Proverbs 24:11-12: “If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?”
This evening my study partner and I were discussing the matter of God calling us to do something where everyone around us is advising that it is wrong and not of God. For instance a couple serving in a church, ministering to people who are unresponsive and giving them nothing in return such that it is beginning to wear them down. Well-meaning friends tell them to get out of this church and find a place where they are appreciated. Some say that by staying in that situation they are enabling the people in that church. Other would go as far as to say they are dependent upon this church for some crazy psychological reason. Yet, this couple believes in their hearts that God has called them to this church even though they are seeing no fruit from their efforts.
Let’s take a woman who is married to a man who is not a believer, is abusive, unfaithful, commits adultery and shows no signs of repentance. Everyone is advising her to get out of the marriage, they quote their favorite verses which they believe shows divorce is warranted in that situation. Yet, this woman remains in the marriage, not because she believes divorce in her situation is wrong, but because God called her into it. People accuse her of being co-dependent, of enabling her husband and even of wasting her life.
Everyone loves to give advice. There are many Christians who feel they have all the answers although they themselves have never been in an abusive situation. They may spin certain Scriptures to support their advice or simply ignore Scripture altogether and offer advice that seems right in their own eyes.
The poor person caught in this situation now not only has to find comfort in that situation but now must defend their position that God has called them to such a situation. Oh, but surely if you are suffering that is not of God. You must think of yourself and your own future. You must not waste your life, you deserve better.
My study partner believed that Proverbs 24:11-12 actually addresses this situation. It is speaking to those who are exposing themselves to pain and wounding because they believe God called them to minister to a certain body of believers or to an individual.
Proverbs 24:11 is telling us that we should seek to rescue those facing death. This is really an idiomatic expression meaning to help those in real need. The next verse then says that we knew it not. Sounds like God is saying innocence is not excuse, whether you knew it or not you should still try to rescue the poor slob because He has revealed it to you in your heart. Ok, I am not saying that God may not make us aware of a need in our hearts before we actually confront it. I have heard of people saying: “The Lord told me to give you this $100, I don’t know why but he revealed it to me in my heart.” It turns out that person was praying for that $100. It has happened, or at least I am told it has happened, I have never really personally witnessed it, but I do believe it does happen.
I don’t think that is what God is saying here, however. When we say: Behold, we knew I think He is being more direct. That word to know is yadah which is an intimate knowing. I believe God is addressing those who are aware of a need but say, “Well, I have no relationship with that person, he is not a friend of mine, why should I bother?” God’s response to that is: doth not he that ponders the heart consider it? The word ponder is takan which is a word used by merchants in weighing out a portion of grain for purchase. He has a stone on one side of the scale and the buyer is purchasing grain equal to the weight of the stone. The merchant will fill the opposite tray with grain until the scale balances out and the weight of the grain is equal to the weight of the stone. The word consider is biyn which means to understand and discern. I believe a better rendering is doth not He that bring your heart into alignment with His and cause you to understand?
So God is not pondering the heart or meditating on it, he is bringing the heart into balance with His and giving you an understanding of His heart’s desire. He is taking the desires and longings of your heart and bringing them in alignment with His own heart. Then He says that he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? The word keep is natsar which is the word for a watchman or guard. The word soul is nephesh which is a reference to your feelings and emotions. But more than that he says he will know or yadah be intimate with it. In other words once God brings your heart into alignment with His and you proceed to fulfill God’s heart desire you may encounter a wounding of your soul, rejection, heartbreak. God is not only saying he will not only guard your soul, but in joining His heart with yours he will be intimate with your heart and will feel every pain of rejection and hurt that you feel in attempting to fulfill God’s desire.
Finally he says this: and shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?” This is interesting, the word render is shuv which means to return or restore. He will restore every man according to his works. The word for work is po’al which is not the work itself but the result of the work. This does not mean that God will reward you with wealth, power, influence or other worldly desires. Remember, your hearts desires are now God’s desires and God desires an intimate relationship with you which is what you will also desire.
People will look on that woman who stays with her husband and say, “Well, one day God will reward you and that man will either become a loving husband or you will find someone who will be a loving husband.” We Western Christians look at things too much in the natural world. God does not look at it that way. The greatest reward you can receive is an intimacy with God. You will have that intimacy during your time of trial, but once the trial has passed you will enjoy that intimacy much more. During the trial you depend upon that intimacy to carry you through. But if you no longer need it to carry you through a difficult time, you can just focus on complete enjoyment of that intimacy.
Here is the key to this whole thing. When you join your heart with God when he takans your heart and brings your desires into line with His desires, no one else can or should tell you what to do about that situation that you believe is God’s will, for no one else can know your heart but God. They may tell you that this is not God’s will, surely if it was you would not suffer so. Or that you should start thinking of yourself and your needs. Might I remind you Job had similar advisors and his response was: “I know my redeemer lives.” Job 19:25. No one could tell old Job what he really knew in his own heart.
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