Daily Readings & Thought for March 30th. “ALL WHO HATE ME LOVE DEATH”
What a challenging statement that is, “all who hate me love death”! It is the final statement in Proverbs ch. 8, a chapter which begins with the question, ”Does not wisdom call?”. Call? – this is a Hebrew word that occurs 16 times in Proverbs, for example, 1 v.24 :”I have called and you refused to listen.”
In today’s chapter, it is followed by the parallel question, “Does not understanding raise her voice?” How many fail to understand, especially today; even try to understand the reason for life, what it is all about!
This remarkable chapter personifies “wisdom” as a person who is totally wise in the way they live their lives. “My mouth will utter truth” says wisdom, “wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous, there is nothing crooked or twisted in them.”
[v.7,8]
Wisdom has a sister called ”Prudence” – a word which the dictionary defines as the quality of being foreseeing and discreet – and so in v.12 we read, I wisdom dwell with prudence and I find knowledge and discretion” as a result.
The next verses say, “The fear (awe) of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign and rulers decree what is just” Is there a ruler who can be described in this way now? Even Solomon in his old age faltered.
In the New Testament James states that, in contrast to human wisdom, “the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” [3 v.17] . Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom and one day soon he will return from his Father’s side to reign with true wisdom and those who have loved wisdom will rejoice and receive “fruit” because of their love.
The final quotation we will select is “My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold … granting an inheritance to those who love me … [v.19,21] And what an inheritance! In contrast – remember how the chapter ends, “all those who hate me love death” Of course they do not “love” death” but because they turn their back on wise thinking and doing – in God’s eyes they “love death.” There is no ‘in between’ position in life, it is either the broad way or the narrow way! How increasingly uncomfortable it must be to try to ‘walk’ having a foot on each path! Too late – it is realised it is impossible! God is calling – are you really listening?
