Proverbs 1:9 “for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck”
I think back some times to the styles when I was growing up. Who were the influencers? David Bowie, Gary Glitter, Marc Bolan, and so many others. We wore some makeup, high platform shoes, high waisted trousers, 40-inch bags, glitter and tinsel. We thought we looked amazing as we tried to dress, look, and live, like others. Then Monday morning, in old tee-shirts and raggedy jeans we walked to our work, penniless for the week. What we were portraying on the outside, was covering up the pain on the inside, and the disconnect had us living in tension.
When we clothe ourselves in humility, love, and peace, when we listen to our parents wise instructions and when we cherish having a teachable heart, we live without tension and it’s visible to all.
KNOWLEDGE
This verse leans back into the pervious verse regarding “father’s instruction” and “mother’s teaching” and develops a figurative picture of what listening and obeying produces. There is a created an image of a peaceful victory over self that all could see and that indicated recognition of continual moral kindness in leadership and thinking, as well as ongoing safety through a willing submission to these instructions and teaching.
The very blessings so many people would covet, public honour, was not to be found in deliberately seeking this, but rather in listening with an attitude of active obedience to the teachings of those who were, in the fullest and truest sense of the words, fathers and mothers to you. Private victory always comes before true public victory.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? The word for graceful in the Hebrew language is pronounced as “hen”, and appears 69 times in the Old Testament. It is translated into the English words; favour; grace; graceful; adornment; and, gracious. We can see in this verse aspects of favour, and the moral quality of kindness.
WISDOM: where in life are you looking to be honoured and how are you aiming for that?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT – Belief is a beautiful Executing Strength – you wear your conscience well and fully, and you state your values with intent. Other people know where you (and they) stand, and through life’s tumultuous seasons, you stay focused on the main and important things. You help others see their value. Your beliefs should be careful to remain gracious around others who hold different beliefs. Don’t allow your mission to damage others needlessly.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [you and others know and can see when you are committed to God’s ways, its obvious and attractive and your submission to Him is a beautiful thing that both protects and establishes]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me stay close to you, and to receive from you all I need so that when I am on my own and no one sees me I am the same person as I am in public each day.
Ahh, I remember the 70’s well! Being authentic, being real is so important for us all and something I try to be always. Integrity of character is very much about being the same person in private as well as public and I aim to be exactly that.
The things I’ve learned since coming to Christ through a variety of people God has used are things I seek to wear well in life, to exemplify the life if fullness that Jesus brings. It’s something I seek to mare than wear, I seek to have it woven into the fabric of life itself so they are very much a part of who I am.
So much to think about from what u have shared here Allan. I am not sure I even understand the question so much about where do I want to be honoured….I just know that what I wanted before and what I want now are two different things. What I was working towards b4 was a dead end.
I just want to finish TAFE, get a job helping others and live my life in a way that honours God and bring others into the kingdom. I just want a simple life without all the stuff!! I also want to prepare myself for the living out of the restoration promise God has spoken to me about.
Going through this study also just keeps highlighting the wisdom I need to keep guiding my kids as the decisions they make in their 20’s will have such a big impact on the rest of their lives. I don’t want them to have the up and down journey I did!!
Great insight into the belief strength Allan. It’s number 4 for me and I can see myself so clearly through the explanation you gave. I need to definitely be aware of being gracious in that strength. On reflection I am often more gracious to people I don’t know well than to those closest to me…..something to work on hey!!
Love this message ps. Allan. Teachable spirit is the key for having wisdom in our life.
The more we have this spirit in our life, the easier we are walking according His law and His way in this life.
Humility, and willingness to change day by day is enable us to have this teachable spirit. My prayer today, Lord please give me this teachable spirit so everyday I will change and becoming more like You day by day. Living with love, compassion, forgiveness, kindness, and joy. Amen.
I love that “Private Victory always comes before true public victory” being the same person behind closed doors as the same person in public” I feel like that’s how king David lived his life. King David won many battles in private then he did publicly.
Great thought today Allan. Love the real tough questions on this devotion.
Bless you.
Oh wow! This really resonated with me. The truth of peaceful victory over self and the imagery of garlands and necklaces of wise counsel, Christ’s love, favour and peace is beautiful. I want to create an artwork and let this go deep into my spirit. Allan, the business section is great but I am a team of 2 – just me and God!
Reminds me of Stephen Covey’s thought on the “Private Victory” ! This is so true and clear that the battle is won our knees in gaining wisdom, knowledge and strength in the quiet times with God!
What a beautiful word picture that is!! It speaks to me of purposefully adorning our minds with grace filled thoughts not seeking to elevate our own importance in the eyes of man. Humility is very attractive on people in a world which places so much value on image status & success. God’s ways & wise words are so much higher & they bring true value peace & fulfillment where you can be free to be who you were created to be. As we seek Him He will always direct our paths & keep us safe & secure.
Thanks Allan. This reading reminded me about a time in my life when I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t and not myself and who God had intended me to be. My identify was wrapped up in this image of me that wasn’t me at all and When I became a Christian i was free at last, most humbling experience of my life, when I laid that person down. I wasn’t pretending anymore but part of me still cared too much what people thought of me when a good friend taught me about only fearing God and that scripture came alive and one of his sayings “what other people think of you is none of your business” now I give my best not to please man but eveything I do I do unto the lord.
I really enjoyed the break down and insight I received from this verse today. Thankyou Allan !
I can honestly say that in not looking to be honoured by anyone to me that should be a godly reflection
Yes it’s nice to be recognised for things but if we do things just for that purpose I think we
have it all wrong
I think I some ways we all mask some of our identity whether it be thru clothing or words
That’s just our safety net It protects our vulnerability
Stay straight stay true and humility may follow
It’s not a god given right that all will align but give it your best that’s all god asks
After reading Proverb 1:9 for some reason I feel its the instructions and laws for the parents to teach the children and obeyed by children in a Godly way which is alined with the Gospel.
I think its a very big deal because if not taught the right way it can lead your children on the wrong road as I see so many are because lack of faith and more works.
Father I pray that my knowledge grows through the Holy Spirit so my fruits (children) are more healthy in the spirit…….. Amen
The delicate balance to be gracious and bold hangs in the balance whenever we open our mouth . Our thoughts can often drive us to speak passionately And the reminder to remain gracious and not let our mission damage others needlessly is a choice everyday . We can get frustrated with people I guess when we see the answer right in front of them and yet they don’t or they have fear of taking hold of the answer . For some it seems a no brainer to go about life a certain moral way with grace but for others it’s a battle of the flesh.
Well done Allen for those provoking thoughts
Thank you pastor Allan for that beautiful prayer at the end,which makes me to stop and reflect of my heart before God.
The integrity of staying true to ourselves and before God.
This is a true conviction to live by every single day,to have a teachable spirit and to be submissive to correction ,
“To be clothed with humility ,love and peace ”
Where they will be intervowen into our lives and that of our children ,where a legacy remains to be followed…..
“in listening with an attitude of active obedience to the teachings of those who were, in the fullest and truest sense of the words “ love this so much. Reminds me how important it is to stay teachable…: ever the learner.. and the importance of being intentional with people in my life who have these attributes. Also how important it is to be genuine.. consistently keeping that true deep connection and purpose about your life.
The balance of seeking honour while remaining humble. Being open to wisdom requires us to remain teachable.
In my life the lord has brought me honour when I truly sort to honour him. I didn’t need to seek it at all.
Humility Love and Peace every leader should walk with that.
Listening to the Father and growing receiving His words His commandments and walking In righteousness
I do not want to be Honor but I want to Honor God give Jesus his place His throne in my life
He is my Rock and my shield and His words are my garments and His Values are the pendants in my neck for others to see.
Absolutely stunning thoughts and such a powerful powerful prayer; to be the same person I am in public as I am on my own.
Growing up in a stable but humble environment our main source of knowledge came from obedience to previous scripture “listen to Father’s instruction and Mother’s teaching “ and that certainly brought graceful garland and badge of honor – (pendent) as this scripture.
Thank you Ps Alen
Thanks Allan. This is a great post on humility, having a teachable spirit/heart, seeking and living by wise institutions and living without all the tensions life brings.
Love the saying ‘Private victory comes before true Public victory.
Honoured – My role as a mother of 2 sons makes me want to live a life that glorifies God and would love to be honoured in that area. They will grow to be godly men of influence.
‘ Peaceful victory over self’, ‘ Private victory always comes before true public victory’ and ‘submission to God is beautiful’ amen!! What a beautiful message as a whole! The Q. part is well worded and a good prompt too.
Thanks Allan for another great blog. The line that impacted me was “Private victory always comes before true public victory” I guess we all have the chance to apply this now with the season that the world is going through.
Listening to the instruction shows the honouring heart and humility. Active listening from last week cannot happen unless there is an honour and humility in someone’s heart.
I love the beautiful metaphor of wisdom being a garland of grace adorning our heads and a chain gracing our hearts. It’s a powerful image of honour and guidance, reminding us that if we heed wisdom’s instructions, our lives will be marked by peace and blessing. Staying on wisdom’s path truly leads to a life of fulfilment and purpose.
Love this Steven!
I’m drawn to the theme of complete authenticity. No tension between the private me and the person others see. They are the same because I have received the wisdom of God into my life and I am at peace. Thank you Lord.