April 2, 2013

 Proverbs Chapter 2

Stuck in Groundhog Day

 Today’s verses are from Proverbs 2:1-4

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

 No, today is not Groundhog Day. But being the 2nd day of the month, I can’t help but think of the movie Groundhog Day where Bill Murray gets stuck in time reliving the same day over and over. At first, he lives like there is no tomorrow and that there are no consequence for his actions.  And then he realizes that he has the opportunity to better himself and to help others.  After a major change of heart and attitude, he determines to be a better person and finally wakes up to find he is no longer stuck and it is Feb 3rd.

 Have you ever gotten stuck in the same old day?  I have.  Sometimes I find myself in a rut.  Maybe you have to. Work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep….  You just can’t seem to break out of it.  You read your Bible, you pray but…nothing.  No direction, no still small voice, no gentle moving of the Spirit of God.  Today’s reading will help us out of the rut.  There are some conditions, though.  Just as Bill Murray had to have a change of attitude to get out of Groundhog Day, we too must have a change of attitude and following the God-given instructions to get out of the rut.  We will then be given light for a new direction and the path to move forward will become clear.

 Let’s look at today’s reading, it is conditional and requires an action on our part:

 My son, if…

  • Thou receive my words
  • Hide my commandments with thee
  • Incline thine ear unto wisdom
  • Apply thine heart to understanding
  • Criest after knowledge
  • Liftest up thy voice for understanding
  • Seekest her as silver
  • Searchest for her as for hid treasures

 These are all action words:

  • Receive – God has a gift for you but you must receive it
  • Hide – After receiving it, hide it in your heart (Psalm 119:11)
  • Incline  – Hear the Word with intensity
  • Apply – it to your heart and it will show forth in your life (Matt 12:35)
  • Cry after – earnestly pursue, like wisdom was getting away and you need to run after it
  • Lift up thy voice – like at an auction bidding on a fine treasure, determined to get it
  • Seek – like digging in a mine for precious metal
  • Search – the Word like following a treasure map

 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

 According to tradition, if it is cloudy when a groundhog comes out from its burrow and does not see his shadow, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will see his shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and the winter weather will continue for six more weeks. 

 Don’t depend on the groundhog to direct your path.  Rely on God’s Word, it is always right.

 Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.