Daily Devotion

August 17, 2006

Psalms 106:36 And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.

In Greek mythology, Homer tells us of Oedipus’ journey. On his way home, Oedipus passes through the realm of the sirens. Sirens lured sailors by singing beautiful songs. Attracted by the songs, mariners would steer their ships toward what they thought were beautiful women; instead, they were led to hidden rocks under the surface of the water, which caused the loss of both vessel and crew. Oedipus wanted to hear the song of the sirens so as his ship neared the dangerous area, he asked to be tied to the mast of the ship. He also told his men to plug their ears so they would hear neither the song of the sirens nor his pleading commands to steer the ship towards them. Oedipus heard the song of the Sirens and his ship went through without changing its course.

How like the lure of Homer’s sirens is the call of temptation. Oedipus may have foiled the Sirens attempts, but through his ears, his heart was conquered. His body, when tied to the mast couldn’t conceive temptation into sinful action, but his heart was nevertheless taken.

The fear of negative repercussions instilled in us by religious and secular laws may keep us from doing the wrong things, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that our hearts do not yearn for evil. If our heart can conceive evil, it can also birth it.

Jesus and Paul both warned us to not deceive ourselves by pretending to obey God by following the letter of the law. God sees even the thinking of evil in our heart (Matthew 5:28). What are we to do now when we live in a world where in every media possible, in both religious and secular institutions, sirens scream their songs at us through loudspeakers,? How can our heart not be negatively affected?

We cannot isolate ourselves from the world, but we can avoid the sounds of the sirens in our own homes, and insulate our heart from their songs by the Holy Spirit that is given to us.

Proverbs 4:14-15 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Patrick Lumbroso
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