What treasures do we uncover today?
TODAY’S PROVERB: These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied . . . Proverbs 25:1, TLV
Why did I choose a “blink proverb”* that is little more than an intro to chapter 25? As a novelist, this verse speaks to me. If I had the chops to write Biblical fiction like some of my friends, I would write a story based on this one verse. More than anything, I would love to know the backstory. Since I don’t, I hope you’ll allow me a bit of poetic license later in the blog.
I am a scribbler. Jotting down all sorts of things. Things I hear from our heavenly Father, from others, tasks I need to finish, story ideas — all sorts of things. I scribble them on the backs of envelopes, receipts, scraps of paper. I have notebooks and journals for this purpose, and, of course, an expensive computer, but they’re not always accessible when the idea comes. I use what I can find and make the best of it, rather than letting the moment be erased by other thoughts.
Inevitably, I will stumble across these bits of paper and transpose them into a more permanent place. A double blessing to find them after so long.
I wondered again this morning if this chapter of Proverbs was a result of King Solomon doing the same thing. Here’s where my imagination takes flight, my friends.
What if the king awoke in the middle of the night with the wisps of the words to chapter 25. They floated like clouds ready to share their rain. He doesn’t want to wake the scribes because it will disturb the wonder of hearing from his heavenly Father.
Instead, relishing the quiet, he opens his shutters to look at the beautiful moon as it illuminates the rooftops of his kingdom. He feels the gentle breeze on his face and smiles. Yes, this was a good idea.
He lights a few lamps and searches his tables for a bit of unused parchment left there by the scribes. Perhaps he finds a few leftover figs from his bedtime snack and dips it in a small dish of honey. Savoring the sweetness, he begins writing, “It is the glory of GOD to conceal a matter . . .”
Hours later, when the sun peeks its colors on the horizon, he finishes. He straightens his stiff back and stretches. His hands release their grip on his pen. He watches as the scroll returns to its former roll. At last, he climbs back into bed, satisfied.
As the king closes his eyes, the gentle breeze returns and coaches the scroll across the table. Another puff and it falls to the polished stone floor. As a stronger wind develops, the parchment moves about touring the king’s chamber until it finds a place unseen by those who might search. A dark place in which to rest until the set time for it to awaken.
Decades later, King Hezekiah’s servants discover the scroll! They run with great excitement to find the new king. What a discovery! What a treasure!
King Hezekiah immediately summons his scribes. The lost proverbs are found!
I wonder if there were even more scraps of parchment King Solomon left behind that were later transposed into Proverbs and Psalms? In 1 Kings 5:12, it was said he composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. Given our Bibles contain only 915 verses in the book of Proverbs, there must be so much we haven’t read of his work. He also was a bit of a scientist and botanist.
God gave Solomon wisdom and discernment in great measure, and a breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, or Heman, Calcol and Darda, sons of Mahol—and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. He also composed 3,000 proverbs and his songs were 1,005.
1 Kings 5:9-12, Tree of Life Version (TLV)
This one little verse contains such a wealth of possibilities, doesn’t it? Imagine all that our heavenly Father has tucked away in all of His word. Amazing!
May we discover what all that He has for us, my friends.
Proverbs 25:1 Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version – TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
*A “blink” proverb is a proverb that on the surface, we don’t believe applies to us or is relevant for today. However, on closer reflection, there are significant insights and wisdom for us. Thanks to Dr. Raleigh Washington for coining the great analogy.
