Don’t Drop the Adjectives

Proverbs 8:17 (KJV) I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Or maybe it’s an adverb, it depends I guess on how you translate it.  When you look at the King James, you see how the word “seek” is modified by “early”.  That is legitimate.  I think I’ve written about getting up in the morning and making it your first priority of the day.  That’s a good way to interpret this.

But as I was reading today in the NET and comparing it to the KJV, I noticed that the modern translation left out the modifier.  It just had “seek”.  Seeking wisdom is always a good thing, but the modifier is what makes it powerful.

    Proverbs 8:17 (NET) I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

A quick look over the other translations shows that they modify it different ways.  The NASB uses “diligently”.  Either way you look at it you need to take your seeking and find a way to make it more powerful.

So?  Sometimes the power of a statement is in the modifiers, rather than the basic statement itself.  Lean into those modifiers.  Listen to what they have to say.  Enjoy the full power of allowing wisdom to be a part of your life.  

If I Had a Hammer

(Psa 127:1 KJV)  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

(Proverbs 23 also read)

I find here a statement of grace in the OT.  Christians often label the OT as a book based on works.  There is certainly a lot about obedience and living upright lives.  The Law as Paul saw it is not pushed as much.  Much more common are statements like this.

It is the Lord who “builds” (1129).  It is the Lord who “guards” (8104).  Does that mean people don’t need to pick up a hammer or shovel?  No.  Does this provide an excuse for sleeping on guard duty?  I would not advise trying to use it.

So?  We are to be diligent and obedient.  We are to live righteous lives.  Above all, we are to trust the Lord as we build and guard. 

Change the Channel

(Pro 1:21 KJV)  She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

I am amazed at how ignorant people are.  They may be smart and widely read.  They may have all the right habits and avoid the pitfalls of life.  They can still be ignorant and it is not necessary.  In this verse we have Wisdom shouting out.  She is doing it at the place where you shout out.  What she has to say is available but if you keep reading you see how many don’t hear.

Ignorance does not mean you can’t know.  It means you don’t know.  It is very clear in politics and the news cycles that people don’t want to know.  They admit that their news sources lie to them about everything but they keep on reading and listening.  It amazed me when the movie “Sound of Freedom” came out and was causing quite a stir, except where it wasn’t.  I had people tell me that they had heard nothing about it.  I could not go on line without it popping up everywhere.  The difference?  The places I looked for information.

So?  You can make it through the day being ignorant of the news.  It is not such a benign event if you are ignorant of Biblical truth.  Seek it out.  If you are not getting it then start looking somewhere else.  Might I suggest reading the Word instead of people giving their opinion of what the word says?

Nose Dives

(Pro 4:12 KJV)  When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

I had the opportunity to comfort my grandson this week.  He was joyously sprinting down the driveway when suddenly his feet didn’t seem to keep up with the rest of his body.  He went down hard.  We kissed hands and knees and cuddled a bit.  Eventually he remembered that mommy was in the house and decided I was not good enough.  

This verse talks about running and not stumbling.  I pointed out to him in the nonsense soothings that go on that if he had been running up hill he probably would not have fallen.  I think that applies to us when we look at this.  It isn’t stated but I think we might find that when we take the easier path, downhill, we have a harder time staying upright.  If I slip going up a hill the worst that usually happens is a few quick steps and a hand or knee on the ground to steady me.  If I am rushing downhill it is more of a total body free fall.

So?  Run uphill.  Strive for the heights.  Usually that is the path of obedience and a lack of stumbling. 

Planned Behavior

(Pro 21:5 KJV)  The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

In this section of Proverbs we see a discussion of the many ways in which people try to live their lives and get ahead.  We have arrogance and pride.  We have lies and violence.  In the midst of that is the recommendation to being “diligent” (2742a).  

For the past several months I have been looking for the actual behaviors that will lead to wisdom and the righteous life.  It is amazing how much of Proverbs is praise for wisdom and clever little observations and how rare the clear standards are.  I think that diligence may be one of those standards.  It speaks of being faithful in applying yourself to the tasks of the day.  It reminds us to stop and look ahead so that we can do a bit of planning.  It means you don’t stop work just because it is 5:00 and you can.  Diligence is the behavior that has you get to an appointment a few minutes early to make sure everything is in order.  I remember faculty meetings when I was teaching when the principal would walk in a minute late and then begin to get set up.  It is no wonder that the teachers were late all the time.

So?  A path to wisdom is not paved with good intentions but due diligence.  Something to act on for the day.  You have probably already done enough thinking.