A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver – Proverbs 25v11
Last week we began our study on some amazing things described in Proverbs 30v18 and today it is “the way of a snake on a rock”.
Why does the writer find this amazing? Serpents and reptiles are cold-blooded and if they do not get heat they slow down and eventually die. But what is amazing is they choose a rock to gain warmth despite it making them vulnerable to predators and enemies. Fortunately because the rocks of Israel are composed of limestone the rocks are weathered and rough and full of holes which is great for a serpent as it can quickly hide and disappear into crevices when danger threatens. So what can we learn from this?
Firstly, God is often described in Scripture as our Rock e.g. 1 Samuel 2:2: “There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You. Nor is there any rock like our God”. Man-made gods like Adonis and Zeus were physically beautiful, but our Lord had to suffer and die on a cruel cross so His appearance was as prophesied in Isaiah 52v14: “Just as there were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness”. Like the serpent that hides in the limestone rock, so we find shelter ‘in Christ”. Secondly, does this mean we are like serpents? Certainly not, but we can learn from them as Jesus said “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves”. Matthew 10v16.
What we learn from the serpents is that even though they expose themselves to danger by lying on a rock they are wary of what is going on around them and know where the nearest bolt hole in the rock is. No snake will take unnecessary risks – at the first sign of danger they will slide away. As believers we need to be close to the presence of the Lord as He is our rock and warmth, but aware that living in the world exposes us to danger and temptation the greatest of which is found in 1 Timothy 6v10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness”
Friends, if we find ourselves “loving money” or “eager for money” and wandering from Christ do the sensible thing like the famous hymn says “Rock of Ages cleft for me let me hide myself in thee”. Amen
Graeme Greenwood