Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:19 "A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil."
I love images of the Garden of Eden popping up throughout Scripture. And so when one appears in the middle of Proverbs, one cannot help but take a second look. And what we have here is a reference to the tree of life. Now, in Genesis 3, human beings are kept from the tree of life pretty directly (flaming swords and angels and the like). But in Proverbs 13, we get a small taste of the tree of life. We see it in realized hope. When we hope for something, and it finally comes, we have some sense of what eternal life is. Then again, isn't the death and resurrection of Jesus realized hope? By going to the tree of Calvary, Jesus opens the way to the tree of life. Whenever we hope for something, it is a God-reminder of the realized hope we have in Jesus.
There is another side to this longing, though. We find it in the second Proverb quoted, verse 19. Longing fulfilled is set up against a refusal to turn from evil. Realized hope is designed to draw us closer to God, it is designed for us to reject the things the sicken our hearts and instead turn toward the One who can make us whole. That hope of wholeness propels us closer to Jesus this Lent, and gives us hope that one day will be realized- the day when we will truly eat from the tree of life (see Revelation 22:1-6).
What proverb jumped out at you from Proverbs 13?
Good morning!!! Thanks Andy for sharing your thoughts with us. I've heard it said that if we christians focused more on heaven and all God has promised us, we would probably be walking a little differently than we are. The joy and spiritual songs from our African slave brothers and sisters would be an indication of some of the fruit of heavenly minded saints.
ReplyDeleteWhat strikes me in both Chapters 12 and 13 is the wise response to discipline(12:1; 13:1), insults(12:16), and criticism(13:18) We should love and accept it, listen and stay calm(don't be offended), and again accept it and learn from it. This is not the way, I've usually responded, but I'm getting better at the wise approach suggested, learning to be praising God for the opportunities(good and bad) He allows into our lives to grow.
Godspeed to all of you!!!!
Steve, I am constantly floored by the freedom songs from the days of slavery in the US. The freedom the slaves knew in Christ led to the freedom from shackles. Good point!
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