Proverbs 2:11 “discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you”
I remember when I was around 13 years old and I had run away from home. I had been away for several days and had hitchhiked from Scotland, down to a place called High Wickham, not too far outside London. It was a warmish day, and I had been awake all night so when I saw I local park it seemed a no-brainer to have asleep in the sun. After I woke up I walked for a long way until I came to an on-ramp for what was either a motorway or a main dual carriageway.
I stood for a few hours with my thumb out, when to my dismay a motor-cycle policeman pulled up close to me. He made me empty out my small bag of clothes onto the roadside verge. (I found out later they were looking for an IRA person). He then radioed for a police car to come and when they arrived he left. I remember that he was quite gentle and kind towards me. The police took me in their car (a Jaguar) to the police station. I told them everything. They were nice to me.
That night they took me somewhere and when I woke up I was in a very small room with just a bed, the door was locked, and it seemed like a cell. Hours went by and no one came. For me, it was scary and frustrating. However, I later found out they were keeping me safe, and arranging for a social worker to come and talk with me. Certainly, from where I had been earlier the previous day, I was much safer and well guarded. Even if at the time, I did not fully understand that.
KNOWLEDGE
There is more in this short verse than we could imagine. There is an aspect of the ongoing and the current – with the use of the word “will” twice. God is intentional in His response to our obedience to His word – not only is he watching over us every second, but he is also in the future already preparing a safe path for us. Every move, every thought, every intention is soaked in wisdom, and today we are hidden in Christ.
We have been promised insight – the ability to see what others would miss, the ability to make decisions based on information that comes from the secret place. In our prayer life, we can expect to hear from God, we can expect to receive specific instructions on the way to go………………and the way not to go. We are no longer dependant only on just our own information, our own intelligence, or our own initiative, we now have access to heavenly provision, heavenly promises and heavenly positioning. We are watched over moment by moment, and we are eternally guarded.
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?
“Discretion” is a fascinating word in this short scripture. As an English word, it makes eleven appearances in the Old Testament ESV. There are five different original words translated as discretion, the most popular (and the one used here) is m’zimmah. The meaning of this word carries a sense of purpose, intention, and planning, towards schemes, intentions, and thoughts.
WISDOM: what does your “secret place” look like?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Developer: In Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book a whole lot of characters are trying to be involved in Mowgli’s life – the wolves that offer a home, the bear that brings humour and adventure, the snake that introduces deception, the tiger that brings fear – the orangutan that offers status at a cost – but the true developer is Bagheera the black panther who can see both the possibilities in Mowgli and the massive challenges that lie before him, and will not place friendship, convenience, or popularity over the development of his protégé.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [cautious discernment, keeps me aware and secure. Insight with skill leads me to the secret places of God.]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me to press into your presence Father, and once there to gain insights, discernment, wisdom and skill, that are all from the throne room of heaven.
Scroll down and leave your comments…….thank you!!
As usual, so much to digest in this blog. I read it and read it again. And l’ll read it some more.
Thankyou Allan. I went through a very dangerous situation a couple of years ago where I could see no way out. I prayed earnestly most of the night and handed the problem over to the lord. The moment I released it to him and admitted I was not able to fix everything in my life he stepped in and resolved the issue.
It’s such a blessing to know that God is all knowing. That is there for us and with us. As a child I used to pray earnestly for God not to leave me even if I did something bad that He would still be there for me. I thank God alot that He heard my childish prayer wayback then. Because my life did go astray once I left home in my early 20s. When I turned 50 I became a born again Christian I realised that God had carried me out of my wilderness years into where I am today. Grateful for God’s hand in my life. I know He has a plan for my life. Each day I live expectantly. Thanks Pastor Allan.
Thank you, Ps Allan, for this.
There is so much joy, comfort, wisdom and peace found in the Secret Place for me.
It is there when The Father says, “hush, don’t you worry, I am with you.”
Discernment keeps me aware and secure – this verse has been a dear verse to me and a prayer for many years
Today’s message teaches us to always listen to His voice and not rely on our own thinking. It is comforting to know that we can be secure in the knowledge that God’s provision is always there for us to access as we walk through each day.
The characters in Kipling’s Jungle Book took me back many years.
Thank you, Pastor Allan, for your very encouraging daily prayers.
Thanks Pastor Allan for sharing the tough life lessons you had as a young boy!!
This brings to mind the song ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow ‘! How blessed are we to know such a beautiful Heavenly Father who watches over us with such love concern & protection. Also to have the reassurance to know as I draw close to Him & seek His presence He freely & willingly will give me discretion & understanding to make the right choices in my life. He is so for me & if I will take the time to press into Him I can gain the advantage in my life that otherwise my human wisdom could not give me.
It’s good to know that no matter what we may be going through in life, we are not alone, God is for us, on our side and not only does He watch over us every second but He is also in our future already preparing a safe path for us. We are eternally guarded
God is intentional in His response to our obedience to His! He is faithful
When God has walked with you in challenging times ,you know how he has guarded you and directed your path,
Looking back in my life ,I can say that he’s always watched over me lead me in His path of blessing.
He’s always been ahead preparing the best for me .and kept me from disaster many times.
He does speak and give us discernment from his secret place ,a place where it’s only God and you ,it’s a special moment to hear from your loving father,trusting in Him.for everything
Listening to His still voice guiding you and taking you to His promises and the path he has prepared for you ahead .
I’m grateful for his love and guidance in my life.
Hi Ps Allan, as always this has pushed me to think more when I read the word. For me the secret place is comfortable in his presence when I make myself come away from the everyday duties and routines and just be still.
There is a beautiful hymn this reminded me of –
There is a place of quiet rest
Near to the heart of God
A place where sin cannot molest
Near to the heart of God
Knowledge that He always watches over me and understanding will guard me.
Thanks again.
I grew up watching The Jungle Book and love the way you related this verse !
To me this verse is following on from the last and saying that if wisdom has entered our heart and we are now following God’s word and listening to the Holy Spirit then our ability to make better judgement in particular situations is how we will be ‘preserved’ and ‘kept’ from harm.
Basically if your heart is focused on the Lord there is no way you can be defeated no matter what happens.
As a Child I study in my native language and later on when I have to write and converse in an English, I struggle to understand some words but I try to gather what it’s meant by as the conversation or passage goes by!
At the same way when God speak to me or guides me at time I don’t understand at that moment but when I trust him wholeheartedly, it has revealed to me that God has the best plans to our life always!
Knowledge and understanding Of The Gospel is a powerful tool that can be used in all situations even unto the unsaved. Praise God