Here, the picture of the LORD keeping watch is reminiscent of a father keeping guard over his son.  He does this by frustrating the foolish words of the unfaithful.  Knowledge is then protected and the path to Wisdom’s house is secure.

 

If the words of the unfaithful were true and contained in them the blessings and benefits of Wisdom’s house or led to another house altogether which claimed to be greater because the reverential awe and fear of God isn’t there, then the entire matrix of the houses would be broken by folly.  Discernment, which stands as the sign differentiating between the houses, would be meaningless.  And the doom of Folly’s house would reign supreme.

 

But it is the LORD who keeps watch over knowledge, and He does not sleep, Psalm 121:1.  The words of the faithful pour forth from a pure heart.  The LORD allows them knowledge and gives them access to its hallowed halls.  It is faith that is the key, Hebrews 11:6.

 

We then spoke of Jesus, who is the Father’s Son.  It is said that God spoke 3 times regarding Jesus: Matthew 3:17- after Jesus’ baptism, Mark 9:7- during His transfiguration, and John 12:28- before His crucifixion.  2 times God spoke directly about how proud He was of His Son.  God’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, His eyes were finally upon the One who would obey Him, 2 Chronicles 16:9.

 

Jesus went to the cross and was obedient to death, (Philippians 2:8), so that all who believe in Him might be saved.  His death and resurrection fulfilled the houses, the Law and the Prophets.  He brought hope to Qoheleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, who denounced the point and purpose of discernment, Ecclesiastes 2:12-16.  He fulfilled knowledge and wisdom providing the way for us to become new creations by our faith in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:17.  He opened the way for us to gain eternal life, John 3:16.

 

 

We live in a “Who Do You Know?” kind of world.  The proper connections can open doors to places that would have been closed before.  Gaining entry to such places sometimes requires a bribe, or a secret password.  Nepotism, the right clothes, and the right ethnic background can also gain you access.  For this proverb, we must go straight to the heart.  It must be pure, not fettered with selfishness, nor boastful and filled with brash arrogance.  Having a ‘pure heart’ is mentioned many times throughout Scripture as being one who loves self-sacrificially, 1 Timothy 1:5, and it is a necessity to gain the blessings of God, Psalm 24:4-5.

 

Having gracious speech is not always easy on the road or behind the wheel.  We are more prone to speak out of anger there for the price of foolish driving is too high.  Filling our mouths with wholesome words even for the foolish so that we may be regarded as obedient to Him is an area beyond the ability of many, save One.

 

When I asked my kids “Where is Jesus?”, they said, “He has the purest of hearts and the most kind of words.”  We considered Him who, on the cross, gave us the utmost definition of sacrificial love, and when He could have called down judgement on those who had crucified Him, He beseeched God to forgive them, Luke 23:34.  Jesus fulfilled all of this so that we may take on His righteousness and be made among His friends, the King of kings, John 15:15.