Prov 8:6 [ESV] Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.
So often when trouble comes, we want trouble to go. We focus on the trouble, and desire more than anything to be restored to a trouble free state. Yet, it is in the midst of this trouble that God does his greatest work. Jesus in the midst of trouble that none of us can even imagine, somehow transforms the future of millions of humans from destruction to instruction. The greatest troubles in my life have provided the greatest possibilities for growth. Not so much academic, or theoretical growth. Not even growth in personal resilience – although that in itself is an amazing outcome. No, the growth available in the middle of the trouble is spiritual. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked!
Trouble always brings to the surface in my heart stuff that is not so healthy – and it that moment I have the opportunity to hand this over in surrender to a God who will take all my troubles and all that is connected to them, and in return provide me with His peace. Before we nod wisely and move on, let’s stop and just breathe and think about exactly what “God’s peace” actually is.
How would you explain God’s peace to another person, and what is your experience of God’s peace? This peace that is shared by God, Jesus and Holy Spirit in every moment of eternity……
KNOWLEDGE – There can be no doubt for us as believers that God desires to speak with us, and in fact more than just desires, He does continually speak to us, and has done so for a few thousand years now through His word. We can go to His word at any time of any day and read any part of it, and God will faithfully speak to us. As a young Christian I wanted to know God’s will for me, and I thought it was this great mystery that I needed to untangle and hear directly from God into my mind and heart. There is an element of that which is true, but it cannot be separated from going to His word each day.
God has already told me to care for the poor; to live generously; to visit the sick; to be gentle towards all people; to seek after the fruit of the spirit; and to practice the gifts of the spirit. I don’t really need a telegram, or a text from God to know what to do each day.
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 hear for “speak” is pronounced as “dabar” in Hebrew and is used one thousand, one hundred and eleven times in the Old Testament. It is always referring to speaking, promising, talking, and telling. In the LXX the word for “I will speak” is “ερώ – ero” This word appears eight times in the New Testament and is translated as “I will say & I will tell”.
WISDOM – when you speak to me O God, let me respond with a “yes, it will be so” every time.
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Belief as an executing strength puts its values up front and centre, visible for all to see. Take time to understand others values before rushing to any sort of judgement.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version Listen and obey, and be subdued by my leadership, and from even the edges of my speech is justice, fairness, equity, and moral uprightness.
Hear – listen and obey
for I will speak – and be subdued
noble things – by my leadership
for from my lips – and from even the edges of my speech
will come what is right – is justice, equity, fairness and moral uprightness.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me to listen to your words as they are written with a preconceived intention to be obedient at every turn.
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