Drawing out

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

DRAWING OUT

Prov 20:5

5 The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

NIV

There are for certain individuals whose minds run deep with great wisdom. However, by these words of Solomon it would seem these same deep waters, deep thinking minds are also modest and seldom offer counsel on their own, or of their desire to speak about their knowledge and wisdom. It would seem one who has understanding has the capacity through probing questions to bring out this individual into the conversation and thus unveiling their wisdom. That is one way of looking at the proverb. There is another which seems to express another idea all together. What are the purposes of a man’s heart, which are deep waters? It would seem the Hebrew word translated purposes does mean counsel or plan. So then it could imply this man’s counsel or advice is very deep with wisdom as we have expressed. But what if the word were to be used as plan rather than advice? An individual’s heart plans are deep waters. What we plan in our hearts are hidden deep within. We do not often share the deepest and darkest plans of our heart. We are also told our heart is bent toward evil.

Jer 17:9

9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

NIV

The idea which comes to mind here is that we all are sinners, some of us have come to that knowledge and confessed our sin, repented and put our trust in Jesus. Others are also sinners but have not confessed, repented and put their trust in Jesus. So then, we could conclude our hearts are deep waters, holding to our plans which in most cases are deceitful ones. We might look good on the outside, acting in a manner which gives others the illusion we are holy and upright, but who truly knows the plans of our heart? Here we would see that a person of understanding would bring them out. But who has that kind of understanding? It may not be that we actually understand the depth of a person’s plans, but we too being of the same kind of heart understand they need to hear the word of God. This is what someone did for us, bringing or drawing us out from the darkness of our hearts into the light of Christ. We too should understand that is the footsteps which the Lord has ordered to his creation. We make our plans but he orders our footsteps. The idea here may be that God ordained the way back to him is through Jesus, those are the only steps which lead to him. We who know Jesus should be drawing those who do not out of their plans of darkness and into the light of Christ. Let us draw them out.