Bright Eyes

Proverbs 15:30 The Message (MSG)

³⁰ A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart,
    and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. 

Proverbs 15:30

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones. 

This text seems like common sense, but warrants exploration regardless. Reading through the various translations the first question in my mind is which comes first? Does brightness or twinkling in ones eyes lead to joy, or does it indicate joy? 

First, I suppose lets get the visual right. The Hebrew word for light means luminary - this is a word used in Genesis to describe the Sun and stars, it's also used when talking about oil lamps. I like that the Message used the word twinkle.  In other words, this is someone who's eyes are noticeably bright, sparkling, etc.  When does that happen? This isn't talking about someone without cataracts, but someone who is so cheerful and joyful their eyes just glow.  I can certainly think of people like that.  

While it is true that to have such bright and cheerful eyes, one must have a joyful heart, I think this verse isn't stating that truth, but challenging us.  What happens when we are around someone so joyful, their eyes sparkle? It's infectious, right? It's hard not to walk away without feeling uplifted.  That's what this verse is saying, being around someone who is joyful, gladdens our hearts. 

This fits with the second part as well. The Hebrew word for news is Shemuah meaning a report, message, or news, as in something heard in conversation.  What happens when we hear good news? The Hebrew literally says it "puts fat on the bones".  This phrase broken down is about filling our souls.  To put fat on, is to prosper or add substance and this word was often used talking about riches and abundance.  The word used for bones, etsem, also means substance and self.  So hearing a good report fills us, satisfies us to the point of overflowing.  

I think it's pretty clear what wisdom this Proverb relays, leading to two challenges. First, am I the person with bright eyes, infectiously cheerful and causing glad hearts in my wake? Are the words in my conversations good reports, positive and uplifting?  Secondly, what are the messages or news I spend my time listening to? If it's fear based, negative and overall "bad" news then I should expect my inner self to feel depleted. 

Fear the Lord?

Proverbs 3:7 (NIV)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

This is part II for the post Be Wise or Seek Wisdom.  It was clear reading through Proverbs chapter 3 that with wisdom comes great things. However, wisdom is a pretty nebulous concept. The post ended with the connection, taken from Job 28:28, that wisdom is fear of the Lord.  This idea looped us back to vs 7.  

What is fear of the Lord though? That phrase is mentioned 347 times in the Bible, more times than the phrase "Love the Lord", which is mentioned 219 times. It must be pretty important. 

Does the word fear imply terror or being scared? I have the image of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz approaching the great wizard for the first time. Is that to be our approach to God? 

Look at Psalm 130:4 "But with you there is forgiveness, therefor you are feared".  That doesn't fit with terror, why would we be scared of someone who forgives us?

A better definition of fear of the Lord comes from a quote by Tim Keller. In answering this very question he says fear of the Lord is "wonder filled, bold humility". In other words, we must acknowledge two very different truths. On the one hand we say "I'm a sinner, God died for me!"  This is a humbling realization, where we come to know inherently our own depravity.  Yet, we also say "I am so loved by God, that he actually died for me!" This is our boldness, to feel set apart, chosen, loved by almighty God. Both the humility and boldness of these truths creates the wonder and awe, the fear of the Lord. 

I believe for each of us, one of these concepts comes more naturally. By realizing which truth is harder to emotionally connect with, allows us something to strive for. This, then, is the wisdom we seek. The concept so valuable that to those who grasp it, much is promised. Proverbs 22:4, "Humility and fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life"  How meaningful, that these three elements; wealth, honor and life, are the exact 3 things that "wisdom" holds in her hands in Proverbs chapter 3. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes (humility), fear the Lord (grasp your sinfulness at the same time that you realize you are so loved that someone died for you) and shun evil. This is wisdom.
  
In closing, from Proverbs 2:9-11, "Then you will understand what is right and just and fair- every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you."

Be Wise or Seek wisdom?

Proverbs 3:7-24

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth,
    with the firstfruits of all your crops;
¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not resent his rebuke,
¹² because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    as a father the son he delights in.

¹³ Blessed are those who find wisdom,
    those who gain understanding,
¹⁴ for she is more profitable than silver
    and yields better returns than gold.
¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
    by understanding he set the heavens in place;
²⁰ by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
    and the clouds let drop the dew.

²¹ My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
    preserve sound judgment and discretion;
²² they will be life for you,
    an ornament to grace your neck.
²³ Then you will go on your way in safety,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

This one in all about wisdom. What it is, and what is promised if we gain it.  

First, comes the warning; Vs 7 "Do not be wise in your own eyes" There are a few ways to read this.  The word eyes can mean 'of mental and spiritual faculties'. So one way to interpret this is, don't trust your own mental/spiritual faculties, you need to rely on God's wisdom.  The other way to read this is, don't be impressed with your own wisdom.  With the rest of the focus on gaining wisdom, this becomes the challenge; to constantly be seeking wisdom without regarding yourself as wise.  

The second part of vs 7 is the crux of the passage. "Fear the Lord and shun evil". Could it be that when we trust only our own intellect we lose fear (reverence/awe) of God? We'll come back to this vs at the end. 

The majority of this passage is focused on wisdom itself.  Think about the word find in vs 13.  When we find something, it usually means we were looking for it. 'I found my keys', 'Did you find that bill?', etc.  Find also means attain, so not only should we be actively seeking wisdom, we must gain it for the promises to hold true.  Interestingly, though the next phrase uses the word "gain" as in gain understanding, the Hebrew of this is actually defined as produce or furnish.  So it could be read, those who produce or bring out understanding.  In other words, this wisdom we seek must be shared as well. 

This thing, wisdom, that we should seek is described in unbelievable ways. Wisdom is more profitable, more valuable, more delightful (pleasant), more peaceful, more honorable, and long living than anything you can think of.  

And what are we promised if we keep wisdom our pursuit? First of all blessings or happiness (vs13) and vs 22-24 answer the rest with safety, lack of stumbling, lack of fear, and sweet sleep. 

Now, we know how wisdom is described, and we know what is promised if we find it, but what exactly is this wisdom we seek? Wisdom is often mentioned in the Bible along with the words knowledge and understanding, so are we seeking intellect? Vs 7 warns us against pursuit of our own intellect, so what, then? 

Job 28:28 says " And he said to the human race,“The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” 

We come full circle then. These are the words of Vs. 7. Could it really be so simple?  It's a least a place to start.