Proverbs 31:28-29 (NLT) -
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
“There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
Sisters, will our works praise us in the gates?
Proverbs 31: 31, Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Proverbs 31: 10-31, If the fruit be good, the tree must have our good word. But she leaves it to her own works to praise her. Every one ought to desire this honour that cometh from God; and according to this standard we…
A Father’s Instruction
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
Proverbs 4:1
At first glance, Proverbs 4 is about listening to your earthly father and learning wisdom from him. Another layer, though, refers to our Heavenly Father. This duality gives more depth to the Proverb and encourages us to look for lessons we’ve learned from both…
Yesterday, I spoke about the “default settings” in electronics. We also have default settings and the ideal ones are having gratitude and the Fruit of the Spirit.A couple of days ago, I walked into a room and a situation that caused me to do an about-face. I was about to react negatively, but instead I turned and went home. I sensed my “peace” was about to depart. Peace isn’t just one of my…
i'm sorry i'm a bit slow when it comes to reading comprehension...i thought crowley saves the goats because he doesn't want to kill them, not because they're associated with demons? or did i get that wrong? 🙈
Angelic Sheep and Demonic (Scape)Goats
[Just for reference, the question above was prompted by another meta: Goats, Crows and The Flood]
Thank you for the question. This gives me a chance to write up a sheep and goat meta at length - but I hope you're not going to regret asking it, because its not a simple answer. While I am always saying "it never is in the GOmens AU" I have to admit this one took off with a life of its own (the metas do that sometimes) and has ended up much longer than I thought it would and went to places I didn't expect it to go, but sometimes that is the joy of writing these.
Crowley doesn't want to kill them because he thinks they are innocent and blameless, just like the children of Job - and by extension, we are meant to see he thinks he was unfairly blamed and condemned to be a demon as well. That's it at its most simple level, but by understanding why there is an association between demons and goats will give you a much deeper insight into Crowley's story and why he would act this way. S2 of GOmens is like an onion, you need to peel that thin dry skin off and then slice through several more juicy layers to get the full depth of flavor into the complex meal that has been created for us. Its worth the tears that the chopping of the onion releases in the end. Are you brave enough to find out?
Take the conversation above, between Sitis and Bildad/Crawley. Sitis is a parallel-character to Aziraphale here, wearing the angel's signature teal green, and she questions the demon about the children being threatened with destruction. Then let us put these two parallel scenes side-by side: Sitis vs Bildad and Aziraphale vs Heaven
AZIRAPHALE: Oh. So just his worldly goods.
MURIEL: Exactly. Oh, nothing important, no. Just his farm, his camels, his goat, his oxen, his children, his geese…
AZIRAPHALE: His WHAT?!
MURIEL: His geese. You know, big cross ducks.[flaps arms]
AZIRAPHALE: His children?
So we have Sitis looking in horror at a demon at the potential death of her children, and then we have Aziraphale looking in horror at Heaven acting demon-like, not caring if children are destroyed in pursuit of victory over Satan. "Trust in God's plan, Aziraphale. Always," admonishes the shoulder-demon Gabriel (he is so often a shoulder demon - I have words to say about this! - in another meta) In other words, be a good sheep, Aziraphale, and have faith in the Almighty. Don't worry about the goats, or kids. They aren't important.
If you listen carefully during the Job minisode, A Companion to Owls, you'll notice Gabriel prefers to emphasize the number of sheep that will be returned to Job in the end. The Christian church is very big on the sheep imagery! Sheep are considered to be modest, humble, obedient (because they follow one another - you need to be a good follower!) and patient. They follow their shepherd's voice and goes where he directs. (Uh huh...) Followers are described as being part of a flock.
Goats, on the other hand (ah, yes, we'll talk about that in a moment) are considered to be a bit on the nose. Literally. A rutting billy goat is described as having a 'fetid' smell, they can be promiscuous, capricious, devious (wily?) and contrary. Their strong-mindedness, singleness of purpose and leadership qualities (!*) make them the opposite of sheep. While going your own independent way is frowned upon by Heaven, this leading quality of the goat is sometimes used to lead the sheep.
"There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing: a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing; a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him." Proverbs 30: 29-31
Did you get a good whiff of that sinister archangel, Shax?
(oh boy, some of the stuff I found researching this for more detail...such as "going your own way creates disunity...this leads others astray..." wtf! Looking at this in context with the show makes it kind of, well, some things make more sense to me now? I guess that's a big reflection on the kind of culture I personally grew up in, because I know there are cultures where unity and togetherness is looked upon as happiness and harmony.)
In the tv show, we know the scene blocking - where the characters stand - has great importance. Standing on the right-hand shoulder of another character makes them a shoulder-angel (the dexter side), standing on the left a shoulder-demon (the sinister side.) By watching who stands where usually tells us what moral stance they are taking in that scene.
If we take the example from the Job minisode below, we can see quite an interesting dynamic from the scene blocking. On the left, we have Sitis and Job, who is crouching down. They are an Aziraphale-Crowley parallel-pair, and they are even colour-coded with their colours! Sitis, in Aziraphale's teal on the angelic right of yellow tunic-wearing Job, who's modelling Crowley's suffering for sin but without understanding why. Job has crouched down to highlight Crowley's entrance. On the right the glowing angels are arrayed - Michael on the angelic right shoulder, Gabriel in the middle (more often than not he stands on the demonic left) but this time Aziraphale is taking the far left demonic position, and we know why - he's about to lie like a demon! But even on a grander scale, Sitis, Job and Crowley all stand on the angelic RHS of the visiting angels, making the archangels and Aziraphale all collectively LHS demons in this scene. And Gabriel thought they'd won the bet...*snort*
You should all take a moment to appreciate this piece of Art. Go on. Do it.
Sheep and goats had this right- and left-handedness meted out to them long ago in the bible. The sheep belong to the morally righteous right-hand side, of course, the side of angels, and the goats to the demonic left.
But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Matthew 25:31-33
This passage and the following lines from Matthew describes how Jesus will judge the righteous from the sinners, and those who have been deemed good will be saved, but those who are deemed unworthy will be treated like goats: "Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the the devil and his angels" Matthew 25:41
So we've established the link between goats being demons, and the left-hand side, so they have an affinity with Crowley. We can do a bit of humorous visual and word play between kids and children.
Children.
ah.
oh. OH. Hang on a minute...
Lets just take a step back to the beginning of the minisode, where Crawley delivers his short monologue to the assembled goats.
CRAWLEY: You should know why you're about to die. God has abandoned you. The God who claims to love you, who demands your praise, has given you up to be destroyed.
They're rather small goats, aren't they. The kind of size that makes you wonder if they are goat children or grown goats... you know, it doesn't matter - they are little, cute and innocent. You are meant to associate them with kids, now, and in the past. (Like, in the way, way back past. Like not just the Flood, but the Before the Beginning past.) What matters is Crawley's speech to them, because it sounds very much like him repeating his own experience about his Fall from Heaven. We already know from S1 there is a conflict around Crowley's Fall involving wanting to ask God questions. We get to explore this further several times in S2.
Then later, after emerging from Job's cellar, they witness God talking to Job.
AZIRAPHALE: I don't suppose he's getting any answers.
CRAWLEY: No. But just to be able to ask the question.
We don't hear all the lines God speaks to Job, but we hear enough to them to understand that they come from the Book of Job 38 and 39. The context behind these two verses is...interesting. I was going to delve into them a little more but I think that will get us off track on this meta, so perhaps I should come back and revisit it separately, but we can note that several ops have pointed out that the lines we do hear God speak clearly to Job can be connected to Crowley. There are no coincidental accidents in S2.
But just look at Job in that last image - the light of God shining brightly down through a hole in the clouds, darkness all around...
Hmm. Remind you of anything. Like maybe... another Voice from above?
Who we've seen has shown a particular dislike for a certain demon, even though most certainly remembers what his name is.
METATRON: Ah, well, always did want to go his own way. Always asking damn fool questions, too.
Well, doesn't that sound just like a demon goat.
That withering look the Metatron gave Crowley in S2E6, the comment about asking "damn fool questions," - just about the only conclusion you can come to is that the Metatron had something to do with Crowley's Fall. What and how exactly is still unclear, but there are some clues in Gabriel's story, as Gabriel is acting as both a parallel and foil to Crowley in S2. At this point we should also talk about the scapegoat ritual that was widely practiced around the near Middle East regions for quite some time.
The scapegoat ritual involved two young goats being chosen for sacrifice, but one of them had the sins of the community spoken over them then set free to wander into the desert wilderness to die, while the other was sacrificed as a Burnt offering to God. This was a symbolic way of removing sins from the community.
It is also applied to the Passion of Jesus. When the gathered crowds are offered the choice between letting Jesus or Barabbas go free, they choose Barabbas. I've written at length how I see this applied to S2 in this meta here: The Passion of Jimbriel: Resurrection and while Gabriel and Crowley share the role of Jesus fairly equally throughout the Passion story line, there is one point it can be split and Gabriel becomes the Barabbas and the goat that was released into the wilderness and Crowley becomes Jesus on the cross - but he turns into the sacrificial lamb! Perhaps that needs to be changed to the burnt offering...
I know there are quite a few meta ops that are aware of the scapegoat ritual, and more often than not I see Aziraphale being suggested as the current scapegoat. But the way I see the ritual being used in GO is not so much in the present story but in the past, and Crowley was the unwilling scapegoat for the rebelling angels that fell.
OK, I think I've run out spoons on this meta, but seeing how its managed to be at least twice the size I initially envisioned it to be, and its since generated two more meta ideas in the writing of it on top of the ones I'm already trying to do, that isn't too bad.
I'll wrap it up by saying no matter who the scapegoat is, Aziraphale needs to let his inner lion out so he can be The GOAT in S3. I'm sure the original nanny-goat will applaud that.
*talking about that topic...I should have a meta out soon centered around Crowley and Gabriel that will cover this. I will probably come back and edit a link in to it.
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.
Here Is A List Of Most Of The Content I Have Made So Far. (you can only add 100 links per post, so I have to make a second part I guess🤡. I'll link to it in this post whenever I finish doing that.)
Note: these are in no particular order. It's kind of all over the place, but it should still help you out😂
Beginner Topics
1. Seasons in Korean
2. Months In Korean
3. Vowels Hangul Short Quiz
4. Beginners Vocab Short Quiz
5. Days Of The Week
6. Tell Date In Korean
7. What's Next After Learning Hangul?
Korean Grammar
아니요 vs 아니에요 vs 아니라
는데, 은데, 인데 Lesson | All Usages
Masterlist Of Beginner Korean Grammar
좋다 vs 좋아하다
기 때문에 & 아/어/해서 & (으)니까
-안 vs -지 않다
How To Say "IF" In Korean
How To Ask Questions In Korean
(으)러 가다, (으)려고 하다, 기로 하다 Lesson
(으)ㄴ지 Lesson
Korean Dialogues & Conversations
1. Mini-Korean Conversation | Topic : Coffee | #1
2. Intermediate Korean Convo | Topic : Amusement Park | #2
"She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come."
Proverbs 31:25
What does this verse mean to you?
God could have chose any other words here, but He specifically chose strength and dignity. The mention of clothing here is discussing the inward character of the godly woman, her reflection of Christ. The strength we get comes from God, and with strength from God comes dignity. The world views woman's strength as being self-centered, arrogant, and disrespectful; an attitude of "I can be successful on my own and I don't need anybody." This could not be further from the truth. The strength a godly woman has comes from the source, God. We cannot find true success on our own. And we can laugh at the future knowing that in the end, God wins! We put our trust in God's plan for us, which is to give us a hope and future (Jeremiah 29:11). We don't have to worry about the days ahead once we surrender to God.
Personal testimony:
As a young woman, I strive to be like the Proverbs 31 woman. I want to be what God has called me to be. I need Him everyday, there isn't a second that goes by that I don't need him. Now, I try to rush His plans and every time I do, it sure doesn't go the way I thought it would in my head! Once I give God control, I start to notice that things work out for the best. I'll admit I do struggle with patience and pride, thinking that 'I know what is best for me, I want what I want when I want it.' Does that ever work out? Nope. Surrendering to God may seem tough at first, but it is worth it. <3
Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
💯💯💯 “A woman who lives to glorify God is not interested in seeking external attention and praise as a means of value or worth. Her self-preservation has transformed into self-abandonment. Her eyes are on Jesus alone… in a world that promotes the glorifying of “self”, the call of Jesus beckons us to deny ourself, pick up our cross and follow Him…in other words, we are called to die to self…we are called to be different. To speak different, live different, operate different, lead different…all unto the glory of God…the ego dies. The addiction to external praise and attention dies. Chasing after vanity and status dies. The appetite for things that appease the flesh dies…it all amounts to nothing so Christ can become everything…I pray we as women, can grow more in this area together.” (Amy Klutinoty)
•Matthew 16:24-26// Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
•Proverbs 29:23- One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
•1John 2:16- For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
•Romans 12:3- For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
•2Corinthians 10:12- Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
•2Corinthians 10:18- For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
•Proverbs 31:30- Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:29 says " Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
When we speak about spirit and carrying the lineage of Black Women, you are the standard. You have been our Mother, our Civil Rights leader and the head of African nations. There is no coincidence that you play a first responder — as you have been saving the lives of Black Women through the spirits of your roles time and time again. Art depicts real life here.
Angela Bassett.
The ancestors speak your name and tonight they are shouting in unison.
May the world lay witness to the brilliance of the song we sing deeply for you tonight.