Where do you rest?


 TODAY'S PROVERB: The fear of ADONAI leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied, untouched by harm. Proverbs 19:23

Do bad things happen to good people? Sadly, yes.

So, what's up with this passage? It seems to imply that nothing bad happens to those who fear the LORD? For many years, I would "blink" past this verse because, well frankly, a lot of bad things have happened to me.

This played a number in my mind that, well, if I was being "touched by harm," it meant that I was doing something wrong. It couldn't be GOD. He was, after all, GOD--it had to be me.

Then, it finally struck me that this proverb--and other passages similar to this--weren't saying bad things wouldn't happen, it meant I could rest satisfied even when they did. That the harm done to me wouldn't truly touch me. Who I am in Messiah will never be touched by what the world and the enemy of our soul tries to do.

It reminds me of when Hasatan (satan) tempted Yeshua in the wilderness (Luke 4). The enemy quoted passages similar to this proverb (Psalm 91). The enemy tried to undermine the foundation of the Messiah's faith in the One True GOD--His Father. Jesus' responses came straight from the Torah--the foundation of our faith:
* "Man shall not live by bread alone." (Deuteronomy 8:3)
* "You shall worship ADONAI your God, and Him only shall you serve." (Deuteronomy 6:13)
* "You shall not put ADONAI your God to the test." (Deuteronomy 6:16)

When circumstances shake our faith, it's important to rest in the foundations of faith. Who our Heavenly Father is. What He has done for us. How much He loves us.

Our faith doesn't rest on having a perfect life, it rests in His Son's suffering death and resurrection. We can be satisfied in all things. We can count it joy (James 1:2-3) even when harm comes to us. Because through it all, we rest satisfied and untouched.

May we rest satisfied and untouched, my friends.

Proverbs 19:23, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs

[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]

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