Proverbs 2:4 “if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures”
I would get up while it was still dark, everything had been made ready the night before. Enjoying the feel of the cold floor on my bare feet as I gathered everything together. The final act was to fill the flask with hot water for the day ahead, then I was off towards the car, laden. Everything stowed, widows de-misted, streets quiet, night street lights still glowing and only a random peripheral window lit up in a soft glow. I wondered if they fell asleep with the light on, or perhaps like me, they were an early riser.
The drive was always superb, within five minutes out of the town area, Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil glistening to the left as the road sweeps out westwards. An Stac (my favourite mountain) starting to show soon on the horizon as we glimpse the viaduct at Glenfinnan and rise past Loch Eilt. I pull over onto the side of the road at Roshven, and stay in my seat for a minute, just enjoying the moment, seeing the Atlantic Ocean in the distance and hearing the sounds of the highlands. Then I am gathering my kit, strapping on my backpack and secure my tools for the day.
Next, the walk, over the road, through the forest gate and a steady climb for about two hours. Impulsively I stop and turn to enjoy the view, looking back over the mountain, out over the ocean towards the Hebridean Islands. Almost unwillingly, I shift my gaze back to the mountain I am on, and back to the climb. I know my way, looking for landmarks like old friends waiting to pass a greeting on the journey. I see the last steep rise ahead, I have left anything resembling a path long behind and all I can hear now is my own steady deep breathing as the climb inclines through years of growth and mossy stones.
The sun glimpses out from behind the clouds and immediately I am in a green marble wonderland of colour. My soul is touched, my manhood affirmed, I am who I know I am. Then, over the final rise, and the small lochans are there right in front of me. I get ready, and within a few moments, I am fishing. The whole day sits before me with miles to walk and endless small lochs to fish, and I know I will not see another person up there – I never do. I will find shelter from the wind as I drink some tea, and I will sing at the top of my voice in the moments that God speaks to me through his creation. It was never really about the fish.
KNOWLEDGE
There is a lot required from us on this adventure. We are called to be “all in”. There are no positions available for half-hearted attempts, there are no vacancies for the “it’s too hard – club members”. We are going off-road, not so much to the less-travelled terrain, but into the more travailed terrain – where every moment is guarded as precious and every energy has intent. We are on a mission – always. Yet there is an ease about us as well – this is no burdensome task that we would rather delegate out – this is the adventure of a lifetime.
We are treasure hunters. We know it’s there, the treasure is waiting to be discovered. We use every resource at our disposal, we fill our heads and hearts with the moments of the journey in anticipation always for the moments of revelation that fashion eternal internal changes for us and our families.
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 we will look at from this scripture is “search”, pronounced as “hapas” in the original language. Used 23 times in the ESV Old Testament, translated as search, pillage, examine, diligent, disguised, hide, and to search out, it has a few variable ways of being understood within its’ set context. One of the meanings that the Hebrew Dictionary gives, is “ransacked”. I love that explanation as it seems to better catch the energy that is being exerted on the searching. This is not me looking for my car keys, this is me searching for Rachel, my daughter the day she went missing. Nothing was to be held back, nor any effort could be too much. How will you search for God’s presence today?
WISDOM: What is your own heart really searching for today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Connectedness – you are always looking for the things that others may miss, and you understand how everything works together.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [investigate, search, leave no stone unturned, as if you knew there was treasure there for the finding, track it down, go without food and sleep as you are consumed with the search for this hidden treasure]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to leave nothing on the field of battle in my search for you, that each day I would intentionally give my best to seek, to serve and to surrender.
To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – allan@theallankey.com
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What is my heart searching for today? Since I’ve got a good thing going with Jesus as my Lord and Saviour I try my utmost to remain calm when faced with any situation because I know He is my provider. That no matter what He will help me find my way to find what I am in search for. He provides the best solutions if I keep a level head and remain calm. Easier said then done, but from past experience a short prayer and acknowleging God’s presence helps. Blessings Pastor Allan.
Thanks Ps Allan. Ransacked, To leave nothing left on the battle field, leave no stone unturned, desperatly seeking and consumed, living all in searching and pursuing God. That’s my prayer today.
Amen. No stone left unturned, in seach and pursuit of The One. It is simply beautiful.
Allan. I feel in my journey I never had to search too hard. God was always making himself known to me in a great many ways. It was the times that I didn’t choose to acknowledge his presence where I had to learn of his presence.
So good! Challenged to pursue His presence!
Absolutely loved that one. I loved when you said your manhood was affirmed. I think k that’s what a lot of us men are missing. And love the ransacked analogy. We do really need to be exerting energy into searching out God and the things of God. This was motivational.
“How will you search for God’s presence today?” This is a powerful question.
Something that spoke to my heart today: “We are on mission – always. Yet there is an ease about us as well”. I pray that as I find His presence daily I’ll live out the call on my life from a place of ease. Seeking, serving and surrendered to the Father.
We often seek and search for something relentlessly if it is valuable to us. I know this from my own life and when something is of little value or easily replaceable I don’t even bother.
I feel that this verse also reflects this by saying if we truly value wisdom and understanding then we shall seek it relentlessly until we have found it .
Thanks Ps Allan for sharing. This is to keep reminding myself that I’m on a mission – always!
And that there is much required from me on this adventure. I’m called to be “all in” , there’s no positions available for half hearted attempts. So profound
Such a powerful proverb,to seek for wisdom like searching for silver and to press on and find the hidden treasures that lies deep within .
My heart today is seeking for more of God
To know his heart for my life ,to discover those hidden treasures he wants me to find .
To have revelation .
As I do life searching for unanswered questions in life and facing challenges
But knowing beyond doubt that He holds the key to the treasures behind the secret door .
I pray God give me the strength to always look to him,even when I fail,
To be assured that he’s got me !
Amen – may I intentionally give my best each day to seek, to serve and to surrender, for God’s glory, by the power of the Holy Spirit 🙏 That is such a great wisdom question: what is my own heart really searching for today? Wow..
Thanks Ps Allan, this leads me to a lot of reflection 🙏
Thanks Pastor Allan! A good memory of my Scotland tour! With all the heather out it was breathtaking!!
An exhortation to keep desperately pursuing the Lord on my never ending quest to know Him more each day!! He alone is the only treasure worth digging for & I am always duly rewarded as I both rest & worship Him in His beautiful presence.
if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures. I know a time when I lost the diamond in my engagement ring and I had been out so it could have been lost anywhere . We began our search through the car, i was so anxious to find it . It meant a lot to me because my husband who loved me had worked hard to purchase it for me.. Like the love Jesus had for us all he paid the Ultimate price for my freedom and because of his love for me he gave up his life. It is the hidden treasure of his goodness that earnestly our hearts should seek . It’s a treasure worth searching for. More precious than diamonds and gold. Wisdom .
I receive that prayer wholeheartedly. Thank you Allan
That was simply beautiful, Pastor Allan. Your experience was described so beautifully, I can almost see you walking up the mountain.
“ It was never about the fish”. It was about the preparation, anticipation, appreciation, the search.
I pray that no matter what stage of life I am at, may I never be complacent. May I always be open to seeking and hearing my Father’s voice, teaching me wisdom, giving me reassurance.
This is not just another day. It is a very special gift from a loving Father to His much loved child. I will receive it with gratitude.
Hi Allan
I’m really loving what im reading and gives me peace as I’ve had elders tell me im a bit crazy because lll ring them at late hours trying to understand things and get there thoughts on certain verse in the bible. I started to think maybe I was bit to much now reading this, im not going to stop……..so expect some phone calls Allan lol.
Thankyou Holy Spirit for leading me to Allan and I pray he receives many blessing. Amen
Thank you Allan. I have never looked at “hidden treasure” with such importance. I couldn’t relate to it beyond jewels or precious things, but when you mentioned it relating to a child, that importance opened my perspective. Hidden treasure now means something most valuable to me. That priority and focus to read through God’s Word and spending time with Him brought it another level.
For me, it’s certainly the “ransacked” analogy – the search that spares no expense, where it is evident to ask that no stone has been left unturned.
To search for God, to search for wisdom that way; it would be time consuming. But does the allotment of my time reveal such a search for Him, for His presence, for His ways?
I loved reading this descriptive experience Allan. I was there with you ❤️
Experiencing GOD’s creative splendour.
I still relive those days Susan – so grateful that I get/got to do these things!