My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment…[and] when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:21-24, NIV)
Every Saturday night on tour—no matter how big or small that tour is—some player (maybe even two or three) must “sleep on the lead.” It’s an expression and an experience that exists in almost no other sport.
We want to dig in, be those wise learners, let the Holy Spirit take up resident in us, and live the kind of life that lets us lay down our heads at night and rest.After a time, of course, a many-time winner like Phil Mickelson or even young Lydia Ko may get used to the scenario. They’ve been in the last group too many times to succumb to a night of tossing and turning. But for most, the chance is rarer, or it has been a long time since it last happened, so “sleeping on the lead” might be a case of “getting whatever bit of sleep you can.”
How about you? How are you sleeping these days? Maybe you have a big day tomorrow, and how you’ll rest tonight is anybody’s guess.
The adage that those with clear consciences sleep best is not one of those sayings mistaken as scripture. It’s really there! In his many pages of sage advice in Proverbs, Solomon established for his son (and for us) that righteous living comes with many built-in benefits. One of these is a good night’s sleep.
Solomon established at the outset of the book that he was writing with a purpose. He wanted to train others in wisdom and discipline; in understanding insightful words; in living a prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair. Additionally, he was hoping to give knowledge and discretion to the young and add to the learning of the wise.
We might say, then, that pretty much everything Solomon wrote here is helpful for sleep! We want to dig in, be those wise learners, let the Holy Spirit take up resident in us, and live the kind of life that lets us lay down our heads at night and rest.
But let me give you something to dream of as well. Solomon did not limit the rewards of judgment and discernment to one only. He also noted that if we do not let these characteristics out of our sight, they will “be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” More than that, “you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.”
God knows the blessings we need most in this life—things like health and rest and a sense of security. And through Solomon, he outlined the way to acquire them. Go, my friend, and get them all!
—
Jeff Hopper
August 1, 2016
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.