Archive for the ‘art’ Category
Esau Sells Out!
Esau Sells his Birthright to Jacob
by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 – 1669)
drawing with pen and brush ca. 1648/50 – British Museum, London
Want more: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn biography.
This work is linked to Genesis 25:30
Below is an extract from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678, public domain). With one exception (Bible), Pilgrim’s Progress was considered the most important writing in English, for a century or two.
Note: HOPE: is Hopeful, Christian’s companion, CHR: is Christian, the main character of this book, on his way from the City of Destruction to the Heavenly City and RON: is me (not found in actual text)!
HOPE: Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-faith do so too? (Hebrews 12:16)
CHR: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau’s birthright was typical, but Little-faith’s jewels were not so; Esau’s belly was his god, but Little-faith’s belly was not so; Esau’s want lay in his fleshly appetite, Little-faith’s did not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; “Behold, I am at the point to die, (said he), and what profit shall this birthright do me?” [Genesis 25:32] But Little-faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as Esau did his birthright.
You read not anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little; therefore, no marvel if, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such, as it is with the ass, who in her occasions cannot be turned away. [Jer. 2:24] When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them whatever they cost. But Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above; therefore, to what end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them) to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay; or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy mistake.
RON: Little faith is enough if it is in Christ Jesus alone!
enjoy, ron
Esau Sells Out!
Esau Sells his Birthright to Jacob
by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606 – 1669)
drawing with pen and brush ca. 1648/50 – British Museum, London
Want more: Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn biography.
This work is linked to Genesis 25:30
Below is an extract from Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1678, public domain). With one exception (Bible), Pilgrim’s Progress was considered the most important writing in English, for a century or two.
Note: HOPE: is Hopeful, Christian’s companion, CHR: is Christian, the main character of this book, on his way from the City of Destruction to the Heavenly City and RON: is me (not found in actual text)!
HOPE: Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-faith do so too? (Hebrews 12:16)
CHR: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau’s birthright was typical, but Little-faith’s jewels were not so; Esau’s belly was his god, but Little-faith’s belly was not so; Esau’s want lay in his fleshly appetite, Little-faith’s did not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; “Behold, I am at the point to die, (said he), and what profit shall this birthright do me?” [Genesis 25:32] But Little-faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as Esau did his birthright.
You read not anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little; therefore, no marvel if, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such, as it is with the ass, who in her occasions cannot be turned away. [Jer. 2:24] When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them whatever they cost. But Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above; therefore, to what end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them) to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay; or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy mistake.
RON: Little faith is enough if it is in Christ Jesus alone!
enjoy, ron
David w/ Goliath Head!
Caravaggio 1573 – 1610 – oil on panel (91 × 116 cm) — 1606/07
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Caravaggio mostly painted on canvas, but this work was made on a panel. For more on Caravaggio see Caravaggio biography.
This work is linked to 1 Samuel 17:54
David has just killed the giant Goliath and takes the head with him in order to show it to his people.
Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, states that we should learn this lesson from David and fight with our own weapons, using our own strengths, and not try to borrow or hire those of others.
What are some of the Goliaths we face in life?
Goliath represents the many insufferable obstacles and pitfalls we encounter in life, whether they be spiritual or physical. Goliaths will try to win over us, but, like David, we have the grace of God on our side, and God empowers us to confront and conquer those enormous giants. Like David, we fight with our God given weaponry to defeat them. We do not need to borrow or hire the weapons of others; all we need is the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ to defeat whatever Goliath we encounter. So pray, study the Word of God, and witness to God’s grace in the face of today’s Goliaths.
Heads will roll!
enjoy, ron
David w/ Goliath Head!
Caravaggio 1573 – 1610 – oil on panel (91 × 116 cm) — 1606/07
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Caravaggio mostly painted on canvas, but this work was made on a panel. For more on Caravaggio see Caravaggio biography.
This work is linked to 1 Samuel 17:54
David has just killed the giant Goliath and takes the head with him in order to show it to his people.
Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, states that we should learn this lesson from David and fight with our own weapons, using our own strengths, and not try to borrow or hire those of others.
What are some of the Goliaths we face in life?
Goliath represents the many insufferable obstacles and pitfalls we encounter in life, whether they be spiritual or physical. Goliaths will try to win over us, but, like David, we have the grace of God on our side, and God empowers us to confront and conquer those enormous giants. Like David, we fight with our God given weaponry to defeat them. We do not need to borrow or hire the weapons of others; all we need is the Person and Work of our Lord Jesus Christ to defeat whatever Goliath we encounter. So pray, study the Word of God, and witness to God’s grace in the face of today’s Goliaths.
Heads will roll!
enjoy, ron
The Three Marys at the Tomb!
Hubert van Eyck ? – 1426
Jesus has risen!
Van Eyck’s painting shows three women positioned at the empty grave of Jesus. An angel is telling them what happened while the guards slumber in a deep sleep. The women bring bottles with ointment and spices to anoint the corpse.
None of the gospels describes the scene exactly as Van Eyck does on this panel. The painting is closest to Matthew’s description, the only gospel that mentions an angel sitting on the door to the empty grave, and that also mentions the sleeping guards.
Mark talks of “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome” and a young man sitting next to the grave.
Luke says the women were “Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James“. He also claims that “two men stood by them in shining garments“.
John only mentions Mary Magdalene visiting the grave.
This work is linked to Luke 24:1.
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Happy Resurrection Sunday, ron
The Three Marys at the Tomb!
Hubert van Eyck ? – 1426
Jesus has risen!
Van Eyck’s painting shows three women positioned at the empty grave of Jesus. An angel is telling them what happened while the guards slumber in a deep sleep. The women bring bottles with ointment and spices to anoint the corpse.
None of the gospels describes the scene exactly as Van Eyck does on this panel. The painting is closest to Matthew’s description, the only gospel that mentions an angel sitting on the door to the empty grave, and that also mentions the sleeping guards.
Mark talks of “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome” and a young man sitting next to the grave.
Luke says the women were “Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James“. He also claims that “two men stood by them in shining garments“.
John only mentions Mary Magdalene visiting the grave.
This work is linked to Luke 24:1.
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Happy Resurrection Sunday, ron
revdrron 