Biblical Lessons From Three Dog Night

I was just three years old the day my Sunday school class was combined with the older kids’ class.  There weren’t enough little kids at church that day to have a separate class.  I was a bit apprehensive about going in with the bigger kids.  I wasn’t sure what to do.  In the little kids class we would color, maybe get to cut something out of construction paper, learn a bible story, and sing.  This big kids class had a totally different teacher.  Her name was Betty Pollard.  I was unsure of her knowledge of us little kids and our specific needs.  I worried that we wouldn’t fit in, or that it might just be a waste of time for me.  Betty got everybody arranged in their seats and quieted down for the day’s lesson.  She opened her bible and asked,  “Can anybody tell me who Jeremiah was?”  I lifted my head, looked right at her, and very eagerly raised my little arm in the air.  She said, “Yes Tricia, do you know who Jeremiah was?”  I replied with great assurance, “He was a bull frog!”  A few of the older kids snickered.  Betty shot a stern look their direction and brought any semblance of rude behavior to an end.

You see, two things happened in 1971 that were of great importance to me:  my little sister Mary was born, and Three Dog Night released a single called, Joy To The World.  That song had been playing very loudly on the radio in our car, living room, and my brothers’ bedroom for months.  I had been belting out the lyrics right along with it.  I knew all too well who Jeremiah was.  The first line of the song very plainly tells you, “Jeremiah was a bull frog.  Was a good friend of mine…”

Betty went on to explain who the Jeremiah from the bible was.  I didn’t think much of the story at the time because I knew I was right in my explanation of Jeremiah, despite his amphibian lineage.  I sat quietly for the rest of class, eagerly awaiting the time when we would get to color, or sing, or something we were supposed to be doing.  When class was over, and I must report that we did not get to color or cut anything out, Betty held my hand and led me to the stage at the front of the church.  With the entire congregation looking on, she peered down at me and asked, “Tricia, can you tell us who Jeremiah was?”  I answered without hesitation, “He was a bull frog!”  I thought I had made that perfectly clear the first time.  Most of the people in the church expressed a nice little chuckle when I gave my answer…again.  I did not understand the humor in this.  Jeremiah was a bull frog.  Everyone knows it.  We sing songs about it for goodness sakes!  These people are silly.

Betty Pollard was a wonderful, wonderful lady who I loved very much.  I look forward to the day when I can fellowship with her again in Glory-land.  She was a mentor and role-model to all her knew her.  She introduced me to Jeremiah.  Now that I am a little older, I understand who Jeremiah, from the bible, was.  God called him to do a very difficult thing.  He was to try and restore the law and order of God during a time when paganism had basically taken over.  Jeremiah was persecuted and hated by many, even members of his own family.  Yet, God was with him.

Some of my most favorite verses come from Jeremiah.  I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. Jeremiah 1:5   How beautiful and assuring is that?  God chose us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb!  I just don’t have the words to express how safe and secure this makes me feel.  God goes on to tell Jeremiah that he has been called to go throughout Israel and tell them how they have wronged.  Jeremiah is afraid, doubtful, and tells God he is too young to do this.  Then the Lord said to me:  Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.  Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you.  This is the Lord’s declaration.  Jeremiah 1:7-8  What a glorious thing!  The Lord God Himself, declaring He will be with you.  He will give you the words to speak.  Talk about putting on the full armor of God!

I only dream of having a relationship with God as Jeremiah had.  He warned his country of the grave consequences if they continued in their sinful ways.  He lived to see the results of God’s wrath on those people.  Although Jeremiah’s message may seem to some to be full of impending doom, it was actually full of hope.  Just as there is still hope for us today.  Our God is merciful and most long-suffering indeed.  We need only repent of our sins to have everlasting life.

Joy to the world

All the boys and girls now

Joy to the fishes in the deep blue see

Joy to you and me!

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