And (Prov. 1-3)

And.

It joins together, connects, signifying that something is to be added on to what came before, functioning much like the plus sign does in mathematics. It indicates part of a sum of words, reminding us not to subtract them but to hold them together. It is easy to overlook, to think that one can pick and choose the part or the sum of a list of words, choosing the one (or even the ones) that are easy, that fit naturally, but that isn’t the case.

Today, I am reading in Proverbs, particularly the opening chapters. The richness of the writing always astounds me. I find myself reading verses and sections and whole chapters multiple times to get a sense of what it is trying to convey even though I’ve read it so many times before, both in part and in whole. Acute attention to wisdom requires focus that often seems lacking. 

When chapter one throws this at me early:

The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting pound and its essence]; but arrogant fools despise [skillfully and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline” (Prov. 1:7, AMP). 

How can I not pay attention to the ands?

I desperately want to reverently fear the LORD, to worship Him and regard Him as awesome, to have knowledge, and wisdom about how to act accordingly because of who He is, and I do NOT want to be cast in the role of the arrogant fool ever, even though I find more and more within me the niggling suspicion that I have played the part of one in so many ways for much of my life. So I find myself in the role of the repenting fool who wants to turn and pay attention to the rebuke of the LORD when it comes (Prov. 1:23) instead of ignoring the Spirit He has placed within me to make His words known to me (Eph. 1:17-20). 

I want this mainly because there is that other side of the coin that the Wisdom Writer offers warning, and it has its ands also: those who hate knowledge and do not choose the fear of the LORD “obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect,” who will not accept counsel and spurn His rebukes, these will eat “the fruit of their own way” and be satisfied with devices of their own making and what results from them (Prov. 1:29-31). By the way, this particular collection of ands leads to careless ease and destruction (v. 32). The alternative is listening to wisdom and living securely in a confident trust without the fear or anticipatory dread of evil; instead, the wise will live at ease. Definitely a better option!

Chapter two continues the admonition to pursue the wisdom found within the Living Word we have been graciously given. The Word is skillful and godly and stores up sound wisdom for the righteous ones in right standing with Him (because of the blood of Jesus, known as the Word). In the admonition to pursue the stored-up wisdom, there is recognition that the LORD is a shield to those walking in integrity because the wisdom will enter their hearts and understanding will come with it, which is pleasant for the soul (Prov. 2:6-10).

And then there is chapter three. It is here the ands captured my attention, causing me to back up and read once again. In verse three, the Wisdom Writer warns the reader not to let mercy AND kindness AND truth leave [instead letting these qualities define you], but he doesn’t stop there; he also commands to “bind them [securely] around your neck AND write them on the tablet of your heart” (verse 3, AMP). Here is the summation of truly important ands.

I have to stop and ask myself if I have all three added together and tied securely to me at all times, engraved on the tablet of my heart. I have to evaluate and see if I pick and choose which ones to employ or if I use them as intended, as Wisdom directs.

Mercy is that 

benevolence, mildness, or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he/she deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justices will warrant (Webster's 1858). 

Kindness is 

good will, benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants, or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature, ever accompanying love ( Webster's 1858).

Truth is Jesus. Interestingly enough, when I look up "truth" in my trust Webster's 1858, I find this: "conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be." Interesting, isn't it? Jesus is never mentioned by name in the definition, but He is there in the Alpha and Omega, from the beginning to the end. He defines Himself as the Truth (John 14:6, and by the way, that definition is definitive in its nature, singular in being the only way).

I cannot have real truth or kindness or mercy apart from the love of Christ, and I cannot choose the pieces and parts of them that I want to apply if I walk in Him. Love does not show mercy and kindness apart from truth, for that would probably often involve flattery, which is a fool's way to a quick grave, or naivety, which will lead to death in the turning away from wisdom. I cannot love someone truly and fail to extend mercy or kindness. They must be bound together at all times, even when I don't feel like extending them as a unit. I must because these have been extended to me by Christ when I didn't deserve any of them either. I should never withhold good from those to whom it is due, but other extend the blessing of doing good that will promote another's spiritual well-being (Prov. 3:27). 

I cannot separate the ands of mercy and kindness from truth, the definition won't uphold or justify it, the application of love doesn't support it. I must sum them up, extend them carefully, hold to them willfully, and appreciate them fearfully. Without love, I am just a clanging, noisy cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1). My extension of these grows out of God's love for me. 

And.

(Y'all, this note is for me to remember . . . I opened my laptop sitting right in front of me where it has been since Thursday morning, this being Saturday. I thought to myself upon seeing the red warning that the battery was low pop up that I would never get this written without having to relocate to my charger. I opened my program and started typing only to look up more than thirty minutes later and see a battery with 50% instead of still being red. I type this because I need to remember when God nudges me to do something, I shouldn't question His resources. He is able, and I praise Him, even for small things like battery life that wasn't there previously, that helped me focus on what He was working in me today. Amen!)