September 22, Proverbs 18
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination. - Proverbs 18:10-11
Young children are great at imagining things. Who doesn't enjoy a nice tea party with dolls and bears as guests, drinking non-existent tea and eating invisible cake? (Voice of experience here.) With a little assistance from some vocal sound effects, tricycles become motorcycles. The effect is helped by Daddy or Poppa being able to push the kid around on the toy vehicle fast enough to suit the young driver's imaginative travel plans.
Make believe, pretend and imagination are fuel for childhood fun and artistic fiction. It's cute when our little one has imaginary friends. But we are concerned when an adult talks to people who aren't really there. Grownups may enjoy an imaginative story in a novel or a movie, but they usually know the difference between fantasy and reality.
The rich man in our text had a problem rooted in his imagination. It's a matter of his personal security, so it's a serious problem. He is imagining that his wealth can defend him from all harm and keep him secure.
The text describes a situation that was commonplace for Solomon and his first readers. To understand it, we need to use a little imagination ourselves. Can you imagine living in ancient times when bands of raiders and enemy armies came through the land? They took by force whatever they wanted from peasants trying to survive. In those days, the most secure place a vulnerable person or family could go was to the walled city nearby. Tall walls were a good defense in primitive times. (At least they were good under attack, but not so good under siege, when the invaders cut off food and water supplies to the city.) But inside the walls was a lot safer than outside.
From that image Solomon described how the LORD is a strong defender and protector for his righteous people who run to him and rely on him. Then the wise king struck a contrast to the rich man whose wealth is his safe place, insulating him from potential harm and dangerous threats. Solomon adds that fellow's money is a high wall, but only in the rich man's imagination.
Maybe you can remember more about American history than ancient history. Settlers on the frontier often built their homes near a fort or outpost surrounded by a wall. The frontier was often a lawless place. Also, the the people who lived in the area before the settlers arrived didn't always get along very well with the new neighbors. So when the alert sounded that trouble was on the way, settlers would hide what they couldn't carry with them, and run to the fort or the settlement, hoping for more security inside the walls. In the frontier version of the story, the rich guy thinks his money will solve the problems with the hostile neighbors and protect him from danger. It won't, but he imagines that it will.
The wisdom of the text is that real safety and security against the most dangerous threats are only found in trusting God. Humans are always seeking an alternative to humbling themselves. It's not just the rich and it's not always money. Some smart people rely on their understanding. (Remember Proverbs 3:5-6?) Strong people want to trust their physical strength. People with weapons are tempted to trust their weapons. (That's the horses and chariots of Psalm 20:7.) And people who view themselves as righteous want to trust their own righteousness. (Paul said that was not a good plan. He stopped depending on his own legalistic righteousness when he started trusting Christ (Philippians 3).
The verse that follows our text says that haughty self-reliance precedes destruction, but humility comes before honor. I want the safety and security of trusting the Lord. I know the man in my mirror too well to think I could rely on myself. How about you? What's your strong city? What's your tall wall?
Copyright © 2021 by Michael B. McElroy. Used
by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—September 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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