Jeremiah 11:16 Irish Apostle’s Fire
Saint Patrick, the man, was born around the fifth century. His birth name was Maewyn Succat. Patrick changed his name much like the apostle Paul did. Like Saul was a Hebrew name, Paul was his Greek name. So being more welcome by the Gentiles, Saul went by Paul. Maewyn changed his British name to Patrick, an Apostle to Ireland. Born in Britain before the Roman Empire failed and the early beginnings of the Roman Catholic church, Patrick’s family was Christian. Along with thousands of others at 16, according to Patrick’s self-written confession, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken into slavery. Also, according to Patrick’s confession, the Lord allowed this to happen because he and others were disobeying God. The same happens to Daniel and his Hebrew friends; the book of Jeremiah and Daniel records this (Jeremiah 52, Daniel 1:3-4). Patrick’s slave labor was being a shepherd. So like David, Patrick spent lots of time praying on green pastures ( 1 Samuel 16:11, 1 Samuel 17:26-37, Psalm 151:1-4). Just like the dreaming prophet Joseph, the son of Jacob (Genesis 37:5-9). Patrick had many dreams that gave him direction. While sleeping one night, a dream told Patrick to run to the coast; a boat was there to help him escape. So he obeyed the voice in his dream and ran for two hundred miles; sure enough, a boat awaited him. So, Patrick escaped and returned home at 22. When Patrick returned home, he told his parents and the church he wanted more education in scripture. Patrick became a bishop; then, he had another dream asking him to return to Ireland and walk with them. So, Patrick told his family and church he was returning to Ireland to teach them the gospel. They had the same attitude Jonah did when God told him to go to Nineveh. To Jonah, Nineveh was wicked, far beyond redemption and salvation (Jonah 4:1-3). The civilized Christians of Rome felt like the druids were far too wicked and beyond for the gospel. But Patrick felt the urge to be an apostle to Ireland. Saint Patrick wasted no time, going from village after village preaching and baptizing many in the name of Christ Jesus. The time to celebrate the resurrection day of Christ, Easter, was near. In the early centuries, the resurrection day of Christ was remembered with a huge bonfire. The Druids had a festival to welcome spring at the same time as Easter. The Irish king made an order, no fires, no candle was to be lit, or that person would be put to death. But Saint Patrick, a loyal bondservant who only obeyed the King of Kings, climbed the highest hill in Ireland and started an enormous bonfire for all to see. All of Ireland caught Saint Patrick’s fire, and the king’s servants told him if Saint Patrick’s fire wasn’t put out before morning, it would burn for eternity. Saint Patrick was like the prophet Elijah proving that the fire of God is ever-consuming the pagan god’s flame (1 Kings 18:20-39, Romans 11:1-4). Many Irish were converted from the pagan druid religion to the religion of the eternal God, and Saint Patrick’s servant followed. The fable Saint Patrick cast snake from Ireland is spiritual in how similar to Moses, the gospel, and the praying the saint made the lies of the Druid religion disappear (Numbers 21:7). Saint Patrick died on March 17, which is when the holiday name after him is celebrated. Much may say Saint Patrick’s day is pagan, but they are just in the dark as the Druids were. I remember and honor Saint Patrick and hope to be an apostle like him. God bless you all, the Shepherd, Lord, and I love you. His humble bondservant, Samuel Jerry Head.