Check Your Navel
it shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones (Proverbs 3.8)
While reading in Proverbs 3 today I noticed the strange wording above. At first glance to an American living in the Twenty-First Century, the phrase seems to punch us below the belt. Or nearly so. What in the world does “a healthy navel” look like and do I really want to know?
At moments like this one might think, “If only I’d have gone to Bible College!” However, don’t let such wording catch you by surprise. If your Bible is like mine you will find a little “bold” letter beside the word “navel” which will lead you to the center column explanation. Mine simply says, “or body”.
With that in mind I return to the text and see, “it shall be health to thy body and marrow to thy bones.”
Hummm. Does that help? No. The phrase is part of a bigger context. Over the months I have talked about how important “context” is in Bible study. We often get confused if we look at one verse only.
Proverbs 3 is a classic chapter. It would do us well to memorize and teach it to everyone we know. Listen to just the first few verses to get an idea of the context of the above verse.
1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Do you think that this text would preach? I’ve highlighted some of the themes that popped out as I read through it just now. If we focused on applying the truths in these few verses during this new year we would be victors.
Proverbs is a book that you must chew slowly. Years ago Kay Arthur came to our church. This was back in the mid 60s before she started Precepts Ministries. She was friends with our pastor and had come to visit him. She did something that wouldn’t be allowed today. She taught our youth group one Sunday morning.
She had a neat idea. She said, “Proverbs has thirty-one chapters. So what you need to do is read the corresponding chapter with the date. If today is the eleventh read Proverbs chapter eleven.”
I’ve done that a few times since. It is a good way to remember to read the Proverbs regularly. However, if you want even more. Go verse by verse or paragraph by paragraph. Meditate on each bite and savor each morsel. It will fatten your navel. Which, Spiritually, is a good thing!
