June 14 – Proverbs 16:16-33
Blessed are those who trust in the Lord.
I do not give the book of Proverbs as much thought or study as I ought. And why not? Is it daunting? Boring? Perhaps. But wow, is it an ethical dissection of wisdom vs foolishness and a “how to” on how we ought to live in Christ.
Want to know God’s intention for our lives? Read Proverbs. Have an ethical dilemma? Ready Proverbs. Want to know why God created us? Read Proverbs. Need to know your worth? Yup, read Proverbs! I had to break from trying to write today’s commentary because I needed to just read through some of this book! It was a good sidetrack moment!
Among all these brilliant verses of Christ-like living, all these wickets to check off… the one who is blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Even if we mark off all the checkboxes and cross each one off the list as ‘mastered,’ it is all for naught without trust. Take a moment to look up the definition of ‘trust.’ Look at how long that list is!!!! Because I love words, I will take a moment to dissect ‘trust’ a bit. It is both a noun and a verb with a literal and a lawful meaning. Yet, all of that can be whittled down to the Old Norse noun, ‘traust,’ meaning ‘strong,’ and the Old Norse verb, ‘traustr,’ meaning ‘to make strong,’ which brings us to the Middle English, ‘trust.’ Fascinating.
For if we do not have the bond of trust, how could we possibly strive to be all that Proverbs has described that we should be? The strongest relationship must be founded on trust; without it, the relationship will crumble.
How does one gain or learn this trust? In verse 20, it tells us to give thought to the word, meaning the Word of God. We are to heed God’s Word and to trust in God’s Word; they go hand in hand! When God calls us to submit to Him and His will, we must be able to trust Him to do that.
Blessed are you who walk with the Lord, seek God’s will, heed God’s law, and trust God with everything.
My Verse: “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20
My Response: I praise You, for You are Law, for You are Word, for You are trust. I thank You for blessing us while we are thoughtful and mindful of things of You.
1 Comment. Leave new
My verse: Proverbs 16:33 “We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”
My response: This verse captured me, today! I tried to choose other verses, but this one kept making me read again – and smile. 😊 I don’t understand, Lord, how I have free will (I cast the dice) and yet You are still Sovereign in all things (You determine how they fall), but I like it so much!! It truly is a “blessing” to me. When I don’t know what to do, and both choices look good and right, it makes me smile to think You can determine my path even if I think I am guessing because I can’t seem to discern Your will. Father, help me to seek Your wisdom, listen for Your guidance, yield to Your will, and then entrust myself to You in choices that aren’t obviously right or wrong – just different. Please DO determine my steps and guide my way. I truly want Your leading.