THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE.
Proverb 24.11-12
11.Deliver those who are being taken away to death and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.
12.If you say, "See, we did not know this," does He not consider it Who weights the hearts? And does He not know it Who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?
I just recently saw a movie about Polish Zoo staff in Warsaw who hide the Jews in the basement of their house during WWII. I saw similar movies before, but this one was very close to the original true story that was happened at that time.
It is called, "The Zookeeper's Wife."
And while I was watching the movie the verses above came to my mind, "Deliver those who are being taken away to death..." I always greatly admire the people who are risked their own lives to save those who were persecuted and hiding from Nazis.
GOD bless them all, they are true heroes who done it out of the purity of their heart for complete strangers delivering them and saving them from a certain death.
No wonder that a special memorial exist in Israel to honor such brave souls. And interesting thing about all of this that not only religious people did such heroic deed but also and secular, non-religious people saved others from persecution and death and even paid by their own lives to save others.
So it seems one group of the people act according to the Holy Scripture, but another group of people act according to their conscience. And in both cases their acting according to the Law of GOD.
The difference is that the conscience of man is the basic preliminary Law planted in human being from its birth, and people who are listening to their conscience acting according to what the conscience tell them and guide them (Romans 2.12-16).
But the Holy Scripture is a step higher than just ordinary conscience of man, and combination of these two makes a human being much more advance, more rich, and much more spiritual in the making of human soul.
And Jesus Christ exploited this particular quality and type of personality that would able to risk own life to save others, and for this and He had declared:
John 15.13-14
13."No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14.You are My friends if you do what I command you."
Does Jesus Christ meant only friends? I think in the eyes of the Lord all good and godly people are His friends.
Jesus even called Judas who betrayed Him His friend.
Matthew 26.47-50
47.While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve arrived, with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48.Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The One I will kiss is the Man, arrest Him.”
49.At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings Rabbi!” And kissed Him.
50.Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him. (KSB).
This means even if a godly person sacrifices his/her life for a wicked person it will be not in vain. Because Jesus sacrificed Himself for all humanity, for good and for bad, and so by doing this He raised the bracket of conscience and spirituality to a highest level possible as example to all.
So under this context a word, "friend" means everybody.
The verse 12 also is very interesting verse. Some people has ability to save but did not do it. And of course they can find excuse and pretend of not knowing it. But it only can work with the people but not with GOD Who knows all the deepest secrets of human soul, and He will be the One who will issue His judgment and verdict on such individuals.
Proverb 24.11-12
11.Deliver those who are being taken away to death and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.
12.If you say, "See, we did not know this," does He not consider it Who weights the hearts? And does He not know it Who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?
I just recently saw a movie about Polish Zoo staff in Warsaw who hide the Jews in the basement of their house during WWII. I saw similar movies before, but this one was very close to the original true story that was happened at that time.
It is called, "The Zookeeper's Wife."
And while I was watching the movie the verses above came to my mind, "Deliver those who are being taken away to death..." I always greatly admire the people who are risked their own lives to save those who were persecuted and hiding from Nazis.
GOD bless them all, they are true heroes who done it out of the purity of their heart for complete strangers delivering them and saving them from a certain death.
No wonder that a special memorial exist in Israel to honor such brave souls. And interesting thing about all of this that not only religious people did such heroic deed but also and secular, non-religious people saved others from persecution and death and even paid by their own lives to save others.
So it seems one group of the people act according to the Holy Scripture, but another group of people act according to their conscience. And in both cases their acting according to the Law of GOD.
The difference is that the conscience of man is the basic preliminary Law planted in human being from its birth, and people who are listening to their conscience acting according to what the conscience tell them and guide them (Romans 2.12-16).
But the Holy Scripture is a step higher than just ordinary conscience of man, and combination of these two makes a human being much more advance, more rich, and much more spiritual in the making of human soul.
And Jesus Christ exploited this particular quality and type of personality that would able to risk own life to save others, and for this and He had declared:
John 15.13-14
13."No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
14.You are My friends if you do what I command you."
Does Jesus Christ meant only friends? I think in the eyes of the Lord all good and godly people are His friends.
Jesus even called Judas who betrayed Him His friend.
Matthew 26.47-50
47.While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve arrived, with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
48.Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The One I will kiss is the Man, arrest Him.”
49.At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings Rabbi!” And kissed Him.
50.Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him. (KSB).
This means even if a godly person sacrifices his/her life for a wicked person it will be not in vain. Because Jesus sacrificed Himself for all humanity, for good and for bad, and so by doing this He raised the bracket of conscience and spirituality to a highest level possible as example to all.
So under this context a word, "friend" means everybody.
The verse 12 also is very interesting verse. Some people has ability to save but did not do it. And of course they can find excuse and pretend of not knowing it. But it only can work with the people but not with GOD Who knows all the deepest secrets of human soul, and He will be the One who will issue His judgment and verdict on such individuals.