Who may?

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. (Psalm 15:1-2)

Who may worship in the presence of a holy God? Those who lead blameless lives - who do right and speak the truth they have been given by their loving heavenly Father. The first time I read this passage, I thought there was absolutely no hope for me because I was a sinner, not living blamelessly and not speaking God's truth, much less my own truth! Yet, as I read it time and time again, I found God reminding me of his grace, pointing me toward his finished work on the cross, and assuring my doubting heart that there is hope for the one who gives God access to their heart.

Blameless lives are more than just living 'above suspicion'. I made some pretty questionable choices in my younger life, no one really pointing the finger at me, but I was not blameless - I was just 'above suspicion'. Blameless lives are guilt-free. There might be questionable stuff that occurs within those lives, but because of the grace of a merciful and loving God, there is the ability to confess and live 'guilt-free'. As a teen, I struggled with acne, usually with large red blotches developing into 'Mount Vesuvius" on my face or the end of my nose. Those areas 'cleared up' in time, but not before they became quite obvious and embarrassing. Our sin is a bit like that - it develops and eventually exposes some ugly stuff - but it needs more than a 'clear up' to be totally gone. It needs an excision!

It is indeed a blessing to live 'unblemished' than it is to deal with the 'blemishes' of sin in our lives. The good news is that the blemish of sin doesn't have to remain. There is a way to excise it once and for all. We need the truth of his Word washing over our lives daily. We must listen to the still small voice of his Spirit within prompting us to make right and wise choices. We also must relinquish control of our willful pride and ask God to do within us what we have been unable to do within our own strength or 'will-power'. When we finally do that, we realize we are living what God calls 'blameless lives'. We have entered into fellowship with him and value the 'cleanliness' of living guilt-free under his grace. Just sayin!

Popular Agenda?

Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependent upon popular opinion? (William Lloyd Garrison)

I came across this question today and wondered if you have ever pondered just how 'right' or 'wrong' our society is today. It seems that many are swayed by popular opinion - sometimes choosing to forsake previously held beliefs that had been foundational within their families for decades. As the 'tide' of popular opinion swells, it seems that there are many carried away with that tide. The clear distinctions between right and wrong get blurrier and blurrier with each movement of the tide. At some point, we might just realize that we need to do a complete RESET of our 'beliefs' because they are no longer based upon TRUTH, but upon opinion.

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? ...Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:11-12, 17)

The scripture is clear - if we know what is right, we are to do it. If we don't know - then it is time to get back to TRUTH so we can 'reset' the boundaries within which we will set our course once again. Truth is the only thing that matters - opinion is not important. Whenever we allow opinion to guide our thoughts, our actions are sure to fall below the standards laid out in God's Word. Keep his Words front and center in your life and your 'opinions' will no longer be swayed by the popular vote! 

A few weeks back, our pastor shared a brief two-week series on how to study the Bible. It was very practical, and I would like to challenge us to consider how much it could change our own lives if we were to embrace just one simple practice he presented. He challenged us to get into the Word - not by using one particular method, but by finding the one that works for us. Find a translation that makes sense to us - because if we don't understand it, we won't want to read it. Find a time to get into the Word - because if we aren't purposeful in making the time each day, we will squander it away.

One of the helpful tips he gave is this - use what helps you get into the Word daily. In other words, if it is a 'bible study' booklet, use it. If it is an online daily devotional, so be it. If you want to study a topic, set out to study it. If you are drawn to use a specific outline format, adopt it. The important thing is to just get the Word into your life. The more you do, the less you are deceived by 'popular opinion'. You will know the truth, it will guide your actions, and you will live free of the quandary of 'right' vs. 'wrong' that seems to be inherent in so much of the 'popular agenda' right now. Just sayin!

Learning to live right

You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me. (Psalm 119:1-8)

On occasion, someone will ask how they know they are making a 'right decision' or if they are 'living right'. Right-living is something the Bible refers to as "righteousness" - it is the idea of learning to order your steps according to the plans and purposes of God. The design of the designer is always the best plan for the creation, is it not? We can "recommission" or "repurpose" some things for other use, such as making a lamp from a vase, or turning a stool into an end table, but it was not the intention of the creator to see them used in these ways. The vase was designed to be adorned with richly scented, magnificently colorful flowers. The stool was designed the support the weight of a human, not a light bulb. They "function" okay in their "recommissioned" purpose, but they function at their optimum when they are doing exactly what they were created to do! The same is true with each of us. We may think righteousness is a life characterized by morality and a certain degree of upright behavior. Something we might call living a virtuous life. Some describe a "righteous life" as being a "good person" who is "honest", "fair", and even "just". Righteousness is the sum total of making right choices for the right reasons. Apart from Christ in our lives, our choices are anything but righteous!

We could interpret being righteous as "being wise". We have been made "right" by the grace of God. We are given the ability to live "right" by the presence of God in our lives in the person of the Holy Spirit. We are supported in living "right" by the constant intercession of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The righteousness we are really called to exhibit in our daily lives is a result of these actions in us. The idea is each of us coming into "conformity" to the will of God. Righteousness is our will "conforming" to his will. How does this happen? We have to accept the Word of God as the authority in our lives - the "owner's manual" of sorts which helps to direct us to the intended "purpose" for our lives. When we own a car, we refer to the owner's manual to see where the spare tire is kept, how it is removed, where to put the jack, how the car is properly supported when the jack is used, and so on. The owner's manual gives us insight supporting the safest operation of the vehicle. The Word of God is no different - it supports the safest operation of our lives! In order to learn to "conform" to the will of God, we have to get to know it. There is no better place to explore what is "within" and "without" God's will than in the scriptures. If you don't find it plainly there, you certainly get a gist of how God guides us to make decisions which don't violate his overall plan for his children.

Recognizing what the Word says is one thing - actually submitting to what it tells us to do is quite another. To be fully righteous in our steps, we must submit to what we are shown. The idea of submission is kind of a sore point for some - probably because society has so twisted the meaning of submission so as to make us a little wary of this action. When we submit to something, we are just agreeing we are making it our own. In other words, when we choose to follow God's will as revealed in scripture, we are just taking his will and making it our own. We determine it to be "good" and "accept it" as our "mode of operation". When we do, we learn to live in such a manner that our lives reflect the right actions God desires. What this kind of "right-choosing" does for us cannot really be put into words adequately, but I think it helps us see ourselves as God sees us - with the full potential of blameless, perfect, and upright living. There is an exchange of wisdom which comes as we behold ourselves through God's Word - for his Word reflects the original intention of the creation. When we see ourselves as God sees us, the "right" choices become a little easier because we see the potential in those choices. Righteousness is achievable - through a change of perspective. We need to learn what is contained in his Word - allowing his Word to fully influence our choices - choosing to make his will our own. In so doing, we become "upright", "honest", "fair" and even "just" in our behavior. Just sayin!

A lesson in division

Tough question this morning - what, if anything, acts as a 'barometer' in your life, judging both your thoughts and the purposes of your heart? If you say it is the scripture, that would be good, but I need to ask you another question - how does having this 'barometer' affect your choices? The recent couple of days have turned chilly here in Arizona, moving the thermometer down from the mid-90's into the mid-70's. That is a big change that moved us from capris wearing weather to needing a small cover-up over you while lounging in the chair! I should have adapted my wardrobe selection to adjust to the weather shift, but do you know what I am wearing as I sit here this morning? Capris and a t-shirt - my usual casual attire. Despite the barometer clearly showing we were in for a significant weather change, I didn't adapt to the change. There are times when I ignore the weather barometer completely, so what would make me think I will always pay attention to the 'barometer' God places over my mind and heart to help keep me prepared for what comes next? To be transparent here, I often have a little conflict between what the 'barometer' is telling me in my mind and what my heart chooses to pursue!

The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Scripture is a great 'tool' in our lives, but just as I might ignore the weather barometer, it is probable that I may ignore the 'spiritual barometer' at times. Scripture is actually given to help us 'divide' - to help us sort out the right from the wrong, the good from the bad, the 'next' from the 'not now'. Soul and spirit aren't always in complete agreement. Soul demands some way that spirit says is not the right choice or perhaps not the 'right now' choice. Spirit desires to make the right choice and be in the right timing. The two stand opposed to each other more often than not. Soul (mind, will, and emotions) can turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the things God tells us in scripture - because it doesn't please us, isn't going to fulfill some desire we have, or isn't making us feel good. Spirit will challenge those responses, but oftentimes our spirit has a hard time being 'heard' above the demands of our soul.

The Word of God is ALIVE and ACTIVE. There is no stagnancy in scripture. Yes, it was written a long, long time ago. Yes, it was written in a time when things were 'different' and 'simpler' than they are now. Yet, if you look at scripture long enough, you'll see the 'conditions' of long ago really aren't all that different from those today. Governments still fight to make themselves the biggest and most powerful leaders in the world - just like back then. People still are lured into illicit relationships - just like back then. Kids still rebel against their parents - just like back then. If the 'conditions' of all those years are really not all that different than the conditions that exist today, then scripture is indeed applicable to us today - it is ALIVE and ACTIVE.

It separates (divides) better than any scalpel or knife. Why? God's word is what brought life into being, it is what sustains it, and it is also what can take it away in a single blink of an eye. It is powerful and it is purposeful. Our actions all begin within the venue of our minds - the 'locale' of our thoughts is important because it determines the ground upon which we will 'engage' our actions. This is why God reminds us to keep his Word central in our lives - to help us be on the right 'ground' for each action. Too many times we move away from things that act as a 'judge' in our lives. If we are in a relationship where we feel 'judged', we might leave it. If we leave it, do we escape the judgment? Not really. The one who judged us is still able to take that same action time and time again - we just aren't in the relationship any longer. It doesn't stop their judgment. 

God's word can be abandoned, but it doesn't stop it acting as a 'judge' in our lives. His word isn't going to leave us, despite our efforts to leave it behind! The Word of God is ALIVE and ACTIVE - it doesn't just 'go away' because we don't want to pay attention to it. It still points out where our thoughts and the purposes of our heart are not 'right on' or where they have drifted 'away from center'. This is why I try to start each day with even a small portion of scripture. It helps to sort out my thoughts and it points out where my heart isn't pay close attention to the instruction I have been given. It oftentimes reins me in, reorders my steps, and takes me down a different path than the one I had chosen to pursue. It is indeed ALIVE and ACTIVE - it cannot be dismissed. Just sayin!

On the hunt...

William Gladstone reminds us, "Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness." I think we spend a great deal of time 'hunting' for what will make us happy in life and totally miss the stuff right there in front of us that actually has the greatest potential to not only create a sense of happiness in life, but of reward and a sense of well-being. Hunt not for what will be the next thing to make you 'happy', but for the truth that will make your life deeper and more rewarding!

Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life! (Proverbs 21:21 MSG)

Hunt for what is right and kind - hunt for Christ and the truth he brings into any life when he enters it with his power and peace. Power and peace seem like opposite words, but to be clear here, where there is great power, there is bound to come great peace. We need more of Christ displayed in our lives - it isn't that we need more of Christ. We already have all we need in him, but we don't always see his power and peace displayed in our conduct. What we need is for our conduct to be conformed to his presence!

Gladstone was the one to remind us it was the duty of government to make it difficult for us to do wrong, but easy to do right. This is the very essence of what scripture teaches us about the 'government' of Christ in our lives. Where he is allowed to rule with full authority, there is an 'ease' that comes in doing right and a sense of 'unease' that comes with doing what is wrong. God's presence actually acts as a 'governor' over our lives - helping us choose what is right and kind, so that we will always find reward and a sense of well-being in our actions.

We don't always allow God to govern our lives, though. There are times we 'unhook from' the governor, allowing free-reign of our emotions, will, and thoughts. When we aren't governed, we are living without restraint and this is a dangerous place to find ourselves. Regardless of how much we resist 'governance', we ALL need it more than we might want to acknowledge! We all need help making the right choices so that we are consistently 'on the hunt' for what is right and kind in life. Just sayin!

Let's get this right ALL of the time

Those who spend their lives teaching will tell us the ability to learn a subject is directly influenced by our specific desire to learn that subject - if we don't find the subject interesting or useful, we often discount the learning opportunity, making it more difficult to ever get much from what is being taught. We often miss out on some of the most profound (yet insanely simple) lessons in life simply because we don't want to take the time or energy to apply ourselves to that learning. There are also times when we feel that we don't "need" to learn the lesson being offered - seeing ourselves as above the lesson - already having knowledge about a particular subject and feeling as though we didn't need to learn anything else. Both scenarios are dangerous ground to tread, for learning happens only when hearts are open.

If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!  (Proverbs 12:1)

It is shortsighted to refuse correction - for correction is basically the opportunity to begin a new lesson in life - an opportunity to learn. Did you ever consider that "correction" is directly tied to "learning"? Think of it - you do a series of math problems, turn in your paper, get it back "graded", observing that there are "red marks" on those problems that you did not get "right". If you go through math class refusing to change the way you solve the problem, you will never get a "passing grade" in math. In fact, you will probably never graduate! That "red mark" is designed by the teacher to point out where you needed to focus some attention in order to avoid making the same "error" over and over again.

Think of God's discipline as the similar to that type of "red mark" - it is designed to focus our attention on the areas of our lives where we need to make some changes in how we are doing things. The purpose is not to humiliate or frustrate us, but to help us move into a place of understanding - to come to a revelation of how things have been going and the things that need to change in order to get on the right track again. The goal is that we "graduate" from doing things our own way into learning the value of doing things God's way. In so doing, we develop a consistency of getting "right answers" each and every time (as important in 'real life' as it is in math class). Disciplined living is evident when we see a heart that is consistently looking for insight into right choices. I always challenged my math teachers by asking why "my answer" was wrong - citing that if I got the right answer, why was the method I used to determine that answer necessarily wrong. The reply was always the same (no matter the teacher). It was simply that I would not "consistently" get the right answer if I did not use the proper method to solve the problem each and every time. It was the consistency that was lacking - not the wherewithal to solve the problem 'this time'.

The same is true in daily living - we can arrive at the same answer today that we got yesterday by using the same principles we applied yesterday. But...will those same principles applied a year from now produce the exact same answers? Probably not! Why? Simply put - things change! We need to grow, so the problems become a little more complex as we grow. Just as in math class, we moved from simple addition (2+2=4) into more complex problems like solving for "x" in an algebraic equation. What I learned in basic math and simple addition lent itself to solving the algebraic equation, but I needed more complex thought processes to solve the latter - and I needed even more completion of learning to understand trigonometry. I needed to "grow" in order to see the new concepts of algebra or trig, or I'd never solve the problems consistently. In daily life, there will always be a growth opportunity that comes with two choices - remain bull-headed and stubbornly rooted in the past ways of doing things, or yielding to the possibility that there is something new to be learned in the present. The disciplined life will embrace the learning with the desire to build insight into how to consistently arrive at the right choice each and every time we are faced with whatever life hands to us as the 'present problem'. Just sayin!

A rudderless ship?

A ship without a rudder is kind of 'dead in the water' - it can propel in some direction, but without the rudder, the direction is haphazard and subject to drift by the most powerful current it faces. A "principled" life can stand up to the worst life throws at it. Principles acts as our "rudder" - giving us the guidance for right conduct. They give us the fundamental truths by which we make our decisions. A life that is governed by the right principles will withstand the toughest of life's conflicts and all those disappointments we can face in our lifetime. Moral character and integrity act as marching companions of "principles" - each bringing the balance we need to "stay the course" when the worst is upon us.

The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin. A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart, but a principled life can stand up to the worst. Moral character makes for smooth traveling; an evil life is a hard life. Good character is the best insurance; crooks get trapped in their sinful lust. (Proverbs 11:3-6)

Over and over again, scripture has record of the importance of developing wisdom and understanding. In order for wisdom and understanding to fully develop, we need certain foundational principles to be built into the fiber of our being so that our choices are consistent and upright. In the pages of scripture, we have record of the struggle that man faces with overcoming pride and embracing humility - one leading to honor from our heavenly Father, the other man's own disgrace. Honesty must be our guiding action in our affairs of life - otherwise our end will be ruin. Some 'foundational truths or principles' we must 'add into' our lives as we will with Christ are outlined as follows:

Silence - learning when no answer is better than any other answer we can bring into a situation. There is much wisdom in learning when our mouths will betray us with words that sting or belittle. It is best to never utter a word than to allow words to be spoken that bring another down. To this, we have the reminder about the destructiveness of gossip - words best left unspoken and unheard.

Submission - learning to accept the wisdom of counsel (those who have gone before us in learning the lessons of life). There is safety in wise counsel - learning to trust in that counsel is quite another thing. It is a struggle of "will" to learn to seek out wise counsel instead of plunging ahead in our own self-will and self-determination.

Sensitivity - coming into an awareness of our surroundings, those we are with, or the impact our words and actions make on others. The principled man or woman has learned to use their beauty wisely and modestly. The needs of others are foremost in their thoughts. The example that is set is one of integrity.

Service - the freedom to extend oneself in an openness of heart that betters the life of another and provides a positive example of the heart of God to those around us. Sacrifice and service go hand-in-hand. The heart of a servant is moved by the needs of those around them - they need not look far to see where their service is best used.

A principled life is both continually refreshed and rewarded. There is an unending supply of all we need to live well, live consistently, and live outwardly. There is an "emotional energy" that is "spent" in living a life of integrity (principled life). Yet, we can look forward to the continual refreshing of our mind, spirit, and emotion as we walk in the principles of righteousness. There is much to be discovered in "living well"! Let the rudder of your life be solid and right principles and your course will be steady. Just sayin!

Time is not in a bottle...

Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid in South Africa - the mission of his term in office as their President focusing strongly on racial reconciliation in their country. One of the quotes he is known for is also one of my favorites: "We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right."  Time is a fleeting thing - it is easy for it to get away from us, like water passing under a bridge, we often don't recognize the millions of seconds just frittered away. The time is always "ripe" to do right - there is no "wrong time" for doing right.  It is quite possible that what may be accomplished in this day may never be regained - so we must learn to appreciate the moment, embrace it, and then "do" what needs to be done in that moment.

Don’t you know that as long as you do what is right, then I accept you? But if you do not do what is right, watch out, because sin is crouching at the door, ready to pounce on you! You must master it before it masters you. (Genesis 4:7 VOICE)

God is in conversation with Cain, one of the children born to Adam and Eve.  Cain was in bitter disagreement with his brother, Abel, over which "sacrifice" was actually "better" in God's eyes.  One was a farmer - the other a herdsman.  The one brought the first-fruits of the field, the other a lamb. From what is recorded in scripture, God really found favor with Abel because of that "blood sacrifice" - a symbol of how God was foretelling the "means" of reconciliation between man and himself.  It is kind of a long story, but to put it bluntly, the brothers were at odds with each other because of what they chose to sacrifice.  Cain forms some bitter feelings toward his brother and before long, we find what God warned against in our passage above became the reality in his life. 

God's warning - master sin's urging or it will come to master you!  Sin or compromise always has some kind of urging with it - something perhaps not very "big" at first, but if given into long enough, it becomes the thing which masters us. Mandela may have said it another way, but he was really reflecting the message God gave to Cain all those years before - the time is always "right" to DO RIGHT.  God may have been just giving us a little warning about the "passage of time" when it comes to dealing with those little compromises we make over the longer course of time - they lead to drift and drift leads to us being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, doing the wrong things!

Psalm 11:7 reads: "The Eternal is right in all His ways; He cherishes all that is upright. Those who do what is right in His eyes will see His face."  The time is always right to do what is right - and it comes with huge rewards!  When we take notice of the time, we are more likely to be attentive to it, aren't we?  When you know a deadline is looming such as having a brief prepared for a meeting you need to be in attendance at in about thirty minutes, you focus on putting the finishing touches on that document, don't you? You proof it one last time, edit here and there so as to bring clarity and make it as thorough as possible.  Why? You want the finished product to reflect the time and effort you have put into it. Why should our lives be any different? Shouldn't we want them to reflect the time and effort we put into them?

If we fritter away the time we are given within relationship, we may be disappointed by the results we see at the end of that relationship - maybe even bringing it to an early end as a result of our inattention!  If we fritter away the time we are given in worship, we may never feel the presence of God, hear his voice, or know the guidance he so urgently wants us to receive.  Somehow I think we treat time as the sand in the hourglass.  It slowly makes its way through the tiny opening between the two sections of blown glass, until it is all gathered at the bottom of the glass.  I think we might just count on being able to turn that hourglass over and over again and again, without the sand ever coming to rest! Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth - for time is not in our hands, nor is it able to be "restored" by simply hitting the "reset" button!

James 4:17 reminds us: "If you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin."  The time to do right can be frittered away.  We often find the "frittering" is really just us ignoring the reality of something right in front of us.  I am as guilty of this "frittering" as the next person.  Ignorance is definitely not always bliss!  Ignore a dripping faucet long enough and you will eventually endure a night of sleeplessness while you listen to the incessant dripping!  Life is filled with "right time" moments - we just have to learn to be attentive to them, focused on making the most of the time we are given - learning to "do right" within those moments before they pass us by.  We never really know when the time will suddenly be lost to us, making it almost impossible to "get back" what we frittered away in the process.  Just sayin!

And the hunt is on!

William Maxwell once said, "If you turn the imagination loose like a hunting dog, it will often return with the bird in its mouth."  I wonder what would happen if we turned our spirit loose like a "hunting dog"?  Would we return with blessings like power, peace, and purpose?  Well, I think this might just be the case!  We often bridle our spirits, keeping them from expanding into territory we think only the "worthy" can trod.  Guess what?  You ARE the worthy!  You may not be convinced of that yet, but trust me, scripture declares those who have put their trust in Christ as their Savior, confessing their sins, and taking his grace freely as "worthy"!

Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life! (Proverbs 21:21 MSG)

To hunt is to go searching for with the desire to catch.  There is the idea of searching and seeking - not for the "sport" of it - but because there is something to be obtained.  There are times when we treat the pursuit of the things God has for us as though they were "sport" - just a pleasant pastime.  The hunt is on, friend - will you be part of it?

Our passage today proclaims two thing we are to "hunt" for so as to obtain - what is right and what is kind.  Now, both of these can easily deal with relationship - what is right and kind to do for another, to another, with another.  They can also deal with how we conduct our business affairs - what is right practice or kindness in service.  They also can deal with how it is we treat ourselves - what is right for us to do with our bodies, minds, and spirits.

What is right?  There are probably as many definitions of what is "right" as there are people in this world.  We form our ideals as we age - exposing ourselves to various teachings, experiences, etc.  In time, we come to define certain practices as "right".  The problem with using this kind of a definition comes in the "flexibility" of the circumstances which may "influence" what we believe to be right.  The only true source of defining what is "right" - in relationship, business, or our own personal life - is in the scripture.  It is within those pages we find what is "good", "proper", and "just".  God's character doesn't allow for the inconsistencies of circumstance defining these for him - his definition will always be "spot on".

What is kind?  We usually equate kindness to compassion, consideration, or courtesy.  Kindness is a way of life - not easily influenced by the circumstances life sends our way.  Believe it or not, kindness is the outcome of pursuing what is right.  You cannot operate in a realm of kindness without first setting your heart to do what is right.  

The very next verse in this proverb refers to the "sage" - One sage entered a whole city of armed soldiers—their trusted defenses fell to pieces!  (vs. 22)   What is a sage?  Is it not someone who possess wisdom, judgment and experience?  It is a prudent person.  The "starting point" for all wisdom is found in pursuing what is right.  The "end point" of wisdom is doing what is kind.  One is the action of the will, the other is the outflow of the heart.

No amount of "armor" can present a defense against one "armed" with the pursuit of what is right and kind.  In fact, it is "undone" in the face of righteousness and kindness.  The toughest defenses can be laid low when we begin to yield our spirits to God and take up the "hunt" for what he declares to be good, right, and just for our lives.  Just sayin!