Bright-eyed and Fat-boned! Proverbs 15:30

Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones. Proverbs 15:30

It is a good thing to be bright-eyed and fat-boned as a Christian.  Ok, there is a sentence you won't hear everyday.  Yet the fact is that today's proverb tells us that this is a good thing - and that the wise man will fully embrace it.  Therefore it would definitely be good to understand just what this proverb speaks about - so that we can be blessed in this way.

Bright-eyed . . . We hear of people who wake up each morning being "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed." This is an expression that refers to someone who wakes up and is truly awake.  The idea of being bushy-tailed refers to a squirrel who when his tail is bushy means that he is fully alert.  These are English expressions, but what we are dealing with here is a Hebraism.  It was an expression that meant something to a Jewish person - just like our sayings mean something to us.

This proverb is a "restated" proverb, meaning that each half restates the other.  Thus this brightening of the eyes - is similar to the good news that puts fat on the bones.  So we can know that the effect on the eyes here is from seeing good things.  What is fascinating though is looking at the word "bright" in the ways that it is used in other places in the Old Testament.  The overwhelming use of this word is in reference to the light of the seven-fold lap in the tabernacle of Moses.  The reason this is fascinating is because of the imagry that this picture.  The lamp was filled with holy oil - a picture of the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit.  The lamp was the only source of light in the Holy place.  It illuminted two things in that room.  There was the table of showbread - which is a type of God's Word.  There was also the altar of incense - which is a type for us of prayer and worship.  Now in light of these things, let's look at at this proverb again. 

What is the news that fattens our heart?  It is when we have the full measure of the illumining work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  When that is the case we have Him opening the Word to us.  We have Him opening our hearts to pray and to worship God.  This would definitely make our hearts glad.  This is the best news of all - God is worthy - God wants us to make our requests known to Him - God wants to speak to us through His Word! 

This also makes wonderful sense when we see what the Hebraism, "fat-bones" means.  This particular Hebraism means a sense of prosperity.  When someone has fat on their bones - they are prosperous and blessed.  It is good news that does this.  Indeed there is a sense that this proverb can simple mean having eyes that are brightened by seing good things and ears that hear good things - makes us glad and prosperous.  But there is also a deeper spiritual meaning that takes us to a different level.  When we hear and see the good news that the Scripture tells us about God - it brings joy to our heart and spiritual fatness to our bones. 

It is a wise thing when a man submits himself to the work of the Holy Spirit.  This will brighten his eyes and bring great gladness to his heart.  He will see the gospel, which indeed is good news.  He will see the truth of God which will put some serious fat on his bones.  He will find himself prospering greatly in the Lord - blessed with spiritual growth - and delghted in the goodness of God.  No doubt about it - it is a good thing to start your day with a quiet time where you seek the Lord - and submit yourself to the Spirit of God as a teacher and guide.  Doing that will truly make you a bright-eyed and fat-boned Christian!