The Daily Word

 

If you have ever been walking on the moors or in rough country, you literally don’t see much of the scenery, unless you stop. You would think that being surrounded by beautiful but wild countryside would be impossible to miss. So why is it that a walker in this type of country does not see the scenery around him/her? Well, the answer is simple: you have to concentrate on where your feet are going, otherwise you will definitely trip up or worse, get stuck in a bog! Only when you come to a halt can you safely look around you and admire God’s creation.

The writer of the book of Proverbs probably had this physical experience and restriction in mind when he wrote, “Ponder the path of your feet and let your ways be established”. However, as we should be fully aware, Proverbs is largely about practical spiritual life not just physical actions and he uses physical similes to express spiritual truths, a bit like parables in the New Testament.

In general, our feet and other physical movements are largely directed by our brains and as far as spiritual living is concerned, by our hearts also. So the writer of Proverbs wants us think about what we get into and up to and the spiritual grief that can bring to us, besides grieving our Heavenly Father. So we need to take notice of another translation of more guidance in Proverbs, “Commit your way unto the Lord and He will direct your paths”. Can our paths, and hence our life, be any more successful than allowing God to lead and direct???

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church