Keepers of Life

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

"When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 'I am about to go the way of all the earth,' he said. 'So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: "If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel." ' "

Keeping is a strange word. It's not a word we often use in our daily lives. Most of the time I think of keeping, I think of protecting something valuable, while at the same time hiding it away so it comes to no harm. This definition of keeping doesn't seem to fit what David charged his son Solomon to do. If he had, all Solomon would have needed to do was protect the word of the LORD in a safe place, which he did when he built the temple, but there's a side of this word and the meaning behind it that goes far beyond safety. I found the meaning of this word while at the Zoo, as I came to understand what the Zoo means when they call someone a keeper.

Throughout the Zoo there were signs, "Meet the Keepers."  These signs often had a time posted by them, where one could come and listen to those who've tended the animals. These Keepers were quite knowledgeable about the history, diet, habitat and habits of the creatures in their care. Some of this knowledge came from the study of books, but much of it came from the study of the animal itself; these Keepers have an experiential knowledge that goes far beyond the average wanderer. They know what its like to be around the animal without bars. They know because they've touched, fed and spent time in the presence of their ward. In most cases, they protect their wards by learning everything they can, and doing whatever is possible to protect their natural environments. They have no desire that their wards should vanish from the face of the earth through man's inattentiveness. Instead, they band together to protect what is valuable from annihilation; the animal in its natural environment.

When I consider these Keepers, I believe this is how we should keep God's Laws. It's not for us to lock them up and put them on display, but to spend time with them as they are; living in the natural everyday life. It would be a terrible tragedy that God's Law should perish from the earth, due to our inattentiveness. For it is by the fulfillment of His Law that we are set free. Yet we have spent so much time destroying natural habitats and surrounding ourselves with beautiful cages, that we forget what its like to live out God's Law. We have become the captives that are on display. We are the ones who pace in endless figure-eights, trying to get out. We are the ones lying around, waiting for someone else to feed us. Oh, that we would escape! Oh, that these breathtakingly good creatures would be restored to their homelands and live with us in peace and harmony! I long for that day!

I keep His word in my heart because I know this is His desire, that we all may be one. Without walls, without cages, without all of the trappings that drag us down and burden us. I long for the days of fresh air, wild mountain breezes and the fragrance of freedom. As I keep His word in my heart, I know I will be a part of these things. That whenever I find myself on display at a Zoo, I can come to a place of stillness, and find that peace and rest in my heart.