When God Writes A Letter
Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
Proverbs 22:17
When He takes the invisible and makes it visible and then tells us to incline our ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to the application of the knowledge; this is the walked-out faith that enables us to trust God more. I know I place the words on paper carefully reading and trying to understand all the cause and effect. I search in the words inspired by God. The words that were penned down by the ancient Solomon.
A letter that was placed upon the heart of this preacher and teacher, the last king of Israel. The often talked about in Sunday School, Solomon, and his wisdom. But first, before God gave him the offer to “ask for anything” Solomon knew He needed help from God. This thought for God or fear of God was the beginning. Humbly Solomon asked God for wisdom.
“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” 1Kings 3:7-9
Because of this Solomon writes of these excellent things. The foundation of his wisdom was knowing God as holy and able to assist, and knowing himself as not. Solomon wrote it down in his letter of Proverbs because he knew from experience that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. (see Proverb 9:10) So when I read to incline my ear to hear the words of the wise I ask who these wise ones are?
Are they simply law-abiding people, those who know more about right and wrong and justice in this world than I do? I think I know an answer but like so many things within this kingdom of God, it isn’t really the answer I want. The world says to protect yourself and the kingdom says, God protects. Jesus said if I hunger and thirst for righteousness I will be filled.
Is God asking if I am indeed thirsty enough, hungry enough for the wisdom and knowledge of God Himself to come and guide my way? His way is humble, His way reminds me of my fragility, that like Solomon I need help knowing what is right and wrong and if there is no foundation of recognizing God for Himself then I should not incline my ear to hear words that were not written in His great letter.
The wise people are those who know God. God provides the truth from stories told by His saints. God’s truth is written in the Holy Bible. God shows up a million ways in creation if we can see. I am shown the truth. In understanding the truth He enables me to bring the truth to life for myself and for those in the world around me.