August 10 ▪ Day 222

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 21:5
Deuteronomy 31–32
Mark 2
Psalms 38

Verse Focus (Proverbs 21:5)

The plans of the diligent lead to profit
     as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus is Proverbs 21:5, which says, in the NIV, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” The ESV translates this proverb as, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

As I look at this proverb, I first look up the definition of “diligent” to remind myself of what exactly it means. One dictionary says diligent is “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking.” Another dictionary says, “having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties.” Another simply says, “hardworking.” I also look at the Hebrew word. Diligent is the figurative meaning for this Hebrew word; the more literal meaning is “sharp,” as in a sharp instrument or in pointed things. The Hebrew word that the NIV translates as “profit” and the ESV as “abundance” does mean those two things; it also can mean “superiority.” “Haste” is probably the best English translation, although the Hebrew word can also mean “pressed” or “confined.” And the word being translated as “poverty” can also be translated as “need” or “things needed” (or “things lacking”).

So, the plans of the hardworking and conscientious person will lead to superiority (promotion?) and/or abundance, while those in a hurry (skipping steps perhaps?) will find things lacking (as in forgot to do that! whoops!). Or perhaps even resulting in literal poverty because you lost your job because you failed to be diligent in your work efforts.

As a general principle, the Bible commends the plans of people who are steady, earnest, and energetic. Those who hurry or do things hastily will come to a bad end.

Of course, we all know that we should be diligent in our work. But what about other areas of our life? Are we diligent in seeking God? Or is your quiet time a hasty thing squished into the few minutes you have before you need to get out the door in the morning? What about when you’re driving the car? Are you calm and unworried? Or are you anxious and in a hurry because you’re running late, so that you drive faster than the speed limit? What about in our relationships? Do you take the time to stop and listen? Or are you worried about the next task that needs to be done?

Father God, help us to have peace and strength in you and not to be ruled by haste or worry. Let us be diligent and hardworking; let us take care in all the different things we do. May we always be ready to spend time with the people in our lives, instead of just focusing on the tasks hanging over our heads. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses commissions Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Three times Moses tells them, “Be strong and courageous (v. 6, 7, 23).” He tells them not to be afraid. They are about to enter the Promised Land; however, Moses reminds them, “The LORD your God himself will go over before you (v. 3).”

Just think about that — the LORD will go before you. We may not be facing war or a difficult campaign, but there are many things that we fear. Even going for a job interview will cause some anxiety! But the Scripture tells us that God prepares the way. He goes before us. Whatever we need to face, we should be strong and courageous because we have God with us. Moses also tells the Israelites in verse 8, “He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Moses knows that he will soon die. He will go up the mountain and see the Promised Land from a distance, but Moses will not enter the land himself. We know that this is in part a punishment because Moses did not treat God “as holy in the midst of the people of Israel (32:51).” Yet I think this restriction was also a manifestation of God’s mercy. Moses was 120 years old. How much energy would he have had left for the trials and difficulties of entering the Promised Land?

Today I was realizing that I’ve been looking at this all wrong. Yes, Moses didn’t get to enter the Promised Land. But the Promised Land is only a shadow of what God has prepared for His people in the next life. Moses may not have entered Canaan, but he did enter heaven. He got something better than what he had hoped for.

In verse 9, Moses gives a copy of the law to the priests as well as to the elders. He commands them to read the law in its entirety when they have a Sabbath year (v. 10). When they release people from their debts, they will also read the law. It will be a time of renewal for everyone.

The LORD tells Moses that after he dies, the people will turn away to foreign gods. So He commands Moses to write a song. The people will remember the song long after they no longer remember the law; it will be a witness for the LORD against the people of Israel. They will remember this song when “evils and troubles have come upon them (v. 21).” The LORD tells Moses that — even before He brings the Israelites into the Promised Land — He knows that they will turn away from Him in the future.

Moses also speaks of this future betrayal to the Israelites. Some of his lasts words to the Israelites concern the evil that will come because they will turn aside from the law (v. 29).

Deuteronomy 32 records the words of the Song of Moses. It is a mixture of praise, history, and prophecy. Verse 5 laments that the Israelites “are no longer his children.” They are “a crooked and twisted generation (v. 5).” The song speaks of how the Israelites will turn away to idols. Verse 21 prophesies of God’s future work among the Gentiles, “They have made me jealous with what is no god; they have provoked me to anger with their idols. So I will make them jealous with those who are no people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

Even though the LORD promises to hide His face from the Israelites; He does not forsake them. He promises vengeance against those who hurt Israel; He will vindicate His people “when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining (v. 36).”

Verse 39 gives me the shivers. “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

Mark chapter 2 tells us the story of the paralytic man who was lowered down through the roof of the house for Jesus to heal. We also learn of the calling of Levi (otherwise known as Matthew), and hear answers to questions about fasting and Sabbath observance.

As I read the chapter today, I noted how critical the scribes and Pharisees were of Jesus. The whole chapter seemed to be nothing but criticism after criticism. First, in verse 6, we learn how those present in the house were “questioning in their hearts” when Jesus offers forgiveness of sins to the paralytic man. They may not have said anything out loud, but mentally they were accusing Jesus of blasphemy.

In the next stories, the criticisms are all offered in the form of questions:

• “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners (v. 16)?”
• “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast (v. 18)?”
• “Why are they [the disciples] doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath (v. 24)?”

Pick, pick, pick! I knew the chief priests and scribes were very antagonistic to Jesus towards the end of his ministry, but I didn’t realize how critical they were even at the very beginning of his service. Clearly, approval would only be granted for those who did things the same way the Pharisees did them.

The Pharisees could not see that the Messiah would have to do things a different way. If the right way was the way that the Pharisees were doing things, then there would have been no need for a Messiah to come. Of course this is me speaking from my perspective of understanding what the Messiah came to do. From the Pharisees’ perspective, the Messiah was only to rescue them from being subordinates in the Roman empire.

In the last story in the chapter, we read how Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. When we read this story in the book of Matthew not too long ago, I had a small epiphany. I realized, for perhaps the first time, that it was not Jesus who was picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath, but his disciples who were doing this. It’s perhaps a little more obvious when you read the version of the story in Matthew 12:1-8 than in this version here in Mark 2. Still, I think it’s worth noting that — even though the Jews were misinterpreting definitions of “work” — Jesus himself did not break the law.

I’m not trying to suggest that Jesus perfectly kept the entire Mosaic law as understood by the Pharisees. I don’t know if he did that or not. We know Jesus was sinless. Did he obey Mosaic law with regard to all the regulations about uncleanness, and purification? He healed so many people! When he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, he touched the girl by the hand — touching a dead body! — and then raised her to life. Did he then shave his head and offer sacrifices to be cleansed from the uncleanness of touching a dead body? Scripture certainly makes no mention of this, if so. When Jesus raised Lazarus, he did so without touching his body — so he didn’t need to separate himself as unclean for seven days in the week before Passover. Or do those regulations simply become moot because the people Jesus touched are no longer dead but living? When he healed lepers, they weren’t leprous anymore, so perhaps no one could accuse him of being unclean? Is that why we don’t have any mentions of purification from uncleanness? But perhaps Jesus did comply with all the rules and regulations of the Mosaic law, even as it was misinterpreted by the chief priests. And perhaps that’s why he was not also picking the heads of grain that Sabbath day.

Even if Jesus refrained from breaking the law, he did not refrain from breaking tradition. And he did defend the disciples’ actions that Sabbath day. As he concludes in verse 27, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

This is such an important distinction! The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Sabbath rest is a gift for us. It is not meant to be a burden, to make us weary with having to comply with all the various regulations. I try very hard to work six days in the week, but to take Sunday as my day of rest. But if on Sunday I want to do the dishes, then I don’t think I should tell myself that I can’t do them because that would be work. On the other hand, I also don’t think I should make myself do dishes on Sunday just because I have more “time” to deal with them then. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important for us. Because the “right” thing to do isn’t necessarily a matter of always doing certain specific actions; circumstances matter, and it also matters where our heart is before God.

Psalm 38 is a prayer for mercy. David confesses his sin and iniquities. “There is no health in my bones because of my sin,” he says in verse 3. In verse 4, David says that his iniquities are “like a heavy burden.” Indeed, he continues in verse 4, “They are too heavy for me.” Many of the burdens we carry are too heavy for us. The weight of sin, broken promises, failure, rebellion, and selfishness is too heavy for us to bear. But sometimes it’s just life that seems too heavy to bear — too many problems, not enough progress. Fortunately, we have a solution to the problem of an overburdened soul: Jesus Christ.

I also love verse 9. “All my longing is before you,” says David. God sees into our hearts. He sees what burdens us, He sees our hopes and dreams, He sees how we long for peace and rest.

Father God, thank you that you see our pain and our longing. Thank you that you care when we feel burdened. Thank you that you sent Jesus to help us. Enable us to keep in step with your Spirit. Keep us from being critical like the Pharisees. And help us to have courage for the things you call us to do. Help us to remember that you go before us. You prepare the way. Thank you for your steadfast and everlasting love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.