The Pen is Mightier than the Sword
Lord Be My Guide
Then, of course, there is that poignant reference to time in some of Daniel’s prophetic utterances, which have been open to interpretation over the years, sometimes leading to heated disagreements, recorded in two places in the book of Daniel. “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and a half of time” (7:25). “It will be for a time, times and half a time” (12:7). There is another reference in the Old Testament that is an important piece of advice that, even today, we would ignore at our peril. “…it is time to seek the Lord” Hosea 10:12.
The New Testament has its fair share of references to time. Speaking to His mother, Jesus said, “My time is not yet come” John 2:4. Three years later, speaking to His Father, Jesus said, “Father, the time has come…” John 17:1. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, and quoting from Genesis 18:14, referred to time. “At the appointed time I will return” (9:9); then following a list of instructions to his readers, Paul wrote, “And do this understanding the present time” (13:11). Then in 1 Corinthians 7:29 he writes, “that the time is short”, and in 2 Corinthians 6:2 with a note of urgency states, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour.”
Writing to Titus, Paul speaking of the promises of God includes the statement, “…God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time…” Titus 1:2. The writer to the Hebrews makes two very important statements, both referring to Jesus Christ. “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time” (9:28), and, “…this priest” [referring to Jesus] “had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins…” (10:12). Peter also wrote about time. “For it is time for judgement to begin” 1 Peter 4:17). Just before His Ascension Jesus said to His disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” Acts 1:7. One more reference will suffice. It is in Revelation 12:14, which uses the identical words from the prophecy of Daniel, yet to be fulfilled, and already referred to earlier. “The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time.”
Of course, there are countless other references to time throughout the Bible, both direct and implied. By that we mean whenever words such as “hours”, “days”, “weeks”, “months” and “years” are used, these are but various divisions of time. So we begin to see the importance of time in God’s calendar, in His plan for mankind. Until we reach eternity, where time does not exist, we must live in time, be governed by time, be subject to time, and therefore we need accurate instruments to record time. Without this there would be chaos on the earth.
In the year 2009 one of the world’s most famous instruments for recording time celebrated 150 years of faithful service – it was Big Ben in the City of London, England. Built in 1859 the Clock Tower which houses the clock, and rises up from the north end of the Palace of Westminster (where the two Houses of Parliament meet – the Commons and the Lords) was completed early in that year, but it was the 31st May before the great clock actually started ticking, recording the time, and the 11th July before the great bell started chiming. It has been recording time virtually non-stop ever since, and its chimes are familiar in most countries throughout the world.
Strictly speaking the general concept in most people’s minds, when they think of this famous landmark, is that the whole structure is called Big Ben; this includes the tower, the clock and the bells making up the chimes; but they would be wrong! The official name of the tower is the Clock Tower…the official name of the clock is the Great Clock of Westminster…the official name of the bell, which strikes the hour, is the Great Bell. The latter is the largest bell in the tower and weighs 13½ tons [13.76 tonnes]. However, the bell was never officially named, so very quickly it was given a nickname and began to be called Big Ben. There are two legends in existence for giving the Great Bell this nickname. One, and probably the most plausible of the two, is that the commissioner of works who was responsible for ordering the bell was called Sir Benjamin Hall. The second is more of a theory, that the bell may have been named after a famous heavyweight boxer of that day, Benjamin Caunt. According to an unconfirmed report, which would account for the bell not being officially named, thus leaving room for a nickname to be applied, was that the bell was to be called Victoria or Royal Victoria in honour of the Monarch, Queen Victoria, but before that could happen the nickname was suggested by an MP during a Parliamentary debate and it stuck!
The original clock tower was built at Westminster in 1288, but following a devastating fire on the night of the 22nd October 1834, when the whole Palace of Westminster, including the clock tower, was completely destroyed a new tower was needed. During the next twenty-five years a new Palace of Westminster was designed and built, including the clock tower we see today. Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. The tower is 315ft 9ins [96.3 metres] tall. For those interested in detailed statistics and historical facts about Big Ben click here.
Although Big Ben has become a symbol of the United Kingdom, and of its capital, London, in particular, it has also become a familiar landmark throughout much of the world, not only as a visual edifice but also as an audio feature. British television, especially in news programmes, use the Clock Tower to good effect as well as the chimes. British radio programmes broadcast the “sound of Big Ben” from time to time; some of these programmes are beamed throughout the world, the BBC World Service being one in particular when Big Ben can be heard striking the hour before some news bulletins. This practice began on the 31st December 1923. Not only on television and radio, but Big Ben has appeared in many films with worldwide circulation.
Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia, to whom acknowledgement is given here, lists a number of these films. “The Clock Tower has appeared in many films, most notably in the 1978 version of The Thirty-Nine Steps, in which the hero Richard Hannay attempted to halt the clock’s progress (to prevent a linked bomb detonating) by hanging from the minute hand of its western face. It was also used in the filming of Shanghai Knights starring Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, and was depicted as being partially destroyed in the Doctor Who episode Aliens of London. An animated version of the clock and its inner workings were also used as the setting for the climactic final battle between Basil of Baker Street and his nemesis Ratigan in the Walt Disney animated film The Great Mouse Detective, and is shown being destroyed by a UFO in the film Mars Attacks! And by a lightening bolt in the film The Avengers.”
So Big Ben has been made world famous through radio, television, films (and we might add through tourists who visit London, England, and take home with them personal photographs and movies of this iconic landmark). A recent survey has revealed that Big Ben is the most popular landmark in the United Kingdom and the most photographed edifice in the country. Here is a clue to the purpose of this article!
Big Ben is one of the most famous instruments in the world for recording time, if not the most famous, and time is given to us by God to prevent chaos on the earth, because we must live in time, be governed by time, be subject to time, therefore I trust we have in this article recognised the importance of time in God’s calendar, in His plan for mankind. until we reach eternity, where time does not exist. I trust we have also recognised Big Ben as a world famous instrument for recording time. The purpose of this article comes when we “marry” these two concepts. If we need another clue it can be found in the words to tune of the chimes of Big Ben, written on a plaque in the clock room: All through this hour Lord be my guide. And by Thy power no foot shall slide.”
No matter where you are in the world, when you see an image of the Clock Tower, or hear Big Ben striking, let it be a reminder to pray for our country and those in authority over us (the Government and Local Government) for the unsung heroes of our services (the police, fireman, coastguard, ambulance workers, doctors and nurses) for our armed forces (army, navy and air force) and all known to us in need of special prayer, asking the Lord to be our Guide every moment of every day…until time is no more!
© 2010 Denis A. Wheadon. All rights reserved. Website: http://www.Pen4God.co.uk. This document is the property of the Author and
must not be displayed on any other websites without permission. Copies may be downloaded and printed for personal use only. Any contact with
the writer or comments concerning an article, can be made by email addressed to: denis.wheadon@Pen4God.co.uk
must not be displayed on any other websites without permission. Copies may be downloaded and printed for personal use only. Any contact with
the writer or comments concerning an article, can be made by email addressed to: denis.wheadon@Pen4God.co.uk
Lord Be My Guide
All through this hour, Lord, be my guide
And by Thy power no foot shall slide
The words to the tune of the chimes of Big Ben.
They are also written on a plaque in the clock room.
The Bible has much to say about time. One of the most familiar is possibly the one in Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything…” followed by fourteen statements about time. Later in the same book we are reminded that, “The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter” (5,6). The Psalmist recognised the importance of time when he wrote, “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God’. My times are in your hand…” Psalm 31:14,15. Every moment of his time here on earth was in the hands of his God – our God.
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