WISDOM FROM GOD – “SEEING HE DWELLETH SECURELY BY THEE”

Peace and harmony are written by our Creator, the LORD Jesus, into every human relationships. However, our sin and our rebellion in the Garden of Eden changed the basic structure of who we are. As a result of this structural change in our making, we began to lie, to cheat, to manipulate – as seen in Adam and Eve’s response to the LORD – and even not hesitate to  kill others – as we see in the case of Cain and Abel. Peace and harmony are replaced with discord and disharmony. This resulted in our world plunging into chaos.

Our portion of study for this morning’s meditation from Proverbs 3:29 highlights this anomaly, and advises us, as the Children of God, to behave differently – rather, more like our Father, the LORD our Creator, and not like the evil Satan.
– “29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.” – Proverbs 3:29

Let us look at the second part of the above verse for our study this morning – “SEEING HE DWELLETH SECURELY BY THEE.” This part of the verse is translated slightly differently in some versions, which brings out the meaning and the intent much more clearly. Here are a couple of translations from the Aramaic for our reading.
– “Do not devise evil against your neighbor, SEEING HE DWELLS IN PEACE BESIDE YOU.” – Proverbs 3:29 – Lamsa Bible
– “Do not devise evil against your neighbor WHO SITS WITH YOU IN THE QUIET.” – Proverbs 3:29 – Peshitta Holy Bible

The second part of Proverbs 3:29 – SEEING HE DWELLETH SECURELY BY THEE – exposes the evil in the hearts of the human beings, and urges us, as Christians, to walk differently from the rest of the world around us – to walk in the way that our LORD Jesus has laid out for us – to walk in the Narrow Path, to which we are called.

We are called not to decide in our hearts, to commit acts of evil against our neighbour. Instead, we are called to uphold the faith and the confidence our neighbour had placed in us, by choosing to dwell beside us in PEACE with us. When someone does so, can we are Christians, the “Called-Out People” and the “Chosen People” behave wickedly against our neighbour?
– “By pairing “devise evil” with “neighbor,” the verse underscores that treachery toward someone close is especially offensive, echoing Jesus’ second great command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).” – Berean Study Bible Notes

We are called to by the LORD our God, as Christians and the ambassadors of the LORD Jesus, to a certain kind of life, lifestyle and conduct. This is clearly seen clearly in the following Bible verses.
– “9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9
– “13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” – James 3:13-18
– “8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” – Romans 13:8-10
– “8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” – 1 Peter 3:8-12

Once we get the essence of what is intended by our LORD, through the words of Solomon in Proverbs 3:29, it becomes easy for us to grasp the full meaning of it. Once we realise the full meaning, then we know the purpose of it is, for us to follow it. In following the instructions of the Word of God, we are following God, faithfully and obediently.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask these questions to ourselves, this morning. Are we following the LORD? Are we obeying Him in our thoughts, words and deeds? Are we walking in the ways that our LORD had instructed us in the Bible? Let us seek the LORD Jesus earnestly, to help us live for Him, and walk faithfully and obediently in all His ways. Even so, the LORD help us.