Dawn

"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day."- Proverbs 4:18


It's late, or perhaps it's early, it's 4am. The night has seemed long for the few hours I have been awake already. Yet the time is not unprofitable, for in it, God speaks.


He speaks through the challenges of Facebook, where friends post concerns and cries for help, for us as the Christ followers to respond in practical ways to the worlds hurts.


He speaks through the encouragements of fellow workers, who understand and share the burden of guiding the people of God.


He speaks through long ago words of some dead King who had enough wisdom to record his thoughts.


Solomon, greatest of the kings of Israel in terms of wealth, power, peace and prosperity. Yet never named above his father David, an adulterer, murderer, and man of war.


David, far from perfect, yet we are told he has "a heart after God", for during his darkest hour, during his most sinful actions, when challenged, he repents!


The first gleam of dawn shines through. The first breaking of the night sky is revealed.


David, who writes a psalm about his sin (Ps. 51), and insist that it be sung throughout the nation.


David, standing strong inside the walls of the city he conquered, fortified and controls, acknowledges that God should "Look with favour on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem."


For David knew his sin had brought the city low. Had stained what it was meant to be, and only through repentance would it be made clean again.


God responds, he forgives, he restores, he blesses. In time Solomon is born and grows and becomes King, he is given wisdom and power and money and peace, and uses it, to turn from God!


A new darkness, a new night, a new hope is needed.


In his old age, Solomon, writes his thoughts, his wisdom, his life.


He repents, and in fear, he calls on the name of the Lord, and states that this, and this only is the beginning of wisdom. Then he waits, for a new dawn, a final dawn, a dawn which will never end.


A carpenter, not rich, nor well know, yet, wise, full of God's shalom, powerful but restrained, meek... surrendered, obedient, Spirit led, words which will never get you a job in today's society, a CV to be ignored.


Yet.....this person is the light of the gleam of dawn, a way of righteous living, so perfect that no fault, no sin, no evil, is ever found in Him. His life, laid down in living perfectly, laid down in dying perfectly, and raised up from death, an acceptable sacrifice.


Hope... revealed.


In resurrection, the barrier is broken, the limit is removed, the horizon now endless, is revealed. This light of dawn now grows and climbs, and cannot be stopped.


It's late, or perhaps it's early, but dawn is coming........