Keeping Good Secrets
SCRIPTURE READING — ECCLESIASTES 10:12-20
A bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
— Ecclesiastes 10:20
When we are surprised that someone knows a secret, we might hear them say, “A little birdie told me.” Sometimes that can be a pleasant way to share that we know something special is afoot, but that phrase can also be a way to shift responsibility for a secret that hasn’t been fairly kept.
So it is good to observe the caution in this column of wisdom from Ecclesiastes: Don’t share what’s not yours to share. The wise author of this passage knew that talking about things that should be kept discreet can lead to trouble for a person who likes to gossip—and to anxiety for the person whose private information isn’t respected. It can be nerve-wracking to consider how the sharing of private details or secret thoughts might damage one’s reputation or relationships. Instead, it can be far better not to repeat a person’s secrets at all.
James 3 notes that the tongue can be like a spark that sets off a forest fire. Even just a little gossip can do a lot of damage. And Jesus taught that everyone will need to give account for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36).
Let’s be careful to speak wisely and faithfully, honoring God and our neighbor in all that we say. “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10).
Lord Jesus, by the presence of your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom and discretion. Guide us to keep our tongues from causing harm to others and ourselves. Amen.
Love Birds
SCRIPTURE READING — SONG OF SONGS 2:3-13
“See! The winter is past. . . . Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
— Song of Songs 2:12
In some parts of the globe, winter brings cooler weather and lots of rain. In other parts, the sunlight hours grow much shorter, the air gets cold, rain turns to snow and ice, and birds fly away till spring comes again. It can feel like a long, dreary season. Even people who like winter weather are eventually glad to see signs of spring, when flowers appear again and lots of birds return from far-off places.
Blooming flowers and singing birds can stir up visions of a place and time that is inviting and flourishing. This hopeful picture in the Song of Songs touches on a universal experience: having one’s heart light up with hope, especially in the presence of another person. Even the memory of a significant relationship, or the hope of having one, can spark the important feeling of wanting to love and be loved. And experiencing such love is like the refreshing return of spring after a long winter.
We were created for intimacy and closeness with others, and although this is not perfectly realized in this lifetime, the imagery of waiting for winter to be over is a bit like longing for heaven—when we will be lovingly received by our Savior, who takes great delight in us. Meanwhile, whether or not we face a long winter ahead, we look for signs of hope.
Lord, we long for the time when all our seasons of bleakness and struggle will be past. Keep hope alive in our hearts till we can rejoice in living with you forever. Amen.
Like Eagles
SCRIPTURE READING — ISAIAH 40:25-31
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. . . .”
— Isaiah 40:31
In many places around the world, birds are a significant part of human culture. Just look at flags, stamps, coins, and bills from a variety of nations, and you’ll see a wide array of winged creatures.
Do you know which birds are celebrated where you live? Canada loves the loon because it conveys solitude and peacefulness. China highlights the stork because it symbolizes longevity and wisdom. New Zealand favors the kiwi because of its uniqueness, and India prizes the peacock as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Ancient Egypt famously profiled the eagle as an emblem of protection and strength, and dozens of countries, including the United States, claim the eagle as their national bird.
Eagles are truly majestic creatures that symbolize strength and independence. Catching sight of an eagle as it soars high above the earth can be breathtaking, and watching one swoop and maneuver its immense wings is awe-inspiring.
The reference to eagles in Isaiah 40 is a comfort for God’s people in a time of weariness and struggle. Our matchless Creator and Sustainer gives us his strength and glory, filling us with the capacity to do far more than we think is possible.
We may feel weak and powerless in our current circumstances, but because of who we are in Christ, we can hold on to the promise that in his strength we will “soar on wings like eagles.”
Lord God, renew our strength each day so that we may reflect your glory. Amen.
Understanding the Appointed Seasons
SCRIPTURE READING — JEREMIAH 8:4-9
Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.
— Jeremiah 8:7
Sometimes, as much as we want to hold on to the way things are, we must face the reality that change is a part of life. Teenagers are encouraged to “leave the nest,” and “empty nesters” gradually become used to different rhythms in life as their children leave home. Still, even when it’s time for a change, we can tend to resist it.
The prophet Jeremiah refers to storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes, contrasting their wise behaviors with the foolishness of people who have turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah laments the thick-skulled attitudes of the people around him, who lack wisdom because “they have rejected the word of the Lord.” The prophet is saying, in effect, “Even the birds know what needs to be done, but these people are so stubborn!” There is a season for everything, and it’s our task to recognize what season it is.
The invitation here is to consider what season it is for each of us. Is it time to repent? Is it time to relinquish? Is it time to restore? The apostle Paul encourages the church to “be alert and always keep on praying” for each other as a way of being ready for whatever the Spirit will lead us to do (Ephesians 6:18).
Lord, it’s easy for us to become distracted or discouraged, and we need your wisdom to know how we should live. Guide us to be alert, paying attention to the seasons in our lives, and to respond as we ought. Amen.
