Listen to wisdom.
If you look in Bible, in the Old Testament, at Proverbs chapter 1 verse 1, you'll see it begins - "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel".
Much of the book of Proverbs is closely linked with King Solomon; it's the Proverbs, the wise sayings from the King who had asked God for the gift of wisdom when he began his reign (2 Chron. 1: 7ff) - even if he himself didn't always live by these wise words
Much of the teaching of Proverbs is delivered as from a father to a son. But there's also some remarkable teaching in Proverbs in which Wisdom is personified as a woman, as in today's Bible reading. This teaching is given though Lady Wisdom, who mirrors God's will to the people. She gives those who will listen access to the fountain of life. But those who ignore Wisdom's call will reap the consequences of their own folly.
But there are so many distractions, so much noise in our world, how can we hear God's voice? How can we discern what is the wise good true advice of God in the midst of all the conflicting things we hear around us?
The Benedictine monks who built this Priory nearly 925 years ago knew what to do. They knew because the very first word in the Rule of St Benedict is - "Listen".
"Listen to the instructions of your Master, turn the ear of your heart to the instructions of a loving father; accept it willingly and carry it out vigorously.... Let us open our eyes to the divine light, and hear with our ears the divine voice as it cries out to us daily, 'Today if you hear God's voice, do not harden your hearts' (Ps 94:8), and 'Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches' (Rev2:7)."
Sometimes people say: "God never speaks to me. I don't know what God wants me to do 'cause I don't hear God's voice". But the first and foremost way that God speaks to His people is through Scripture; through the Bible. We won't hear if we don't bother to listen; we won't hear from God if we don't listen to what He says in the Bible.
But of course, all the other noises and distractions in our lives will try to drown out the sound of God's word. So we need to make sure that we make a bit of time every day to pay attention to what God is saying to us through the Bible.
We need to find ways of helping ourselves to get more out of this wonderful book: using Bible Study notes, going online to website like those of the Bible Society and Scripture Union, studying the Bible with others at House Group, learning verses and praying them into our lives.
And when we've listened, then we must go and do...
Two weeks ago, we played Chinese Whispers here in church, and we learnt a Bible verse together: 'The Lord says, "Call to me and I will answer you..."' Jeremiah 33:3
Now, today, let's try to hear and remember what this week's Bible reading is telling us.
Proverbs chapter 1 verses 20 - 33 presents a challenging message doesn't it? - when we stop to really listen to it and let it sink in...
It's reminding us that people often ignore the Wisdom of God's word as long as things are going well for them and they're enjoying life, but they turn to God's wisdom when calamity strikes and their lives seems to be falling apart. But really that's a topsy-turvy way to live.
Much better to follow God's guidelines, to hear His word and do His will from the beginning. And then, through all life's ups and downs, we will have the peace and inner security that only comes from walking in God's ways.
In a moment we'll sing about that. Our next hymn was written by Jack Winslow, a man who was a missionary in India and then became one of the first Chaplains at Lee Abbey - and if you haven't already booked in on our Priory weekend away at this very special place on the N Devon coast next July - do it soon!
Something Jack Winslow often wrote and taught about was the importance for all Christians of having a morning time of prayer and Bible Study - a Quiet Time - set apart at the start of every day. He kept an hour of what he called 'the Morning Watch', but if that seems too daunting it's better to start with less and build it up, rather than start big then give up...
Winslow once wrote: "If I can really say with the prophet Isaiah (50:4) ' Morning by morning the Lord wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught', then I find that I begin at once to go forward. I grow in understanding of God as I meditate on the Bible." Winslow went on: "Since I learnt morning by morning to commit the day to God, to try to see His plan for each day so far as He chose to show it, and to wait for whatever orders He might wish to give me, life has had for me a thrill and a purpose such as it never had before..."*
Maybe some of us have fallen out of the habit of having a morning Quiet Time alone with the Lord; or maybe it's something we've never really tried to do regularly.
Here's a 'new term' challenge for us all: let's try it.
Let's set the alarm clock to wake ourselves up a little earlier and give some quality time to God first thing every day - and see what happens.
Now let's sing Jack Winslow's hymn:
Lord of creation, to You be all praise!
Most mighty Your working, most wondrous Your ways!
Your glory and might are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble You dwell.
Lord of all power, I give You my will,
in joyful obedience Your tasks to fulfil;
Your bondage is freedom, Your service is song,
and, held in Your keeping, my weakness is strong.
Lord of all wisdom, I give You my mind,
rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find;
what eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by Your Spirit and shines from Your Word.
Lord of all bounty, I give You my heart;
I praise and adore You for all You impart,
Your love to inspire me, Your counsel to guide,
Your presence to cheer me, whatever betide.
Lord of all being, I give You my all;
for if I disown You, I stumble and fall;
but, sworn in glad service Your Word to obey,
I'll walk in Your freedom to the end of the way. Jack C. Winslow © Mrs J Tyrrell
Mary Barr
*(Jack C Winslow, When I Awake: Thoughts on the Keeping of the Morning Watch, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1938)
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