The shephanim are not mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks; Proverbs 30:26

The shaphanim is the second animal from which we are to learn in this passage.  First of all we need to identify just what a "shephanim" is.  They are not rabbits as some first thought.  They are the rock hyrax - or hyrax syriacus. They are very weak and defenseless little creatures.  The book of Leviticus lists them among he unclean animals.  They have long hair, a short little tail, and round ears.  These little animals are for the most part defenseless.  They cannot burrow into the ground for safety and they have precious little about them that strikes fear into any predator.  What they do for safety is that they hind in and among the rocks to find a place they can be safe. 

The point of this reference to one of the most helpless of animals is not to point to his great power - because he has none - but rather to point to his wisdom.  He is considered exceedingly wise for taking refuge in the rocks.  The point is to show that he is weak - unable to defend himself - with many natual predators - yet he finds safety in the rocks.  What a great picture for us as men.  The little rock hyrax does have a message of wisdom for us weak men as well.  We are weak and unclean in the sight of God.  Man boasts great strength, yet his boasts before a holy God are empty and meaningless.  He is utterly helpless before God - and due to his sin and rebellion - he faces a fate worse than death in the judgment.  Yet, just as the little rock hyrax finds refuge, safety, and help in the rock - so we as men should find a similar "exceeding wisdom" in running to the Rock as well.  Our rock though is not a physical inanimate object laying on the ground.  Our Rock is Jesus Christ, the Rock of ages.  David knew of Him when he asked Jehovah to "lead me to the rock that is higher than I."  (Psalm 61:2)  He is the Rock Moses came to and struck from which came abundant rivers of water that gave drink to a thirsty and dry people.  He is the "cleft of the rock" in which the Lord hid Moses as all His glory passed by, so that Moses would not be consumed."  He is the Rock upon which we should build so that our house may stand in times of difficulty - of rain, flood, and storm.  He is the Rock upon which God will build His church so that the very gates of hell will not prevail against it. 

The little rock hyrax has a message for us.  We are defenseless, without hope of deliverance in our own strength, and facing certain death.  We need to run to the Rock of ages - the Rock of our salvation - the Rock of refuge - Who is Jesus Christ.  There is no other place of true safety for us.  Let us come unto Him then, Who is our safety and our hope.  Let us come to Him and find not just strength - but ultimate safety from every enemy - and from the judgment that will come.

Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. Proverbs 3:23

In today's world people crave security.  They have security cameras, security systems that monitor doors and windows, and some even have security guards to keep them safe.  The problem with all this is eventually you are going to have to leave your home or workplace - where you will have to walk around and experience a lifestyle outside of the secure parameters that you try to set up for yourself.  One thing that the person who understands the fall of mankind from a Scriptural perspective is that one of the most dangerous people in our lives is . . . wait for it . . . ourselves!  How can we hire a security detail to guard us against our own sinful tendencies?

What will guard us from ourselves - as well as provide protection from other outside threats is wisdom.  This verse points all the way back to verse 21 and ultimately back to verse 13.  Both these verses tell us that we need to keep wisdom foremost in our thinking as well as in our vision.  When we set our sights on wisdom, desiring to have not just wisdom, but understanding and discretion in where we go, what we do, and what we say - we will learn that we are placing ourselves in the best security net possible.

Wisdom will help us to "walk in our way securely."  Walk is the Hebrew word "halak" and it refers metaphorically to the pathways and behavior of one's life.  When we choose pathways and behavior that manifests God's wisdom - we are choosing a very secure lifestyle and pathway.  The security spoken of here (the Hebrew word is "betah") means a calm assurance.  It speaks of an assurance and safety that comes from knowing that you have God's protection.  It speaks of having a security in God that keeps us from being too self-assured that we become careless. 

We are told that when we walk this way in God's wisdom that our foot will not stumble.  We stumble because we do not see something in our path that might cause us to trip and fall.  Scripture calls these things stumbling blocks - as well as the sin that might trip us up in life.  When we walk according to God's Word in both theology as well as practical insight and wisdom - these trip cords and stumbling blocks are illumined to us so that we avoid them and do not find ourselves tripped up by them. 

Want security in your life - a security that goes far beyond the physical security this world can offer? (and biblically I even wonder about that)  This security only comes from knowing and following God's Word with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  It comes as you fill your mind with His Word - and learn to discern and discriminate between the things in the world that will bring either blessing or problems.  That, my dear saints of God, is security.  All other promises will ring hollow and empty.

"But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil." Proverbs 1:33

Although the past eleven verses have been ones that have had a message of warning and correction, the last verse in this admonition gives us an encouraging lift.  That is the blessing of listening to God's warnings.  They may be tough, but in the end He also offers us a positive look at what it means if we live a life that obeys and honors Him.  That is what we will examine today as we look at the last verse of Proverbs chapter one.

We immediately see the transition that is made here.  But . . . is such a wonderful word when seen in transitions where God has been trying to make a point.  Foolishness has been shown for how unwise and destructive that it truly is throughout these verses.  But now God is going to turn things around with one verse.  There is proise of punishment and consequence for those who reject God's wisdom and Word - but for those who will listen - there is blessing.

The word used here to call us to listen is a wonderful word.  It is the Hebrew word "shama" and it means not just to listen with ones ears - it means to have what we listen to affect us so that we obey and regard what it is that God has said to us.  Two famous biblical passages use this word.  The first is in Deuteronomy 6:4 where God introduces the Shema.  "Hear O, Israel!  The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!"  After this God calls Israel to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.  This passage became so famous among Israel that the word listen was codified - and the basic confession of Israel was named, the Shema.  It is a reminder for all time for her people to place love for God above all other things in life!  The second place where this word is used in a famous way is in Isaiah 1:2, "Listen O heaven, and hear O earth; for the LORD speaks, Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me."  This is a passage where Isreal has rejected God - and God calls all of creation to listen to the warning that is offered - a warning that calls men to never abandon and turn away from the Lord.  In both of these passages "shema" is used to call us not just to listen to anything - but to listen to something and Someone of absolute importance.

We are called to listen to God - and here, of course, we are called to listen to His wisdom.  The ones who listen in this way are ones who will "live securely."  This phrase meant that a person could live with a calm assurance that God would protect and keep them.  Wisdom has a way of setting our hearts at ease, knowing that God's wisdom will always yield what is best for us.  The promise is also given that we will be "at ease from the dread of evil."  This ease again describes for us a state of security, peace, and rest.  It speaks oddly enough for this state to overcome someone even at the moment of death.  It is a peace that cannot be disturbed because it is given by God Himself. 

The Lord gives warnings - and they can involve somewhat extensive cautions against wisdom and against walking in rebellion to His Word and ways.  But know that such warnings are given to us because of God's great love and mercy toward us.  Yet in the midst of such warnings - and in the midst of what some might call, "negative messages" we can know that God's desire is for us to walk in His ways and thus to experience all His blessings.  To act like sin does not exist if we do not name it is the height of foolishness.  The wise man knows that such warnings are welcome to us for they remind us that we must cling to and love the LORD our God with all that we have and all that we are.  Such warnings are blessings in disguise for they keep us from walking in foolish and unprofitable ways.  Embrace the negative messages that warn of our propensity to walk in the flesh and in our own strength.  When we keep such wisdom close to our hearts, we will find that these messages are close friends with God's favor - and those are friends that are worth keeping indeed!

A rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. Proverbs 18:11

There is something about wealth and riches that make men think that they are insulated from things normal men have to endure.  They often use their money to avoid the troubles of the average man.  Some pay bribes to officials so that they and their family do not have to be arrested or pay for tickets that have been given to them.  But this is only deception.  God will bring down the high wall and the fortress in which they put their trust. 

There was such a man in the New Testament.  In Luke chapter 12 we read about a rich man whose land was very productive.  When a bumper crop came in, he wondered to himself what he should do with it.  His decision was one that consisted of trusting in riches for his future.  He decided to tear down his existing barns and build bigger ones to store all his food for himself.  He truly saw his wealth as a strong city and a high wall behind which he could be safe.  His imagination told him that when he gathered up all his wealth he would be protected and kept from the normal problems and indignities men usually faced.  It was a nice illusion while it lasted.  Problem was for him that it only lasted less than one hour. 

God came to this safe and secure rich man and demanded of his his soul that very hour.  God came to him and revealed to him the foolishness of his choices.  He might have imagined that his money was his real future - but he forgot the one enemy money cannot buy off in the end.  Death was coming to him - his soul was required of him - and there was absolutely nothing that his accumulated wealth could do for him in that moment.  He did not choose to be "rich toward God," and in the end it cost him everything.  Safety in wealth is just a bad illusion.  The only safe place is in the center of God's will.  We may think that our savings will protect us - but the only secure place to store up treasure is in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves cannot break in and steal. 

You may think that your riches provide safety for you - but that is only your foolish imagination.  It is only the lie of the devil and the siren song of the world that would lure you in to destroy you on the rocks of death and the grave.  The only safe place is under the blood of Jesus.  The only true wealth is the wealth that is stored up through our good works done in the name of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.  All other wealth and safety are the epitome of illusory lies.  They will disappear before your eyes at death just as the promising mirage of an oasis disappears before the dreaming eyes of the man who is dying of thirst in the desert.