Proverbs 13:14 “Law” is not a four letter word
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.
Proverbs 13:14 NASB
The word teaching is “torah” which is also used to refer to the law, or writings of Moses. It may also be translated “instruction,” which Solomon provides in abundance in Proverbs. There are many who have written books that provide bursts of light and insight into something. But this proverb makes me smile — who is the wise one and how may I recognize her? It takes a heart leaning toward wisdom to see wisdom. Wisdom isn’t the manner of presentation (like finding a long-robed guru sitting in meditation on a high mountain cut off from every distraction) but rather, she is found in the doing. In humility. In delightfulness, playfulness, freedom, confidence, and generosity (because of the wealth that she has attracted). Whatever filter I have for finding her, it’s almost as if she sidesteps it to surprise and approach me in a way I would never have suspected. But if my heart is tuned to listen, her voice is recognizable.
But why “torah?” Since when does instruction become law or vice versa? To me, law leaves an impression of inflexibility. Right or wrong. Black or white. Following it, there are no fireworks. But violating it one may expect consequences. Law then becomes to many, or at least to me, about consequences. I don’t believe God ever intended to shadow his words of life with a dark cloud of foreboding with that perception. Man in his guilt does a pretty good job of that by himself. In fact, the filter through which much of the Old Testament was written colors man as the perp and God as the judge. Removing that filter I find Christ — who embodied the law in human flesh. The outflow of love was the law. And the outflow of God may be found both in the law and Christ. Instruction, law or precepts, lead to life. In fact, it is a fountain of life. Like water to a thirsty garden, or food to a hungry laborer, or hope to someone struggling with hopelessness. David found the secret passageway that connected his and God’s heart — and then he wrote Psalm 19. It is an absolutely beautiful view of the place that “Torah” has in creation.
Too much drama in anything and it’s hard to take a person seriously. If my daily choices are constantly determining “life and death” my stress levels spike — dramatically. The kingdom of heaven isn’t about making life-altering decisions constantly. It’s about a trajectory. Which way I am pointed. There are moments where certain choices have real consequences — like when I chose to believe, or to get married, or chose to have children. Or when I didn’t choose to do something I should have. They are a result of the background and history of previous choices I have made in my heart. Even so, these momentous events are a fraction of the not so dramatic moment by moment living every person enjoys daily. It’s more about my values. What I lean into. Who I allow to speak into my life and influence me. It’s about managing appetite. As my good friend says, “Overeating at a single meal does not make someone a fattie.” When hiking in the woods I will often find a very old tree that has fallen and I may see the hundreds of rings in the wood reminding me of a very long history of growing, drought, rain, and sunshine. It’s difficult to find one violent thunderstorm, or even a summer of extreme heat.
The second part of the proverb, “to turn aside from the snares of death” is a reminder that there are traps that my adversary is constantly setting for me. Very few walk up to a hangman’s noose and think it’s a good idea to put their head in. Rather, like a hunter lures prey with something the animal wants, Satan does the same to me. He knows my area of need and flashes a solution in front of me, obscuring the noose behind the offer. Aware of the minefield in which humans constantly walk, Jesus said there is a way to respond to the threat — pray this way:
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:13 NASB
Aware that I’m constantly in danger and under a threat, how do I maintain a childlike disposition and freedom of heart? By letting my Helper help. He is my Wonderful Counselor. He leads me in the way I should go. He’s behind me saying, this is the way, walk in it. There is no need for my heart to ever be troubled… the wise one is God, and He’s my Father and holds me in His hand in a way that no one can bring harm to me. Freedom, laughter, joy, and rivers of delight flow from me — because my wise teacher, with his law, is in me.