Heaven Bound

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According to Wikipedia in the time of the Pharaohs Egypt had over 2,000 gods. It’s been said that “they worshipped nearly everything that moved” – which seems incredibly odd to us but really shouldn’t be as we are a culture absolutely saturated with “gods” in numbers that the ancient world could never have imagined.

If we made a list of those “gods” how far would it stretch? The categories alone would make up a very long list – not to mention the sub-categories that would follow. And while humans have obviously had a penchant for making “gods” out of whatever they could see it has never been more true than with the advent of motion pictures and television. And while this is not exactly a new revelation I did find something interesting that I believe pertains.

The Jazz Singer

Intentionally released on the Day of Atonement 1927 * The Jazz Singer was the first movie with sound. Interestingly, the plot revolves around a Jewish son’s choice to perform opening night on Broadway or to return home to perform the Yom Kippor service in place of his ailing father who was unable to do so due to illness. The son had previously left home (to his fathers dismay) to pursue the life of a stage performer – a jazz singer – rather than follow in his fathers footsteps as tradition would require as Cantor for the local synagogue.

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Rope, Cord, Cordage

1927 ( the year The Jazz Singer was released) was the Hebrew year 5688. And because I find the corresponding Strongs numbers to be insightful I looked up 5688 and found it to mean “rope, cord, cordage”. It is the word used in Psalm 118:27 and in Isaiah 5:18 – each with two different applications.

“God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar” Psalm 118:27

Clearly, a reference to the Day of Atonement as the verse speaks of the cords that bind a sacrifice. And we know Jesus was bound as a sacrifice. An interesting connection to the theme of this movie.

“Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as with cart-ropes!” Isaiah 5:18

In Isaiah, we see the word cords used as instruments by which people are drawn into sin – vanity in particular.

Thus a picture emerges by which the “first film using sound” references both the day of Atonement and the cords of iniquity by which we are drawn away from God. Interesting.

Summary

I started this post after thinking about all the things that vie for our attention in this modern age – idols- whether they be sports, politics, entertainment or anything related and how they can all be traced back to the advent of film – film with sound in particular which brought me to The Jazz Singer. It is no coincidence that the film plot was centered around the Day of Atonement and premiered on the Day of Atonement. The son (in the film) had a choice and while he did return home to reconcile with his father and perform his duty it was secondary to the future he had in mind for himself. In the end, he answered what he believed to be the higher calling – and, to his shame – and ours – we often do the same thing?

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In the months and years since the premier of this film we have been bombarded with names – they mesmerize us through their onscreen presence – politicians, sports figures, and entertainers of all kinds – they capture our imagination and shape our lives. We want to know what they do, where they go, what they eat. We want to look like them, think like them and dress like them. Like seaweed (cords of iniquity) they wrap their long tentacles around us binding us until we can never get free. A sacrifice on the altar of self. And worse than that – we reward them handsomely for doing so.

But the day is coming – thank you Lord – when there will be one name and only one – the name of Jesus. And I think so many of us are ready to be freed from this constant onslaught of names and personalities that work continuously to snare us and destroy our walk with Jesus. I know, I for one can’t wait.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper who love thee” Psalm 122:6

Watching and waiting with YOU for the very soon return of Jesus! Cindy

*The Jazz Singer. On October 6, 1927, Warner Bros. released The Jazz Singer, the first feature-length film to incorporate synchronized sound for sequences of dialogue. Though these sequences were limited and brief, hearing the voices of the film’s stars was a revelation for audiences. Wikipedia

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