My title for this devotion is Tight Hold vs Loose Hold.
I’m a big fan of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. No, not the books. The movies. Yes, I know they took great liberties in the movies. Maybe that explains why I’ve had a hard time reading the books. I can’t get the movies out of my head. 🙂 One of the more intriguing characters is Golem. Definitely not my favorite. My first time watching it, I was stumped. Who is this creature with the love affair/obsession with the ring? It wasn’t until the 2nd or 3rd installment (can’t remember) where they tell his story. Of the discovery of the ring while fishing. The struggle for the ring and murder of his friend. Then his obsession with the ring that drove him mad and made him into the emaciated creature he became. His whole desire throughout the whole series of movies was the ring. When he finally gets it and falls to his and its demise, it is a sad scene. Not sad in the sense of tears, but sad in the sense of poignancy.
You see…Golem is me. I am Golem. I, too, have given myself over to “My Precious.” Not a ring; a thing. Who knows what it might be? It may be a thing I can hold in my hand (too tightly). It may be an event or an activity (like cycling), or a person (spouse, child, grandchild). The battle for my heart goes on. Who will be/what will be “my precious?”
I was struck by Psalm 120:1-2 this morning: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.” It sounds like the psalmist is praying for deliverance from others. But perhaps he is praying for deliverance from and for himself. Maybe he is praying he won’t give in to the “siren song” and pull of things that would draw him-much like the ring did to Golem.
“Father, help me to hold things loosely, to not be drawn away from You by things which lie and deceive in the the promise to fulfill. Help me to find ‘my precious’ in You and is You.”
Golem’s story is a perfect illustration of what happens when things possess our lives – we only become shadows of what we are meant to be.
I’m a great fan of both the books and the movies, Bill.
Blessings!
I hit on Golem this morning as I began to write Martha. I thought he was a perfect illustration also. Thanks for the encouraging words. Books too? Hmmmm
How quickly one can find themselves drawn to a “precious”. To find themselves obsessed with holding on to something so tightly that it eats away at the very person’s life. The thought that the Psalmist was praying for deliverance from himself is not a stretch at all. Even if not, the application of the verse could be.
I have come to the conclusion that I am my own worst enemy most of the time. I second your prayer… in that “my precious” be found in God.
You are right Ryan about being drawn to a “precious.” I, too, am my own worst enemy. Thanks for the comment.
Another great post, Bill!
Thank you Diane.
We use the gifts of God with our senses to deny Him and seek what He has made or controls anyway.
You’re right of course; we all fight our own battle of idolatry.
Good one, Bill.