PAULA WISEMAN

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Posts that reference the book of Proverbs

STT: The Topical Method

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The Topical Method title graphic featuring printers letters in a wood holder

When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, He responded with an extensive teaching that connected multiple Old Testament prophecies into a cohesive picture (Matthew 24-25). This demonstrates the value of studying topics that span across Scripture rather than isolated passages.

The Topical Study Method allows you to trace important themes, doctrines, and concepts throughout the Bible, seeing how they develop and connect across different authors, time periods, and contexts.

1. Select a Focused Topic

Choose a specific topic to explore:

  • Theological concepts (grace, faith, redemption)
  • Character traits (patience, wisdom, courage)
  • Relationships (marriage, friendship, church)
  • Practical issues (money, work, speech)

The more focused your topic, the more manageable your study will be. For instance, rather than studying “prayer” (too broad), you might focus on “persistence in prayer” or “prayers of thanksgiving.”

2. Gather Relevant Passages

Collect verses related to your topic:

  • Use a concordance or Bible search tool to find key words
  • Look for synonyms and related concepts
  • Include both direct references and illustrative stories
  • Note passages from different biblical genres and authors

For example, a study on “joy” would include direct teachings (James 1:2-4), commands (Philippians 4:4), narratives (Acts 16:25), and poetic expressions (Psalm 30:5).

3. Organize Your Findings

Arrange passages to reveal patterns and progression:

  • Chronologically (how the concept developed over time)
  • By biblical author (how different writers approached it)
  • By aspect or subtopic (different dimensions of the theme)
  • From Old Testament to New Testament (covenant progression)

When studying “God’s faithfulness,” you might organize passages showing His faithfulness to individuals (Abraham, David), to Israel as a nation, and ultimately to all believers through Christ.

4. Synthesize Your Insights

Look for the big picture that emerges:

  • What consistent truths appear across Scripture?
  • How does the New Testament fulfill or expand Old Testament concepts?
  • What balanced perspective emerges from considering all passages?
  • How does this topic connect to the overall biblical narrative?

For your next study session: Choose “the heart” as your topic. Gather verses about the heart from different parts of Scripture (Proverbs 4:23, Ezekiel 36:26, Matthew 5:8, Romans 10:10). Notice how the Bible consistently portrays the heart as the center of our thoughts, emotions, and will—not just our feelings. Consider how this biblical understanding differs from our modern concept of “following your heart.”

What topic might you explore using this method to gain a more complete biblical understanding?

Preparation and Expectation: Expectation vs. Expectancy

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Expectation vs Expectancy title graphic

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ… And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years… She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” – Luke 2:25-26, 36-38

The holiday season arrives wrapped in expectations. We expect perfect family gatherings, magical moments, meaningful traditions, and gifts that delight. We expect our homes to look festive, our meals to be memorable, and our spirits to be merry and bright. Yet often, these expectations become a heavy burden rather than a source of joy.

There’s a subtle but profound difference between expectations and expectancy—a difference beautifully illustrated in the stories of Simeon and Anna. These elderly faithful weren’t burdened by specific expectations about how the Messiah would appear, but they lived with a deep, patient expectancy that God would fulfill His promises in His way and time.

As we approach Christmas, their stories invite us to shift from rigid expectations to open-hearted expectancy.

The Nature of Expectations

Expectations are specific, predetermined ideas about what should happen and how. They’re the mental scripts we write for our lives and relationships. During the holidays, these expectations often become particularly intense and detailed:

  • The perfect Christmas tree (shaped just so, decorated just right)
  • The ideal family gathering (harmonious, warm, conflict-free)
  • The right gifts (thoughtful, appreciated, within budget)
  • The proper feelings (joy, wonder, gratitude, peace)

There’s nothing inherently wrong with having expectations. They can provide structure and anticipation. But expectations become problematic when they:

  1. Become rigid and inflexible
    When we insist reality must conform to our mental script, we set ourselves up for disappointment.
  2. Focus primarily on externals
    When our expectations center on appearances, circumstances, and outcomes rather than deeper meaning.
  3. Remain unexamined
    When we don’t question whether our expectations are realistic, healthy, or aligned with our true values.
  4. Blind us to the present moment
    When we’re so focused on what should be happening that we miss what is actually happening.

Many of our holiday expectations are shaped more by cultural messaging, childhood memories, or social media than by the true meaning of Christ’s coming. Advertisers and entertainers have created powerful images of what the “perfect Christmas” should look like, and these images can hijack our hearts and minds.

The Gift of Expectancy

Expectancy, by contrast, is open-ended anticipation. It’s waiting with hope and alertness, but without insisting on specific forms or timing. Expectancy says, “Something wonderful is coming,” without dictating exactly what that something must look like.

Simeon and Anna embody this quality of expectancy:

  • They waited for decades without growing cynical or giving up
  • They remained attentive and ready, even when fulfillment seemed delayed
  • They recognized God’s work when it came in an unexpected package—a humble baby born to ordinary parents
  • They responded with joy and gratitude rather than disappointment that the Messiah didn’t match conventional expectations

Their expectancy was characterized by:

  1. Patient trust
    They believed God would fulfill His promises in His time, not theirs.
  2. Spiritual attentiveness
    They cultivated the ability to recognize God’s presence and activity.
  3. Openness to surprise
    They allowed God to work in ways they couldn’t have predicted.
  4. Focus on essence over form
    They cared more about the substance of God’s promise than its outward appearance.

This kind of expectancy creates space for wonder, surprise, and authentic encounter. It allows us to be present to what is, rather than disappointed by what isn’t.

Expectations in the First Christmas

The first Christmas was a study in shattered expectations. Nearly everyone involved had their expectations upended:

  • Mary expected a normal engagement and marriage, not a miraculous pregnancy
  • Joseph expected a traditional family formation, not becoming the adoptive father of God’s Son
  • The shepherds expected another ordinary night watching flocks, not an angelic announcement
  • The wise men likely expected to find a royal child in a palace, not a humble home in Bethlehem
  • The religious leaders expected a Messiah who would conform to their interpretations, not challenge them

Those who clung to rigid expectations often missed the miracle. But those who remained open—who cultivated expectancy rather than specific expectations—were able to recognize and receive God’s unexpected gift.

Our Holiday Expectations

The tension between expectations and expectancy is particularly acute during the holiday season. Consider some common expectations we might hold:

1. Relational Expectations

We often expect Christmas to heal family divisions, create perfect harmony, or generate meaningful connections without effort. When Uncle Bob still brings up politics or teenagers still retreat to their phones, we feel the holiday has somehow failed.

2. Emotional Expectations

We expect to feel consistent joy, peace, and goodwill. When grief, loneliness, or irritation intrude, we wonder what’s wrong with us or think we’re “doing Christmas wrong.”

3. Spiritual Expectations

We might expect a profound spiritual experience—a moment of clarity, a sense of God’s presence, or a renewed faith. When worship feels routine or Scripture readings don’t spark insight, we may feel spiritually inadequate.

4. Material Expectations

Despite our best intentions, we often expect that the right gifts, decorations, food, or experiences will somehow create the Christmas we desire. When these things don’t deliver the meaning we seek, disappointment follows.

These expectations aren’t necessarily bad, but they can become rigid demands that rob us of joy and blind us to unexpected gifts.

Cultivating Holy Expectancy

How might we shift from rigid expectations to open-hearted expectancy this Christmas season? Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Examine your expectations

Take time to identify your unspoken expectations for the season. Ask yourself:

  • Where did this expectation come from?
  • Is it realistic?
  • Is it aligned with the true meaning of Christmas?
  • What happens if this expectation isn’t met?

Simply bringing unconscious expectations into awareness can loosen their grip.

2. Hold plans loosely

Make your holiday plans, but hold them with open hands. Build in flexibility and be willing to adapt when circumstances change. Remember that some of the most meaningful moments are unplanned.

As Proverbs reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). Sometimes God’s detours lead to unexpected blessings.

3. Practice present-moment awareness

When you find yourself anxious about how things should be, gently bring your attention back to what is actually happening right now. Notice the sights, sounds, and sensations of the present moment.

Jesus emphasized this kind of presence when He said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

4. Look for God in the ordinary

Like Simeon and Anna, cultivate the ability to recognize God’s presence in unexpected places. The divine often appears not in dramatic events but in ordinary moments and humble circumstances.

As Brother Lawrence wrote in “The Practice of the Presence of God,” we can find God “in the pots and pans” of daily life as surely as in formal worship.

5. Embrace imperfection

Perfect holidays exist only in commercials and movies. Real Christmas celebrations include burnt cookies, awkward conversations, forgotten items, and mixed emotions. These imperfections don’t ruin Christmas—they make it authentically human.

Remember that the first Christmas included a stable, animal odors, and uncertain futures. God works through imperfect circumstances, not despite them.

6. Focus on presence over presents

While gifts can be meaningful expressions of love, they can’t create the connection we truly desire. Prioritize being fully present with loved ones over perfect presents or productions.

As the saying goes, “The best gift you can give someone is your undivided attention.”

Simeon and Anna’s Example

Returning to Simeon and Anna, we find several qualities worth emulating:

1. Spiritual practices that sustained expectancy

Both engaged in regular spiritual disciplines—Simeon was “righteous and devout,” and Anna worshiped “with fasting and prayer night and day.” These practices kept their spiritual sensitivity alive through decades of waiting.

2. Community that shared their hope

Anna spoke “to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” She was part of a community that nurtured shared expectancy. We too need companions who help us maintain hope.

3. Responsiveness when God appeared

When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, both Simeon and Anna recognized Him immediately. Their years of expectancy had prepared them to perceive God’s presence when others missed it.

4. Joy in God’s faithfulness

Simeon’s response—”Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation”—expresses profound satisfaction. His expectancy was fulfilled, though perhaps not in the way he initially imagined.

From Expectation to Expectancy

As we approach Christmas, we’re invited to make this shift from rigid expectations to open-hearted expectancy. This doesn’t mean abandoning all plans or preferences. Rather, it means holding them loosely enough that we can recognize and receive God’s gifts, even when they come in unexpected packages.

The first Christmas reminds us that God rarely works according to human expectations. The Messiah came not as a conquering king but as a vulnerable baby. Salvation arrived not through power but through apparent weakness. The greatest gift came wrapped not in gold but in swaddling clothes.

If we insist that God work according to our expectations, we may miss the wonder of how He actually chooses to work. But if we cultivate expectancy—patient, open, attentive waiting—we position ourselves to recognize divine presence in unexpected places.

As we enter the final days before Christmas, may we release our grip on specific expectations and open our hearts to holy expectancy. Like Simeon and Anna, may we be people who can recognize God’s presence even when it doesn’t match our preconceptions. And may we discover that the greatest Christmas gift isn’t found in fulfilled expectations but in unexpected encounters with divine love.

Next week, we’ll begin our Christmas series by exploring “The Scandal of the Incarnation”—how God’s decision to become human was (and remains) shocking, counterintuitive, and world-changing.

STT: Metaphors

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Study tip tuesday water water everywhere Metaphors title graphic

“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4:13-14

Beyond its physical presence in biblical narratives, water serves as one of Scripture’s most powerful and versatile metaphors. From tears to spiritual cleansing, from overwhelming troubles to life-giving grace, water imagery flows through biblical language, helping us grasp abstract spiritual concepts through tangible, familiar experiences. And there are a bunch of these metaphors.

Water as Life and Salvation

Throughout Scripture, water consistently represents life itself and the salvation God offers:

Living Water

  • Jeremiah contrasted “the fountain of living waters” (God Himself) with “broken cisterns that can hold no water” (false gods) (Jeremiah 2:13)
  • Jesus offered the Samaritan woman “living water” that becomes “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:10, 14)
  • In Revelation, the river of life flows “from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1)

Wells of Salvation

  • Isaiah proclaimed, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3)
  • This metaphor connects physical refreshment with spiritual deliverance
  • The act of drawing water becomes a picture of actively receiving God’s saving grace

Streams in the Desert

  • Isaiah prophesied, “Waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6)
  • This powerful image represents God bringing life to spiritually barren places
  • The contrast between desert and flowing water emphasizes the transformative nature of divine intervention

Water as Overwhelming Trouble

Water also serves as a metaphor for life’s overwhelming challenges:

Flood Waters of Affliction

  • David lamented, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (Psalm 69:1-2)
  • This vivid imagery captures the sensation of being overwhelmed by circumstances
  • The metaphor conveys both the depth and rising nature of troubles

Passing Through Waters

  • Isaiah recorded God’s promise: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” (Isaiah 43:2)
  • This metaphor acknowledges life’s inevitable difficulties while promising divine presence
  • The image suggests movement through troubles rather than permanent submersion

Drowning in Tears

  • The psalmist described extreme grief: “My tears have been my food day and night” (Psalm 42:3)
  • Jeremiah wished his “head were waters” to weep for his people (Jeremiah 9:1)
  • These water metaphors capture the overwhelming, uncontrollable nature of profound sorrow

Water as Spiritual Cleansing

Water naturally represents purification throughout Scripture:

Washing Away Sin

  • David prayed, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2)
  • Isaiah heard God’s invitation: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18)
  • This metaphor connects physical cleansing with moral purification

Sprinkled Clean

  • Ezekiel prophesied God’s promise: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses” (Ezekiel 36:25)
  • This image anticipates the New Covenant’s internal cleansing
  • The metaphor suggests effortless divine action rather than human striving

Word as Water

  • Paul describes Christ’s sanctification of the church “by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26)
  • This metaphor combines water imagery with the cleansing power of divine truth
  • It suggests that Scripture itself functions as purifying water in believers’ lives

Water as Divine Abundance

Water represents God’s overflowing provision and blessing:

Cups Running Over

  • David celebrated, “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5), using water imagery to depict abundant blessing
  • Jesus promised “rivers of living water” flowing from believers (John 7:38)
  • These metaphors emphasize not mere sufficiency but extravagant provision

Rain of Righteousness

  • Hosea urged, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12)
  • This agricultural metaphor connects divine blessing with life-giving precipitation
  • The image suggests both God’s initiative and human receptivity

Watered Gardens

  • Isaiah promised, “You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11)
  • This metaphor contrasts with drought imagery to represent consistent divine nurture
  • The garden image suggests both beauty and fruitfulness resulting from God’s provision

Water as Spiritual Influence

Water metaphors describe how spiritual forces spread and influence:

Knowledge Like Waters

  • Isaiah prophesied, “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9)
  • This metaphor suggests both the depth and comprehensive nature of future spiritual understanding
  • The ocean imagery implies no place will remain untouched by divine knowledge

Teaching as Rain

  • Moses said, “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
  • This metaphor connects divine instruction with life-giving precipitation
  • The image suggests gentle penetration rather than forceful imposition

Wisdom as Deep Waters

  • Proverbs states, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook” (Proverbs 18:4)
  • This metaphor suggests wisdom has both depth and refreshing qualities
  • The contrast between deep waters and flowing brook captures wisdom’s mysterious yet accessible nature

When you encounter water metaphors in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Metaphorical mapping: What qualities of water (cleansing, life-giving, overwhelming, etc.) are being applied to spiritual realities?
  2. Cultural context: How would the original audience, often living in arid regions, have understood this water imagery?
  3. Extended implications: What additional insights might the metaphor suggest beyond its immediate application?
  4. Personal resonance: How does this water metaphor speak to your own spiritual experience?

Water metaphors in Scripture provide help in expressing spiritual truths that might otherwise remain abstract or difficult to grasp. By connecting invisible realities to this familiar, essential element, God communicates His truth in ways that penetrate both mind and heart.

STT: Dew

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study Tip tuesday water water everywhere Dew title graphic

“I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily.” – Hosea 14:5

While floods and storms demonstrate God’s dramatic power, Scripture also reveals His gentle presence through more subtle forms of water. Dew and mist represent God’s quiet, often unnoticed provision and His refreshing presence that comes without human effort or fanfare.

Dew as Symbol of Divine Blessing

Throughout Scripture, dew represents God’s faithful, daily provision:

Dew as Daily Provision in the Wilderness

  • Manna, Israel’s wilderness food, appeared with the morning dew: “When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell with it” (Numbers 11:9)
  • This connection between dew and manna emphasized God’s consistent, daily care
  • The Israelites were instructed to gather manna early before the sun melted it, teaching dependence on God’s timely provision

Dew as Sign of Fertility and Abundance

  • Isaac’s blessing over Jacob included “the dew of heaven” (Genesis 27:28), representing agricultural prosperity
  • In ancient agricultural societies, dew was essential during dry seasons when rain was scarce
  • Moses blessed Joseph’s land with “the precious dew from heaven above” (Deuteronomy 33:13)

Dew as Metaphor for Divine Refreshment

  • David compared brotherly unity to “the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion” (Psalm 133:3)
  • The psalmist described God’s people as refreshed by “the dew of youth” (Psalm 110:3)
  • Proverbs states that the king’s favor is “like dew on the grass” (Proverbs 19:12)

Gideon’s Fleece: Dew as Confirmation

One of the most famous dew narratives involves Gideon seeking confirmation of God’s call:

Dew as Sign of Divine Selection

  • Gideon requested that God make dew fall only on a fleece while the ground remained dry (Judges 6:36-37)
  • Then he asked for the opposite sign—dry fleece, wet ground (Judges 6:39-40)
  • This controlled appearance of dew served as tangible evidence of God’s presence and purpose

The Significance of Gideon’s Request

  • Gideon’s request revealed both faith and doubt—he believed God could control the dew but needed reassurance
  • The miracle demonstrated God’s patience with human weakness and His willingness to provide confirmation
  • The precision of the sign (first only on the fleece, then everywhere except the fleece) showed God’s sovereign control over even the most subtle natural processes

Mist in Creation and Providence

Mist appears at significant moments in biblical narrative:

Mist in the Creation Account

  • “A mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground” (Genesis 2:6)
  • This pre-rain watering system represented God’s perfect provision in Eden
  • The mist suggests a gentle, harmonious relationship between heaven and earth before the fall

Mist as Divine Covering

  • God’s presence was often depicted with cloud or mist imagery
  • The tabernacle and temple were filled with a cloud representing God’s glory (Exodus 40:34-35, 1 Kings 8:10-11)
  • This misty manifestation both revealed and concealed God’s presence, making it approachable yet mysterious

The Absence of Dew as Judgment

Just as the presence of dew signified blessing, its absence indicated divine displeasure:

Elijah’s Prophecy

  • Elijah declared, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1)
  • The withholding of both rain and dew represented complete agricultural devastation
  • This judgment targeted Baal worship, as Baal was believed to control both rain and dew

Haggai’s Warning

  • When the people neglected rebuilding the temple, Haggai proclaimed, “Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce” (Haggai 1:10)
  • The absence of dew served as a call to reprioritize spiritual matters
  • The promise of restored dew accompanied the call to renewed obedience

Dew in Spiritual Symbolism

Beyond its agricultural significance, dew carries rich spiritual symbolism:

Symbol of Resurrection and Renewal

  • Isaiah prophesied, “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light” (Isaiah 26:19)
  • This connects dew with resurrection and spiritual renewal
  • The morning appearance of dew symbolizes new beginnings and fresh starts

Symbol of God’s Word and Teaching

  • Moses said, “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2)
  • This imagery suggests that God’s word, like dew, brings gentle but essential nourishment
  • Unlike flooding rain, dew represents subtle but transformative spiritual influence

Symbol of the Holy Spirit’s Quiet Work

  • Hosea prophesied God saying, “I will be like the dew to Israel” (Hosea 14:5)
  • This metaphor depicts God’s refreshing presence coming quietly, almost imperceptibly
  • Unlike dramatic spiritual manifestations, dew represents the Spirit’s gentle, consistent work

Study Application

When you encounter dew and mist in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Provision aspect: How does this subtle form of water represent God’s care?
  2. Timing element: Note that dew appears in the quiet of night and early morning—what might this teach about God’s timing?
  3. Effortless nature: Unlike wells that must be dug or water that must be carried, dew comes without human effort—what spiritual principle does this illustrate?
  4. Temporary quality: Dew evaporates quickly in sunlight—what might this teach about appreciating God’s daily mercies?

Dew and mist in Scripture remind us that God works not only through dramatic interventions but also through quiet, consistent provision that we might easily overlook. His refreshing presence often comes in the stillness, without fanfare or human striving.

STT: Wells

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Study tip Tuesday Water Water Everywhere Wells title graphic

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” – Isaiah 12:3

Throughout Scripture, wells and springs serve as more than mere water sources—they function as gathering places, sites of divine encounter, and powerful symbols of God’s provision and spiritual refreshment. These life-giving water sources reveal important patterns in God’s interaction with His people.

Wells as Meeting Places: Divine Appointments by Water

Scripture repeatedly uses wells as settings for pivotal encounters and life-changing meetings:

Abraham’s Servant and Rebekah

  • Abraham’s servant prayed for God’s guidance at a well outside the city of Nahor (Genesis 24:11-14)
  • Rebekah’s appearance and generous offer to water the camels served as divine confirmation
  • This well encounter led to the marriage that would continue the covenant lineage through Isaac

Jacob and Rachel

  • Jacob first met his future wife Rachel at a well in Haran (Genesis 29:1-12)
  • The well served as both a practical gathering place and a divinely appointed location for this significant meeting
  • Jacob’s rolling away of the stone covering the well demonstrated both his strength and his desire to serve Rachel

Moses and Zipporah

  • After fleeing Egypt, Moses defended the daughters of the priest of Midian at a well (Exodus 2:15-21)
  • This act of justice at the well led to Moses’ marriage to Zipporah and his forty-year sojourn in Midian
  • The well became the setting for Moses’ transition from Egyptian prince to shepherd, preparing him for his future role

Jesus at Jacob’s Well: The Living Water Encounter

Perhaps the most theologically significant well encounter occurs in John 4, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman:

The Well as Bridge Across Divisions

  • Jacob’s well became the setting where Jesus crossed cultural, religious, and gender barriers
  • “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9), yet Jesus initiated conversation at this shared water source
  • The well represented common human need that transcended social divisions

The Well as Teaching Tool

  • Jesus used the physical well to introduce the concept of “living water” (John 4:10)
  • The woman’s focus on physical water (“Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep” – John 4:11) contrasted with Jesus’ offer of spiritual refreshment
  • Jesus revealed that true worship transcends physical locations: “neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem” (John 4:21)

The Well as Place of Revelation

  • At this well, Jesus explicitly revealed His messianic identity: “I who speak to you am he” (John 4:26)
  • The woman’s transformation from social outcast to evangelist began at this well
  • The entire town was impacted because of this single well encounter: “Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:39)

Wells and Springs as Symbols of Blessing and Provision

Beyond their narrative function, wells and springs carry rich symbolic meaning:

Symbols of God’s Provision

  • In the wilderness, God provided water from the rock at Horeb, creating a spring in the desert (Exodus 17:1-7)
  • The Israelites sang, “Spring up, O well!” celebrating God’s provision (Numbers 21:17)
  • Psalm 84:6 speaks of those who “passing through the Valley of Baca make it a place of springs”

Symbols of Spiritual Refreshment

  • “The LORD will guide you continually… you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11)
  • Proverbs describes wisdom as “a fountain of life” (Proverbs 16:22)
  • Jesus promised that from believers would flow “rivers of living water,” referring to the Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39)

Symbols of Spiritual Heritage

  • Proverbs 5:15 instructs, “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well,” symbolizing faithfulness
  • Isaiah prophesied, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3)
  • Wells often represented family heritage and rights to the land in patriarchal narratives

Wells in Spiritual Warfare

Wells sometimes became focal points of conflict and restoration:

  • The Philistines stopped up the wells Abraham had dug, and Isaac had to re-dig them (Genesis 26:15-18)
  • Isaac named the wells the same names his father had given them, representing restoration of spiritual heritage
  • The stopping of wells symbolized spiritual opposition, while reopening them represented spiritual renewal

Study Application

When you encounter wells and springs in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Relational significance: How does this well serve as a meeting place between people or between humans and God?
  2. Provision aspect: What does this water source reveal about God’s care for physical and spiritual needs?
  3. Symbolic meaning: Does this well represent heritage, spiritual refreshment, or something else?
  4. Conflict element: Is there a struggle over this water source, and what spiritual truth might that illustrate?

Wells in Scripture remind us that God often works at the places of our most basic human needs. The same God who provided physical water in desert places offers living water to satisfy our deepest spiritual thirst.

The Chiasm: X Marks the Spot Proverbs 6:16-19

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The Chiasm X Marks the Spot Proverbs 6:16-19 title graphic

What in the world is a chiasm and why would anybody care about knowing that?

A chiasm (kī-a-zəm) is a structure that appears over and over in Scripture. When you recognize it, the structure gives some insight into what the key point in a passage or section is. That helps us correctly interpret and apply what God’s word says.

Most of us (most of my readers, anyway) are “Greek”. By that, I mean we’re Western. We have a particular way of thinking and approaching information. We expect the points to be delivered in a logical order, with increasing importance until the climax is reached. When we read an op-ed, we expect the most important idea to come last. When we hear a commercial, the clincher is the last thing. Preachers save the most significant idea or application until the end. That’s Greek.

Hebrews, on the other hand, often write with a parallel mirror structure. The most important point is in the center with the subpoints building up to and stepping down from that high point. This structure is the chiasm. Its name comes from the Greek letter chi, which Is just an X.

It makes more sense with an example. Consider Proverbs 6:16-19.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Now, let’s take verse 16 as the title, and let’s rearrange the rest.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

17 haughty eyes, 
    a lying tongue, 
        and hands that shed innocent blood, 
            18 a heart that devises wicked plans, 
        feet that make haste to run to evil, 
    19 a false witness who breathes out lies, 
and one who sows discord among brothers.

See the X on the left side?

Now as Greeks, we would read that list and conclude that sowing discord among brothers is the worst. And it’s bad, no question. Anything that makes God’s list of things He hates is bad. But the chiasm structure tells us that it’s the wicked heart that is the most serious problem. Considering verses like “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 ) and Jesus’s words, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” (Matthew 15:18-19), we’d have to agree with that assessment.

But take a step back from the center and there is a parallel between hands and feet. Both indicate our actions. Another step back and we get a parallel between a lying tongue and a false witness. One more step out and there’s the haughty eyes (the attitude that you’re better than others) and the outworking of that attitude (causing discord).

The wickedness in the heart manifests in our actions, our words, and our attitudes. It is an abomination to God that wickedness dictates our attitudes, actions, and words. That doesn’t reflect Him or His image at all. He takes that very seriously.

Proverbs 6:16-19 is a good chiasm to start with, but there are many more. Some span entire chapters or even whole books. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some other chiasms and see the fresh insights they offer.