Proverb 3:3

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,”

The opening line of today’s Proverb struck me as odd. How would mercy and truth forsake me? As in, how can two inanimate qualities–not even objects–do something such as forsake? And such benevolent qualities at that. What seems to be an admonition to defend against an action, is contrarily a call to offensive play. A quick reference back to the beginning of the line indicates the responsibility is on me. “Let not”. As in, if I forsake to seek them, they will forsake me, abandon me. Because my inactionforced them to.

The strange opening is backed with how-to instructions. How to not allow mercy and truth to forsake you. How do you do that? You bind them around your neck and write them on the tablet of your heart. That is the offensive call.

The imagery suggests that we make their pursuit something very near and dear to our hearts.

Like a jewel bestowed on you as a gift from a loved one. You would proudly decorate your neck with it and it may act as a reminder of the love that person has for you. A constant and present reminder of someone special. That is how we are to treat mercy and truth. As beloved and special.

We are to write them on the tablet of our hearts. I can’t help but imagining stone tablet here, where once the words have been etched into it’s surface, they’re there to stay. No lead pencil markings that may be erased and replaced. But eternal words written on my heart to stay. 

I’m reminded of the words I once wrote on my heart that I may not forget this concept. They come from Joshua 1:8:

“Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”