Aug | 08 | The Snuffers of The Sanctuary

Key Word:- MERCY

Title:- The Snuffers of The Sanctuary

Matthew 7:2-5 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

It is Matthew Henry commenting on Matthew 7:5 which says, “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye,” that makes this wonderful and intriguing observation that ‘the snuffers of the sanctuary are made from pure gold.’

Lest we be confused, old Henry is talking about the wick trimmers and their dishes. In other words, the snuffing tools used for the golden lamp stand of the temple that bore seven heads of light. In all likelihood, these probably had to be trimmed every half hour to ensure that they were perpetually lit. This was an office for the priest, who would enter the outer chamber of the first part of the tabernacle to do so (Hebrews 9:6). We should note here that this was an action of service and having a low servant’s heart instead of a high and mighty judging heart is of key importance in these things we are looking at, because Matthew Henry here is actually making the point, that as priests, we all need to “be of pure gold” when we are reproving one another, so as to make the light shine ever brighter still.

Yes indeed, there is need for reproof, correction and especially assistance, even the throwing of a rope to a drowning brother, or the laying hold of a sister just about to walk into the flames and isn’t this friends just the greatest service we can perform for one another! However, before we do this, to maintain our servant heart, we need to make sure that we have confessed our own sin, reproved our own self and removed the offending article from our own eye. In this way we snuffers, we removers of the burnt wick in others, that if left, would cause the lamp to go out in our brethren’s eyes, well in this way, we need to be like pure gold. Let’s trim our own wicks then eh, all seven of them, every half hour before we even think of going to another person's eyes. I don’t know about you, but I find that keeping myself in order is often a full time job anyway!

The snuffers of the sanctuary never went into the inner court, the Holy of Holies. Maybe we could say that in the same way we must never go into the inner court of our brethren. In other words, we should never judge the motives of the heart. We are servants not judges. Remember that. God takes this thing very seriously, for not taking care of our own wicks meets with reproof from God, for you see, judging another man’s heart meets with the law of reciprocation. This is terrible, for none of us judge well, as none of us fully knows the inner machinations, drives and desires, fears and fretfulness that might lie at the centre of another person's soul. Their Holy of Holies is not ours for the entering. It is for the High Priest and for Him alone to enter there. Don’t judge the motives of another persons heart, for you will surely get it wrong.

For our own safety and for the health of the church, let service and mercy be our watchwords, sure we MUST trim the lamps, but let’s leave the heart judging to God.

Listen:- Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in His eyes. “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. 2 Samuel 22:25-28

Pray: - Lord. Who am I to judge another person's heart? For, you are the knower and revealer of hearts. Help me to be a brave servant of mercy and loving kindness, full of grace and having my own heart trimmed brightly burning before Your well-pleased face. Then and only then Lord, give me the courage to trim the burnt wicks of other people's lives. Amen.

Aug | 07 | Boiling Breast Milk

Key Word:- MERCY


Title:- Boiling Breast Milk

Exodus 34:26….."You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.”

The book of Exodus contains some confusing verses for those of us disconnected from such a ‘bloody’ culture. Our verse today and it’s context left me confused for some time, until one day, I was watching a news broadcast where the mother of a missing child (later found to be murdered) was pleading for the safe return of her daughter. I shall never forget the mother's panicked and tear stained face; overnight she had already aged substantially and her poor terror consumed features were already draped in mourning silk. One poet writes:-

“You shall not boil a young goat
In it’s mother’s milk
You shall not clothe a suckling pig
With chiffon or with silk
You shall not disapprove
Of Section 28
You shall not catch a cod
And demand that he should skate
You shall not cause a robin
To pull ten thousand tons
You shall not stick your tongue out
At penguins, bats or nuns
You shall not twist a knife
Or cause a mother pain
You shall not cut a sapling
Nor murder Sarah Jane
You shall not drape a smiling face
With greys of mourning silk
You shall not boil a young goat
In it’s mother’s milk”

Simeon, a just and devout man waiting in the temple for the consolation of Israel, takes the baby Jesus from the arms of His loving mother Mary and as the Holy Spirit comes upon him prophecies, “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32.) Then turning to the marvelling Joseph and Mary he speaks directly to them, midway through his proclamation his sad eyes laying for a moment on mother Mary when he says: “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The old seer speaks that which he sees and Mary’s coming pain is not forgotten, not laid aside, but deeply felt. Indeed she is now by the voice of Simeon given over 30 years to prepare herself. She will need this, for her child shall be murdered before her very eyes. He who suckled at her breasts shall be pierced for our sins, while her own soul is pierced in the boiling loss of her own most precious son.

We can learn two things here.

Firstly, that often God warns us of desperate times to come, so that we might prepare ourselves. He is no sadist in such revelation, but in love, asks us to strengthen ourselves for that which is both unavoidable and dreadful.

Secondly, that though this may be the case, never the less, the Sovereign Father takes no pleasure in our suffering. Indeed, He makes a specific command, that mothers should not be a witness to the cruel death and consuming of those they love so dearly. No child should be tortured and consumed before it’s mother’s eyes.

Maybe some governments should take this verse to heart when dispatching young people to desperate wars? Maybe some legislators should bear this in mind when authorizing the mass destruction of the unborn and turning the word ‘choice’ into a ‘death camp’ word for women? For it seems the Father has a special love for those He has created to bear and nurture life. It seems to me God loves mothers, for He had one Himself. Young goats should never be boiled in their mother's milk, before their desperate eyes.

Listen:- Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice. Proverbs 23:25

Pray:- Lord, help us to honour all mothers by not murdering their children before their very eyes. God forgive us for these crimes. God forgive us and help us. In Jesus name precious name we pray, amen.

Jul | 08 | The Look of Life

Key Word:- MERCY

Title:- The Look of Life

Ezekiel 16:6 “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'

Imagine a new born child abandoned in an open field, left alone and naked, it’s umbilical cord still attached to the discarded placenta. The mother has gone and the vultures circle around the carrionin; the morning sun waiting for the pitiful cries of the thrashing and increasingly cold and pitiful specimen of a child to stop, and be still, before feasting on the newly opened eyes. This child has been left to die, to die despicably alone.

So God paints the picture of Israel’s true state before His Sovereign intervention and friends, in so doing, He paints a true picture of our state without His Sovereign intervention; all of us dead in trespasses and sins; all of us thrashing around like abandoned and screaming, bloody little children.
I do not want to take away from the clear Scriptural teaching of personal responsibility, but today I want to point to this wonderful Scriptural and comforting truth. When God says "LIVE!" friends, people live! It is as Spurgeon puts it 'An irresistible mandate.' Once He speaks, IT IS ACCOMPLISHED!

Jesus, I recall, was recorded in the Scriptures as being open mouthed in marveling on but two occasions. One was at the unbelief in His own area, His own relatives and in His own house and the other time, was at the belief of a Roman Centurion whose discovered faith literally ‘WOW’d’ Jesus into an amazing proclamation: “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matt 8:10). The faith Jesus referred to was encapsulated in the Centurion's reply to the walking feet of Jesus, then headed to his house, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8

Do you see it friends? Here is the embracing of a truth that in practice, both firmly and fantastically, laid hold of the soul of the Sovereign Saviour and made Him squeak in delight! Lay hold of His soul again today dear friends, and in so doing, lay hold of His heart and change your world of worry to one of watching wonder.

“Lord, regarding my child…please say the word and...”
“Lord, regarding my spouse…please say the word and…”
“Lord, regarding my doctor’s words …please say the word and…”
“Lord, my bank manager, the letter, …please say the word and…”
“Lord, the enemy, he is saying that..…please say the word and…”
“Lord, this great and blocking mountain…please say the word and…”Listen:- “LIVE!”

Pray:-
Hungry, I come to You for I know You satisfy.
I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry
And so I wait for You.
So I wait for You.
I'm falling on my knees.
Offering all of me.
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for.

Broken, I run to You, for Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know your touch restores my life,
And so I wait for You.
So I wait for You.
I'm falling on my knees.
Offering all of me. Jesus,
You're all this heart is living for.

(Kathryn Scott - Hungry.)

May | 04 | Maker's Mark

Key Word:- MERCY

Title:- Maker's Mark  

1 Kings 12:19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.  

Margaret Hilda Roberts, an Oxford graduate, became the first woman to be president of one of the University’s political organizations. After marrying Dennis and giving birth to twins, she restarted her political career and ended up being elected for three terms as the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and today in 1974, she was sworn in after her first election victory.

Rightly or wrongly, Hilda began dismantling socialism in Britain. Her unwavering resolution to stand by her political decisions and policies in face of war, trade union conflict and terrorist bombing, led her to be dubbed the “Iron Lady”. However, the hurt, sense of loss, and grievance that many people in the country felt during her terms of office by the implementation of her policies, which meant they lost their health care, money in their pockets, their jobs and communities, have led her memory to be regarded with not a little infamy in her homeland. “Thatcherism,” that form of politics attributed to her style and philosophy, is now only repeated with spitting disdain. Never the less, because of the vast electoral majority Mrs Thatcher received in her parliaments, she was allowed very wide parameters of operation and implementation. Subsequently then, no matter what you think of her, Britain was never the same after Hilda held the high ground.

Here is a lesson friends: A majority does not make you right; a majority does not make you righteous; a majority does not make you wise; a majority does not make you gracious; a majority does not mean peace, neither is it necessarily harmonious. Remember folks that democracy means majority rule and not necessarily righteous and therefore merciful rule! Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Bishops, Elders, Trustees, CEO's, Committees, Husbands, Parents, Big brothers, Senior Pastors, leaders all and of every kind, always need to remember mercy.

Mercy, that kindly ministry of love, that real spiritual brew, that true 'Maker's Mark' if you will, that revival drink that makes cold hearts warm, hard ground soft and hate to dissipate, that most magnificent mercy, should be the Master’s mark on the forehead of every Christian leader.  

True ministers of God then, either church or secular, are direct ministers of the Almighty Father and need to remember that He is called, the “Father of Mercies”. Make sure your hands, eyes, heart and mouth all bear the 'Maker’s Mark' today.

Listen: - Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Pray: -Lord, temper my personal power with both marvellous and melting mercy, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

 

Apr | 11 | Beware of Your Own The Doomsday Book

Dream Word – MERCY

2 Samuel 24:14 And David said to Gad, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man." NKJV

Beware of Your Own The Doomsday Book

When it came to spanking naughty boys, one of my old headmasters had a fine collection of light coloured whippy canes, all kept in a glass fronted cupboard, from which to choose his particular weapon of retribution. My own backside has in long time past, had very hot fellowship with a number of these canes..

The Olde English word ‘Dom,’ means accounting or reckoning. Thus the last time these islands were aggressively invaded, it was William The Conqueror who instigated a six year survey of the land, it’s owners and possessions, to attain knowledge, understanding and of course taxation information. This 'Dom'esday Book of accounting was completed in 1086 and its two volumes are available for your perusal to this very day. Now of course, they are of course even available on-line. Amazing!

The Domesday Book had the main purpose of determining the fiscal rights of the king. In other words, just how much money he had available to him to finance his projects and no doubt especially his expansionist projects in particular. I wonder if King David had the same expansionist ideas bouncing around in his head, when in 1 Samuel 24, he decides to institute a census and maybe take taxes from it? David wanted a people poll, if you will, with the sole purpose of taxation. Yes, here maybe is an account of the very first poll tax. It is fascinating that even God was against it?

1 Chronicles 21:1 tells us very clearly that is was Satan who tempted David in this matter, in that he put the idea into David’s probably now proud heart. Now watch this friends, for I want to suggest that the greatest danger for a proud expansionist heart, often comes with the gracious opportunity granted by deliverance from close calls and near misses. Second chances, you see, can often leave the heart reaching down its sinful roots into the ready mulch of self empowerment and such sinful sucking of selfish roots produces only black flowers, which in turn exude the sickly scent of an ‘I’ll show you now’ kind of attitude. This, God detests! Yes, with Absolom’s and Sheba’s rebellion, David had almost lost the kingdom! So, I wonder now if he was determined to show everyone just how strong and blessed and justified he really, truly was in being the King of Israel. Time was moving on for King David, he wasn’t as young as he was and there was a lot of recovery needed from recent disasters. The second deep intake of recovery breath is always the one which just might expand the sinful heart. Watch this now, for Satan is never far away and is always ready to slip his wilful wailing wall notes into the cracks produced by such evil expansions.

God was undoubtedly angry at Israel’s rebellion against His anointed king and so, maybe to give them a good spanking, when David took that second but sinful deep recovery breath, it was God who allowed Satan to slip the idea into his cracked heart and then David, against all good counsel, especially as it was given from the lips of some very bad men, went against that good advice and sinned. This was not a sin of arithmetic neither a sin of conscientious planning. No, God sees the heart here of both David and the people and steps in to deliver a spanking that pride will both smart at and withdraw from.

David, whilst looking at his own Domesday documents, now has clarity move into his conscience and is convicted of his sin. He is aware that he now holds in his hands some ‘Dooms Day’ documents and starts to repent of what he has done. I wonder how bad the spanking would have been without this gift of convicting, conscience clarity? Never the less, as good old Mathew Henry has commented, 'Those who truly repent of their sins, and have them pardoned are yet often made to smart for them in this world.’ The prophet Gad is sent to David with three courses of spanking. Which cane of correction will David choose?

Now David, that bloody warrior of old, that circumciser of pressed Philistine men, that old forager of foreskins, knew what merciless evil man’s heart was capable of, and no doubt, especially his own. To that end, he places himself in the hand of Him who both judges righty and shows most mercy.

When it came to spanking naughty boys, one of my old headmasters had a fine collection of light coloured whippy canes, all kept in a glass fronted cupboard, from which to choose his particular weapon of retribution. My own backside has in long time past, had very hot fellowship with a number of these canes. Be careful now.

Listen: - But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

Pray:- Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? You do not retain Your anger forever, because You delight in mercy. You will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
(from Micah 7:18-20) NKJV


                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Apr | 04 | Dining with Dennis the Hamster

Key Word:- MERCY

Title:- Dining with Dennis the Hamster

Deuteronomy 25:4 “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.

Outside in the darkness adjacent to a closed back door, underneath the low sill of an old damp window, I found my first fond pet, breathing badly and dying of a heart attack. I couldn't lift 'Lassie' because she was so old and heavy, especially for a young lad like me, so I had to leave her there alone whilst I raced on home to get my father.

It was my first experience of death and I asked my dad “Will Lassie be in heaven?” Indeed, this was the very same question which I also asked the Roman Catholic priest at one of my first confessions. My Father didn’t know what to say and the priest just ignored me and gave me two ‘Our Fathers,’ and a ‘Hail Mary’. I remember mumbling through my penance and was angry that God had no answer to the pain I felt in the loss of this lovely old dog. My first fond pet, found dead.

Obviously, God did not care about dogs. I wonder if He cares about other pets?

Since then I have said goodbye to ‘Patch’ my teenage hound, 'Sam' our most special family dog, ‘Marmalade’and 'Jakey Bobo,' our cats, and ‘Dennis’ the hamster. I had great affection for each of them. It’s amazing how much we get attached to little things. Tell me, “Will they be in heaven? Shall I see these lovely creatures again?”

Born in other countries mind you, these same companions of mine may have also been heartily and possibly thankfully delivered to my hungry stomach! If I ate them, would I then see them in heaven? Would I want to? Now there’s a thought! Will we see each KFC we have devoured, and wow at each cow we have consumed? Will animals be redeemed? I mean, just how does God care about the animal kingdom? Are they but mere fun and fodder for those created in His image? William Blake in his Poem, ‘At the Last Judgment’ writes: -

A dog starved at his masters gate
Predicts the ruin of the state
A horse misused upon the road
Cries to heaven for human blood

I have yet to see many works addressing God’s relation to, and God’s delight in, His very own animal kingdom. Mind you, I can understand the avoidance of the issue for I don’t begin to understand the purpose of soft deer and hungry carnivores being placed on the same planet? Except that sin and bloody sacrifice are Scripturally speaking, always destined to walk hand in hand in this great story of ours, then the reason for the created and open ferocity, ripped skin and shed blood of the animal Kingdom eludes me. I can barely imagine what a redeemed animal Kingdom will look like, for I am sure there will be no more ripped and torn carcases. If so, then surely the carrion we see now will be out of a job?

Never the less, I know Jesus ate fish, and at least once a year was partial to a little roast lamb Himself. I know He rode on a donkey. I know He shall yet come with clouds descending, riding on a mighty white warhorse; I know His throne is surrounded by composite and fantastic creatures. I know He cuddles kittens and pats dogs, (who doesn't?) and loves His creation and calls them all very, very good, even at one point with Job of old, delighting in its created ferocity whilst pointing to some kind of Dinosaur and shouting in glee, saying,: “Behold Behemoth!”

Yes indeed, we can say that God gets excited about His fantastic creation and that He has entrusted it to us, to use it, to utilize it, to tend it and especially, to respect it.

Will I see Dennis the hamster again? In the light of my God withholding no good thing and loving me immensely I think I have to say this to that question: “If I want to dine with Dennis the Hamster in my heavenly home, then I believe I will!” I’m partial to the right bit of lettuce.

In the meantime, let us respect God’s magnificent creation and remember the lines of William Blake when he says:-

A dog starved at his masters gate
Predicts the ruin of the state
A horse misused upon the road
Cries to heaven for human blood

Listen: - A righteous man regards the life of his animal. Prov 12:10


Pray: - Lord, for all your animals that You provide, we give you thanks and ask that you would endue in us the proper respect and honour for this most glorious of Your creation, in Jesus name we pray, amen.

Mar | 16 | Burning Flesh

Key Word:- MERCY

Title:- Burning Flesh

2 Corinthians 3:3 ‘clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.’
 
‘The Scarlet Letter’ is a story of adultery and betrayal in Colonial America and was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published today in 1855. In his book, the 'Scarlet Letter' is in fact a gold embroidered red patch of cloth, shaped into the letter ‘A,’ which the adulterous woman, Hester, is forced to wear on her clothing, whilst continuing to live within the Puritan community. The local Pastor, Rev Dimmesdale, is in fact her undisclosed lover ,who out of deep shame, privately burns the same shameful letter 'A' into the flesh of his own chest, thus agonizingly branding himself to so quietly join his own inward burning guilt, to Hester's very outward shame.

In examining the main themes of the book (that of Sin, Knowledge, and the Human condition) Sparks’ Notes presents the two adulterers, Hester (the married woman) and Dimmesdale (the local Pastor) as ‘two people forced by their own bad choices to 'contemplate their own sinfulness on a daily basis and try to reconcile it with their lived experiences', whilst the Puritan congregation and elders on the other hand, 'insist on seeing earthly experience as merely an obstacle on the path to heaven;' and in viewing 'sin, as a threat to the community that should be both punished and suppressed.'

In light of these observations, the book tells of the community's answer to Hester’s open sin as being that of ostracising her. However, the writer, through Hester and Dimmesdale’s most devastating of stories, shows very clearly that even the most horrible state of sinfulness can be so wonderfully redeemed, that it leads to personal growth, sympathy, and a deep understanding of others. “Paradoxically,” says Sparks, “these qualities are shown to be incompatible with a state of purity found in the stagnant colonial Puritan community.” Now that’s the shame of it!You see in Hawthorne’s story, eventually these two forgiven sinners, find redemption and life, whilst society and the embittered, evil and revengeful protagonists, find death! Sparks goes on to say that, “The book is a great study on the human condition and a ‘must read’.” It is indeed!
Having spent probably too many years in Theological institutions, I must tell you that one of the most frightening things I have seen, are young men who have neither loved much nor lived much, prepared primarily intellectually for the ministry and placed on the stretched string of a theological baccalaureate bow, only to be too soon let loose upon an already lost and hurting public. Do you not agree that there is something supremely scary about a minister that has neither wound nor scar? Now friends, I am not saying that we should allow sin to abound, just so that grace and growth would much more abound; no, but rather I am simply acknowledging the truth of our Lord, that those forgiven much, love much. Common sense and experience tell us that those with little experience of life, loving and loss, can rarely appreciate and minister to the wounds of others. I have observed that such Puritanical youth, are often tyrannical in their application of black and white religious legislation, and to such pure pastoral folk, even the very repentance of sin they see birthed in blood bought sinners, for them, still has a scorched and offensive smell about it! However, we see from the Scriptures that sinners of every kind, truly repentant and mercifully forgiven, carry with them no scorched chest and no burnt breast but rather, an alabaster flask of such fragrant oil, that when it is broken over the feet of their forgiving Master, its pungent smell is sniffed in the halls of heaven by awed and watching angels. There is no smell you see, either on the clothes or bodies of the blood washed forgiven.Let me ask you again today then, are you a known betrayer? Have you been found unfaithful to Jesus your Lord? Have you sold Him for far less than 30 pieces of silver? Friends, in our flesh, like the character Dimmesdale and the nation of Israel of old, we may all carry the scarlet letter of the adulterer, burnt deep and red over our heart. Yet I tell you the truth, that they who know their sin, and know their Saviour, also know His healing and His sealing, and carry with them an utterly unique fragrance of forgiveness that when broken over the feet of the Saviour, will not only be sniffed in heaven but be spoken of throughout the world, even until the end of the age! Whenever this same thorny spikenard is released in a journeying community, it too just might be lovingly broken over even your hurt and dirty little feet dear friend, to in turn comfort you, with heaven’s all forgiving love.

Listen: - I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; Ezekiel 6:9

Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.? Luke 7:44b-47

Pray: - Lord, I am so sorry for when I have sold you for less than 30 pieces of silver. I am so sorry for my two-timing selfishness. Lord, please allure me into Your quiet wilderness and speak comfort to me. Please will You give me vineyards from here, and make my path of destruction turn into a doorway of hope; make me sing again like the first time we met, like the first time You came and got me, redeemed me and washed me; make it like the first time again, please dear Lord Jesus. Amen. (from Hosea 2:14-17)