Hooray for Hollywood!
Most are familiar with this song. It is often played at Hollywood events as well as every Academy awards ceremony. Upbeat and lively, it encapsulates the ethos of Tinseltown. The lyrics of this song are from a bygone era. Some of the names and references may elude this current generation. Here is an excerpt from one of the verses.
Hooray for Hollywood!
You may be homely in your neighborhood
But if you think that you can be an actor, see Mr. Factor
He’ll make a monkey look good
Within a half an hour you’ll look like Tyrone Power
Hooray for Hollywood!
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer Audio Source: You Tube
Mr. Factor? Tyrone Power? Mr. Factor is Max Factor, a name that may still resonate with this current generation as a line of cosmetics marketed under the Coty label. Max Factor was the makeup artist for nearly all of the Hollywood elite until his death in 1938. Tyrone Power was an actor, blessed with good looks and famous for his swashbuckling leading man roles. He would be the equivalent of today’s Paul Rudd or Tom Cruise. In a bygone era, the names of Mr. Factor and Tyrone Power would be instantly recognizable to anyone hearing their names.
What about the Bible? The Bible was written over the span of thousands of years. While most are familiar with names like Abraham, Moses, and David, there are numerous other names that are sometimes mentioned only once. Thus, I find it interesting that there are two names that are mentioned numerous times and they are not great saints of the Bible.
He struck down great nations and slaughtered mighty kings—Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan. He gave their land as an inheritance, a special possession to his people Israel.
Psalms 135:10-12 (NLT)
When the Israelites conquered the land of Canaan to establish the kingdom of Israel, they defeated an astounding thirty-one kings! But there are two kings that are frequently singled out during the recounting of these great victories: Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan. They were kings who were greatly feared in their day. Jewish tradition suggests these two kings may have been brothers possessing giant physical proportions. In this bygone era, they were greatly feared, and their names would be immediately recognized. To defeat them would be continually celebrated and the story retold countless times. It would be akin to someone today, challenging and defeating Tiger Woods or Mike Tyson in their prime.
When we hear older songs, it is instructive to learn about the names and places that are referenced. It helps us to understand the context and understand the intentions of the songwriter when he wrote it. The Bible is no different. When we do a deeper dive into the names and places of the Bible, we gain a profound insight into the context of the passage and understand the intentions of the writer. Who is this writer? God!
Hooray for God! He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 