Proverbs 16:20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
In the Hebrew text, the word for ‘matter’ is the word: ‘Davar’, meaning ‘thing’, ‘subject’ or ‘matter’, but also ‘The Word’.
One wonders about the connection between the two clauses in this Proverb. Let us remember the two preceding Proverbs about pride and humility, rich and poor. Following in the vein of pride and humility connected with rich and poor, the Renaissance Jewish commentator Rashi paraphrases this Proverb in the following words:
‘If one’s analysis of a subject (Davar) shows that performance of a particular commandment may involve danger or financial loss, yet he trusts in God and does it, he is praiseworthy.”
The Master indeed has advised us to be wise in all our dealings, and to ‘count the cost’ of our endeavors. Yet, the grim realistic possible outcome of obedience to God should not deter us from it. Wise realization should only lead us to greater desperation.
As believers, we should never be lured into thinking that our entrance into the covenant of Israel through Yeshua means the end of our problems. Indeed, it could be the beginning of very great distresses, trials and tribulations.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
In the Hebrew text, the word for ‘matter’ is the word: ‘Davar’, meaning ‘thing’, ‘subject’ or ‘matter’, but also ‘The Word’.
One wonders about the connection between the two clauses in this Proverb. Let us remember the two preceding Proverbs about pride and humility, rich and poor. Following in the vein of pride and humility connected with rich and poor, the Renaissance Jewish commentator Rashi paraphrases this Proverb in the following words:
‘If one’s analysis of a subject (Davar) shows that performance of a particular commandment may involve danger or financial loss, yet he trusts in God and does it, he is praiseworthy.”
The Master indeed has advised us to be wise in all our dealings, and to ‘count the cost’ of our endeavors. Yet, the grim realistic possible outcome of obedience to God should not deter us from it. Wise realization should only lead us to greater desperation.
As believers, we should never be lured into thinking that our entrance into the covenant of Israel through Yeshua means the end of our problems. Indeed, it could be the beginning of very great distresses, trials and tribulations.
Yet, in this very realization, let us take wholeheartedly endorse every endeavor He has for us for the sake of the world, just as he wholeheartedly endorsed the costly endeavor of our redemption.
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