July 12 ▪ Day 193

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 19:8
Numbers 23–24
Matthew 12
Psalms 9

Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:8)

The one who gets wisdom loves life;
     the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus, Proverbs 19:8, says in the NRSV, “To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.” Acquiring wisdom is a matter of prudence and self-interest; keeping that wisdom will help you find success.

The NIV translates the first half of this proverb by saying, “The one who gets wisdom loves life.” And life is one of the meanings of the Hebrew word nephesh; other meanings include a soul, living being, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, and emotion. Most translations interpret the first half of the proverb in terms of the self — the one who gets wisdom loves him- or herself. But with the living and active nature of Scripture, we should remember that those who acquire wisdom love themselves, but they also love life with all its passion, emotions, and desires.

I also like how the NIV puts the second half of the proverb: “The one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” The Hebrew verb here, shamar, means to keep, to watch, or to preserve — to guard. It also means to observe, to take heed of, and to pay attention. To keep understanding is more than just intellectual assent. You must also act upon the knowledge you’ve received. You must implement the wisdom you’ve learned; you must change what you do because of what you know. And when you do that — then you will prosper. You will find good.

Father God, may we seek wisdom and act upon what we have learned. Thank you for the benefits of wisdom. May we cherish this aspect of your nature. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Numbers 23 and 24 tells the rest of Balaam’s story. Three times Balaam offers sacrifices for Balak, attempting to do what the king of Moab desires. Each time, instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam blesses them. He speaks four different oracles — prophecies that come from God.

Each time Balaam attempts to curse the Israelites he uses multiple altars. He has seven altars built, and he sacrifices 14 animals — seven bulls and seven rams. As you know, seven is a symbol of completeness. Yet only this heathen prophet tries to use multiple altars to influence the outcome. Hebrew priests and prophets will use only one altar.

The first time Balaam utters his oracle, he says in verse 8, “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?” He concludes his prophecy with the prayer, “Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”

Of course, Balak is not happy with this, but Balaam reminds him that he can only speak what the LORD gives him to say. But Balak thinks if Balaam only sees part of the company of Israel, he may then be able to curse them. And so they set up at another location and go through the whole process again — another seven altars, and another 14 sacrifices. This time, God gives Balaam a word specifically for Balak. As Balaam says in verse 19, “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.” He makes it more explicit in verse 23 when he says, “For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel.” In describing Israel as a wild beast that devours its prey, Balaam’s oracle echoes Jacob’s prophecies of Judah and Benjamin in Genesis 49.

When Balaam tries to curse Israel for the third time, at a third location with another seven altars, he does not even attempt to get a word from the LORD. Perhaps Balaam is resigned to God’s plan to bless Israel, but perhaps also it is an effort to circumvent what God would say. Instead, however, the Spirit of God speaks directly through Balaam, and he utters two more oracles.

“Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you,” Balaam says in conclusion of the third oracle (24:9). In the fourth oracle, Balaam speaks Messianic prophecy, as well as curses against Moab and other nations. In verse 17, Balaam prophesies, “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Again, this echoes some of Jacob’s prophecies from Genesis 49. But it also introduces the idea of Jesus Christ being a star and being heralded by a star (Revelation 22:16; Matthew 2:2).

It is remarkable how God makes Himself known through these prophecies and through this pagan situation. He speaks of His eternal nature; His unchanging purpose. He reveals a plan for Israel that will span centuries and that will affect all the nations. And the words that Balaam uses will reverberate throughout Scripture, and will be repeated again and again.

In Matthew 12, when Jesus is discussing being Lord of the Sabbath, he says, in verse 6, “Something greater than the temple is here.” Later, when the scribes and Pharisees ask for a sign from Jesus, he says in verse 41, “Something greater than Jonah is here.” In verse 42, he says, “Something greater than Solomon is here.”

Jesus doesn’t actually say “something” — that’s just a way to make it into proper English. The Greek doesn’t actually specify the subject. It is implied — one, a person, or a thing — greater than the temple/Jonah/Solomon is here. So the verse could equally be translated as “Someone greater than the temple is here,” or “One greater than the temple is here.”

The implication, of course, is that Jesus is speaking of himself. He is the one who is greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, and greater than Solomon. That’s a pretty impressive list! The only one greater than the temple is the One for whom the temple is built. Indirectly, Jesus is claiming to be God. Greater than Jonah — a prophet who caused an entire Gentile city-state of hundreds of thousands of people to repent. So greater than a person who had affected more Gentiles than any other known prophet. And Solomon — the man identified as the wisest person in the world. Who is wiser than Solomon? Only Wisdom herself — the pre-incarnate Christ.

When the Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, Jesus comments, in verse 25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” Indirectly, Jesus is speaking about the unity between himself and the Father (John 10:30). The verse also speaks to the reason Jesus prays that the Church will be unified.

As the chapter ends, Jesus says in verse 50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” This also speaks of unity of purpose. And this unity in purpose is what defines Jesus’ family.

Psalm 9 speaks of the LORD as the judge. He rebukes the nations; he causes the wicked to perish and be forgotten. The LORD rules forever. His throne embodies justice and righteousness. In contrast to the wicked, whose names are blotted out forever, the needy and the afflicted are not forgotten. God is mindful of them, and he does not forget their cries. God is a stronghold for those in trouble. He does not forsake those who trust in Him.

Father God, I thank you that you never forget our tears or our sorrow. You remember those who seek you; you are a refuge to those in danger. Thank you that you are righteous and holy and just. Thank you that you are One; there is no division between you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you that your purposes prevail, and that those who do your will are known to be part of your family. Thank you, too, for how you used Balaam to bless Israel and prophesy of the future. Thank you for everything we learn through your Scripture. Please continue to open our eyes and give us understanding by your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.