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ChrisJD
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Joined: 2006/2/11
Posts: 2895
Philadelphia PA

 Inclosed in their own fat

"They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly."

- Psalm 17:10(KJV)







I've put on some weight over the past few years. I'm not obese, but I'm definitely heavier than when I was younger. One of the [i]few[/i] advantages of this is that I have noticed that I'm not nearly as cold as I used to be during the winter. Yesterday morning as I was walking up the driveway to the job I was noticing this again, and this passage of scripture came to mind.



One of the things that I 've noticed too is that some people who are heavy will comment on how they are not cold, when others around them are. And it can almost seem as though they are boasting, and as if their being warm without wearing as much clothing as others is somehow an occasion of pride, and as if to say to themselves that they are special or superior because of it.

When it may just be that the extra weight insulates them from the cold.


But this really speaks to me of this text. Not that David had in mind anything physical in relation to this, that is, that somehow being heavy or having fat would make one proud. But rather the fat here speaks to me of anything that insulates us from what we should otherwise being feeling, and especially as it relates to those around us, and to God.


Now in the text David has in mind violent men, and especially those who were against him. Continued prosperity and unbroken success can make men over confident and can make evil men even more violent than they already are(Ps 73:3-12, 10:2-6).

And so the psalmist says,


"Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment."


But as I continued to cast these things in my mind this morning, I began to consider what other ways the scriptures may speak of us as being insulated, and what other garments or coverings there are that would keep us from being sensitive to those around us, and especially to God.




I thought for instance of the garments of goods and things of this world, of the rich man clothed in Purple, and of the congregation that said they were rich and had need of nothing. And how being full can make us insensitive or indifferent to our own spiritual needs and of the needs of those around us.


I thought of the garments of vengeance, which alone belong unto God(Is 59:17, Ps 94:1 Rom 12:19), and which if we wear momentarily in wrath can make us insensitive of consequences, or overtime can make us bitter(Mat 18:28).


I thought too of other garments:

Of the outward garments of religion(Luke 20:46, Mat 23:27,5)

Or of our own righteousness(Luke 18:9-14, Is 64:6)

I thought of the rough garment that is warn to deceive(Zec 13:4-5), or of putting on a sad or contorted face so as to appear to suffer(Mat 6:16), and how we may use the appearance of anger or of suffering to convince others that we are more spiritual or more in touch with God.

And I thought that lying and deception make us more susceptible in general, to being deceived(2Ti 3:13).



And perhaps there is too the garments of our own sins(Is 59:3-6).


And in contrast, I thought of how Peter says that we should all submit one to another, and be clothed with humility.


All of these garments are heavy and can surely weigh heavily upon us and weigh us down.

When I think of fine linen though, I think of something that is light upon the skin, light enough to let even a cool breeze pass through it. Surely something that would not make us insensitive to those around us. And especially to God.


I know I need to examine my garments. Even though it is winter, I need them to be light.



[i]edited to correct spelling[/i]


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Christopher Joel Dandrow

 2009/12/12 11:36Profile
kathleen1
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Joined: 2004/8/5
Posts: 226


 Re: Inclosed in their own fat

very insightful..thanks for sharing


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Kathleen

 2009/12/12 12:22Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re: Inclosed in their own fat

Chris,

When I saw this reference, I checked it out, the context in which this verse resides. It is insightful: people who get so comfortable with their things, they feel like they are insulated from adversity because they have all this fat to cushion them. (I find a small child's ability to fall without getting seriously hurt amazing. They have so much baby fat to cushion them. Besides that they are close to the ground and their bones are not hard either.)

Now about being 'fat' in the sensed of weight, people in certain parts of this globe - believe that if you are heavy it is a sign of success, prosperity! Obviously they do not read American fashion magazines, nor what the western nutritionists say...Somewhere there is a happy medium and the fashion police are not interested in being godly so one would do well to not allow them any authority in their life.

You thoughts were inspiring, Chris...

ginnyrose


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Sandra Miller

 2009/12/12 12:52Profile









 Re: Inclosed in their own fat

Quote:
Not that David had in mind anything physical in relation to this

Nice way of putting it brother.

I have always understood fat to be the "glory".

"They are enclosed in their own fat [glory]: with their mouth they speak proudly." That is they think they obtained their wealth by their own power.

I know about the putting on of pounds, I have my share of it and believe me, as you age, it doesn't matter how much fat you have on, it's still cold outside.


:-P

 2009/12/12 15:00
elected
Member



Joined: 2004/11/21
Posts: 362
Tulsa OK

 Re:

Quote:
I thought of the rough garment that is warn to deceive(Zec 13:4-5),



I have seen many wolves in sheep's clothings. We think we are civilized christians but we dont know how many wild beasts and barbarians we have in our midst. :-)

These are "dark ages" the barbarians are here!


_________________
Redi

 2009/12/12 15:42Profile
ChrisJD
Member



Joined: 2006/2/11
Posts: 2895
Philadelphia PA

 Re:

Kathleen, Ginny, Elected and DT, thank you each one of you for your encouragement and contributions.


DT, I think that you are right, that the fat can be seen as 'glory([b]ing[/b]) also.


As Ginny pointed out, things can make us feel insulated from adversity(Ps 30:6) and at the same time be a source of pride if we come to believe that we have gotten them by our own strength(Deut 8:10-18, Ps 30:7).

And this can become an occasion for sin and to forget God. And once we forget God we can become extremly sinfull(Ps 36:1-2).


And so pride begetts sin and sin begetts pride.


I thought too that the fabric of all of these garments is pride and that it is the thread that they are woven from.


May God watch over us all and keep us as the apple of His eye. And may we all earnestly seek to remember Him.

God's love and grace be with each of us always. Amen.


_________________
Christopher Joel Dandrow

 2009/12/13 7:59Profile
Areadymind
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Joined: 2009/5/15
Posts: 1042
Pacific Ocean

 Re: Inclosed in their own fat

Amen...


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Jeremiah Dusenberry

 2009/12/16 9:04Profile





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