[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during March 2021]
In the 1969 classic British film ‘The Italian Job’ Charlie Croker leads a gang of petty criminals on a raid to redirect a consignment of gold bars being transferred through Turin. The film shows how the gang relieves the Italian guards of the bullion, then switches it to three Minis which make a thrilling escape through, around, over and under the streets of Turin before transferring the gold into a coach which then sets off back through the Alps towards England. The climax of the film shows the coach teetering on the edge of a precipice whilst the pallet of gold slides towards the tipping point.
The premise is that the gold would be of more use in the British underworld rather than sitting in an Italian bank. Do we tolerate the criminality of the raid whilst applauding its patriotism? Or has patriotism itself become an embarrassment which is suppressed only by the thrill of the chase?
By current standards the film contains comparatively limited amounts of sex and violence, and no doubt that contributes to its enduring ‘cult’ status. Like many other films, it has contributed some catch-phrases to our more common vocabulary. Expressions including “You’re only supposed to blow the doors off” and “Hang on lads, I’ve got an idea” have achieved a usage beyond their original dialogue in the film. Also like many other films, one of its most poignant songs “On Days Like These” has joined the wider repertoire of popular film music.
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What are we to make of ‘days like these’? Would days like ours be a shock to the prophets of old? Would the wide-spread acceptance of sex, violence and God-less behaviour be a surprise? A disappointment, probably, but a surprise, no!
It seems to me that familiarity with the Old Testament prophets has declined dramatically in the latest couple of generations. How often do our sermons even allude to them, let alone offer any contemporary lessons from their experiences? Even after 250+ of these reflections there are still some of the prophets’ books that have not yet been quoted.
Are Old Testament prophets relevant to days like these? Consider this verse from Jeremiah:
The mother of seven will grow faint and breathe her last. Her sun will set while it is still day; she will be disgraced and humiliated. [Jeremiah ch 15 v9 NIVUK]
I don’t know if the current leader of the European Commission is familiar with that verse but I image that it could make uncomfortable reading for her and her seven children.
The following quotation comes from the final book of the Old Testament; it needs no further comment.
It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it. [Malachi 3 v14-15 NIVUK]
So, do the Old Testament prophets have anything encouraging to say to us? We need explore no further than the final couplet of the same chapter:
‘On the day when I act,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. [Malachi 3 v17-18 NIVUK]
We do not know when that day will come but it could well be on a day like these.
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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
