Mind and Thoughts
Bulls of Bashan
(#259 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
“Many bulls have surrounded me; bulls of Bashan have compassed and beset me; they gape at me with their mouths, as ravening and roaring lions.” (Psalm 22:12-13)
It’s time to cross over loved one. It’s time to seek the deeper implications of the Word. Consider this; is the bigger picture here that there were bulls staring at David? Was David’s true concern a bunch of wild animals? Was he closed in and surrounded by roaring bulls? Was that his real dilemma? Let us challenge you to be transformed. You do have the mind of the Messiah (1 Corinthians 2:16).
This new mind of yours will help you build a foundation that allows for a much greater understanding. This greater understanding involves the metaphysical aspect of scripture, in a sense, the more supernatural meaning. It will provide an appreciation for the underlying, deep, and secret truths that Yahweh intends for you to know. However, it is the glory of the Almighty to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2) The search for the deeper things will aid in the transforming of your mind (Romans 12:2), but be not mistaken, it takes an effort on your part. “It is the glory of kings to search out a matter.” You are a royal priest, are you not?
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of the Almighty in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which the Almighty ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Master of glory. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart [mind] of man the things which the Almighty has prepared for those who love Him.” But Yahweh has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of the Almighty. (1 Corinthians 2:6-10)
Now let’s take a look at Psalm 22:12-13 again, but this time with more spiritual eyes, so we might search out the deep things of the Almighty:
Many [multiplying]
bulls [dispersed, divided, stubborn thoughts]
have surrounded me; [invaded thought processes]
bulls of Bashan [material consciousness not yet redeemed to spiritual consciousness]
have compassed [continually revolving thoughts]
and beset me; [entangled me]
they [broken, material, conscious, dividing carnal thought processes]
gape at me [speak into my consciousness]
with their mouths [scattering ideas],
as ravening [pulling and plucking at thoughts]
and roaring [rumbling and moaning within]
lions [roaring thoughts that obstruct calm thinking].
Here is a flowing paraphrase:
A growing number of dispersed and stubborn thoughts have invaded my thinking process. These are thoughts that enslave me to an unredeemed material consciousness as opposed to the freedom of spiritual thinking. These fleshly thoughts continually revolve in my mind and keep me entangled. These carnal thought processes create and propagate scattered and fragmented ideas. They pull and pluck at my brain; and they cause a rumbling and moaning within. They roar so loudly that I cannot even think straight.
It’s all about the mind, the thought processes, how we think about our “self,” and how we redeem those thoughts by the power of the Spirit. It’s all in the mind loved one. Life is in the mind!