Shai Hills in Ghana, west Africa

The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,    before his deeds of old;   I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.   When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;   before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,   before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.   I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,   when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,   when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.   Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,   rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.   “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.   Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.   Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.   For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord .   But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death. – Proverbs 8:22-36

Somehow this water reference slipped by me as I was preparing yesterday’s post…so I am backtracking today to cover this stretch of “the river”.  I was somewhat surprised by the frequency of the references to the Messiah in the Psalms.  I was not really prepared to find Him here in Proverbs as well.

The water imagery in this passage is beautiful and rich. In fact it almost sounds like something from the psalms.  The “me” in this passage certainly sounds like the same person referred to at the beginning of the gospel of John…”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” — the word became flesh and dwelt among us – Jesus.

The person this proverb is describing came before water even existed and certainly before it was gathered into seas and when He “gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command”.

The passage then takes a very intimate and personal tone, especially for a passage from proverbs…”Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.   Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.   Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.” — ask, seek, and knock and the kingdom will be yours (Luke 11:9).

This passage is a hidden well to be sure – the essence of the gospel is tucked away in this prophetic proverb. I am humbled and awed by the deep pools God is leading me through as I learn to “walk on water”.  It has truly been satisfying my thirst to know God more deeply.

Prayer: God you are truly the great I am. You were there in the beginning, You showed us the way through Jesus, and You dwell with us now.