MEDITATIONS
FROM PROVERBS
September 20,
2006
Reading: Proverbs 8:22-36
“Now, therefore, listen to me, my children” Proverbs 8:32
My soul, the more you read these words the more impact they have on you. Whenever a verse begins with “Now, therefore,” or just “therefore”, you must always read what has been said immediately before. Without knowing what has been said you cannot fully understand what is now being said. A good example of this is in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” This verse contains a wonderful statement of truth just by itself but the word “therefore” directs your attention to the words just written as to why this statement is true! You find that the Apostle was speaking about the fact that you are no longer under the law, even though the law tries to keep you in it’s hold, even though there are many times you see yourself as a “wretched man” because of the war between your two natures. Paul asks a question, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” He answers his own question, “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord,” Now, he continues, because of the work of Jesus Christ you do not have to face God’s condemnation!
The text above is such an one – “Now, therefore,” because of what has just been written, “listen to me.” As we read verses twelve through 31 you are very conscious that Wisdom is speaking of Him who is wisdom incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who else can make these claims? Who else can say “I have been established from everlasting”? and, before everything was created “I was beside Him, as a master craftsman.” Wisdom (Jesus) says, because of who I am “listen to Me, my children”.
When Jesus told His listeners,
“Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from
Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” Matthew:
11:28-30,
He did not expect them to accept His
invitation because He was a carpenter from
Every promise of God is underscored by the premise that He is the Great “I AM”. He cannot lie, and, on this basis, you can believe His every word. He cannot deceive you because He is Holy and without sin. The father of lies and deceit is Satan, not Jesus. Every word of Jesus is true because He is God.
The words Jesus wants you to listen to are full of promises. Read them again and hear Jesus speaking to you. There is a promise to those who keep His ways; to those who hear His instruction and listen and to those who find Him, for they shall find life and obtain favor from the Lord! Why should you listen to Him? Because of who He is, the Only Begotten Son of the Father, pure, holy and righteous. He is everything you hope to be. Listen to no one else for they are all false teachers and their instruction leads down the highway to hell. As much as God’s promises are valid and can be counted on, so is the warning in the last verse,
“But
he who sins against me wrongs his own soul: All those who hate me love death”
In other words, God is not affected by your sin, you are. Your sin will have no effect on His holiness but it will condemn your own soul, the result of which is death and hell. But for those who “listen to Me” and follow His instruction there is life and favor from the Lord.