Proverbs 4:18 … The Path of the Just (04/18/17)
“The path of the Just is like the shining sun,
that shines ever brighter unto the Perfect Day.”
~ unknown (Proverbs 4:18)
First of all, it is important to remember that – seeing as how the lives of all sentient beings are innately shrouded in abject fear (via their constant subconscious evaluations of “friend or foe” &/or “fight or flight”) & varying degrees of self-loathing (via the omnipresent dysfunctional whisperings from the critical judgments received from parents, teachers, preachers etc during childhood). And seeing as how the societies we have created were founded in violence and are still promiscuous in their hovering, omnipresent oppressions of potential incarceration, poverty, ostracization &/or isolation – even the smallest candle of Love or Justice shines like a strobe into the darkness; even the faintest calls for Caring or Freedom boom like a thunderhead rolling over the valley.
Second, note as well the enhanced Meaning found in this verse when we read the Proverbs that precede & follow it – namely, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers … For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence” (Proverbs 4:14-17), and “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over … Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:19-23).
Third, note that the Hebrew word translated here as “perfect” is “nekown,” a word that actually means “fully established” or “made complete” (see Strong’s #3559) – a meaning which harmonizes well with the humility-infused & fully active Way of Christ (see the “fulfilled” of Matthew 5:17-18 – from the Greek “pleroo,” meaning “to hone” or “to make whole or complete” Strong’s #4137).
Fourth, note in closing how well this Proverb flows with Jesus’ reading from the scroll of Isaiah in Luke 4:18-19; especially the fact that we have all been called to shine a similar light, and thereby make the way straight for all those struggling nearby (see Matthew 5:16, John 12:36, John 14:12 et al).
Amen … Let it be so.
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