Peacock
Children's sermon
Learning From the Lizard
Bible Animal Object Lessons
Object:
Beauty -- A Gift From God
For the king (Solomon) had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (1 Kings 10:22 NRSV).
Scholars disagree on whether the word tuki, as used in 1 Kings 10, should be translated peacock. But it is well known that among the luxury items that came from Ceylon were many rare animals and birds, including the peacock. The majestic tail and coloring of the peacock made it a fitting inhabitant of the palace of Solomon. A king of his splendor would have included this radiant bird.
The peacock has been mostly an ornamental bird for the wealthy. It certainly is not a bird to have around small gardens for it can do much damage. Its raucous voice is less offensive in large parks where it is used to protest against intruders. The voice sounds like a loud "help, help!"
The long tail feathers of the male can be raised to form a huge fan, revealing that the tip of each is adorned with a multicolored "eye." The "eyes" and the amazing colors seem to give a magical quality to the bird. Eating its flesh supposedly gave mystical powers.
When the term "peacock" is used it actually refers to just the male of the peafowl, whose mate is known as the peahen. The hen does not have the showy feathers that the cock has and is a much smaller bird. The feathers of the cock appear to be tail feathers but actually grow from the back of the bird and are almost five times as long as its body, giving him an overall length of up to six feet! The term "proud as a peacock" is appropriate especially when the male raises its glorious feathers and makes them vibrate and rustle when courting.
The peafowl lives wild in India and Ceylon. Tame peafowls can be found in all parts of the world, sometimes owned privately, and are a prized possession of almost all zoos.
Lessons From The Peacock
True beauty is a gift from God. All peacocks are equally endowed by their Creator with this most glorious display of feathers. The style does not change, and is fresh and beautiful year after year. It is doubly true that Solomon in all his glory was not adorned as one of these.
Prayer
Oh how wonderful, oh how glorious, O Lord, is the majestic color you have displayed in the peacock. We are thankful for the gift of the magnificent rainbow. We are thankful for the multiplicity of colors we see in the birds around us. May we never become indifferent to your most marvelous creation. Also we would pray, "May the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!" Amen.
For the king (Solomon) had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes and peacocks (1 Kings 10:22 NRSV).
Scholars disagree on whether the word tuki, as used in 1 Kings 10, should be translated peacock. But it is well known that among the luxury items that came from Ceylon were many rare animals and birds, including the peacock. The majestic tail and coloring of the peacock made it a fitting inhabitant of the palace of Solomon. A king of his splendor would have included this radiant bird.
The peacock has been mostly an ornamental bird for the wealthy. It certainly is not a bird to have around small gardens for it can do much damage. Its raucous voice is less offensive in large parks where it is used to protest against intruders. The voice sounds like a loud "help, help!"
The long tail feathers of the male can be raised to form a huge fan, revealing that the tip of each is adorned with a multicolored "eye." The "eyes" and the amazing colors seem to give a magical quality to the bird. Eating its flesh supposedly gave mystical powers.
When the term "peacock" is used it actually refers to just the male of the peafowl, whose mate is known as the peahen. The hen does not have the showy feathers that the cock has and is a much smaller bird. The feathers of the cock appear to be tail feathers but actually grow from the back of the bird and are almost five times as long as its body, giving him an overall length of up to six feet! The term "proud as a peacock" is appropriate especially when the male raises its glorious feathers and makes them vibrate and rustle when courting.
The peafowl lives wild in India and Ceylon. Tame peafowls can be found in all parts of the world, sometimes owned privately, and are a prized possession of almost all zoos.
Lessons From The Peacock
True beauty is a gift from God. All peacocks are equally endowed by their Creator with this most glorious display of feathers. The style does not change, and is fresh and beautiful year after year. It is doubly true that Solomon in all his glory was not adorned as one of these.
Prayer
Oh how wonderful, oh how glorious, O Lord, is the majestic color you have displayed in the peacock. We are thankful for the gift of the magnificent rainbow. We are thankful for the multiplicity of colors we see in the birds around us. May we never become indifferent to your most marvelous creation. Also we would pray, "May the beauty of Jesus be seen in me!" Amen.
