"Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man."
Proverbs 3:3
Solomon, King of Israel, addresses his son again on the way to live a truly meaningful life by extolling the virtues of mercy and truth. Several times in the past few posts I have defined truth, as it is used in Proverbs, as being wisdom or an understanding of life through God's perspective. Mercy might be defined in a variety of terms, but I like to think of it as referring to an abounding, unrestricted love. This kind of love isn't limited to just loving those who are lovable, but includes a real and active love for those who are the "unlovable." We all probably know of someone who fits that category . . . you know, that man or woman who has such a sour disposition, or that malodorous child who makes a real nuisance of himself in the Sunday School class, or the homeless man on the street corner that you avoid making eye-contact with.
The father tells his son, "Don't let that kind of love and God's perspective on life leave you." It is so easy to become busy with our own important pursuits until we become blinded or even hardened to the people who are all around us crying out silently for someone to love them. Solomon pleads with his son to not fall into that trap which robs us of that part of our humanity which is most important and valuable -- compassion for people! Solomon says, "Bind these things (mercy and truth) around your neck . . . write it on the tablet of your heart!" A person in those days would carry their money in a pouch which often hung from their neck on a leather string. Solomon is comparing love and wisdom to a person's treasure which was kept close to him. To write these things on the tablet of your heart simply means to make it central to your life, kind of like when you refer to something as being "the heart of a matter."
The benefit of doing this is stated in verse four: "Earn a reputation for living well in God's eyes and the eyes of people" (The Message). I have often told my boys through the years, "You can lose your money and that can be a sad thing, but you don't ever want to lose your reputation. It's the only thing you take to the grave with you!" Another of Solomon's proverbs reinforces this truth, "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold" (22:1). A life lived in wisdom and love earns the respect of those around us, but more importantly, it earns the respect of God. I can't imagine anything more desirable than that!
Abounding love and wisdom - treasure incomparable!
Ken, I really appreciate your writing...it is refreshing and a worthwhile read! Thank you!
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