"Dwell Secure"

I'm going through the Proverbs again - as I make it my habit to do every year or two - and I was struck for the first time of the promises and wisdom in the very first chapter. I've been feeling rather "simple" these days. Stupid might also be a good word for it. I think it's a combination of the usual exhaustion of motherhood and a lack of time set aside to study God's word. I'm SO slow and it feels like my brain is a rusty old cog that only grasps and responds to other, brighter cogs after a few days of slow, simple thinking. I had been sort of limping along, clinging to the promise that I had memorized a while back that "all these things will be added to you" if I "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Today, however, I found fresh reminders of promise and hope (and of warning.)

This is the very beginning of the book of Proverbs:

To know wisdom and instruction,
   to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
   in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
   knowledge and discretion to the youth --
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
   and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
   the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
   fools despise wisdom and instruction. (1:2-7)

What a promise! My simple mind rejoices. Here is another promise:

If you will turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
   I will make my words known to you. (1:23)

And more:

For the simple are killed by their turning away,
   and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
   and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. (1:32-33)

There is so much here! What a sober warning against complacency. What a glorious promise of security and hope in God's promise. Hallelujah!