Proverbs 3:18 “she is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, those who hold her fast are called blessed”

 

We were around seven days walk into the deeper rain forests of Central America. We had followed a river for two days, crossing back and forwards hour after hour as we made our way to a village of around 20 clay huts with palm-frond roofs. We knew we were getting near the village when we started to see small clusters of cultivated coffee bushes planted under the shade of a partly thinned out jungle. We held a beautiful church service there the night we arrived, and everyone from that village attend as well as a few people who were visiting from other villages around a day’s walk nearby.

The next day we had to decide whether to push on another fifty kilometres to the next village or to turn back down the river. We decided to head back as we did not think we had enough time to get through the difficult country and still get back to the city for our prearranged flights.

 

About an hour or so into our walk back down the river we came across a group of local men who were prospecting for gold along the river. One of them was heading back down the river and he had a homemade balsa wood raft. He invited us to join him, and we gladly did. We floated down the river, at one point we were going along a deep slow stretch where the trees met overhead and low, We all sat in total silence, and the biggest most colourful parrot I had ever seen in my life swung low out of a nearby tree, passing just a couple of feet above our heads, gliding by with hardly a whisper of sound.

 

We came to rapids, it was tricky, I was invited to get off the raft and walk for my safety. In the end, I fell off the raft and bobbed along beside it through the rapids. It was fun for me really, although I am sure there was some danger. But I had a hand on the raft all the time.

 

 

KNOWLEDGE

This is a continuation of the previous 4 verses, all of which lean back into verse 13.  As the bible is all about Jesus we are so excited to find this foretelling of the cross. The tree of life was in the Garden of Eden at its first mention (Gen 3:22). Here though we see the foreshadowing of the cross – this wooden object that sustains ongoing life. We are given clearly the understanding that we, individually, continually, and purposefully, need to lay hold of the cross –

 

[ 1 Tim 6:11-12 But you, a man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.]

 

There is a wholeheartedness about the actions described in Proverbs here. To “lay hold” – to “hold fast” to give all our strength, body, mind and soul to hold onto this wisdom and instruction,  – Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

 

It’s a continual action, not a one-off event – we are to be daily holding onto the cross with all we have – to treat the cross with the value that it carries, and from this posture, we will be guided into the fullness of the blessings of God. We will advance in life, in our character, our actions and our transactions. Our life is hidden in Christ as we hold fast to the sacrifice he has made for us.

 

We hold onto a baby when we carry them, we hold on to an umbrella on a windy day, we hold on to our lunch when we are hungry, we hold on to our dog when out of a walk, we hold on to the steering wheel when we are driving and we hold on to our cutlery when we are eating. We know how to hold on, and we know when to hold on in the physical activities of life. Spiritually there is a holding on that is so essential to enable us to experience the fullness of what God has for us.

 

As John so powerfully says ……..John 3:30 He must become greater, I must become less.

 

 

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?

“lay hold” is from the original word pronounced, “hazaq” and is found 290 times in the Old Testament. Its uses in English include, seized; hardened; strength; severe; encourage; courage; held; prevailed; overcame; and repair, amongst quite a few more. In Proverbs 3:18, we pick up on the words, grasp and seize. It will take effort, energy, commitment and courage on our part.

 

WISDOM: what are you holding fast to today?

 

STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Responsibility is trustworthy, take care of what you commit to, for your own wellbeing as much as others.

 

Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [she is life-sustaining for those who seize hold and have a secure grasp. They are guided on a straight path to success.]

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to stay close to your words, your ways, and your will, today. Thank you.

 

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