Proverbs 4:20-22, Speak Lord, For Thy Servant Heareth!
February 19, Proverbs 4:20-22
1 Sam. 3:1-15; Col. 3:12-17 A neglected Bible is the sad proof of a heart cold towards God.
Speak Lord, For Thy Servant Heareth!
Behind this familiar appeal sounds the echoing voice of God. Obviously we are dealing with more than human Wisdom here. This is nothing but the Voice of Heaven.
- God’s Patience: We have noted the recurring exhortations throughout this chapter and here they are again! This constant repetition may seem dreary, but it is deliberate on God’s part, and vitality necessary for us. We need this constant reminder that the path of godliness depends on our obeying familiar truths. Why should God deal with us so graciously, we may well ask? Why else, but for two reasons. One, God knows what sin has done to us. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust (Ps. 103:14). Two, He is the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth (Ex. 34:6). Paul declares that it is the goodness and longsuffering of God that leads to repentance (Rom. 2:4, and Peter adds, the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (2 Pet. 3:9, 15). Thank God for His patience with us!
- God’s Pronouns: Observe carefully the personal pronouns, my son, my words, my sayings; thine ears, thine heart. This language indicates the covenantal relationship existing between God and His people. It is as if His redeemed were but one person to whom God speaks personally. This is truly wonderful to contemplate. The God of the Bible is not some abstract principle or power, but a living Person who fellowships with His people. He is the absolute living and true God, not one of the deaf and dumb idols of paganism. He reveals Himself person-to-person, I-thou, My-thine. We could never discover Him ourselves. The world only accepts a god that is impersonal, thank makes no demands and can neither bless nor curse. “There are personal gods in paganism, but none of them is absolute; there are absolutes in paganism, but none is personal” (John Frame). The theology of the Atonement emphasises prepositions, but the experiences of the Atonement emphasises pronous (Luther). Rejoice that our God is Infinite and Personal!
- God’s Promises: We must give an attentive, stretched out, ear to these sayings (v.20). Why give more heed to the voices of the world than the Voice of Heaven? Keep the eye of your soul fixed upon them (v.21) as the runner keeps his eye on the goal. Let them also be enshrined in the heart (v.21) for this is seed that will grow best in the best soil. Is our religion only a notion, not a principle, theory, not practice, all intellect without heart? Here blessings are promised to those who know God person-to-person. They give life to those finding them and health. What good is life without health? They are health (Heb. healing) to his flesh, the flesh of each one. The sudden change to the singular individualises the message (3:18), giving health to each part and thus to the whole man.
Thought: “God’s forbearance is no acquittance” (John Trapp).
Prayer: Lord, speak to me that I may speak, in living echoes of Thy tones.