Mark 14:32-50, ALERTNESS vs unawareness (2)

       b)    In the Bible alertness is to be joined with other disciplines.

i)      Psalm 19:7; 119:130: the word of God.  The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  Again, The entrance of your word gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

ii)   Prov. 1:4; 8:5: prudence.  This Hebrew term, one of the aspects of wisdom, refers to “shrewdness, craftiness, prudence.”  The Gibeonites (Josh. 9:4) had this quality.  Whether used of a wicked or a righteous person, it refers to one who looks thoroughly at a situation, bringing into the decision all they can learn about the situation.  Abigail had this.  We can also when we come, armed with the word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit.  We not only see what is right or wrong; we see how the current situation is going to go.  Things are not always as they seem at first.

iii)            Col. 4:2; Mark 14:38: prayer.  The “watch” term in the NT is used ten times, six of them alongside prayer.  Among other things, we should pray that the Lord would open our eyes to the truth about our circumstances.  And we should also pray that He will help us in facing the danger properly.

c)    In the Bible alertness should be accompanied by these attitudes.

i)      Prov. 2:3-5: Watching might seem like a sedentary activity but that is not the case.  We should cry for discernment, searching for these dangers as we might search for hidden treasure.  The opposite of “alertness” is “unawareness,” but in Scripture we can also say the opposite is being asleep (Mk. 14:38; 1 Th. 5:6).

ii)   Prov. 14:15: An alert person cannot be naïve, believing every word. 

iii)            Prov. 15:28: Alertness requires careful study of situations before issuing a response to the situation. 

iv) Prov. 22:3; 27:12: Careful thought must then be accompanied by appropriate action.

v)    Eph. 5:15-18: Meditate on this; it is important, putting “alertness” in the context of the New Covenant.  We need to be wise, drawing the Proverbs into our frame of reference.  We need to be alert to the use of our time, given the evil of the day and our calling to make disciples of all nations.  And alertness must be seen as part of walking in the Spirit. 

vi) 1 Cor. 16:13: Alertness needs to be associated with standing fast, which in turn is associated with bravery and strength.  All of these are the fruit of the Spirit.  Relate this to the situation in Gethsemane. 

We can never be totally prepared.  I take great comfort in knowing that “the LORD preserves the simple” (Ps. 116:6).  That “preservation” comes as we watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation.