Keep watch

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

KEEP WATCH

Prov 22:12

12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

NIV

At first glance this might cause us to think God watches over the educated who have gained all sorts of knowledge. But that would not fit in context with being a friend of the King because of seeking a pure heart. However the coming to the saving knowledge of the King of kings might well be this knowledge the Lord keeps watch over. That is those who have this saving knowledge, those who are known to him as believers. He watches over us. He keeps his eye upon us as we are his friend. Just as we stay in touch with our friends, getting together with them on occasion  for the pure sake of enjoyment, fun and fellowship. God desires to get together with us, for the pure sake of enjoyment, fun and fellowship. This is why he created man in the first place and put him in a paradise where he could have fellowship with him. We cannot be certain God actually showed up in some physical form to walk with Adam in the cool of the day. What we can be sure of that sometime in the twilight of the day, Adam and Eve spent time with God. Perhaps that was their time of worship. Nevertheless the presence of the Lord God was there. They heard his voice. This comes to us from Gen 3:8 when then heard him but hide instead of doing whatever they were accustomed to when they heard his voice. Still, he did not create them to simple leave them alone to their own selves. Why would God want a world full of people if he did not derive pleasure from us? This would especially apply to those who have retained the knowledge of him and worship him.

2 Cor 2:14-16

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him . 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

NIV

However for those who did not see fit to retain the knowledge of him he frustrates their words.

Rom 1:28-32

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

NIV

It seems rather simple to see it is a far better life to have the eyes of God watching over us, then to be given over to a life of frustration. Where is peace in this life for those Paul describes here, who live in rebellion to God? Although we may not be completely free of sin, we are still the children of God, co-heirs with Christ and God has hidden us with Christ within himself.

Col 3:1-4

3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

NIV

Then it would make perfect sense that because we are hidden with Christ in God, his eyes would be upon us, he would be maintaining us, keeping watch over us. He is the great King, who stands guard over us, over our hearts and minds. It would seem we are not able to keep watch over ourselves, but God keeps watch. He is our Rock, He is our refuge, He is our strong tower in times of trouble. God keeps watch.