picture come to view or do you just keep reading without a thought to what you just read? Sure, you know some of them, like the Eagle or a Sparrow, but how about a Bittern, Ossifrage, Hoopoe, or Lapwing? Not just their names are important, but how about the illustrations that use birds to teach lessons? God’s care, strength, provision and other lessons are taught with birds as the examples.

"But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you;” Job 12:7

So, let’s get started with:

The Birds of the Bible

“Then God said, ‘Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.’ So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” Gen 1: 20-23

Here we see that God created the birds on day five of creation and that “it was good.”

“Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” Gen 2:19-20a

Adam was given the privilege of giving all the “critters” their names. Were there as many varieties of birds then as now? There have been changes within the species (kinds), but not evolution (changing from one kind to another kind).

Depending on which copy of the Bible you use, here are some of the names of birds mentioned in the Bible. These will be introduced in future blogs. Not necessarily in the following order.

Bittern; Chicken; Cormorant; Crane; Cuckoo; Dove; Eagle; Falcon; Glede; Hawk; Hen; Heron; Hoopoe; Kite; Lapwing; Night Hawk; Osprey; Ossifrage; Ostrich; Owl; Partridge; Peacock; Pelican; Pigeon; Quail; Raven; Sparrow; Stork; Swallow; Swan; Vulture

(American White Pelicans taken at Lake Hollingsworth)

Joseph and the Lord (by Stephen Simpson)

(originally posted on February, 7th, 2008)

I recently read Genesis 39. This is the chapter where Joseph is promoted in Potiphar's house. Potiphar's wife attempts to seduce Joseph. When he refuses she accuses him of trying to force himself upon her. Naturally, Joseph is sent to prison.

This is a familiar story. I have read it many times. What struck me in reading it this time was noticing the active role that the Lord plays in this chapter. He is in total control throughout this chapter. Consider these verses:

• "The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man" (v. 2)
• "His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands." (v. 3)
• "The LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field." (v. 5)
• "But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison." (v. 21)
• "The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed." (v. 23)

It should be obvious to us that all of these experiences and situations were a part of God's sovereign plan for Joseph. God was no bystander in this story. He was the master planner. We would do well to remember that the same is true of us. God is not passively sitting by and merely observing our lives. He is orchestrating them. Everything that happens in our lives is ordained by Him.

Staying Connected (by Peter Brock)

The following few paragraphs are taken from a blog site entitled, Expository Thoughts. It was posted by Randy McKinion. I am ever thankful for men who examine God's Word and allow it to challenge and change them. As they wrestle with the Word of God in their lives, it continually prods me to do the same.

"In doing some preparations for a class on the psalms, I spent some time this morning meditating on Psalm 50. Within this psalm of Asaph, God is called to speak justly over his people (v. 4), and his words are divided between the godly (vv. 7–15) and the wicked (vv. 16–23). In ways, each of the messages is the same: God desires an obedient life (one that honors him) and a grateful heart (vv. 14–15; 22–23). Moreover, it is the one who is obedient and thankful that can expect God’s deliverance (vv. 15, 23). The verse that stuck out to me this morning, however, was v. 16:

But to the wicked one, God has said,

“What right did you have to recount my statutes so that you carried my covenant in your mouth?”

Those whom God described as “wicked ones” had at some point spoken the word of God with their lips, possessing the word of his covenant in their mouth. Yet, with that same tongue, they practiced evil, deceit, and slander (see James 3). There was a clear disconnect between what they spoke and how they lived, and for that they were rebuked.
Such an admonition reminded me this morning of the grave responsibility it is for those who speak the Word of God to watch their life and doctrine closely."

Some Familiar Words (by Stephen Simpson)

I read these familiar words the other day and was once again blown away. So many people deny the truths contained in these words. I challenge you to remember today that you did not seek after God until He first sought after you. Praise God that He sought me. Praise God that He gave me understanding. Praise God that He declared me righteous. Praise God for all His mighty acts. Praise God that He saved me for I was totally incapable of saving myself.

None is righteous, no, not one;
N0 one understands;
No one seeks for God.
All have turned aside;
Together they have become worthless;
No one does good, not even one.
Their throat is an open grave;
They use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
In their paths are ruin and misery,
And the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
(Romans 3:10-18)

Pilgrim's Progress 10

Well, I have reached the end of Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. Today I will share a few of my thoughts concerning the tenth stage: Talk of Christian and Hopeful, Temporary, the backslider, the land of Beulah, Christian and Hopeful pass the River, welcome to the Celestial City.

It was so sad to read the conversation between Ignorance and Christian. Ignorance shows that he truly lives up to his name. Ignorance talks of having good thoughts of himself. Christian points out that thoughts about ourselves are only good insomuch as they align with Scripture. Ignorance asks, "When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the Word of God?" Christian answers, "When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the Word passes." He then reminds Ignorance that "There is none righteous, there is none that doth good." Towards the end of their conversation, Christian rightly 'pegs' Ignorance, "Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou."

Later, Christian and Hopeful discuss the causes and method of those who backslide. Hopeful lists four causes and Christian responds with 9 steps or stages in the backsliding process. I found them highly profitable. As you read them see if you can relate with any of them. Use them as a checklist to see if you are currently residing at any of these stages of backsliding.

1. "They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come."
2. "Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet-prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like."
3. "Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians."
4. "After that they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like."
5. "Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly; and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmity they have spied in them) behind their backs."
6. "Then they begin to adhere to and associate themselves with carnal, loose, and wanton men."
7. "Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example."
8. "After this they begin to play with little sins openly."
9. "And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings."

In the concluding pages Christian and Hopeful finally approach the Celestial City. Even if you don't read the entire book, I encourage you to read at least the last five or ten pages. Reading them made me long for day when I too will enter the Celestial city. It made me long for the time when my Lord and Savior will welcome me to my heavenly home where I will worship Him face to face for all eternity.