“Spartans! What is your profession?”

Filed under: Christianity, Entertainment, Faith, Inspiration, Uncategorized — 1 Comment

August 3, 2012

Isn’t it fun when you watch a movie and God whispers some spiritual truth to the ears of your heart?!

It is so cool to witness God’s truths and promises from scripture especially when it reveals itself in a movie, and it happens every time I watch the 2006 Warner Bros. Pictures movie: 300.

300?!!

Yes, 300. I absolutely love that movie.

It’s not only because Mr. Gerard Butler is an amazing specimen of God’s wonderful creation, including Lena Headey and so many of the abs, I mean actors, who play a part in that movie…

I can’t help but lose my breath as I watch it and see all of the instances it points to history books and scripture, all the while painting a beautiful picture of how both Christ and the evil one sees us!

300 is a controversial and totally inappropriate movie for anyone who’s, y’know pretty much not married, but I tell you I LOVE that movie!!

First off it floors me every time, that this stand Leonidas and the 300 Spartans took against the mighty Persian army is true. You can read all about the Battle of Thermopylae in history books and archives. Unbelieveable!

Secondly, I stare in awe at the (probably not terribly accurate, but still artistically interesting) portrayal of King Xerxes. The very king that the stories talk about from the Bible; the son of King Darius who takes over the Persian Empire after Darius’ death and the very king Esther marries…

“In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius…” Zechariah 1:1a

“Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,” Esther 1:1

“And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, …the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen …” Esther 2:16-17

Granted, Xerxes is the Greek name for Ahasuerus, and he does not marry Esther until approximately the year following the battle, but still I find it fascinating and it puts the movie in a whole new light.

Third, there is a moment in the movie when the Spartans arrive at the “Hot Gates,” the exact location they plan to overthrow the Persian army. As they arrive and stand on a high cliff overlooking a sea filled with Persian ships, a powerful storm ensues and the raging sea tramples upon and swallows those mighty ships. The Spartans celebrate the “glorious rain” and rejoice in the power they are witnessing.

I can only reflect on that exact power our Creator holds and yields at His whim. How He can and does use the weather to do His bidding and to show His power…

“the LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.” Isaiah 29:6

“There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences…” Luke 21:11a

“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,” Luke 21:25

Fourth, the way the movie portrays fleshly desires is impeccable. There’s a scene where King Xerxes lures the derelict Ephialtes to submit to him by offering every kind of fleshly desire imaginable. He seduces Ephialtes not only with his words by promising him the wealth, pleasure, and honor he craves but also immerses Ephialtes within the temptation itself; Xerxes allows Ephialtes to be seduced by his own eyes…

“Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.” Proverbs 27:20

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15

Xerxes promises that if Ephialtes abandons his country and shows the Persians how to defeat the Spartans, his “joys will be endless. Everything you could possibly desire… every happiness you can imagine… every pleasure your fellow Greeks and false gods have denied you… I will grant you, for I am kind.”

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:16

Oh, how we are like Ephialtes! So often we feel rejected by this world and when the evil one whispers his tantalizing, empty promises, we are eager to listen…

Lust of the eyes;

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”   Genesis 3:6

“and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.”   Genesis 4:4-5

“… the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’”   Matthew 4:8-9

Lust of the flesh;

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food , and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”   Genesis 3:6

“It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her.”   2 Samuel 11:2, 4a

“After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’”   Matthew 4:2-3

The pride of life;

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”   Genesis 3:6

“Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.”   Ezekiel 28:17

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ’If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down.’”   Matthew 4:5-6

“Yes! I want it all!” Ephialtes screams as he falls to his knees in devotion to the god-King Xerxes. How many times have we said those exact words and knelt to the wrong king?

And finally, there is a moment in the movie where Leonidas meets Xerxes face to face. Xerxes cautions Leonidas of the power and destruction he can ensue, and advises Leonidas to surrender and bow to him.