Wednesday, August 18, 2004

The Song of the Whale

Recently the CBC aired a documentary entitled “The Song of the Hump Back Whale.” In this program a prominent Canadian scientist who has devoted most of his career to researching the migration habits of the Hump Back Whale related a fascinating story of what has been discovered about these whales during his over 30 years of studying them. He stated that “While much has been learned about these whales there is a major mystery yet to be solved. A riddle, that when the answer is revealed, it will seem so obvious that we will think that we should have known the answer all along.“

It seems that the Hump Back Whales do most of their feeding during the summer months in the cold Northern seas off the shores of British Columbia and as far north as Alaska, where there is plenty of food to be had, but in the winter months they migrate to the Hawaiian Islands, where the food is not plentiful and the water is much warmer. In this climate the whales relax almost as if on a winter vacation and they mate, but there is one peculiar habit they perform during their hours of leisure that has the scientists rather fascinated. It seems the males spread out around the islands and lye at rest for long periods of time. And as they rest they chant a whale song which can be heard with sonar all around the islands for months on end until the whales depart once again to their northern feeding grounds.

What is fascinating to the scientists about this whale song is that it is sung in unison and without variation, over and over again for the entire winter season. Yet each year the song is different from the season before. Until recently it was thought that the sounds the whales were making had something to do with communication between the whales or to attract a mate, but it is now understood that this is more of a song than communication, due to the repetition and the fact that the whales when they encounter each other do not alter the communication even if they fight over territory. They may go silent for a period of time during such spars, but when they continue to make the audible sounds they go back to the script of repeating the song in unison as before.
It’s amazing how many ways the Lord and Creator of everything that is and is to come, communicates to mankind the obvious truth that He exists. And it is equally amazing how often these messages to us from our creator are ignored and overlooked.

The Bible has something to say about this whale song;
The Book of Psalms in the Holy Bible of the Christian and Tanakh of the Jew tells us that the sea creatures are commanded to Praise the Lord. Psalm 148 - 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; God has laid out plans for those that overcome this world (Christians) to enjoy a period of rest in preparation to reign with the Lord Jesus Christ for 1000 years, known as the millennial Kingdom, on the earth. While resting in the presence of God the Father and God the Son a mighty chorus is sung in heaven by those who have “overcome” (Christians). Rev. 5 - 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Included in the singing of that song are such as are in the sea! Rev. 5 - 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!". This song will continue throughout eternity. Rev. 5 - 14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Just as the Whales are singing now their Songs of Praise to God, we too do this on the Lord’s day each week when we meet to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Those that have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem us by His blood, have experienced the resultant indwelling of the Holy Spirit, (John 14:15) who by His very presence in our lives reminds us of God’s future promise to save us from being cast into the eternal Lake of Fire which is called the second death. (Eph 1:13-14) And with the indwelling Holy Spirit in our Lives it becomes the Cry of our Heart to worship the Lord Jesus Christ. The bible instructs us to gather together for this very purpose. John 4 - 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. We sing our songs of Praise and Worship, and offer prayers of thanksgiving as we meet for the express purpose of remembering and celebrating the Lord Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection on the first day of each week (Sunday the Lord’s day). Acts 20 - 7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread. Luke 22 - 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. And we worship Him as we break bread in His own appointed way. 1 Cor. 11 - 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. When we meet we 1 Peter 2 - 5 offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. In preparation for an eternity worshiping God the Father and God the Son.

The invitation is extended to you, to unite with all of creation to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

Worship begins in you when you realize your utter unworthiness to enter into the presence of a Holy and Just God. The Bible says you cannot rely on your own righteousness. Isaiah 64 - 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; Rom. 3 - 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Yet Jesus said Matt. 5 - 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. God knows that there isn’t any who have not broken this standard of perfection that He requires. He has however, provided a way for us to be made perfect, by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 5 - 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. God has provided a way to be forgiven in which we are required to be willing to be washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. 1 - 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 1 John 1 - 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Being washed in the blood symbolizes your willingness to share in the guilt of nailing the Lord Jesus to the Cross. He was the only one who knew no sin who could pay sin’s penalty for you. Because He knew no sin, he rose again from the dead. You will also rise from the dead, if you allow Him to be sin for you, and to wash and cleanse you in His own blood from all your unrighteousness, in order that God the Father will see you as righteous in Him (Jesus).

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This tracts author is Ray Luff of Bible Door Tracts. The opinions contained in this tract do not necessarily represent the opinions of Riverdrive Park Bible Chapel where Ray is in fellowship. All Bible references are from The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson unless otherwise noted