Solomon, the wisest man, enjoyed God’s creation, including the wonders of some birds. Perhaps he knew about the hornbill.
The hornbill’s head with its big beak and helmet (which we talked about last week) looks far too heavy to be held upright. But actually, it is quite light since the beak and helmet have very lightweight bones. They are covered with a thin sheath, and the inside is composed of a perforated, sponge-like material. This sponge-like material acts like a “cooling system” for the hornbill in its hot jungle home. The blood circulating through these bones carries away body heat and provides cooling comfort. In addition to its unusual head structures, the hornbill also has a strange way of building its nest. The female finds a hollow tree trunk with a hole in it. She stuffs the hole with sticks and other objects, filling it up, until its depth is just right. Then she makes a nest, lining it with feathers which she plucks from herself. She and her mate plaster mud around the hole until it is just large enough for her to crawl through. After she crawls inside they continue plastering the hole until only a slit remains that is large enough for her beak to get through.
Remaining in her “house,” the female hornbill lays several eggs and incubates them. Her mate faithfully brings food to her, as often as 100 times a day, placing it into her beak which she sticks out through the mud slit. When the chicks hatch the mother stays with them for several weeks (the father feeding them all) until the nest is too crowded. Meanwhile, new feathers have grown back on the mother. She and her mate peck at the hardened mud plaster until the hole is large enough for her to get out. However, the youngsters are not ready to come out, so the hole is closed up again for a few more weeks, leaving a slit for the parents to bring food to them every day. Eventually the youngsters break out and fly away.
The building of the nest reminds us of the words of Jesus when He was here on earth: “The birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.” Matthew 8:2020And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Matthew 8:20). How good of the Lord of all creation to provide homes for the birds and other creatures while He Himself did not have a place to lay His head!
The mother and father hornbill provide everything for the care of their young. It is good to think of God’s care and kindness to us, too. When Paul and Barnabas spoke to the people of Lystra, they said, “The living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein... did good... filling our hearts with joy and gladness.” Acts 14:15-1715And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (Acts 14:15‑17).
Have you ever thanked Him for all the good things you enjoy? Most important of all, say from your heart, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15). Have you accepted that most wonderful of all gifts, His beloved Son as your Saviour? It was the Lord Jesus Christ “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world.” Galatians 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4). If you have not done this, won’t you accept Him as your own Saviour now?
ML-02/13/1983