The Unknown Sound

I heard the noise as I was emptying the dishwasher.
I stopped clanging the dishes and listened.
Nothing.
As soon as I resumed the dishwasher emptying the noise started again.

I went into the living room and opened the door to the side porch.
Nothing.
I went back into the kitchen and opened the back door onto the deck.
Nothing.

I opened the door in the laundry room.
Silence.
I opened my basement door, hoping that the sound was not coming from there.
Quiet.

I was perplexed.
I heard it again.
I decided to walk out onto the back deck and see if the sound was coming from the woods.
The sun was shining brightly so I stayed in the shade of the house as I listened.

All at once a shadow came across the back sidewalk.
It was the shadow of a large bird flying over our house.
I didn’t really think anything of it since I see all sorts of birds and animals in my yard.
But then I heard the sound again.

I shielded my eyes from the sun and looked up.
There perched in a tree in my backyard were turkey buzzards.
Not just one or two.
The tree was covered with them.

It is a common sight in my neighborhood this time of year.
When you see the turkey buzzards roosting in the trees, it is like a scene from The Birds.
Big, black birds with an expansive wingspan.
Often, you will see turkey buzzards on top of a roof with their wings extended.

They do that so they can dry their wings.
It is an ominous sight.
The sound continued, yet the birds in the tree were sitting very still.
I heard the sound again.

Movement caught my eye and I looked towards my chimney.
Two turkey buzzards were fighting for space on the cap of the chimney.
Since we have a gas fireplace, the flue is a bit different.
We purposely put a cap on the chimney so that no birds could fly down.

It was this cap that was causing a territory war.
With my hand over my eyes to keep out the sun, I watched.
Their hooked beaks were prominent.
What little space there was on top of my chimney cap was a point of contention.

I came inside satisfied to know that the sound had been determined.
I still heard it as I had my breakfast at the counter.
Then as quick as it began, it stopped.
I walked outside and looked up at the chimney and the tree; the birds were gone.

All that noise, all that ruckus over territory.
Two turkey buzzards fought while the others roosted in the tree.
I have seen houses where the entire roof line was covered with turkey buzzards.
Turkey buzzards on the uppermost point drying their wings in the sun is a sight to see.

I was hoping that our house and our tree would not be their next roosting place.
I think something scared them away.
I can’t say that I will miss them.
Turkey buzzards cause damage to property.

Turkey vultures are a federally protected species.
They have no natural predators.
It is illegal to shoot them.
Homeowners try to scare them off.

One Delaware town called in the fire department to help with the turkey buzzard problem.
The firefighters used lights and sirens to scare away the birds.
We’re hoping that we can harass them to the point that they don’t come back.
It will take a while. It won’t be a one shot deal, the fireman said.

Apparently, something scared the turkey buzzards away from my roof this morning.
I am grateful to whatever it was that startled them.
My house became very quiet.
My questions finally had answers.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?”  The Lord answered him, “I will surely hand the Philistines over to you.” So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim, so David inquired of the Lord, and He answered. “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
(2 Samuel 5:17-25)

David was to wait until he heard the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees.
The Lord was fighting a battle in the heavenlies.
A battle that cannot be seen.
A battle that the Lord allowed David to hear.

Those spiritual battles are still being fought today.
Do you realize how many times God has protected you?
Do you realize that the battles you are fighting have a more significant meaning?
Do you realize that you do not fight your battles alone?

God marches before us.
God gives His people the victory.
The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name. (Exodus 15:3)
He is the God who goes before us.

The sound I heard this morning reminded me of the sound in the tops of the balsam trees.
I did not have to do anything with getting the turkey buzzards off my roof.
Something else sent them away.
I am grateful.

What are the turkey buzzards in your life right now?
What problem is roosting far too long with no solution in sight?
Listen!
God marches in front of His people to give them the victory.

Do you hear the sound of His marching?
Listen!
In the tops of the trees just beyond our sight you will hear it.
The God who goes before you, the Warrior, the Lord is His name.