Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

The Names and Titles of God (Leader and Commander)

Isaiah 55:4

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

King James Version

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Dad loved to read, but his choice of books was very selective. He loved Sea Stories from the Era of Sailing Ships. That made sense, as he spent much of his childhood summers on a Two-Masted Fishing Schooner in the New England Fisheries. Among his favorites was a series of Adventures of Captain Horatio Hornblower. Another was Master and Commander, which was later made into a movie starring Russell Crowe.

The Epic American Novel Moby Dick was also on Dad's bookshelf. You may recall my story of attempting to read that book in the Fourth Grade, in an attempt to find new vocabulary words. I found all I needed for the assignment on Page One!

Moby Dick was also made into a movie, which Dad always watched when it came on TV. I remember watching it with him and becoming in love with Captain Ahab! To me, Captain Ahab will always look like Gregory Peck, just as Moses will always resemble Charlton Heston.

The movie had some memorable moments, one of which is when Captain Ahab thunders at his his First Mate Starbuck:

"Just as there is but One God in Heaven,
There is but ONE Captain of the Pequod!"

The Captain of a ship at sea was indeed the "Master and Commander" of his own little world. The lives of all depended upon it. Even if the Captain is a regular Captain Bligh, he must be obeyed. We have language idioms that are with us to this day from the era of sail. For example, if the lines and rigging were loose and flopping around, your ship isn't going anywhere. Having things "shipshape" means that all the lines and rigging are taut, hence you are "running a tight ship". Sloppiness and incompetence will result in sails blowing away, hence you have the expression "Three Sheets to the Wind".

"Master and Commander" is a Title of the One True God that we get from Isaiah. Even Captain Ahab, as wild and obsessed as he was, knew that there is only One God in Heaven, and He is the Master and Commander of all that is.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. (Mark 4:22)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS