Three Dog Night, "Yellow Beach Umbrella"

January was when many folks took a vacation. During the coldest month in the northern hemisphere, it was wonderful to get away from the bitterness and darkness of winter to somewhere warm and green. Now only the privileged folks can leave while we are in lockdown.

This Three Dog Night song mirrors the feelings of loners like me. In fact even people-oriented folks need a break from others for a while.

Check out this melancholy song here:

Many folks in the Bible needed to be alone at times. One famous example was Elijah. He was on the run from Queen Jezebel when God showed him his mighty power in a wind storm, earthquake, and fire. 

We read in 1 Kings 9:13 (Bible in Basic English) what happened next. "And Elijah, hearing it, went out, covering his face with his robe, and took his place in the opening of the hole. And there a voice came to him saying, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?' And he said, 'I have been burning for the honour of the Lord, the God of armies; for the children of Israel have not kept your agreement; they have had your altars broken down, and have put your prophets to death with the sword: till I, even I, am the only one living; and now they are attempting to take away my life.'"

Another greatly-oppressed man was Job. His friends made all sorts of terrible allegations against him, daring to think they had the wisdom of God. Job 7:16 (BBE) reads, "I have no desire for life, I would not be living for ever! Keep away from me, for my days are as a breath."

Sometimes God calls people to worship him alone. This happened to Moses in Exodus 24:1 and 2 (BBE). "And he said to Moses, 'Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, and Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the chiefs of Israel; and give me worship from a distance. And Moses only may come near to the Lord; but the others are not to come near, and the people may not come up with them.'"

We also read when Jesus needed to be apart from the crowd and his disciples. Mark 1:12 and 13 (BBE) speaks of his temptation by the Devil. "And straight away the Spirit sent him out into the waste land. And he was in the waste land for forty days, being tested by Satan; and he was with the beasts; and the angels took care of him."

Jesus also enjoyed his solitude. Matthew 14:23 (BBE) reads, "And after he had sent the people away, he went up into the mountain by himself for prayer: and when evening was come, he was there by himself."

Provided that Christ doesn't return by Thursday, I hope to post about an encouraging song by a British band and how it applies to us.