Month: January 2015

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightiest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-19 KJV

There are several items in this passage that I wish to work with during the next few blog posts. We will just take them as they have impacted me as I have sat with this passage and pondered (Biblical meditation) their words.

The first few words, “Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.” The words that rose in me in response were, “We lay ourselves down then rise in strength.” The principle we need to know is the same principle that governs our physical bodies. If we do not lay down to rest, we will run out of strength and become very weak. It is imperative that the human being rest if they are to function.

So it is in the Spirit of God. Unless there is a “bowing” or “laying down” of ourselves in trust, there will be no reception of His knowledge. His words are spirit and truth, and according to 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 only those born of the Spirit can possible know and receive the truth of His heart. So when we “lay ourselves” down, it is an action of trust that allows our interior to receive truth. Yes, it is true humility. It is not a thing of public display that I am speaking of, but what happens in the private life between the LORD and our hearts.

Lest one misunderstand what I am saying, I am not talking about becoming empty. That is never a thing of Spirit. We are not to be empty, but instead to allow Him to become in us all He is through our unique personhood. We lay down our understanding that it can receive truth. When we think we know truth about amatter or a passage, we may not be open to receive what He might have to say about that item. There are probably fuller, broader, deeper, and more thorough understandings of that truth available, which will make it seem as if  what we understood before was so shallow that it was almost not truth. I am, of course, speaking from experience.

The action of “bowing down” the heart and life is as essential as the beginning of resting, reception, empowerment and life. It is the way through – whatever we are experiencing, bowing down and allowing Him to instruct His Word through our heart, is the essential beginning.

Lord, we bow ourselves. Thank you for immersing us in your Presence with Your Spirit to rest us and reveal to us your heart and your Word! May it always be so for us – that first we bow to lean and rest, then we rise to become all you have in mind for our moment.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD; teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 KJV

The Word! The Word! The Word! The Word has the answers to all things. Yet, we often find ourselves very content to just rest in what someone else understands. Really that is just like chewing food that has already been chewed up and spit out. We cringe at that thought, (at least I do – a lot), but to find a believer who reads their Scriptures and believes what they says; who is curious as to what it might mean; who spends time with the Lord daily thinking in and through the word – all which we just read in the Psalm above – to find such a person is really, really, really rare. I wonder sometimes just what the Lord thinks of us in His Kingdom in this age.

We know He loves us, (at least are in process of learning); we know we are saved by grace through faith. We know He died for us and poured out His Holy Spirit upon us and we would say we love Him. Yet, our choice of mind involvement does not include much, if any of the word He gave us to know Him.

There is a company of folk, both young and old – by personal and individual choice, who are entering into several studies this season. One I know of is a group of young adults studying the Bible (just opening it and studying it – right out of the page). How this warms my heart. Others I know of are getting very serious about just what the Lord has written and what treasures are there to be found. Some such are becoming students in our Institute of Biblical Studies for a college level study. Others are praying as to how to begin to make Bible study and Bible thinking a part of their lives – to learn how to live  as a believer, yes, but much more than that – to learn what and how the Lord thinks and feels. They want to know His heart and the creative Spirit behind all we see. These are true seekers – they already know He is real. Now on to the massive, magnificent discovery of what He really is like.

What a joy to discover such people in this Kingdom of ours. Lord Jesus, Thank you for loving us so much and for being so patient with us. We are open recipients of your grace and faith. We choose to hear, see and know your goodness as revealed in your awesome Word. Thank you for entrusting us with your very life and heart within. Empower us to be encouraged and not discouraged as we allow Your thoughts and ways to become our own. This is Your call – we say Yes.