MTP06 Proverbs: A Jazz Album

The book of Proverbs can be viewed in a number of ways and after the initial few chapters that are based on a consistent theme, it’s as though the writer takes small themes or wise sayings and throws them out there.

In many ways some chapters of Proverbs are a bit like a jazz improvisational performance, you are captured by the brilliance of the musicians on one point and then they go switching on you to another point whilst maintaining your interest.  Sometimes you will start at one place and end in another completely different having had a taste of some weird and wonderful things in between.  So to an extent you’re spoilt for choice in what to take on board and meditate on – but you are never without some stuff to feast on.

Chapter 6 is a good example of that – it’s like an album with different tracks.

Track 1: (vs. 1-5 ) When All Else Fails – Beg: If your mouth gets you into a deal that you get stuck on, you better not waste any time and desperately get to the person you’ve made the deal with to plead your case.

Track 2: (vs. 6-11) You Crazy Being Lazy: Oi you lazy-bones, yeah you, look at even the ant, they don’t an administrative process or structure to get the hob done, but they work hard and sorted for the seasons, now you mate, getting all lazy, taking a chill here and a nap there, before you know it you’ll be dirt poor – sort it out!

Track 3: (vs. 12-15) The Wicked Man: Watch out for those nasty characters who are up to no good – it is their agenda from the head to the heart to the actions – they are up to no good, but it will be worse for them because they will come a cropper from which there will be no remedy.

Track 4: (vs. 16-19) – God Hates:  Seven things God despises so you better be wary not to be guilty of these – haughty eyes, lying tongue, hands shedding innocent blood, heart that works out bad plans, feet rushing to evil, liars lying and one who splits up the brotherhood.

I could spend a series in itself just looking at these seven.  My contention is that in as much as these seven appear to be individual traits that you might think are separate and to be analysed in isolation, actually this is a person that’s being described.  The fact that it’s seven features which usually refers to a whole issue is a good indicator of that, but when you look at the seven consider how related they are.  Liars who make it a habit to go lying are doing wicked from the heart and running to do it.  The result of their actions could be the shedding of innocent blood not just in the literal sense but metaphorical.  How many times has a person’s character been snubbed because of the gossiping lying, back-biting that’s been going on and leaving the person a victim of a vicious character assassination?

Perhaps more on that in another post.

Track 5: (vs. 20-35) Stay Faithful: – If the other tracks were  relatively average sized tracks, this is one of those long lingering medleys.  From the father urging his son to keep the instructions close to the heart, the theme is not to fall into the trap of adultery.  Linking to the last chapter’s issue of faithfulness this outlines just some of the travesties that befalls the poor misguided fool who’s a sucker for the wiles of a prostitute which is as much another man’s wife as it is the lady of the night.  Whether that outcome is the vengeful husband or the dishonour and disgrace that follows such a foolish decision as to be unfaithful.

This is just a cursory glance at some of the ways that this chapter can be viewed and is why it’s so much like an experience of jazz – it’s literally like the jazz riff wise sayings to know right from wrong.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd