Chasing Wisdom : Proverbs 3:1-4

Day One:

My son, do not forget my teaching,
    but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
    and bring you peace and prosperity.

³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
    in the sight of God and man.

It is interesting to note here that the Father speaks to his son and says, “…Do not forget…”, this implies that the knowledge and the teachings, the experience and the life lessons of an older generation have been passed down into the next generation.  To “forget” something, one must have known something. The flip side of this coin is so beautiful as parents, mentors, grandparents, disciples, friends….to lead by example and to live out your Christian walk.   Others are watching.  Are we living our life so that others would know us by our love?

A warning issued by a father centuries ago, warns his son not to forget.  How often do we forget? How often does daily prayer time slip away with the task master called “THE SCHEDULE”? How often does a mountain top experience, a burning intentionality fizzle to background static?

How do we keep these commandments at the forefront of our hearts? In days of old the Pharisees  would wear phylacteries.  These  were cube shaped “small leather cases” that the Pharisees wore on their foreheads and their arms. In these cases were the Scripture verses from Exodus 13: 1-10, 11-16 and Deuteronomy 6: 4-9; 11: 13-21 - See more at: http://www.scripturessay.com/what-were-the-phylacteries-that-the-pharisees-wore/#sthash.8abe6ttG.dpuf

The fringes on the Pharisees robes were reminders that they walked with God- each time the wearer noticed the fringes, he was to ask himself if he were – truly – walking with God.

I think it is fair to gather, that wearing these reminders, of our pursuit towards Holy obedience, did not work for the Pharisees and, probably, would not work for us for  very long.  After a time, the little leather cases would become mundane, regular, and not noticed.  

So how do we NOT FORGET? How do we store His commandments in our hearts?  I would say it is about relationship. I don’t forget that I am married and that I am a mother. These relationships take up much of my attention and my heart.  IF I don’t see my husband, or children, for days on end- my heart longs to connect with them. This is wehre I think God would have us.  Daily, moment by moment, relationship…where we pant as a deer when we have not been in His presence. In this place of relationship, it is not about FORGET, it is about RELATIONSHIP.

Draw close to Him moment by moment, day by day- He is always with you- you are always a presence carrier of the Most High. Let that burn in your heart as the men on the road to Damascus.

We have two more promises for our promises page!  Wisdom will:

·      prolong your life many years

·      bring you peace and prosperity

I love the image that is brought to mind next – the image of WRITING  Love and faithfulness  on the tablet of my heart. Oh how beautiful is that image,, when we write it in a permanent marker and not chalk dust!! When it is burned into the tablet of our heart and becomes who we are and what we operate out of.

The word for “love, kindness, mercy and truth”  here is: he-sed, meaning:

·      favor,

·      good deed,

·      kindly, loving-kindness,

·      merciful kindness,

·      mercy,

·      pity,

·      reproach

A reproachable heart that is guided through love and mercy. Is this the nature of our heart?  Lord I pray that my heart would become this vessel to carry you out into the world!  That this heart that is so prone to evil thoughts and dees, grumbling and complaining would be teachable and reproachable- to bear witness to the thunder that is housed within me, through Your Spirit.

The word for Faithful here is : ehmeth, Contracted from 'aman, meaning ;

·      stability;

·      (figuratively) certainty,

·      truth,

·      trustworthiness -- assured(-ly),

·      establishment,

·      faithful,

·      right,

·      sure,

·      true (-ly, -th),

·      verity.

Oh Lord, that my heart would remain stable and not be cast through and fro with the moment by moments of each day.  That it would remain steadfastly true, fixed on You so that I might reflect Your Glory and Your ways moment by moment!!!

When we do these things- when we live in this manner – the promises are that then Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man!

What treasures He has bestowed upon us through this book!!

How have you turned your world and priorities upside down, so that relationship is more important that obligation? An interesting question, as the world and the schedule laps at us – demanding our attention.  How do you find time to invest in your relationship with God?