“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the LORD.”
Proverbs 19:3 KJV
To write this passage another way would look something like this;
The folly of man (either A man or mankind) twists or subverts his journey through life. It also causes his inner man (the mind, will or conscience) to be sad, angry, vexed and out of humor against the Existing One.
So many points could be made about this passage. In fact, this may be one of the most illuminating verses in all of scripture as it lines out the biggest problem humanity faces. If we employ the illustration of a competition- I, you, we ruin, or subvert, our game plan because our desires are considered folly, silly and perverted and are contrary to the rules (set up by the Game Designer) of the game we are playing. This is in direct opposition to, and therefore places us in contention with the LORD (or in continuing with the illustration of competition) better terms are, the Game-setter, the Originator and Rule Maker of the competition or the the all knowing and all seeing Referee.
In simple terms, we are playing a game and are not knowing, using or following the rules set up by the governing commission. We are penalized by the Referee; unaware we are causing our own problems, we often blame circumstances and other people for our setbacks.
This brings up the questions of:
A- what is the objective of the game? How do we win or lose?
B- what are the rules of the game?
For the answers to those questions we can discuss many different opinions. As this seems to be the basis of most, if not all religions, there could be innumerable rules and objectives. As we are attempting to get beyond belief systems and enter into the realm of the elemental basics, It seems appropriate to look at the Author of this passage for answers. Solomon is credited with several works. Much of the book of Proverbs is written or compiled by Solomon. He also is attributed with the book of Ecclesiastes. In the closing statement of that book he offers an answer to what the objective is:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV
The objective of the game – how we win or lose, is to “Fear God, and keep his commandments.” There is an entire discussion surrounding fearing God. In the first chapter (and in other passages) of Proverbs we are informed :
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7 KJV
One perspective on what idea the phrases “the fear of the LORD, or fear God,” expresses can be explained by a story.
If we picture ourself as an Archeologist digging in the dirt to discover or uncover hidden things. While digging we keep bumping into something that gets in our way and is inconvenient. As we dig more trying to find new stuff we keep bumping into this thing and it is getting bigger. Sooner or later we realize this thing we don’t like, is inconvenient and gets in our way, is the TRUTH. We don’t have to like it. We don’t have to acknowledge it and often we do not. We just keep running into it and it continues to irritate us. One day we are forced to acknowledge this large looming structure we have exposed.
At this point we have discovered TRUTH and acknowledged it exists. We have made it to the destination now we are given the opportunity to act on our discovery. We have 3 options.
- Ignore the discovery or attempt to cover it back up.
- Bend the new discovery to fit our desires
- Mold ourself to fit the TRUTH.
If we ignore or cover it up we have shown we are not open to or accepting of the TRUTH.
If we bend the TRUTH and mold it in our image we will transform this life altering moment into a lie.
If we chose to humble ourself and mold what we are and want to fit the TRUTH, we have found the, “fear of the LORD.”
This process is repeated again and again throughout our life. Each time we have the same opportunities of choice. The more we choose to mold ourself to the TRUTH the more we are aligning ourself with the rules of the game and the closer we get to the objective of the game.
On the contrary, the more we choose to ignore, hide or bend the TRUTH to fit our will… well, that takes us back to the original passage:
“The foolishness of man perverteth his way: And his heart fretteth against the LORD.”
Proverbs 19:3 KJV
As we have addressed what the objective of the game is. Let us attempt to answer Question B- what are the rules of the game?
One could argue the book of Proverbs has been assembled to help us determine the rules.
One may ask why the rules are not spelled out simply and set in order so we could easily follow.
An answer is provided in the beginning of the book.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; To perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; And a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.”
Proverbs 1:1-6 KJV
Part of the game is to search for the rules. Ask and it will be given, Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened. In this way when someone begins their journey to find the rules they are embarking on a journey to discover the TRUTH. As they find TRUTH it leads them to more. When they uncover and embrace those TRUTHS the search will begin for the next expedition. The process never stops. As long as we are on a quest to find TRUTH we stay humble and desirous to continue. When we get sidetracked and lose our way either by distraction, complacency or pride we stop playing the game and can find ourself being a distraction or downfall to ourselves or others.
The quest is to stay hunting. The game is to keep competing. This is mainly due to the fact our goal is to have a relationship with the Almighty. We are to continue discovering Him and what He has in store for us.
We are supposed to keep our heart in tune with the LORD. We do this by not allowing our foolishness to pervert our way so we can further our relationship with the Almighty.