…the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent upon a rock, the way of a ship in the heart of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. Proverbs 30:19, TLV

A Blink Verse.     Our proverb today has probably been a “blink” verse* for most of us. It sure was for me. Yet, when I read it, I got this creepy feeling. This morning, I looked up the passage in a couple of commentaries. Very interesting.

The one that resonated most with me was a fascinating look into the biology of the eagle and snake. Basically, it postulates once a bird has flown and a snake traverses a rock, there is no way to track them, because they leave nothing behind. The same applies to the ship. Once the wake dissipates, there’s no way to trace it—at least visually.

The “punchline” of today’s proverb is the way of the man with a maiden — or virgin. Here’s where it gets tricky. If we follow the logic of this particular commentary, then the man would leave no trace of his actions. This implies the seduction of a maiden with no evidence.

The seducer is dependent upon secrecy — he leaves no trace of his advances and activity.

Another Opinion . . .

My husband didn’t agree with my assumptions of nefarious intent. He thought the eagle and snake and ship were amazing feats of creation and human ingenuity. The man with the maiden was an honorable courtship for marriage. And there was a commentary that agreed with his interpretation.

We then reviewed the pericope** — verses 10-23. This passage highlights very negative behavior and actions that aren’t acceptable by followers of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Which tends to support the negative interpretation.

Which One?

So, which is it? I don’t know. I’m leaning more toward my original thought, but it’s possible it could be the other, or another. Or perhaps it’s vague because it’s open to interpretation dependent upon what the Holy Spirit might be telling us in any given moment.

Now What?

Now that I’ve settled on the above interpretation, what next? If someone can secretly seduce a young, innocent woman then that means we as parents, mentors, teachers, and guardians need to be especially vigilant to protect them. And, if we think we can relax our efforts in a congregational setting, we’re wrong. The “snake” can slither undetected on rocks; therefore we need to watch our precious children diligently.

In all this, we still need to provide an environment where our children can be children. Our young people can be safe to begin exploring what it means to mature. It’s a balancing act that takes lots of wisdom, prayer, and support. Why not be one of those who supports parents and our leadership? Because protecting our children is worth every effort.

Think More About It

After reading this verse in context, what is your opinion about its meaning. What is your takeaway?

Until tomorrow, may we protect our children, my friends.

Deception is everywhere. As we pray for Israel, let us be wise. Seek after knowledge. Pray for discernment. God bless you.

*A “blink” verse or passage are Bible verses that we tend to blink past. Either not really reading or because it’s confusing we ignore it and more on. Thanks to Dr. Raleigh Washington (co-creator of Promise Keepers and Road to Jerusalem) for coining this term.

**A pericope is a set of verses that forms one coherent unit or thought, suitable for public reading from a text, now usually of sacred scripture. Its importance is mainly felt in, but not limited to, narrative portions of Sacred Scripture (as well as poetic sections).