The musical instrument called the lyre has two curved arms reaching up from the base and a series of strings stretched between them. When explorers in Australia first caught sight of a pheasant- sized bird with feathers spread out just like the lyre, they promptly named it the lyre bird.
Actually, only the male bird has the beautiful feathers, and he displays them only in winter and spring. He moves around in the forest busily scratching for worms, snails, etc., with large, powerful feet and curved claws given to him by the Creator. He is not much of a flier, but he can run fast. When he runs he holds his long tail straight out behind him so it will not be damaged by the brush.
The music of the lyre instrument is lovely, but we cannot say the same for the lyre bird, except when it imitates another bird’s pleasant song. It is a great imitator, not only of other birds, but will quickly imitate the bark of a dog, the noise of a gasoline engine, the meow of a cat, or most any other sound. It is more talented than a parrot this way.
During winter the lyre bird looks for a mate. He sings loudly some of the tunes he has copied from other birds. Finding a clear spot in the forest, he scratches up a mound of dirt and climbs up to display his 16 beautiful tail feathers. He raises them in lyre-like shape, 30 inches high, waving and bending them forward over his head. They look like a delicate, beautiful fan - a lovely sight to see.
On the mound he does a lively dance which may last an hour or more. Other birds and animals sometimes stand to watch him. If a female lyre bird does not show up, he moves on to another mound already prepared some distance away, and he repeats the whole act. This may go on for several days, until finally a female appears. He helps her build an oval-domed nest in the fork of a tree or in the undergrowth where she lays just one egg. Then he deserts her, going back to his mounds to look for another female, while she hatches out the lone chick. This continues well into spring.
In spite of his beauty, the male lyre bird is really a vain creature, isn’t he? The way he deserts his companions spoils our admiration of him. His actions remind us of Satan, and even of some persons who make themselves attractive on the outside but are not attractive on the inside. But God is never deceived. The Bible tells us that “man [looks] on the outward appearance, but the Lord [looks] on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:77But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)). How solemn to realize that the Lord “[searches] all hearts, and [understands] all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:99And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)). We cannot hide from God; He knows all about us every moment of our lives.
How good it is to confess that we need Him to guide and direct our lives and to know “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)). Have you done this?
JUNE 16, 1996
ML-06/16/1996