Humility Before Honor; Job 29-30, Proverbs 15

May the mumbling commence!

What are the actions of a wise man, who follows the leanings of the heart of God?  Look at the defense that Job erects in chapter twenty-nine:

Because I delivered the poor who cried out,

The fatherless and the one who had no helper. 

The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,

And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

My justice was like a robe and a turban. 

I was eyes to the blind,

And I was feet to the lame. 

I was a father to the poor,

And I searched out the case that I did not know. 

I broke the fangs of the wicked,

And plucked the victim from his teeth. (Verses 12-17)

Job claimed to have delivered the helpless and vulnerable.  To help the vulnerable is to chase after God’s own heart.  Job claimed to lend his eyes to the blind and his feet to the lame.  To gift people with the talents you have – to gift people in a way that they could never accomplish themselves – is to chase after God’s own heart. 

Job claimed to be a father to the poor – a father who sought out his children and did not wait idly by until they approached him in their need.  To provide shelter and comfort and value and food and love for those who yearn for these things but find them difficult to find is to chase after God’s own heart.

Job claimed to break the fangs of the wicked and to save the victim from the wicked person’s teeth.  To frustrate the designs of the wicked to the benefit of the vulnerable is to chase after God’s own heart.

These, my brothers and sisters, are the actions of a wise man who knows the humility necessary to learn at the Lord’s feet.  Yes, let us hunger for the Word of God.  Indeed, the Word of God should be our favorite food.  Let us savor the flavor.  Let us digest it into our very natures.  And let us act as God created us to act.  Read from the end of Proverbs chapter fifteen:

The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise. 

He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. 

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,

And before honor is humility. (Verses 31-33)

They are words we all need to hear: Before honor is humility.  In a country where vindictive personal attacks masquerade as wise policy choices, these are words we all need to hear.  It is not about my being right and you being wrong - though that attitude is easy to take in this present time.

Before honor is humility!  We need these words.  Let us in humility join hands together and go to the only place where any true wisdom comes from.  Perhaps like the blind men touching the elephant, we may one day see and understand what the wisdom of God is all about.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out