Proverbs 8:34, More Blessings Promised!
April 3, Proverbs 8:34
Psalm 84; Rev. 3:1-6 “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die.”
More Blessings Promised!
What is the picture suggested by v.34? Is it a priest waiting at the door of the Tabernacle (Ex. 29:42)? Is it the people watching at the gates of the Temple for the priest’s Benediction when he had finished his duties (Lu. 1:10, 21)? Some see an eager pupil waiting at the door of the school for the appearance of his teacher! “Wisdom’s child will ever be familiar with Wisdom’s gates” (Bridges). The daily, as well as the Sabbath assemblies, were ever his delights. Never would he be absent from the Well when his Shepherd comes to water the flock. Every true believer knows that the soul’s nourishment depends on watching daily at her gates, like the servants of the temple.
- The Love Progressing: This is not a crowd of beggars at a prosperous man’s stately home waiting for handouts (v.34)! It is ideally a picture of a passionate lover watching and waiting for his beloved (SofS 5:1-2). Do we see our love progressing for God’s guidance, as we should? The Blessedness spoken of here is the result of action as well as thought. The Queen of Sheba thought the servants of Solomon truly blessed because they daily enjoyed hearing and seeing his wisdom in action (1 Kg. 10). How much greater blessedness do they enjoy who lovingly wait upon God! Do you, dear Christian, love to come regularly to this Door (Jn. 10:9), to sit on its steps to learn about life and God? Is yours the love that lingers till the blessing comes (Is. 40:31)? This means:
a. A Blessed Prospect to be watching daily at thy gates with a love that grows daily. This is that Blessed Hope of the Lord’s return found in the NT. We are to look for and hope in His appearing. We are to daily anticipate that prospect. The apostle declares: Hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom. 5:5). He sums it up beautifully and simply when he speaks of those that love His appearing (2 Tm. 4:8)! Each day we should be watching at his gates for His Return. Is it not this blessed prospect (Tit. 2:13) that keeps the love of Christ growing in every believer’s heart, producing the glow of loving patience of Hope (1 John 3:3)?
b. A Blessed Persuasion to be waiting at the posts of thy doors. Doubly blessed is the man that hears me, watching at my gates and waiting at my doors. True love is always dynamic, always developing, as it sits at the feet of Wisdom. We do not want to miss a crumb that falls from our Beloved’s lips. Paul speaks of the faith that works by love. He rebukes the Galatians for faltering in their Christian walk. They were departing from the truth, and leaving the posts of my doors. Like so many today, they were in danger of being deceived by a blighting persuasion rather than the blessed persuasion of Him that called them. Watch out for the leaven of unbelief that is silently at work (Gal. 5:6, 8, 9)! We need to appropriate Christ in our daily experience, and as we do so we will strengthen that blessed persuasion to wait for that which produces the growth of loving patience of Hope.
Thought: “I am daily waiting for the coming of the Son of God” (G. Whitefield).
Prayer: Keep me close to the Entrance so as not to miss Him whom my soul loves.