Saturday, August 12, 2017

Thoughts on Proverbs 3

The use of the words "My son" in Proverbs 3 makes the chapter, and most if not all of Proverbs, feel more personal like a parental letter. The advice within the verses are serious and forceful, but also hold hope within them. Over and over the advice to take rest in God, His mercy, and grace adds further to the feeling that there is a solid place on which to rest not only one's hope but also where one can rest entirely.

Bits that connected with me: 

In everything refer to the law and the Lord. Trust in Him, and He will lead you. By depending on His strength we gain nourishment, and life. The use of the words "navel" and "marrow" are quite potent here. The first, navel, because it is the part of the body which allows a foetus to be nourished/fed. This can be considered as assistance and strength from outside. The second word, marrow, is focused on the inward development or sustenance. The marrow is at its the core manufacturer of blood (cells). For God's law (wisdom, and understanding) to be the fuel on which operate is powerful. And His willingness to take this role is humbling.

Honour God with who and what you are, not just the things you own but also with your "substance" - this includes not just the physical body but also what makes you who you are - your character and talent, and also the things which are being given to you, your increase whether they are gifts, or salart, or anything else. This will cause a pouring out of blessings on you. The blessings might not be your wants, or the things you think you need. Instead they might be the things you need in the times that you need them. View correction as a blessing. Endure and appreciate it, because it is a sign of love, care, and appreciation of purest and deepest kind. Those things which are difficult but make you stronger and better in character are blessings as well. Blessings will not always be wrapped in pristine paper, or a bow.

Insight, knowledge, and the ability to understand are great blessings above which nothing greater exists. In tandem are long life, serenity, a good reputation, and all that is good for all of the senses.

There is a continuous reiteration and repetition of the qualities to be gained by receiving and using wisdom and understand which pushes towards the conclusion that life without these elements is greatly lacking and out of sync with God, and true happiness. He is life and anything which lengthens life and peace is one with Him.

The text pushes on stating that these are the qualities used by the Lord. It explains how important they are by explaining how they are used by God (in creation). Then an explanation is given on the importance of the law, of wisdom and discretion in life.

By keeping the law near to and within you, you keep God's grace near to and within you. There is but one mention of the ten commandments within this text. This drives the thought that the law, being referred to here, is not restricted to the commandments. But instead it is the law of God which is essentially, love - brotherly, pure love. This is the love which God bestows on you and which you ought to emulate in and towards yourselves and all men and women with whom you exist. It is also the same love and respect (because love breeds respect) which you should lavish on God.

But this does not exclude the commandments, because it too was written based on and around the character of God, love. It asks you to love God without bounds in the first group of commandments, and then it asks you to love yourself and your fellow men in the remaining commandments.

You do not kill, covet, steal from, or in any other way deprive someone you love of something that is their own. Therefore, to keep the law is to love in purity, to love as God does by walking in His law.

Always act with love in your heart. If you something which is owed to someone, or which someone deserves, give it to the individual with love. Do not deny anyone of anything out of envy, or act in hatred towards anyone.

Live in love, doing good to those who are against you. Do not follow the steps of those who live in hatred. Stay your course of love. Keep your feet, your mind, your heart ever filled with love, and following the laws of the Lord day and night as you succeed and as you are pained.  

The law shall keep you safe and upright, always within the bands of safety and with a peace permeating your mind and emotional being. Harm will be around but it will not come unto you with God as your Protector. 

Keep the wisdom of God with you always to discern what is of Love and what isn't. Keep the wisdom of God with you always living in the humility of love.