WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Do you reveal to strangers what is sacred? Proverbs 5:16
Do you reveal to strangers what's sacred?
TODAY'S PROVERB: Should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in public squares? Proverbs 5:16
There's a saying that goes something like: "That person holds their cards close to their vest."
Imagine a group of men playing poker in a saloon in the Wild West. The experienced players hold their cards as close to the chest as possible so that no one can peek at their hand.
Whereas, old farmer Jones holds his cards away from his chest where anyone with decent peripheral vision can see them. The old guy then wonders why he keeps losing--and eventually, he loses the farm.
This is the image I see when I read this verse. It represents what happens when a man doesn't keep what's valuable protected. He reveals what is valuable to strangers--and eventually he loses something sacred.
In 2 Kings 20:13-19, King Hezekiah was excited that the king of Babylon had sent emissaries with gifts for Hezekiah. So excited he foolishly showed these men all the treasures of the kingdom.
When the prophet Isaiah learned of this, he was not pleased. He prophesied that all the treasures Hezekiah showed to the Babylonians would one day be stolen by them.
Hezekiah had revealed "his cards" and the other players took advantage of him. And not just the king, but the whole nation of Israel.
Do we reveal our cards to strangers?
I was a card-revealer. Mostly because I tend to be a people-pleaser and I like sharing any number of things with others. Some not so trustworthy.
Card-revealers can reveal valuable things through gossip, by sharing intimate details of their own life, or, as this passage indicates, share what is sacred and valuable through infidelity.
By being more careful to protect what is sacred and valuable, we show wisdom.
In Matthew 7:6, Yeshua spoke of using discernment with what we share. If we don't, what we value can be ripped to shreds. (“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet, then turn and rip you to shreds.")
Today's proverb may seem like a "blink" verse, but as you can see, it's a powerful lesson--albeit subtle. The importance of cherishing what is sacred and valuable cannot be overlooked. As Yeshua teaches, discernment can empower us in what to hold close to our vest--our heart.
Let the Holy Spirit show us any sacred areas we might be revealing to others/strangers. Then protect those areas--hold them tight to the vest.
May we hold what's sacred close to the vest, my friends.
Proverbs 5:16, 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!]
There's a saying that goes something like: "That person holds their cards close to their vest."
Imagine a group of men playing poker in a saloon in the Wild West. The experienced players hold their cards as close to the chest as possible so that no one can peek at their hand.
Whereas, old farmer Jones holds his cards away from his chest where anyone with decent peripheral vision can see them. The old guy then wonders why he keeps losing--and eventually, he loses the farm.
This is the image I see when I read this verse. It represents what happens when a man doesn't keep what's valuable protected. He reveals what is valuable to strangers--and eventually he loses something sacred.
In 2 Kings 20:13-19, King Hezekiah was excited that the king of Babylon had sent emissaries with gifts for Hezekiah. So excited he foolishly showed these men all the treasures of the kingdom.
When the prophet Isaiah learned of this, he was not pleased. He prophesied that all the treasures Hezekiah showed to the Babylonians would one day be stolen by them.
Hezekiah had revealed "his cards" and the other players took advantage of him. And not just the king, but the whole nation of Israel.
Do we reveal our cards to strangers?
I was a card-revealer. Mostly because I tend to be a people-pleaser and I like sharing any number of things with others. Some not so trustworthy.
Card-revealers can reveal valuable things through gossip, by sharing intimate details of their own life, or, as this passage indicates, share what is sacred and valuable through infidelity.
By being more careful to protect what is sacred and valuable, we show wisdom.
In Matthew 7:6, Yeshua spoke of using discernment with what we share. If we don't, what we value can be ripped to shreds. (“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet, then turn and rip you to shreds.")
Today's proverb may seem like a "blink" verse, but as you can see, it's a powerful lesson--albeit subtle. The importance of cherishing what is sacred and valuable cannot be overlooked. As Yeshua teaches, discernment can empower us in what to hold close to our vest--our heart.
Let the Holy Spirit show us any sacred areas we might be revealing to others/strangers. Then protect those areas--hold them tight to the vest.
May we hold what's sacred close to the vest, my friends.
Proverbs 5:16, 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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