God’s Megaphone

WATCHWORD:

God’s Megaphone

This will be a different kind of Watchword, drawn from the writings of Solomon in Proverbs 1-3, the meaning of a homily I heard sometime ago, and informed by  experience, yours and mine.

This morning I heard the voice of God. It came to me in recalling circumstances I experienced over the years, but only now realize those events, those happenings were the voices, directions, and wisdom of God, which I chose to ignore. I believe that if you, the reader, were honest you would probably make a similar discovery. Little detours that opened up a different vista, some unexpected learning, or perhaps you met someone along that new way.

Too often when we think of the nudges or the murmurs of the Holy Spirit within, we think in terms of words, vocal renderings of some kind, we don’t think of our circumstances so much, or the voice of a friend, or the choices made by others close to us, that have become detours in the road. I think these are all ways in which God speaks to us and guides us on our own individual life paths.

We know that Proverbs is one of the Bible books of wisdom. We may read them with some curiosity, we may look up a verse just to make a point, but if these are truly God’s words of wisdom, I wonder if we take them seriously enough and apply them day in and day out?

Proverbs 1:1-6

These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king— Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

The reality is we don’t always take the word of God seriously, into our everyday lives, and let it guide us in our making even some of the most practical decisions. Did you register the word “seasoned” as applied to you and I. We’ll want to remember that when someone throws a number at us like it was a label or a cognitive judgment of some kind. “I’m not [ ? ] (fill in the blank), I’m simply well seasoned.

We know that being a Christian is not always easy. When we look at verses 20-23 we are told that wisdom comes from divergent sources, pay attention:

Wisdom shouts from the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls echos from the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate. How long will you fools hate knowledge?

One is to be a good learner of what God is telling us which means we need to pay attention to the wisdom that comes to us in so many different forms. I remember clearly the solid advice given to me by my friend and former pastor and his wife, advice I agreed with, but until recently had a really hard time following. The voice of God sounding very much like old friends who care.

Here’s the problem and how this impacts us. When God speaks to us, regardless of what form it takes, and we choose to ignore it, versus 23-26 tells us clearly that if we had responded to His voice, His nudges, he would have poured out into our hearts clear direction. But He goes on to tell us since we rejected Him and ignored His advice and would not accept His correction or His direction then we’ve got problems, right here in River City.

Proverbs 1:29-32

Because you hated knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God, because you wouldn’t take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you, well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it; you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it? Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons?

Now that may seem harsh, coming from God, but it’s true, isn’t it? We make decisions and then we’re stuck with them, or we benefit by them, but either way we must live with them. We discover the benefits of following the Lord’s leading, his nudges, his “voice” after we do. That is a choice we must make and live with. Read on, it gets better.

Proverbs 1:33-2:4, 9-11

Whoever listens to me will live.  Accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

I can’t change the voice of God I ignored in the past. I cannot change what has happened during my life, because of choices made. But I can redirect my next steps with prayerful awareness of what God is telling me and make what comes next a following of His advice and counsel. That’s probably true for all of us. Can’t change the past but we can affect what comes next.

The Book of Proverbs can help inform us; it’s wisdom can help us make choices. But we must sharpen our listening and our awareness of the many voices that conveys God’s Word.  Lord, grant me acuity to “hear” your “voice” and follow your will. Amen. May it be so with you.

Prayerful Thoughts:

We’ll close this devotional with a proclamation/prayer from Proverbs 3.

I’m learning to trust in the Lord with all my heart and to lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways I acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight.

I choose not to be wise in my own eyes; to fear the Lord and shun evil. God will bring health to my body and nourishment to my bones.

I will honor the Lord with my wealth, with the first fruits of all I have; then my barns will be filled to overflowing, and my vats will brim over with new wine. Amen.