The Sweet Sleep of Wisdom - Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

If you have ever lost a night's sleep due to fear or worry, you know what a blessing it is to have a sense of security and peace as you go to bed.  That is what God promises to those who base their lives upon His wisdom.  So today as we look at our proverb of the day, we will look at how wisdom grants us that peace and ability to lie down and have a great night's sleep. 

The first thing we see here is that there is a promise given to us that we will not be afraid as we lie down at night.  Why would we fear though?  How does God's Word and Wisdom keep us from having fear in our hearts?  According to first John 4:18 fear has to do with punishment.  The one who lives according to God's wisdom does not have to fear punishment becasue he knows that God's grace has removed it from us.  This as true in the Old Testament in the sacrificial system, and in the New through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world.  Therefore we know that the worst case scenario has been solved by the work of Jesus Christ. 

There are other ways in which we know God's wisdom will watch over us.  Much of the wisdom that we read of in the book of Proverbs deals with making wise decisions and staying away from things that are harmful to us.  We are warned again and again in Proverbs that certain choices and certain paths will not be blessed.  They may look good at first - and even bring pleasure initially, but in the end they are very harmful and dangerous.  That is why when we give ourselves to walking in the wisdom of God that we will be able to lie down and not be afraid.  We will be able to lie down and have sleep that is sweet.  Basing our lives upon the Word of God - especially taking the advice and counsel of the proverbs that God has given to us truly will yield a peaceful life filled with His blessing. 

I'll close today's post with a quote from the book of James, "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."  (James 3:13-18)  There it is for us in full view.  When we live our lives by the wisdom that God gives to us - we will live a life that will be filled with the "peaceable" fruit that such wisdom brings to our lives.