PROVERBS 3:16

          "Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor."  (NIV)

     The subject of this verse is wisdom.  If you substitute the subject into the verse, it would read, " Long life is in wisdom's right hand; in wisdom's left hand are riches and honor."  The author is Solomon - the wisest man on earth..  Through the Holy Spirit, Solomon wrote the majority of the Proverbs.  He also collected and compiled the rest of the writings from other great men of his time.  Solomon's goal was to teach people how to take God's principals and apply them to everyday living. Wisdom is the main theme of Proverbs, but there are  lots of topics involved: honesty, self-control, morality, marriage, parenting, how to handle oneself in business - to name a few.  Since God will be the final judge of all we do, applying His wisdom is certainly good advice.
     God can use almost anything to teach His people.  In the story I'm about to share, God used an animal to demonstrate wisdom for me.  Only God could have known what I would need to know...
  


       Years ago when I was a home health nurse, I was making my visits in the countryside of rural Georgia. Because of the seriousness of this particular patient's condition,  he required  daily nursing visits.  And, as often is the case with this type of nurse-patient relationship, I had become good friends with Mr Wellborn, his family, and his pets... several dogs and several cats, all of which I knew by name, and all of which would come running to greet me when I arrived each morning.
     But, one day a new cat greeted me.  He was a beautiful black and silver tabby, with a white "tuxedo" in the front, very expressive eyes, and a constant smile on his little face.  When I opened the car door, the cat jumped in!  He spoke to me.  He didn't say the typical "Meow".  He said,  "Ooomp-yow".  Amused, I removed him from my car, made my nursing visit, and went on with my day.



      Next day, same thing.  Cat into car. "Ooomp-yow".  Out of car. Me into house to do nursing visit. I asked the Wellborns what their new cat's name was, but they explained that he wasn't theirs. He had simply shown up one day, and they could not keep him.
     Same scenario for two weeks.  Open car door.  Cat jumps in.  SO happy to see me!  Those eyes... "Ooomp-yow!"  In my mind I was calling him Spanky.  One day, my patient's daughter, with tears in her eyes, told me that they had found a home for Spanky. A farmer acquaintance of theirs was going to take him to be a barn cat;  he would pick him up in a few days... Then she said, "I think he needs a better home than that.  We have been praying that he would live with you."   SIGH.  Arrangements were made and Spanky came home with me two days later.
  


   And Spanky was a wonderful pet.  Everybody loved him.  So smart.  So funny.  Never, ever, ever got up on a table or a kitchen counter... such a good boy.
     But, then one evening he got hit by a car.  The Vet had to amputate his left arm at the shoulder joint.  He had several other injuries as well, and it was touch-and-go for a while.  I took him home the second day, because the Vet felt he would be more likely to recover at home with me.  I washed him and fed him like an infant.  Talked to him. Sang to him. Despite my efforts, Spanky became very depressed, much like people do when they lose a limb or experience any major change in body image.  I got up every two hours during the night to coax Spanky to eat or drink. And I sobbed aloud the first time he looked at me and said, "Oooomp-yow".
     Spanky, also known as "Mr Oooomp", recovered and got around amazingly well.  He was strong and courageous, and remained very friendly.  He learned to use his right paw for washing, etc. (Most cats are left-handed.)
     Years later, I developed a serious medical problem.  I had to deal with body image changes.  I was unable to use my right arm, and barely able to use my right leg.  I had to learn to use my left hand for washing, eating, etc. Dealing with disability is not easy; you take one step forward, then two backwards again.  You start to think, "Hey, I'm doing okay". And then you have a setback.  And then you cry.
  

       Pets have this wonderful sensitivity about them.  If  I was lonely, or tired, or in pain... all I needed  was that sweet little face nearby... and "Oooomp-yow".  Spanky was there, telling me, "I know just how you feel... It will be alright."  Spanky has since passed away, but I will never forget how much comfort that funny little fellow was.
     I have often told  Spanky's story to demonstrate how wise God is.  He had me nurse Spanky back to health; then, He had Spanky help take care of me.  Spanky learned to completely trust me during his illness, and I learned to completely trust God during mine.  I learned that God would never leave me or forsake me.  God had used a simple animal to reveal to me His wisdom.
     Wisdom.  The application of knowledge.  Nothing happens by chance when you walk with God.


  

I SAMUEL 3:16

          "But when Eli called him and said, 'Samuel, my son', Samuel answered, 'Here I am'."   (NIV)

Hannah bringing Samuel to Eli -  Artist George Tinswell

 
      Samuel was promised to the Lord by his mother before he was even born.  When he was weaned,  his mother brought him to the temple, where he was mentored by Eli, the high priest.  The young Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli.  Thus, from childhood he learned how to serve the Lord..  As was the custom, Samuel and Eli slept in small rooms outside the Holy Place.  In one room was Eli, and in another nearby room was Samuel, the apprentice to the priests.
     God needed to deliver an important message.  You or I would have probably chosen the priest to speak to, but God chose the child.  Eli was much older, but Samuel's faith was pure.  Eli possessed the title and social position, but Samuel had the willingness to say, "Here I am;  I am listening."
     Yes, Eli was a high priest.  But, he was also the father of two sons.  Two very immoral and blasphemous sons.  Eli's sons robbed and seduced people at the very entrance to the temple as they arrived to worship and to offer sacrifices for their sins.  When Eli was told of this matter, he spoke to his sons about it, but did not discipline them.  Furthermore, Eli failed to follow up on them and see if their behavior had changed.  It did not; they continued to blaspheme the temple and the Lord.  Eli put his sons' desires above the honor of God.  Thus, when God spoke to Samuel, the message was something like this:
     "I have warned Eli before that his sons have made themselves contemptible, but Eli failed to restrain them.  The guilt of Eli's house will never be forgotten by sacrifice or offering.."

Eli listening to Samuel  Artist: John Singleton Coply

  
          That morning when Samuel opened the doors of the house of the Lord, he was afraid to tell Eli what the fearful message was.  But Eli insisted, and Samuel finally told him in full.  Eli  realized his wrongdoing, and said, "He is the Lord; let Him do what is good in his eyes."  Eli had spent his entire life serving God, but he had neglected his family duties.  Now the :Lord planned to discipline Eli and his sons.  The fearful message  God gave to Samuel was that Eli and his sons would die... on the same day.
     At a later date Eli's two sons were killed in battle - on the same day, as foretold by Samuel in his vision.  When Eli was told of his sons' deaths, he fell backwards and broke his neck, further fulfilling the prophecy.  What an inglorious ending to a long career of service! Whatever Eli's intentions may have been at the beginning of his priesthood, his lasting reputation was that of one who ignored God's word.
      But Samuel grew in stature with the word of God.
      Sadly, we can probably all recall instances of clergy  within our lifetimes who have met inglorious ends to their careers as well.  It is always a grievous thing to have turned one's back on God after committing one's life to His service.

     Are you an Eli?  Or a Samuel?