Can You Dig It?
Ever notice how certain remarks or lingo seem to span the ages and we forget how they came to be?
Some may seem silly, yet they become useful in certain situations.
Take the phrase "Can you dig it?" - has that person really asked if you are capable of using a shovel to dredge up that new band playing for New Year's Eve? Then if you could scoop the drummer, bass guitarist, lead guitar, saxophone and violinist with a large enough shovel - what would you do next?
Absurd, you say?
Of course!
So let's go back to the phrase and see what's going down!
Okay, now I'm on a roll, there's no stopping me, I'm just winging it.....
(Sorry, I digress. Puns definitely intended today.)
The phrase "Can you dig it?" is most commonly associated with the late 1960's and 70's Woodstock era and movies from the USA. But what does it mean?
Digging far enough back in time, it comes from the Gaelic An dtuigeann tú?
- which means Do you understand?
I am going out on a limb here,
and wonder if the phrase began before hippies made up their own lingo?
Let's travel back in time, to an age recorded in the history books of the Old Testament.
The books of First and Second Kings record the many choices and challenges of kings, rulers and prophets back in the day. The prophets of old were similar to the king's advisor, at times being the only source of advice they would trust. These men of God traveled through the land, helping those who were in need.
If you remember the prophet Elijah, known far and wide for the direct connection he had with Jehovah. He was held in awe for the visions, miracles, and tidings of good and evil that he delivered to the people.
In 1 Kings we find a fellow who must have grown up hearing stories of this man of God,
perhaps even saw him somewhere as a child and never forgot the day he met the holy messenger.
The Lord Himself had orchestrated these events to impress upon little Elisha to become a man after God's own heart as well, so that the young protege was more than ready to step in.
When Elijah found the young Elisha, he was plowing a field with a yoke of 12 oxen.
Twelve.
That had to have been a very large field!
As soon as he was asked to follow Elijah, the young apprentice stopped plowing, burned the wooden plow, and roasted his herd of oxen.
Elisha was seriously not turning back to his old job.
Not digging any more rows.
For quite some time the elder prophet took his assistant along wherever they were needed.
There isn't much mention of what all happened in that time, but be assured, Elisha was learning from his travels. Friendship and respect grew, as well as a hunger for learning more. The desire became evident as the time drew nearer for Elijah's work to be done. When asked what Elisha would like to have after his master's departure, he requested twice the power of God to be bestowed.
Watching his friend and teacher being swept up into the heavens in a chariot of fire in the midst of a whirlwind was an amazing sight. But still, Elisha asked if the power of God remained. The first miracle of Elisha was to part the waters and return to where he was earlier that day.
Soon, he became the one kings and leaders looked to for answers.
One day, the kings of the land were on a march to fight against the Moabites, only to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with no water for man or beast alike. They were fretting about their fate until an officer spoke up, reminding them of a prophet nearby who might help.
After a little convincing, and a restful serenade from a harpist, Elisha was given a solution from the Lord of Hosts.
"This is what the Lord says - dig this valley full of ditches!" For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’… (2 Kings 3:16-17)
I am sure the armies weren't thrilled about more exhaustion and hard work without water to cool the thirst enveloping every single parched throat in the camp. There must have been quite a bit of complaining and stalling before they finally gave in and started digging trenches. It seemed silly to dig in a valley that was clearly a parched, dry, river bed from a long, hard, drought. Where was that water going to come from? Are you sure you know what you are talking about?
But the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings, the Master of the Universe, was not mistaken. He will not mislead or give false hopes. His promises are true and His word can be trusted. There was a mighty rush of fresh waters flowing through the valley that morning! It was more than plenty needed to satisfy the thirst of all three armies and their livestock. The water flowed so freely, the enemy camp mistook it for slaughtered armies and prepared to plunder the remains. Instead, waiting for them were soldiers ready to fight who easily overtook the camp.
All because of a little digging when it didn't make sense.
Sometimes, in the here and now, we are asked to dig when it doesn't make sense.
Why God? I thought you could heal him/her?
Why God? I thought it was over?
Why God? There is nothing left for me to do here, it's all gone.
Why God? I have already tried, again and again.
But like Elisha, God knows what we have had to leave behind.
Elisha once had a very large plow. Remember? Twelve oxen to pull it?
That sure would have been useful right about now. But it's gone.
He knows where we have been, and what we have been through, and where we are going next.
The Lord of Hosts is with us through the drought, through the storm, through the fire and through the floods. He will make a way when there seems to be no way, even when it doesn't make a lick of sense.
And like Elisha, God asks us to participate.
It is up to us to grab that shovel and start digging that ditch.
Whatever your drought looks like, God will send that water to refresh your spirit.
So Can You Dig It?
If you can understand: Always learning, always building onto yesterday
Brick by Brick
written by: Sue Leerhoff
Some may seem silly, yet they become useful in certain situations.
Take the phrase "Can you dig it?" - has that person really asked if you are capable of using a shovel to dredge up that new band playing for New Year's Eve? Then if you could scoop the drummer, bass guitarist, lead guitar, saxophone and violinist with a large enough shovel - what would you do next?
Absurd, you say?
Of course!
So let's go back to the phrase and see what's going down!
Okay, now I'm on a roll, there's no stopping me, I'm just winging it.....
(Sorry, I digress. Puns definitely intended today.)
The phrase "Can you dig it?" is most commonly associated with the late 1960's and 70's Woodstock era and movies from the USA. But what does it mean?
Digging far enough back in time, it comes from the Gaelic An dtuigeann tú?
- which means Do you understand?
I am going out on a limb here,
and wonder if the phrase began before hippies made up their own lingo?
Let's travel back in time, to an age recorded in the history books of the Old Testament.
The books of First and Second Kings record the many choices and challenges of kings, rulers and prophets back in the day. The prophets of old were similar to the king's advisor, at times being the only source of advice they would trust. These men of God traveled through the land, helping those who were in need.
If you remember the prophet Elijah, known far and wide for the direct connection he had with Jehovah. He was held in awe for the visions, miracles, and tidings of good and evil that he delivered to the people.
In 1 Kings we find a fellow who must have grown up hearing stories of this man of God,
perhaps even saw him somewhere as a child and never forgot the day he met the holy messenger.
The Lord Himself had orchestrated these events to impress upon little Elisha to become a man after God's own heart as well, so that the young protege was more than ready to step in.
When Elijah found the young Elisha, he was plowing a field with a yoke of 12 oxen.
Twelve.
That had to have been a very large field!
As soon as he was asked to follow Elijah, the young apprentice stopped plowing, burned the wooden plow, and roasted his herd of oxen.
Elisha was seriously not turning back to his old job.
Not digging any more rows.
For quite some time the elder prophet took his assistant along wherever they were needed.
There isn't much mention of what all happened in that time, but be assured, Elisha was learning from his travels. Friendship and respect grew, as well as a hunger for learning more. The desire became evident as the time drew nearer for Elijah's work to be done. When asked what Elisha would like to have after his master's departure, he requested twice the power of God to be bestowed.
Watching his friend and teacher being swept up into the heavens in a chariot of fire in the midst of a whirlwind was an amazing sight. But still, Elisha asked if the power of God remained. The first miracle of Elisha was to part the waters and return to where he was earlier that day.
Soon, he became the one kings and leaders looked to for answers.
One day, the kings of the land were on a march to fight against the Moabites, only to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with no water for man or beast alike. They were fretting about their fate until an officer spoke up, reminding them of a prophet nearby who might help.
After a little convincing, and a restful serenade from a harpist, Elisha was given a solution from the Lord of Hosts.
"This is what the Lord says - dig this valley full of ditches!" For the LORD says, ‘You will not see wind or rain, but the valley will be filled with water, and you will drink—you and your cattle and your animals.’… (2 Kings 3:16-17)
I am sure the armies weren't thrilled about more exhaustion and hard work without water to cool the thirst enveloping every single parched throat in the camp. There must have been quite a bit of complaining and stalling before they finally gave in and started digging trenches. It seemed silly to dig in a valley that was clearly a parched, dry, river bed from a long, hard, drought. Where was that water going to come from? Are you sure you know what you are talking about?
But the Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings, the Master of the Universe, was not mistaken. He will not mislead or give false hopes. His promises are true and His word can be trusted. There was a mighty rush of fresh waters flowing through the valley that morning! It was more than plenty needed to satisfy the thirst of all three armies and their livestock. The water flowed so freely, the enemy camp mistook it for slaughtered armies and prepared to plunder the remains. Instead, waiting for them were soldiers ready to fight who easily overtook the camp.
All because of a little digging when it didn't make sense.
Sometimes, in the here and now, we are asked to dig when it doesn't make sense.
Why God? I thought you could heal him/her?
Why God? I thought it was over?
Why God? There is nothing left for me to do here, it's all gone.
Why God? I have already tried, again and again.
But like Elisha, God knows what we have had to leave behind.
Elisha once had a very large plow. Remember? Twelve oxen to pull it?
That sure would have been useful right about now. But it's gone.
He knows where we have been, and what we have been through, and where we are going next.
The Lord of Hosts is with us through the drought, through the storm, through the fire and through the floods. He will make a way when there seems to be no way, even when it doesn't make a lick of sense.
And like Elisha, God asks us to participate.
It is up to us to grab that shovel and start digging that ditch.
Whatever your drought looks like, God will send that water to refresh your spirit.
So Can You Dig It?
If you can understand: Always learning, always building onto yesterday
Brick by Brick
written by: Sue Leerhoff
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