Proverbs 3:20 “by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew”
In April 1989, I was studying the mentions of “salt” in the bible, and was fascinated by this scripture in Matt 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under peoples feet”.
I was perplexed by the idea of salt not being salty. How could this be? So I read up on salt and especially the uses of salt in ancient times. In our culture salt was really for food, and in some countries, it is spread on the roads and pavements when it’s icy – so it was actually good to be trampled on.
I discovered that in Israel in the times of Jesus it was likely that salt was dug in with the crops as a fertiliser, and also that it would be spread over the rubbish and latrines to kill the bacteria and the smell. That made me think about a substance that would promote fruitfulness and also stop decay and sin.
I discovered that the salt was found in deposits around the side of the lakes and sea in the area and that sometimes there would be these places where there were large deposits that looked like salt but actually had a very low, or non-existent salt content. So when it was spread onto the fields there was a poor crop, and in the dung heaps, it made no difference.
The understanding was breaking open for me, and knowledge was dropping down. Now, please understand what I am sharing here is not dogma or doctrine, just opinion. I’m happy to be corrected, or challenged in this understanding for sure. But in the moments that I was reading and gaining this insight it made sense to me and helped me understand something that Jesus said to me, that was not immediately understood by me.
KNOWLEDGE
We continue to consider the qualities and abilities of God (Yahweh) in this verse. There is a re-enforcing of two central ideas – God is hugely powerful, beyond what we can really ever properly understand, and, God is the provider of all we have. We see the image of water coming up from the depths and down from the skies. There is a hint of Psalm 84:6 here – “as they go through the valley of Bacca they make it a place of springs, the early rains also cover it with pools”.
Just as in the beginning it’s God’s Word that brings order out of chaos (Gen 1:1-3…….the earth was without form and void, ………. And God said…….). Here in Proverbs, we find the same story echoed, God makes the source of our supply, the basis for our blessing, the root of our redemption, we will be washed clean, we will have an abundant supply, and we will know our maker.
We will have a river of life as in John 7:38 – “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”.
As we pass through the most trying circumstances – John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.
As we have our Valley of Bacca moments and seasons (grief, lamentation, mourning) God’s promise to us is that we will have fresh water coming up from within us, and fresh rain of abundant provision coming down on us. His presence is powerful, his word is wonderful, and his peace is a promise.
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 can look at today is “open” pronounced “baqa” in Hebrew. It has 51 mentions in the Old Testament and is translated into English as divide; burst; split; ripped; breach; invaded; breaks open; and, hatch. In Proverbs 3:20 we can see the idea of “torn open” – it makes me think of Luke 24:32, how Jesus opened up the scriptures to the two men on the road with him, and they saw things they had never really seen before.
WISDOM: Do you plead with God to change your circumstances, or allow him to change your heart?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Analytical, asks the best questions, at the perfect time, to gain great insights. Stay open to the new.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [by his understanding and ability the subterranean waters of darkness and secrecy burst, broke and ripped open, and the skies overflowed with night mist]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please bring to the surface and into the light everything in my life that needs your help to be healthy. Thank you.
Scroll down and leave a thought, please…….
Rather than plead with God for a change in circumstances my prayer in troubled times has always been let your will be done. The path has not always Been easy but I have tried to walk it knowing the lords path righteous.
AMEN ! The waters of darkness are broken open!!! My son Jackson just this morning said to me, “Mum if you look into the sun (The light) then you have no darkness on you “. It made me think , when we are Looking Into The Son (the face of Jesus) there is no darkness in us because His presence shines into us . A beautiful image I saw in my spirit. I love
“God makes the source of our supply, the basis for our blessing, the root of our redemption, we will be washed clean, we will have abundant supply, and we will know our maker
God’s promise to us is that we will have fresh water coming up from within us, and fresh rain of abundant provision coming down on us. His presence is powerful, his word is wonderful, and his peace is a promise.” AMEN
Allan these are profound statements and really speak to my spirit revelations Amen . Thank you
God’s promise to us is that we will have fresh water coming up from within us, and fresh rain of abundant provision coming down on us. His presence is powerful, his word is wonderful, and his peace is a promise. – Amen.
What a great challenge – Do you plead with God to change your circumstances, or allow him to change your heart? Thank you for this challenge.
“ Do you plead with God to change your circumstances, or allow him to change your heart?” This is such a powerful question! I can say honestly that I spent many years crying out to God to change my circumstances instead of surrendering to the work He wanted to do in my heart through the circumstance.
What a lot of painful many years they have been. But praise the Lord, it did finally dawn on me that the painful circumstances were being used by the Father to grow change and mould me and with this realization the surrendering has been much easier and sweeter. It took a jolly long time, but gosh I’m grateful the Lord is patient and doesn’t give up on us. Thank you Pastor Allan
Everything is only possible because that’s God’s intention and how He designed it. Prior to the flood the night mist or dew was what watered the earth and was the greatest source of nourishment and still today, in times of drought, it’s work is still real. The deeps break open again providing water which is necessary for life, all life and it is God’s will that provides it all. Thank you Lord!
When I’m faced with a circumstance where I need Got to intervene and change
What I have seen happen is that in that process of God’s hand on the situation, he starts changing your heart,
And for me personally I feel God breaking me. ,where i see my circumstance change ,but more than that he gives me new eyes to see my situation through his eyes ,then
You see things God’s way and not your own .
I think God gives y ou enough grace to walk through that journey when we chose to be Obidient to his voice.
Thank you pastor Allan
Amen! I love the whoever believes in JESUS as the scripture says, rivers of living water will flow within them. So good!
Thanks Pastor Allan! An interesting study on salt such an important ingredient in our life in so many ways!
It’s astounding how Father God by His understanding & knowledge made our universe to work the way it does with such precision & timing! He is the Master Craftsman & He makes these tools available to me!! Consequently with knowing this & knowing how He has created me how can I question His timing & working in the trials that I face. It obviously has been a journey for me to learn to surrender & fully trust Him knowing He always has my best interests at heart & His timing is perfect. It has only served to change my heart & ways which is a never ending process as I draw closer & keep my eyes fully fixed on Him.
The wisdom of God in this message was a revelation for me. “Do you plead with God to change your circumstances, or allow Him to change your heart?”
I pray for God’s wisdom to open my heart, to reveal and help me change the areas in me that need changing. There’s still so much that needs changing, I’m learning every day. I will trust in Him completely.
Thank you, Pastor Allan, for this message.
Thank you Allan for continuing to share your reflections and insights with us.
This one will have me pondering all day.