Two weeks ago we heard Jesus say that “the Spirit gives life,” which He explains by saying that “the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)
Last week we saw Jesus develop this: true peace in this life only comes from Jesus, by the Spirit, using the Word. Jesus wants us to understand the connection between Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and us having lives with life and peace in them.
Let's finish this short series with one further reflection, from the book of Proverbs:
17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today, even to you. (Proverbs 22:17-19)
Aren’t things that are pleasant, so nice? They’re just… pleasant! I like that, don’t you?
What do you think is the most pleasant condition to be in? Maybe you imagine laying on the beach, listening to the surf, the laughter of children, the faint call of seagulls. Maybe you think of being engrossed in difficult but rewarding work—the threat of failure and the hope of success makes you feel so alive!
What if you could have the mental, spiritual, and emotional experience of beach-side rest, while in the midst of hairy, stressful, situations? That’s what Scripture offers us in the Gospel.
As in this short passage in Proverbs, things become pleasant for us (“it will be pleasant”) to the extent that we trust in the Lord (“that your trust may be in the LORD”). Because really, it’s only when our confidence is in God’s wisdom, kindness, and power that we’re able to abide in precipitous circumstances with God’s Shalom-peace. Only in faith can we feel that way in those places.
Let’s talk about how. Is there anything we can do to steady, build, and sustain a faith like that? Hey, I’m glad you asked. This is what these proverbs are meant to instruct us on.
First, we need the words of the wise. This (v. 19) is what has been made known to us so that our trust may be in the LORD.
Okay, we have those in God’s word. Check.
Second, “incline your ear and hear the words of the wise.” (v. 17) Just having the Bible isn’t enough, of course. We must incline our ears and hear; that is, we must listen. Listening is hearing-plus-attention. The words of the Bible are not talismans to ward off evils, with a little help from a crucifix and some “holy” water. Scripture only works when met with faith—that is, when we read or listen to Scripture and receive Scripture into our minds, mulling over it, considering it. (“hearing with faith,” Gal 3:2, 5)
Okay, have the Word, hear the Word, and pay attention. Got it.
Third, we must apply our hearts to it. So, it’s not just that we understand the concepts—“I hear you”—but we reflect on the ways these words might change our lives. That change? That’s getting wisdom. When knowledge gets understood, it’s still useless, inert, lifeless until it comes in contact with our lives—it has to be applied. And the only way it will reach our lives is if it first reaches our heart. (Cue the string music.) Scripture has to change us inside before it will shape our outside.
Okay, have Scripture and hear it and heart it. Changed life!
But is that easy? Not in my experience. Not at all.
So, by way of explanation, the proverbs here includes a key phrase. (Now we’re approaching a unique contribution of these verses.) “The Words of the Wise… will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.” (18)
Scripture has to decompose within us. The roast has to slow cook.
How does this happen? Scripture is kept within us, meaning, it’s readily available from our mouths. Meaning this: we have it kind-of memorized.
Our lives will not change without the wisdom of Scripture. We will not, wisely, trust the Lord more and more without Scripture directing us to do so, and how to do so. But how will Scripture worm it’s way past all our defenses? How will Scripture be present in those moments when the distractions and cares of life pause? How will Scripture be available when the devil’s barbs hurtle toward us?
It has to be within us. It has to be ready, on our lips.
Consider the example of Jesus. He spent forty days in the wilderness, at the end of which—hungry, hot and tired—He was tempted by the devil himself. And how did Jesus reply to the devil’s philosophically plausible citations of Scripture? With personalized, memorized, Scripture. In other words, Jesus had been spending that critical time alone doing what? Meditating on Scripture. And not just for its meaning, but for its meaning-for-Himself. He kept the wise words with Himself; they were ready on His lips. Because Jesus is the Wise One.
And we’re becoming like Him. And practically memorized Scripture is a big help.
Discipleship, spiritual-transformation, Christian maturation, will happen by the Spirit’s power, through the Gospel being heard and believed. And this can take a lot of time.
But if, between here and there, we would like to avoid some of the pain of sin and folly that comes from residual-unbelief, we can accelerate the Spirit's work by soaking ourselves in Scripture. So attentive are we, so contemplative are we, that we practically have those Words of Wisdom memorized. Practically. Maybe actually even.
Putting Scripture in the Spirit’s hands to use in us is like putting lots of quality resources in the hands of a competent worker—they’ll thrive and their work will thrive and you'll thrive. And there’s no more competent worker, or any more worthy work, than the Spirit and the Spirit’s work of transforming our lives.
Now, simply memorizing Scripture won’t work. It has to be a part of this prayerful, personal, attentive, pursuit. But in that context, the patient fermentation of Scripture in our souls will yield lives bubbling with faith.
And that, my friends, is a most pleasant life.
Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
