What We Need
Illustration
Stories
But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? … Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. (vv. 4-5,11)
It is the aim of the Oxford English dictionary to not only record the definitions of every word in the English language but also to present the history of all those words. It’s a monumental task. Although the first and second editions were available in as many as twenty huge volumes, the third edition is a work in progress and is so large that it will never be printed nor completed, but is available only online.
The word scripture is a good example of just how thorough a job is being done. The first definition of scripture is familiar: “The sacred writings of the Old or New Testament, or (more usually) of both together; Holy Writ; the Bible, often with holy prefixed.” (v.9, p 285) But there are more definitions, including, “The action or art of writing, handwriting, penmanship,” an inscription or superscription; a motto, legend, or posy; a written record or composition.”
The way I put it is, “There’s scripture with an upper case S, and that’s the Bible. And then there’s the wisdom that comes from other, even from some unlikely, sources. And that’s scripture with a lower case s.”
You know, there are things that aren’t in the Bible, but you almost wish they were. Take the phrase, “You can’t always get what you want. You can try sometimes, but you might find, you get what you need.” Think about those words.
Did your parents, or a spouse, or a good friend, ever tell you, “There’s a difference between want and need.” My guess is that all of us have, at one time or another wanted something pretty badly, and perhaps we didn’t get it. However, looking back we may realize that God had a better plan for our lives, and that what we got was what we needed, not what we wanted, and we were the better for it.
Some of you listening recognized those words immediately, and others will remember their source once I tell you that these words were written by Mick Jaggar and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Not the two you might pick for a Biblical prophet, or someone speaking on behalf of the heavenly choir. But that song, originally recorded on November 16 and 17, 1968, begins with a heavenly choir of sorts. The London Bach Choir sings the opening stanza with an almost churchlike, choirlike beauty.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can try sometime, but you might find
You get what you need.
As for the verses that accompany the chorus, which is repeated several times during the song, there are many and varied interpretations. But it’s the chorus that people remember, and sing along with during concerts or when the song pops up on the radio.
The song was released twice as a single, and has appeared on many different Rolling Stones albums, including several live, concerts versions. Rolling Stone Magazine listed it as number 100 of its top 500 greatest songs of all time.
The reason this song, which to me is almost a scripture, comes to mind is today’s first biblical scripture — 2 Samuel 7:1-11. In the previous chapter King David, finally the ruler of a united kingdom that includes all twelve tribes from both the north and the south, who has finally and successfully brought the Ark of the Covenant to rest in its new home in Jerusalem, informs the prophet Nathan that it is not right for him to live in a palace while the ark of God’s presence rests in a humble tent. He asks if he can go ahead and build a magnificent temple for the ark, and Nathan says, “Go ahead.”
But that night Nathan learns he must tell King David he is not going to get what he wants — he’ll get what he needs. He is not to build that temple. The tent is good enough for God’s presence. Instead, God will ensure David’s house — his lineage, that is, promising that the line of David will be maintained after his death. And of course, in Advent we celebrate the coming of the ultimate Davidic king — Jesus! And Jesus himself will prove to be not the military Messiah the people want, but the eternal king we need.
It is the aim of the Oxford English dictionary to not only record the definitions of every word in the English language but also to present the history of all those words. It’s a monumental task. Although the first and second editions were available in as many as twenty huge volumes, the third edition is a work in progress and is so large that it will never be printed nor completed, but is available only online.
The word scripture is a good example of just how thorough a job is being done. The first definition of scripture is familiar: “The sacred writings of the Old or New Testament, or (more usually) of both together; Holy Writ; the Bible, often with holy prefixed.” (v.9, p 285) But there are more definitions, including, “The action or art of writing, handwriting, penmanship,” an inscription or superscription; a motto, legend, or posy; a written record or composition.”
The way I put it is, “There’s scripture with an upper case S, and that’s the Bible. And then there’s the wisdom that comes from other, even from some unlikely, sources. And that’s scripture with a lower case s.”
You know, there are things that aren’t in the Bible, but you almost wish they were. Take the phrase, “You can’t always get what you want. You can try sometimes, but you might find, you get what you need.” Think about those words.
Did your parents, or a spouse, or a good friend, ever tell you, “There’s a difference between want and need.” My guess is that all of us have, at one time or another wanted something pretty badly, and perhaps we didn’t get it. However, looking back we may realize that God had a better plan for our lives, and that what we got was what we needed, not what we wanted, and we were the better for it.
Some of you listening recognized those words immediately, and others will remember their source once I tell you that these words were written by Mick Jaggar and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Not the two you might pick for a Biblical prophet, or someone speaking on behalf of the heavenly choir. But that song, originally recorded on November 16 and 17, 1968, begins with a heavenly choir of sorts. The London Bach Choir sings the opening stanza with an almost churchlike, choirlike beauty.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can’t always get what you want.
You can try sometime, but you might find
You get what you need.
As for the verses that accompany the chorus, which is repeated several times during the song, there are many and varied interpretations. But it’s the chorus that people remember, and sing along with during concerts or when the song pops up on the radio.
The song was released twice as a single, and has appeared on many different Rolling Stones albums, including several live, concerts versions. Rolling Stone Magazine listed it as number 100 of its top 500 greatest songs of all time.
The reason this song, which to me is almost a scripture, comes to mind is today’s first biblical scripture — 2 Samuel 7:1-11. In the previous chapter King David, finally the ruler of a united kingdom that includes all twelve tribes from both the north and the south, who has finally and successfully brought the Ark of the Covenant to rest in its new home in Jerusalem, informs the prophet Nathan that it is not right for him to live in a palace while the ark of God’s presence rests in a humble tent. He asks if he can go ahead and build a magnificent temple for the ark, and Nathan says, “Go ahead.”
But that night Nathan learns he must tell King David he is not going to get what he wants — he’ll get what he needs. He is not to build that temple. The tent is good enough for God’s presence. Instead, God will ensure David’s house — his lineage, that is, promising that the line of David will be maintained after his death. And of course, in Advent we celebrate the coming of the ultimate Davidic king — Jesus! And Jesus himself will prove to be not the military Messiah the people want, but the eternal king we need.
