Struggled today. Focusing. Thinking. Comprehending.
I’m sure you can relate. Every day is not the same. Which makes me both grateful for the variety in life and for the consistency of God.
Proverbs 22:17-21
As God knew my struggles today He guided me toward a really easy passage from this week’s reading to talk about. He is always good. 🙂
In my bible, there is a bold heading like a neon sign that reads, “Sayings of the Wise”, my first clue.
Another reason this passage stood out to me- there are 5 verses all in one group! Woah, it’s been single verses for a while and visually this caught my attention. As I dug a little deeper I read that this passage begins a new section of Solomon’s writings, ones that are theme-driven and include 30 sayings. I will take these commentators’ word for it, I am not counting.
Anyway, the section goes from 22:17-24:22 and another new section will follow thereafter. We’ll talk about that next week.
Interestingly, I also read that this style of writing 30 Sayings was perhaps “borrowed” from a contemporary Egyptian pharaoh who also had a collection of 30 Sayings. However the two part ways in their content. One from an earthly King named Amenemope whose perspective was temporal, and Solomon’s perspective, life-enriching wisdom inspired by an eternal holy God.
Having said that, this is what spoke to me.
“…for it is pleasing when you keep them (the sayings of the wise) in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.” (Proverbs 22:18)
Reading or even understanding the words intellectually can make a difference in your life, right? It reminds me of a relationship. There are many layers or levels to a relationship. You might intellectually begin by taking in the visual information about a person. They are tall or short or young or old or male or female, and so on. You will grow a little deeper when you learn their name and remember it. And deeper still when you begin learning facts about them. They live here and they work there and their family members are … you get the idea.
But what happens when you learn more about how they think and how they feel? What scares them and what do they look forward to? You begin to care about their sorrows and celebrate their victories.
This is very much like the journey of head to heart. Taking the wisdom not only from Proverbs but from all of the scripture and not only knowing it but “keeping it in your heart” or caring about it. Weaving it into your life so you become one with it.
Next step
Not only do you keep them in your heart, but Solmon goes on to say “and have all of them ready on your lips.” This is what happens when all of this truth moves it’s way from your head to your heart. Just like in a relationship that is growing you are moving from learning to caring. Your conversation moves toward those things/people that you care about, doesn’t it? You met a new friend and had so much in common with them. You spent the day together and had the BEST time! In the days following you find yourself bringing the subject up over and over.
challenge
Are you beginning to see where I’m going with this? I hope so. The most important most desirable relationship is with God. Jesus IS the Word (John 1:1, 14) and I know that is a whole different topic but for now, we just need to agree that your relationship with God through Christ grows through your understanding, caring about, and speaking His Word. That is very much the message I received from Solomon who preceded Christ by 1,000 years.
That is the challenge.
That is the worship moment.
Build your trust in God alone by moving the wisdom of God and words of God from your head to your heart and letting that passion flow from your lips and into your lives.
