Source: FSM

September 10, 2009

W. Thomas Smith, Jr.

Flame Of The LORD
2 Samuel 11:6-17

In this story of the fall of king David is also the story of a man who was faithful, to God, to his wife, to his country and to his king. In this event in the life of David, Uriah is a contrast to David, and gives those of us who aren’t born into a godly home, or godly atmosphere some hope.

It is very likely that Uriah, being a Hittite; had come to believe and trust in the God of Israel and David; and had given himself to the service of God, the people and the king. His name means, “Flame of Jah”, thus the title to the message being “Flame Of The LORD”. Oh, that the Christian of today had the fire of Uriah.

I. URIAH WAS FAITHFUL; THEY KNEW WHERE HE WAS (vv. 3, 6).

A. “It is 10-O-Clock. Do you know where your children are?”
B. Uriah was known as a good soldier, even a “mighty” soldier (23:39).

1. He is called one of David’s “thirty mighty men” (23:8-39).

C. God is faithful; He will always be faithful to His Word, His will, His children and His promises.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (KJV)

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck…” 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (KJV)

II. URIAH WAS OBEDIENT TO THE KING’S COMMANDMENT TO RETURN HOME (v. 7).

A. Uriah was probably wondering about the purpose of his being called back to Jerusalem.

1. He may have thought, “The king desires that I get some rest and relaxation”, but his heart had no desire for it.

B. Uriah was obedient to the king’s call.
C. Christian, let us who have been called by our King, hear His voice, do His bidding and when He calls us home do so with the earnestness of this hero of Jerusalem, Israel and Judah.

1. We can rest assured that when our King Jesus calls us to His home He will not have some devious intent in His heart and mind.

III. URIAH WAS LOYAL TO THE KING AND ALL THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO WERE FAITHFULLY FIGHTING THE BATTLES (vv. 8-13).

A. He is not only loyal to his king, but loyal and faithful to the other soldiers who are not getting the call from the king that he received.

1. Uriah would have made a good United States Marine Corp Officer or soldier. “Semper Fi” or “Always Faithful” is the motto of the Marine Corp, and that seems to have been Uriah’s creed as well.

B. Uriah would not go home to his wife, his heart was on the welfare of the king and his troops on the field.

1. The good soldier is thinking about the safety of the others, and their leader and nation.
2. The heart of Uriah at this point in time puts the heart of king David to shame.

C. David jumped headlong into this adulterous relationship with Uriah’s wife, because he was not doing what he should have been doing.

1. The first verse of chapter eleven includes the following words, “at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah.
2. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

IV. URIAH IS FAITHFUL TO GOD, HIS WIFE, HIS COUNTRY AND HIS KING EVEN UNTO DEATH – CARRYING HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT (vv. 14-17).

A. King David upon realization that he would not convince Uriah to get home anytime soon; sent a death warrant by Uriah’s own hand to the General in the field – Joab.

1. Unknowingly, most likely, Uriah takes the hand written message written by the hand of the king that would cause him to die.

B. We have a Savior who was faithful to His Father; all the way to Jerusalem; all the way to Calvary; all the way to the cross; all the way to the tomb; and all the way to His glory which He had with the Father from the beginning (John 17:5).

1. We by faith in Him and His finished work on the cross put on His righteousness, His garments, and take on the characteristics which led Him to the obedient, faithful, loving life that led to His cross; His place of death and dying for the sins of the world.

C. Uriah means “Flame of Jah” or “Flame of the Lord”, and surely he was the flame of God burning in Israel when the “man after God’s own heart” had plunged into darkness of sin.
D. Oh, Christian when we see a brother or sister in Christ; who has plunged headlong into sin; whether they be a church leader, leader’s wife, or the man or woman in the pew; that is the time to be the “Flame of the LORD”. (Galations 6:1-2)

1. Stand as an example of faith and light, be faithful to God, and don’t let the darkness of sin pull you in and down.
2. Jesus said, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Luke 12:49 (KJV). His Holy Spirit within His followers are the possessors of that Fire; and that Fire possesses us as well. Let us walk in the light of that flame.

-Tim A. Blankenship

In this story of the fall of king David is also the story of a man who was faithful, to God, to his wife, to his country and to his king. In this event in the life of David, Uriah is a contrast to David, and gives those of us who aren’t born into a godly home, or godly atmosphere some hope.

It is very likely that Uriah, being a Hittite; had come to believe and trust in the God of Israel and David; and had given himself to the service of God, the people and the king. His name means, “Flame of Jah”, thus the title to the message being “Flame Of The LORD”. Oh, that the Christian of today had the fire of Uriah.

I. URIAH WAS FAITHFUL; THEY KNEW WHERE HE WAS (vv. 3, 6).

A. “It is 10-O-Clock. Do you know where your children are?”

B. Uriah was known as a good soldier, even a “mighty” soldier (23:39).

1. He is called one of David’s “thirty mighty men” (23:8-39).

C. God is faithful; He will always be faithful to His Word, His will, His children and His promises.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (KJV)

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck…” 1 Timothy 1:18-19 (KJV)

II. URIAH WAS OBEDIENT TO THE KING’S COMMANDMENT TO RETURN HOME (v. 7).

A. Uriah was probably wondering about the purpose of his being called back to Jerusalem.

1. He may have thought, “The king desires that I get some rest and relaxation”, but his heart had no desire for it.

B. Uriah was obedient to the king’s call.

C. Christian, let us who have been called by our King, hear His voice, do His bidding and when He calls us home do so with the earnestness of this hero of Jerusalem, Israel and Judah.

1. We can rest assured that when our King Jesus calls us to His home He will not have some devious intent in His heart and mind.

III. URIAH WAS LOYAL TO THE KING AND ALL THE OTHER SOLDIERS WHO WERE FAITHFULLY FIGHTING THE BATTLES (vv. 8-13).

A. He is not only loyal to his king, but loyal and faithful to the other soldiers who are not getting the call from the king that he received.

1. Uriah would have made a good United States Marine Corp Officer or soldier. “Semper Fi” or “Always Faithful” is the motto of the Marine Corp, and that seems to have been Uriah’s creed as well.

B. Uriah would not go home to his wife, his heart was on the welfare of the king and his troops on the field.

1. The good soldier is thinking about the safety of the others, and their leader and nation.

2. The heart of Uriah at this point in time puts the heart of king David to shame.

C. David jumped headlong into this adulterous relationship with Uriah’s wife, because he was not doing what he should have been doing.

1. The first verse of chapter eleven includes the following words, “at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah.

2. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

IV. URIAH IS FAITHFUL TO GOD, HIS WIFE, HIS COUNTRY AND HIS KING EVEN UNTO DEATH – CARRYING HIS OWN DEATH WARRANT (vv. 14-17).

A. King David upon realization that he would not convince Uriah to get home anytime soon; sent a death warrant by Uriah’s own hand to the General in the field – Joab.

1. Unknowingly, most likely, Uriah takes the hand written message written by the hand of the king that would cause him to die.

B. We have a Savior who was faithful to His Father; all the way to Jerusalem; all the way to Calvary; all the way to the cross; all the way to the tomb; and all the way to His glory which He had with the Father from the beginning (John 17:5).

1. We by faith in Him and His finished work on the cross put on His righteousness, His garments, and take on the characteristics which led Him to the obedient, faithful, loving life that led to His cross; His place of death and dying for the sins of the world.

C. Uriah means “Flame of Jah” or “Flame of the Lord”, and surely he was the flame of God burning in Israel when the “man after God’s own heart” had plunged into darkness of sin.

D. Oh, Christian when we see a brother or sister in Christ; who has plunged headlong into sin; whether they be a church leader, leader’s wife, or the man or woman in the pew; that is the time to be the “Flame of the LORD”. (Galations 6:1-2)

1. Stand as an example of faith and light, be faithful to God, and don’t let the darkness of sin pull you in and down.

2. Jesus said, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Luke 12:49 (KJV). His Holy Spirit within His followers are the possessors of that Fire; and that Fire possesses us as well. Let us walk in the light of that flame.

In Get Rich or Die Tryin’, rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson presents himself as a rap superhero, encased in muscular flesh like armor, his face impassive as a mask, reaching out to destroy his enemies with his unique talent. The plot, though based on Jackson’s life, is standard–a gangster breaks from his youthful life of crime to triumph as a rapper–but there’s vitality in the details: Jackson’s girlfriend helps him pull free the wires holding his jaw shut when he’s recovered from being shot in the face; a startling, brutal fight by naked men in a prison shower. Jackson even has his comic-book moment of transformation when a razor blade is thrown into his cell, encouraging him to kill himself; instead, he uses it to carve his rhymes into the walls. Unfortunately, as an actor Jackson only has two sides, gangster hard or oddly childlike and vulnerable. This second aspect falls away from the movie as Jackson assumes power, leaving only the cold, impassive face of a tough guy. That’s the fate of superheroes too–they become the mask they present to the world, which is both their dream and their fate. Terrence Howard (Crash, Hustle & Flow) livens things up as a volatile prison friend. Also featuring Bill Duke (Predator) as a raspy ganglord and Joy Bryant (Honey) as Jackson’s girlfriend. Capably directed by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In America). –Bret Fetzer

Marcus (50 Cent) has always known he was going to be a rapper. But when his mother is murdered young Marcus turns to dealing drugs for New York crime boss Majestic to pay the bills. As dealing turns to gang banging however Marcus finds his life spinning out of control eventually landing in prison. While there he decides to quit hustling and dedicate himself to his music…but by turning his back on Majestic he may have signed his own death warrant. Terrence Howard co-stars in this hard-hitting story based on 50 Cent’s transformation from gangster to rapper an unforgettable ride from tragic beginning to triumphant end.System Requirements:Runtime: 116 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 097360472943 Manufacturer No: 047294

Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ (Full Screen Edition) is available at Amazon for $14.99. To Order click here
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Want to get some other Format / Binding / Version? You can search for them from here

Other Products of Interest

• Hustle & Flow (Widescreen Edition)
• ATL (Widescreen Edition)
• 8 Mile (Widescreen Edition)
• Waist Deep (Full Screen)
• Four Brothers (Special Collector’s Edition)

Haha. I suddenly remembered ShyamRaj’s acoustic set outside Plaza Singapura. Hilarious fella. I was around TPJC and Jozette commented “Why did you cut your hair, you look like any other indian now.” Then I ran into Angela, who went “I don’t like Indian guys!”, and then “But you’re different,” when I protested.

By the way, The Yellow Ribbon Project got into TPJC Songfest as well! So I’m going to be playing in both the Solo and Group catagories (I’m not sure if anybody else is doing this!) 

There’s going to be a pretty good gig at Home Club this Saturday! Slathe (whom I’ve been wanting to check out for ages), Cigarette Sex (who are awesome), Thambi K Seow (who are fucking hilarous), Shotgun Start and other good bands. It’s not often you get good gigs like these, so do go! Tickets are at $12 including a drink, and the age limit is 16. Show starts at 5pm. Don’t miss it!

Complete list of bands: Deus ex Machina, Thambi K Seaow, Slathe, 80% Alcohol, Axecalibur, Shotgun Start, The Last, Cigarette Sex and Death Warrant.

DEAD MAN WALKING

Photos copyright © KLW NFC 2009
Items: Tasmania, Supreme Court Death Warrants
Mitchell Library NSW C203

Above: Death warrant for the execution of James Sutherland at the Hobart Gaol 1883 signed by Francis Smith. Photograph in carte-de-visite format of Sutherland taken by Thomas and Jack Nevin in the week before the execution, May 1883.

Photos copyright © KLW NFC 2009
Items: Tasmania, Supreme Court Death Warrants
Mitchell Library NSW C203

Above:The seal of the Supreme Court on the death warrant with Francis Smith’s signature. The insignia of the Supreme Court with lion and unicorn rampant also appears encircled in Nevin’s government stamp on the verso of a number of his photographs of Tasmanian prisoners.

Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith (1818-1890) ca. late 1870s-1883.
Reprint by Beattie 1900s courtesy State Library of Tasmania.

Title: Sir Francis Smith
Creator(s): Beattie, J. W. 1859-1930 [reprint]
Date: 19–
Description: 1 photograph : sepia toning ; 14 x 10 cm.
Notes: Exact measurements 140 x 98 mm, Title inscribed in pencil beneath image in unknown hand., In: Members of the Parliaments of Tasmania – no. 66 / photographed by J.W. Beattie.
Subjects: Smith, Francis Villeneuve – Sir – 1818-1909
Location: Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts
ADRI: AUTAS001125647586

Although this photograph is accredited to J.W. Beattie (1859-1930) by the State Library of Tasmania, it is a reprint made several decades later than the original capture taken possibly in the late 1870s or early 1880s. Here the Tasmanian administrator, Attorney-General and Chief Justice, who was born in 1818, looks like a man in his fifties. He appears to be about 15 years older than his earlier 1860s portrait by Reutlinger (below) which portrays a man in his early forties. Sir Francis Smith would have been an old man of eighty years or so by the time Beattie produced his Members of the Parliaments of Tasmania series in 1895-1900, and clearly this is not a portrait of an eighty year old. It is yet another reprint by Beattie without acknowledgement to the original photographer; Nevin, Clifford, the Ansons Bros. and Francis Russell Nixon were all photographers whose work Beattie reproduced without attribution.

In 1872, Sir Francis Smith left Tasmania on 18 months’ leave. Within a month the Government Printer James Barnard (1809?-1897), had also requested leave of absence. These documents give details.

Archives Office of Tasmania
TRE1/1/363
1154 – Correspondence re. Payment of Chief Justice Francis Smith’s Salary While on 18 Months Leave from the Colony 12 Feb 1872- 19 Feb 1872
TRE1/1/376 1170 – Request for Leave of Absence- James Barnard at the Government Printing Office 08 Mar 1872 – 09 Mar 1872

On his return to duty in Hobart, 1874, Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith served the Governor Charles Du Cane as administrator, although he was soon to become involved in a controversy between the Governor and the judges, on matters of pardons, remissions and reprieves of offenders. Revised instructions …

… defined the Executive Council as the responsible advisers of the Governor, and required that he should be guided by their advice, except that he could act against it if he saw “sufficient cause”; laid down the classes of legislation to which he could not assent, and required that he should not give his assent to a bill unless he had had previous instructions from the Secretary of State to do so, unless it contained a clause suspending its operation until the Royal pleasure was known, or unless it was a case of “urgent necessity”. The Governor must still use “his own deliberate judgement” in considering in the Executive Council whether an offender under sentence of death should be pardoned or reprieved. (AOT Guide to Records Chapter 2)

And by December 1877, Governor Frederick Weld was objecting to the possibility of Francis Smith as Chief Justice becoming the Administrator. With support from “a large and influential party” they looked upon Sir Francis Smith -

” … as their political opponent, and the personal enemy of their leader (Reibey). “… this combined with his unmeasured hostility to myself personaIly … & still more the means he uses, would render it inexpedient on public grounds for me to leave the Government or the private records of the Governor’s Office in his hands.” Weld therefore suggested that it would be far less objectionable for a President of the Legislative Council than for a Chief Justice to act in the place of the Governor.” (AOT Guide to Records Chapter 2)

The Governor’s Secretary for the Penal Establishments was Charles Torrens Belstead, 1 May 1869 – 1877; it was during his term that the transition of imperial convicts to colonial government supervision occurred.

In the photograph above, Sir Francis Smith is examining a carte-de-visite. Who was the photographer of both Smith’s portrait and the carte he holds? It is an usual and very informal photograph for a portrait of a senior government official and suggests that the circumstances occasioning the capture had everything to do with his assessment of the photographer standing before him, and of the photographer’s work.

Given that this photograph was sourced in Tasmania by Beattie ca 1895, it was most likely taken by a Tasmanian photographer. From May 1874, at the time the decision was made by the Chief Justice to accelerate the transfer of paupers and prisoners at Port Arthur to the Hobart Gaol under the supervision of the Surgeon-Commandant Dr Coverdale, the photographer contracted at the Hobart Gaol was T.J. Nevin. The paupers were not photographed and were housed in welfare depots apart from the Gaol. Most of the transferees were received at the Gaol and then re-assigned to employers. Nevin produced a “booking photograph” for those few of the criminal class who were who incarcerated at the Hobart Gaol. Those with TOLs on assignment who absconded and worse earned another sentence of imprisonment on capture and a further mugshot by Nevin.

Nevin’s studio stamp for the contract which appeared on the verso of these prisoner cartes was printed with the same insiginia which James Barnard used on official prison regulations documents. The photographer of this portrait of Sir Francis Smith was therefore, in all likehood, Thomas Nevin. And the carte Francis Smith is holding may be one of the several hundred of Tasmanian prisoners taken by the brothers Thomas and Jack Nevin over the decade 1873-1884 for the Prisons Department, the Hobart Gaol and Supreme Court, and the Municipal Police Office at the Town Hall. If indeed the carte he is assessing here is the same one shown next to James Sutherland’s warrant, the photograph of Francis Smith must have been taken by Jack Nevin at the Hobart Gaol on 23rd May 1883.

…

Sir Francis Smith
Creator(s): Reutlinger, Charles
Date: 186-?
Description: 1 photograph : sepia toning ; 9 x 6 cm.
Notes: Exact measurements 89 x 56 mm, Title inscribed in pencil on verso in unknown hand., Head and shoulders facing front.
Subjects: Smith, Francis Villeneuve – Sir – 1818-1909
Location: Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts
ADRI: AUTAS001125883934

RELATED POSTS at main weblog

• Working with police and prisoners
• Brothers Thomas & Jack Nevin with W.R. Giblin
• Archives Office of Tasmania records of Nevin’s convict portraits
• Execution of Sutherland and Ogden
• National Library of Australia’s holdings of Nevin’s convict portraits
• NLA’s ‘native’ convict portrait with no attribution