Welcome to my blog, ROLLED SCROLL, where I follow cultural and literary images found in the Bible in an attempt to unearth God’s meaning in His pattern of usage.

          WIND 

The East wind lifted Mary Poppins and her parrot-headed umbrella aloft for deposit at Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, where she stayed until the weathervane changed direction. The imagery of wind blows throughout literature and art: G.K. Chesterton’s Great Wind tore across England “like a wave of unreasonable happiness”; the heroine of Chocolat arrived on the winds of the carnival, the wind of emotion inside her “tugging . . . with its relentless imperative”; and Botticelli in Birth of Venus depicted Zephyr’s breath carrying the goddess across the sea.

The motif permeates Holy Scripture as well, two oft-used words—ruach (Hebrew)and pneuma (Greek)—variously translated as “wind,” “breath,” and “spirit.”

Wind is invisible yet physically powerful, and represents God’s characteristics as well as adversity and mankind’s fickleness. God created and rules the winds, keeping them in His storehouse and sending them out to do His bidding—as messengers of mercy or scorching judgment (2 Sam. 22:11; Ps. 104:3-4; Jer. 51:16; Ps. 148:8; Ps. 11:6; Ezek. 13:13). A strong wind blew a dry path through the Red Sea for the salvation of the Israelites, then turned to drown the enemy army (Exod. 14:21; Exod. 15:10). Under testing of his character, Job’s house collapsed in a storm arising in the night, and the Lord hurled a gale after Jonah fleeing His holy presence (Job 1:19; Jon. 1:4). Human activity alone is a meaningless chasing after the wind, and sin can sweep us away in a gust (Eccl. 1:14-17; Eccl. 5:16; Isa. 64:6). Ungodly kingdoms have been and will be uprooted and divided by the four winds of heaven, chased like chaff and scattered by storm (Dan. 11:4; Isa. 17:13; Isa. 41:16). The disciples of Jesus marveled that even the winds and the waters obeyed the Him, and without the Word of God to anchor us today, we’re tossed about by false teaching and doubt like waves upon the wind-whipped sea (Mark 4:41; Eph. 4:14; James 1:6).

Breath–the wind of life—warms the first pages of the Bible, for God breathed His Spirit over the face of the waters and breathed life into Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:2; Gen. 2:7). By His breath all was created—from the foundations of the earth to the hosts of heaven (Ps. 18:15; Ps. 33:6). He brings the dead to life; in Ezekiel’s vision, the dry bones were fleshed out and the breath of God revivified His people (Ezek. 37:9-10). What a contrast to lifeless idols that cannot breathe—and to us humans ourselves, whose physical lives are but a mere breath, as temporal as mist on a cold morning (Hab. 2:19; Ps. 39:5; James 4:14). When God takes away the breath of our lungs, we die and our bodies return to the dust, our souls to be judged by the breath of God’s lips, by the “sharp sword” that comes out of the mouth of Christ (Ps. 104:29; Job 34:14-15; Isa. 11:4; Heb. 9:27; Rev.19:15). But this breath of eternal judgment is stayed for those who’ve trusted in Christ’s payment of sin’s penalty on the cross, for the third translation of ruach and pneuma (“spirit”) demonstrates divine mercy.

Spirit emanates from Father and Son, invisible as wind and warm as breath. The Holy Spirit, present at creation, was breathed out again by Jesus upon His disciples, and ushered in Pentecost like a rushing mighty wind (Heb. 11:3; John 20:22; Acts 2:2). Through this same Spirit—blowing where He pleases—God regenerates fallen humanity in bringing birth from above (John 3:6-8). The Spirit of truth goes out from the Father and proceeds through the Son at the behest of Jesus, making Him known to us (John 15:26; John 16:12-15). This knowledge resides in the God-breathed Scriptures, the very words of God Himself, written by men who were carried along like ships with sails full of the wind of the Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). This living Word—this “sword of the Spirit”—also abides in believers, accomplishing what God pleases as the full revelation of Himself, for in the Scriptures we have the mind of Christ (Eph. 6:17; John 5:38; 1 John 2:14; Isa. 55:11; 1 Cor. 2:12-16).

The complex biblical theme of wind/breath/spirit blows cultural expressions of art and literature out of the water! The spiritual truths of God are knowable to us through His living, breathing Word. The Bible is one of many books we might read, but it is the only Book that reads us.

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To comment on this reading, or to subscribe or unsubscribe to a monthly email reminder of new postings, please write me: deb@rolledscroll.com.

These short literary articles tied to the Bible explore what God might have been saying in His pattern of usage for each symbol. English rendition of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek varies with translations (e.g., “scroll” is sometimes interchangeable with “book”); however, the quality and underlying meaning of the selected emblem remain consistent across versions. Sketches are by Lorenda Harder.

Welcome to my blog, ROLLED SCROLL, where I follow cultural and literary images found in the Bible to unearth God’s meaning in His pattern of usage. 

          MIRROR

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all?”

The vain queen preened before her looking-glass, sure of the answer. She was enraged when the mirror revealed that her stepdaughter, Snow White, surpassed her in beauty. The mythical queen knew mirrors don’t lie—a reality I suspect irritates you as much as it does me when I spot my own physical imperfections!

The mirror is a motif appearing, as well, in the Bible—albeit only half a dozen times. But its use is significant and worth examination by anyone interested in narrative.

Ancient mirrors were made of bronze, a mixed metal of mostly copper that could be highly polished (Exod. 38:8; Job 37:18). The first-century city of Corinth was famous for its bronze mirrors, but even they were susceptible to tarnish, as the apostle Paul knew:

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully (1 Cor. 13:12 NIV).

Paul was illustrating that God was not clearly understood in his day, for several New Testament books weren’t yet written, nor was Scripture collected together until the second century. But the fogginess of the mirror was only temporary; a time was coming, Paul said, when the written reflection of God to us would be complete and finished. Today the Bible is complete, the direct revelation of God that shines back a clear image of Himself. You and I can see God’s glory and be progressively transformed into His image the more we look into the untarnished Word (2 Cor.3:18).

My usual narcissistic purpose in glancing into a mirror is to check out my makeup and wipe away any smudge of mascara. Our purpose in gazing intently into the mirror of God’s Word is to see His perfect character and make corrections so that our lives match up to His expectations (James 1:23-25). Studying Scripture is how we know what we “look like” in a spiritual sense.

The looking-glass of the Bible is a record of God’s very words written down as an everlasting witness—not merely human “wisdom” but inspired truth (Deut. 18:18; Ps. 19:7-11; Rom. 3:1-2; 1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). When mankind was in a dark place, God “turned on the light” by speaking to us through Scripture, opening the eyes of our hearts—giving the light of understanding to illuminate what was formerly hidden to us (2 Pet. 1:19-21; Ps. 19:8; 1 Cor. 2:6-12). When we believe, apply, and embrace what we read in the Bible, the Holy Spirit gives us further insight into the written Word and thereby guides us in right faith and conduct (John 14:23-26).

Of course, when Jesus walked the earth He Himself was the very “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Heb. 1:3 NIV). Yet even He submitted to the Bible’s authority (Matt. 4:1-10). But now that Jesus is physically absent, the Bible—like a top-quality mirror—brings us His presence; the Word of God is true and powerful (John 17:17; John 10:35; John 21:24; Heb. 4:12). We’re warned not to close our eyes against His reflection in the Scriptures (Heb. 3:7-8).

Snow White’s evil stepmother had a truth-speaking mirror—as far as outward beauty goes. But God’s mirror of revelation, the Holy Bible, shows us His glory and our state in terms of eternity.

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To comment on this reading, or to subscribe or unsubscribe to a monthly email reminder of new postings, please write me: deb@rolledscroll.com.

These short literary articles tied to the Bible are intended to explore what God might have been saying in His pattern of usage for each symbol. English rendition of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek varies with translations (for example, “scroll” is sometimes interchangeable with “book”); however, the visual quality and underlying meaning of the selected emblem remain consistent across versions. Sketches are by Lorenda Harder. 

Welcome to my blog, ROLLED SCROLL, where I follow cultural and literary images found in the Bible to unearth God’s meaning in His pattern of usage.   

          SCROLL

A rolled scroll promises proclamation. Can’t you just picture Cinderella peeking at the king’s footman from behind lace curtains, holding her breath as he unfurls his parchment in pomp and splendor to announce the upcoming Royal Ball?

Of course, literary tradition loftier than the fairy tale has for centuries employed the metaphysical motif of the scroll. But the likes of Shakespeare, Dickens, and Tennyson didn’t originate the symbolism. Their common cultural understanding was founded on the primary source of the Bible, for God Himself used the image of the scroll in illustrating His meaning.

We see, for example, that God instructed Moses to write His words on a scroll “as something to be remembered,” and directed others to keep a permanent record of His law and the sayings of the prophets (Exod. 17:14; Deut. 17:18; Jer. 36:2). But Isaiah warned that the scroll of God’s Word can’t be understood by those in spiritual stupor—the blind and deaf whose calloused hearts are far from Him (Isa. 29:11-13; Isa. 6:10; cf. Matt. 13:10-15). Ezekiel and, later, John the Baptist were told to eat the scroll of God’s words, sweet as honey on the tongue—that is, to absorb God’s message into their very being (Ezek. 2:8-10; Ezek. 3:1-3; Rev. 10:8-11). In Daniel’s vision, the scroll of future events was sealed until a day yet to come (Dan. 12:4-9). On the other hand, Zechariah’s flying scroll of condemnation stretched open like a waving banner for all to read (Zech. 5:1-4). Just before the close of the Old Testament, a “scroll of remembrance” was written to register the names of those who honor the Lord—His “treasured possession” (Mal. 3:16-17).

After four hundred years of biblical silence, the New Testament opens with the gospels showing Jesus in the synagogue unrolling the scroll of the Scriptures to declare the prophecy fulfilled by His own coming (Luke 4:16-21). By way of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God’s holy requirements outlined in the blood-splattered scroll of the law were once and for all fulfilled (Heb. 9:19-22). Christ Himself as the last and complete sacrifice said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God” (Heb. 10:7, NIV). Finally, in a future day yet to dawn, the sacrificial Lamb of God will open the seals on the scrolls of judgment (Rev. 5:1-14). The skies will be rolled up and stars dissolved, and Jesus will sit upon the throne of David to fulfill the purpose of time (Isa. 34:4; 1 Cor. 15:28).

In short, God’s literary choice of the scroll signifies His workings in history and His plan for relationship with humanity through Jesus Christ.

Like Cinderella, I love listening to the proclamation of the King in His Word. And though I’m not a Shakespeare, Dickens, or Tennyson, I’m responding with my own “scroll” jottings here on this site. They’re not inspired missive or world-famous composition or even humble folk legend. They’re just an attempt at retelling timeless truths written first by God Himself, the Author with authority to direct our steps. My heart echoes Job’s longing:

Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll . . . I know that my Redeemer lives! (Job 19:23-25 NIV)

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To comment on this reading, or to subscribe or unsubscribe to a monthly email reminder of new postings, please write me: deb@rolledscroll.com.

These short literary articles tied to the Bible explore what God might have been saying in His pattern of usage for each symbol. English rendition of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek varies with translations (e.g., “scroll” is sometimes interchangeable with “book”); however, the visual quality and underlying meaning of the selected emblem remain consistent across versions. Sketches are by Lorenda Harder.