Prov 7:11 [ESV] She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;
As a young boy I loved going to the swimming pool. And in Edinburgh, where I lived, they built a pool for the Commonwealth Games, and it had a diving pool. I enjoyed the two spring boards, and was confident on running and springing off the end of the lower and higher boards. I even went occasionally up onto the first of the platform diving boards, and eventually would take the dive. I was tempted to go higher, and a few times I went up onto the next platform, the second highest board. Very few people went there, the heat of the lights made the platform surface warm. I would go to the edge and look, and eventually go back down the spiral staircase to the lower level. My emotions were in tumult when I stood on the edge of the second highest board, and I felt embarrassed when eventually I went down the steps again. So I did not go up there all that often.
One day a young attendant at the pool started chatting to me, and started to coach me on going higher (I can see that now –but probably would not have said that at the time he was just friendly and encouraging). He talked about the decision to go and dive being made before I went up the steps, and to go to the edge, not to look down, to position myself as I would on the lower platform and to dive. That day I did it – the I went up and did it again, and again, until I had mastered my fear of the second top board. It felt good going up the steps and as others stepped off onto the lower platforms I kept going up the steps.
Ah, but there was still the very top board to master. And with my coach, I did. There was still a degree of tumult, internally, but it was channelled into progress not disruption.
I think at times when we face temptations (to go back down the steps) we all need a coach.
KNOWLEDGE – we know in our knower that there are certain . things we should not do – not because of rules, but because they will harm us and others in the long term, even if they may “feel good” in the moment. We know that the structure of family and home is a God idea and a God principle, and we know that there are many forces working against that – including at times, our own free will.
There is a story of a man passing by a church one day, and he sees satan sitting outside the front door weeping. He goes over and asks him “what is wrong”, and satan answers “they are blaming me in there for a whole lot of things I never did.” – I know it’s a silly story – but it makes a point – yes there is a devil, and he is out to destroy us if we let him. But our own flesh, and our own free will can often be the source of tumult.
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 in Hebrew for “loud” is pronounced “hamah” and means to make a noise, be tumultuous” The word “tumultuous” has its roots in Latin [tumultuous] – done without order or system, full of bustle and confusion, turbulent.
In the LXX the verse reads “Inciting and she is carnal, in her house do not stay still her feet.” The word for inciting is “ανεπτερωμένη” [anepteromene] – the closest we find in the New Testament is ἀναπολόγητος [anapologetos] – without excuse, indefensible. (see Rom 1:20 and 2:1)
WISDOM – Where do I choose to commit myself to, who do I choose to surround myself with, and what order or system of life draws me?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: The talent of “adaptability” is a beautiful talent – it loves to go with the flow, living in and enjoying the moments of life, discovering the future one day at a time – they are not disruptive, except in a good way to challeng others to enjoy the moments God has given us.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – She is tumultuous, stubborn, obstinate, and rebellious; her feet (aka genitals) do not dwell with her family.
She is loud – she is tumultuous
and wayward – stubborn, obstinate and rebellious
her feet – her feet (euphemism for genitals)
do not stay – do not dwell and settle
at home – with her family
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to dwell with you and your family in peace, in purpose, and in presence.
To chat to me as a professional coach/mentor – allan@theallankey.com
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