Proverbs 4:16 “for they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble”

He came to my door close to midnight, distressed and probably a bit the worse for wear for drink. He told me that some guys had attacked his mum and she had a reconstructing wire put in her jaw where they had hit her, and he knew where they lived. He asked me to go with him when he went to speak with them. I was sixteen years old, easily influenced, and struggled to say “no”.

So off we went, in a taxi, together. I did not really want to be there, but I did not have the strength of character to say the “no” to my friend that was needed.

We arrived at the destination, on the outskirts of the city, at a group of high rise apartments, what today we may label as a socially and economically deprived area. The ground floor entrance was grubby, litter-strewn and smelled faintly of urine. It was probably around 11 pm, so anyone who was around was either moving quietly and cautiously or was a danger to others.

It may sound like a cliché, but none of the elevators worked so we set off up the tight half-lit stairwell, fifteen floors to go.

On the way up my friend paused and turned to me, and then told me this was his step-father and step-brother we were visiting. Oh boy, that was my moment to say I needed to not be there. I knew this was not good and I should quit now. But I was too scared and proud to either let my friend down or more likely to appear weak.

We went to the door, a huge fight ensued. I was on the fringe. I was by far, more a witness than a participant. 

The police came and an ambulance, I heard them in the distance, the fight was over. Neighbours came out. The outcome was complicated and long drawn out.

Family fights can be really awful and can escalate very quickly and become intense and vindictive. I learned that night that sometimes a strong “no” is critical.

 

KNOWLEDGE

This scripture is describing people who are wholly driven to their own service. There is an unending, never satisfied, always-on, aspect to their existence. Believing more is the answer, they pursue this goal which is all they have, regardless of consequences to others.

In fact, this scripture indicates that there is a deliberate and intentional need to cause others damage on the way. Unless they can cause harm to others there is no sense of satisfaction. They are, to coin a phrase, “hell-bent” on hurting others. 

What a place to live, consumed by fear, anxiety, anger, mistrust, jealousy, envy, and pain. This truly is a picture of “Vanity Fair” – the promise of the bright lights, fame, fortune, notoriety, and glamour, accompanied by the emptiness of a cold grave. What a desperate situation for a human being, made in the image of God, to find themselves in, twisted out of the true image by their own lusts and the attacks of their mortal enemy, satan. Souls that are lost, lonely, lame and listless. 

Our hearts are moved by their plight, their shallow experience of life, and the thought of their final destination. We will not be drawn into their world, but we will not abandon them either – but will always leave the doors of prayer, and kindness open for them, with the hope that they can encounter the love of God. 

 

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?

“wrong” in Hebrew is pronounced  “merea’ ” and appears 76 times in the Old Testament. In the ESV this word is translated into English as, wickedly; worse; harm; badly; evil; displeased; ill; grudgingly; treated harshly; calamity; hurting; shatters; break; hurt; afflicted; destroyed; consumed, disaster; wrong; and, evildoers. Webster’s dictionary translates it as “nuisance”.

 

 

WISDOM: what does your life’s pursuit look like to others – who will you ask for feedback?

 

STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Belief and Adaptability together know how to make room for others, and well as how to hand over well while staying true to core values.

 

Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [they cannot be still, inside or out unless they have willingly been evil. They are orphaned from rest and torn away from sleep unless they have caused another to stagger, and fall to ruin.]

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Please help me recognise the people you have put into my life and to navigate well those who are out to hurt me and my family. Thank you.

 

 

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