Proverb of the day – December 02 2009

Written by William 

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; Proverbs 2:1 

Welcome to a new part of the site in which I am hoping to update on a daily basis to highlight a Proverb and what God is showing me through it, the idea is to lift up one verse dependant on the date (the second being Proverbs 2) 

For me, at first glance this proverb is about personal commitment! Make no mistake, if you are pondering the Christian life or are a Christian and thinks and not going as well as you had hoped, it is always fruitful to begin with some self-assessment! 

Lets face it, from time to time we all suck! I would list all the things I did wrong yesterday here, but I would fear that I may dominate this article with my own struggles and issues! 

Also, let us not think that this instruction is only for males, the word for son is “ben” in Hebrew which also means my children, my descendents, my people. 

When we become Christians we chose to be a member of God’s family by adoption, as the Christian praise son tells us that “we are his children, the fruit of his suffering” 

When we “receive” as it said in the text, (laqach) we take hold, we seize we fetch, we acquire, we take away. What I find interesting it is the same word used in Genesis 3:6 when it is describing the action that Eve took when she partook of the apple in the Garden of Eden. 

So in the same manner that the original sin was committed, the sin that condemns us, we have free will to make a choice to take a free gift for eternal salvation, for me that shows the simplicity of a gracious God! 

When you look at “my words” (‘emer) which can also mean utterance, speech, sayings, promises or commandments. So if you keep God’s commandments, will you be okay? Not at all, you are not saved by the Law but by faith in Christ Jesus. When you are saved, God the father will send his Holy Spirit to minister to you, that is when you have a desire to study his commandments and become more like him. Which is why you cannot do it alone, we need supernatural help! 

The last two words mean as the text says, and hide (tsaphan) my commandments (mitzvah) we are to store his word, his commandments within us. This is the hardest part, you see I can remember all manners of stuff that is no good for me (stuff like songs from 10-20 years ago) like it was yesterday but sometimes I have an issue retaining heavenly things! What I do is simply pray! 

I hope this has been both educational and edifying! 

God bless 

William

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