Live Long and Prosper

(Pro 3:2 KJV) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

This verse reminds me of Paul’s statement:

(Eph 6:2 KJV) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

So one way we honor our parents is by listening to them.

Look what is being promised: longer “life” (2425b) and “peace” (7965) [shalom]. These are benefits that are to be given for listening to the word.

Longer “life” (2425b) is a promise if we pay attention. This is one of those promises that can make us scratch our heads. What about Charlie? He was one of the most dynamic believers I knew. He was in training to be a missionary doctor. He died of leukemia in his 20's. What about...? I am sure we all have examples we could give. Three answers come to mind. The first answer I reject: God’s Word is not true. If we reject that, and I hope you join me, my second point would be that God always reserves the right to perform miracles that are outside the normal working of how we know the universe. If He can work the miracle of healing, He can also choose to shorten life. There are reasons; we just don’t know them. The last is that people who live righteous lives live longer than they would if they were deep in sin. Someone who lives to be 50 may have died at 30 with an overdose of drugs.

“Peace” (7965) is the Hebrew word shalom. It is one of those words that can mean many things. Since we have been promised wars and rumors of wars and there is such a thing as “suffering for Jesus,” I have to assume that this means primarily an inner peace. A constant diet of the word of God is constantly renewing the inner strength that keeps us stable in the midst of the storms of life. We have hymns that talk about harbors in storms and anchors that keep us stable. I think modern technology has given us a better picture. Modern ocean liners have powerful gyroscope type stabilizers that keep the ship steady as nature does her best. That is like the Holy Spirit in us if we follow the directions of the Maker. That doesn’t rule out the wisdom of harbors and anchors but is an added tool of God’s grace.

God will “add” (3254) these things.