Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

During these perilous economic times there is a way to lie down and not be afraid; yes, there is a way to lie down, and our sleep be sweet. There is no need for us to be afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes. Read on:

Proverbs 3

1 MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. 3 Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. 4 So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of Jahuwah and man. 5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in Jahuwah with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship Jahuwah and turn [entirely] away from evil. 8 It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones. 9 Honor Jahuwah with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; 10 So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise or shrink from the chastening of Jahuwah [His correction by punishment or by subjection to suffering or trial]; neither be weary of or impatient about or loathe or abhor His reproof, 12 For whom Jahuwah loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. 13 Blessed and enviable is the man who finds skillful and righteous Wisdom, and the man who gets understanding [drawing it forth from Jahuwah's Word and life's experiences], 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, and the profit of it better than fine gold. 15 Skillful and righteous Wisdom is more precious than rubies; and nothing you can wish for is to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are highways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold on her; and blessed and enviable is everyone who holds her fast. 19 Jahuwah by skillful and righteous Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding He has established the heavens. 20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies distill the dew. 21 My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and righteous Wisdom and discretion, 22 And they will be life to your inner self, and a favor and goodwill to your neck (your outer self). 23 Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble. 24 When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless], 26 For Jahuwah shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].

According to a lexical aid[1] “Stumble” in Proberbs 3:23 is Stong’s H# 05062 nagaph {naw-gaf’}

meaning, “TO SMITE, especially used of [Jahuwah] striking men with some plague, Ex. 7 : 27; especially with a fatal plague, with sickness, or death, 1 Sa. 25: 38; Fs. 89: 24; 2 Chr.21:18.” So, if you have not forgotten Jahuwah?s law and teaching; if you have let your heart keep His commandments; if you have not allowed mercy, kindness and truth [Jahuwah's Torah is truth; see Ps. 119:142] forsake you and have bound them about your neck, and written them upon the tablet of your heart; if you have leaned on, trusted in, and are confident in Jahuwah with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding; if you have in all your ways known, recognized, and acknowledged Him; if you have not been wise in your own eyes and turned entirely away from evil; if you have honored Jahuwah with your capital and sufficiency from righteous labors and with the firstfruits of all your income; if you have not cut yourself off from the instruction and doctrine of Jahuwah; neither having been weary of or impatient with His reproof; if you have not let them escape from your sight, but have kept them, then, Jahuwah will not strike you with a plague, sickness or death. On the other hand, if you have not done these things, in all likelihood, you have located the source of the plague, sickness, or death that has come upon you.

The same lexical aid with respect to the word “stumbles” from Proberbs 3:23 continues, “In another sense [Jahuwah] is said to smite a people before their enemies, i.e. to permit them to be smitten by their enemies, 1 Sa. 4: 3, “why hath [Jahuwah] smitten us today before the Philistines?”Jud. 20:35; 2 Chr. 13:15, 21:14;”

If you are being smitten before your enemies, logic would seem to lead to the conclusion that you have not done the necessary steps listed in Proverbs 3:1-22 to obtain the promise of not being smitten. Being smitten by your enemies has its source in your own failure to be a doer of the Word, and, logic would then seem to lead you to the conclusion that the solution to being smitten by your enemies has its own inherent solution in your becoming a doer of the Word. If you want to smite your enemies and get the victory over them, you must do the things listed in Proverbs 3:1-22.

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