Prov. 16
Plucking out a few random verses again…Prov. 16:3 – “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established”. I want to read this verse as, “If I pray that God will use my efforts for His glory, then I will succeed in what I am working toward.” But what does it really mean to “commit your work to the LORD”? And as for “my” plans being established, does this mean that God will bless me in my way? Perhaps this verse means that if I do my best to be obedient to what God asks me to do, that He will put me on the right path. He will establish me in HIS plan. After all, it isn’t about me, is it?
Prov. 17
Prov. 17:19 – “Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.” This statement of, “makes his door high” intrigued me, as I have no idea what it means. I did some quick (very quick) looking into that and it seems there are a couple possibilities. A more literal translation has something to do with how the walls and entrances to a person’s house were built. High gates and doors could indicate wealth, thus inviting robbers and such.
It makes more sense to me, though, that this expression is idiomatic speech. Drawing from that literal translation, I saw the possibility that this expression came to refer to a person who acted arrogantly, making himself out to be more important than he was (consider the “50 cent millionaire”). I also saw another possibility that suggested the actual literal translation of the word “door” in this verse is “opening”. In that case, “one who raises his opening” could be referring to a person with loud and arrogant speech.
With either one of these more idiomatic translations, the issue seems to be pride and arrogance, however it is expressed. But I also saw one person who, using the actual Hebrew phrases and how those phrases are used in other parts of the Bible (I just read what they said – I did not investigate its accuracy), suggested that a more accurate translation of this verse would be, “He who loves to take things [from his neighbor], he who loves to dispute, he who raises his voice, courts disaster.” Interesting.
Prov. 18
Prov. 18:1 – “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” As someone who spends an awful lot of time alone, this verse struck me. I have been told that Monks isolated themselves the way they did because they believed that was the way to live a holy and upright life. I can agree from personal experience that it is indeed much easier to refrain from temptations when you are by yourself because you aren’t exposed to so many of them. But this takes me back to the oxen and the dirty manger. Yes, you may have an easier time keeping your heart “right” when you isolate yourself, but what good do you do?
Wasn’t Jesus’ mission to us to bear witness of Him to others? Didn’t He leave us to take His Truth to the ends of the earth? And what about the Jewish religious leaders, who spent so much time and effort trying to obey every jot and tittle of the law that they completely overlooked the whole “love God and love your neighbor” part? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how “righteous” or “holy” I can be if I am not living out my life as a witness to those around me. So to isolate myself for that purpose is a self-serving act. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with being introverted or being alone. But God intended us for community and I believe it is important that we seek that out, at least to some degree. Or, at the very least, that we don’t seek to keep ourselves away from others.
Acts 2:22-47
In this passage, we revisit (or confirm?) the fact that many of David’s words in his Psalms were a reference to Jesus, who was both his descendant and his Lord. The more I study and learn of the Bible, the more obvious it is to me that God had/has a very intricate and detailed Plan that He is working out throughout time. He reveals this Plan to us in so many ways through His word and through the experiences of His chosen people. It is so fascinating to me! There are so many layers to everything in God’s Word, which is His story and our story. I may not understand even a tenth of its depth and meaning, but even with that small amount of knowledge it is impossible for me to not believe in God and His saving work through His Son, Jesus Christ.