Proverbs 3:3 “let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you, bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart”.
There are people in life that a good to be around. I remember a mission trip to Central America years ago. We were on the Caribbean island of Roatan, building a house for a family who were in a difficult season. The house was built over the water, which brought its own challenges. If I remember correctly we had a week at most to prepare the platform, build the structure and then fit out the interior. My friend Ali from Florida was there for that week, and he was doing the electrics. A few days in we had the structure up and I paired with him to drill out all the channels so that we could run the cables.
Here we were in the Caribbean, working together on a project to bless others. It was the best of times. We worked from dawn to dusk every day, and then even at night, we set up lights so we could work on late. We finished the house and the family and neighbours gathered for a celebration meal of tortillas, rice and beans [island bean stews are the best meal ever]. I think there was probably even a cake.
For all that went on in those seven days, my lasting memory is of two friends loving sharing hardships together and seeing others benefit from our labours. We have gone flying together over Florida (he is a trained pilot), laughed till our stomachs were sore, shared and trusted, enjoyed Disneyland, Bush Gardens and Universal Studios together, and we even went to see the swamp one day. We still chat regularly, having been friends for 30 years now. What great memories we have.
If we are intentional to trust God, we will be the richest people on the earth, I know that I am.
KNOWLEDGE
We all find ourselves trying to hold on to things throughout our journey here on earth. Maybe a person, a moment, a feeling, a dream or even a possession. I was so sad to have to sell my first ever convertible car a few years back – but the cost of continual repairs was outweighing the benefits of having it. A photo of it came up and Facebook the other day, and I spent 3 or 4 minutes giving the 1000 yard stare, as I remembered the fun moments. It’s good to hold on to great memories, great friends, great opportunities and great insights!
The Bible here is telling us some other things to hold on to and uses beautiful figurative language to impart this wisdom. We have to hold them close to the most vulnerable places we have – round our neck and throat, to protect our physical life and on to our hearts, the seat of our emotions, will and intellect, again where we are so vulnerable. What are these most precious items? Unconditional, generous, overflowing love and from that an ongoing commitment to live a life full of faith – in the marvellous moments, the delightful days, the stunning seasons and in the tumultuous times.
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 used for “neck” is “garg’rot” and it appears four times in the Old Testament, always in Proverbs, and is always translated as “neck” in the ESV. While it means neck or throat, there is a figurative sense as well. Prophets would threaten coming judgements by laying their hands on peoples necks [Deut 28:48; Isa 10:27; Jer27:2]. Conquerors placed their feet on peoples necks as a sign of their subjection [Josh 10:24; 2Sam 22:41]. So here this idea of a garland around your neck means that you are free from judgement or subjection to other forces as you have willingly committed yourself to love and faithfulness.
WISDOM: what values will you choose to carry around your physical and emotional life today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Relator – you value authenticity in relationships, you genuinely care about others, there may be times when your trust is broken, and you will need to be strong to keep going.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [never allow covenant relationship and devotion with trustworthiness to relinquish their hold on you, intentionally knit them together around your physical life, and engrave them like glistening polished stone into your feelings, your will and your intellect]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me please today to establish your will in my whole life for every moment of the day, allow me to bath in your presence and to follow your leading. Thank you.
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Pastor Allan
Its funny how many of my memories are of times spent serving overseas under great adversity. I still hold onto the good thinks that came from those times. I find the challange is releasing some of the not so positive events that occurred.
I love that we are free from judgement and subjection when living by the Word in wisdom and understanding in the righteousness of Christ xx
Wow that is powerful insight to a beautiful scripture. I have read that scripture often and loved it’s analogy’s to binding steadfast love and faithfulness around your neck as to a precious necklace a woman would love and cherish. Something you place great value on.
Thank you for opening it up to a greater revelation.
I will definitely be meditating on throughout the day.
Steadfast love and faithfulness are something to be worn as a garland, a trophy a sign I believe to be seen by others as well as for ourselves. This leads others to see how His steadfast love and faithfulness make all the difference in the life of those immersed in them.
Thank you Jesus that your steadfast love never fails and your faithfulness is ever present!
Thank you Pastor Allan.
Such a beautiful message. I especially love the question- what values will you choose to carry….?
I believe that it is so important to carry love and respect for every human being. It’s interesting how the scripture says as a garland round Your neck. So it is important that we don’t get tired of wearing the garland of love and respect and remove it from our necks for any physical or emotional reason.
Write them on the tablet of your heart .- what is Allan’s unauthorised version on this?
The values I would chose to carry around my physical and emotional life would be
“Love and Loyalty”in relationships
Thank you pastor Allan for the strength thought ,
It is to find strength in God to push forward for his healing and restoration ,where trust has been broken.
Another beautiful message today Pastor Allan. The vision of wearing a garland of steadfast love and respect around my neck just brings a smile to my face. To be able to look back at the precious moments in our lives and smile is certainly a blessing.
Beautiful story about you and your friend in the Carribean working together. Love how you linked this with the bible teaching us of other things to hold onto and how we can do this by keeping them close to us.
Thank you for the encouragement of the strength thought to remain strong and keep moving forward.
‘If we are intentional to trust God, we will be the richest people on the earth,‘
Love it sir
Great verse and love the AUV.
Very recently I was faced with an issue of ‘trust with someone I genuinely care about. My immediate thought was why should I continue this connection. As I sought the Lord in prayer I found 2 Corinthians 13:14. And studying this (in Life Application Study Bible)gave me a different approach that Apostle Paul used with Corinthians: …we can seek to build relationships by taking better approach-sharing,communicating and caring. This is a difficult approach that can drain us emotionally but it’s the best way to deal with others sin. Praise God for that Grace, love and willing heart to love and persevere.
Thank you unpacking it so well.
“an ongoing commitment to live a life full of faith.” What a beautiful truth. It’s a choice we all must make every day, to place our trust in the Lord. And what a beautiful thought that we are free because we have willingly committed ourselves to love and faithfulness. That’s reason to rejoice.
I miss hearing your stories allan, great story teller
Thank you Pastor Allan once again!!
Here we are exhorted to be steadfast in our love for God meaning immovable & firmly fixed on our beliefs & unshakable in our faithfulness in all seasons of our lives whether they be in the valleys or on the mountain tops!! Bind is a strong word of commitment to keep us focused on the things of God & not become loose or be easily led astray. Also a garland around one’s neck can be seen to be a prize & a thing of beauty which is to be worn with great care & not judgement but rather to make a statement that you belong to God & Him alone which changes your heart forever & enables you to show His love to others.