The Stability Word

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Stability is the word to work on, and it is a builder's word before it is a comforting one. The Hebrew behind it is the word usually printed as faithfulness, and what sits underneath the idea is firmness: what holds when weight goes on it, what does not give at the joint. The same word describes Moses on the hill above Rephidim, where his hands were steady while two other men held them up.

Ten English versions on this app's shelf keep the word in some form, stability, steadfastness, a sure foundation, and they part company over who supplies it. Five read that he will be the stability of your times. Two say only that there shall be stability in your times. The KJV, with one other, puts wisdom and knowledge in that slot. Whichever way it is read, nothing in the line promises that the times will be steady.

Consider the times these words were spoken into. An army is in the country, treaties have failed, and the roads have emptied. The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. Further down the chapter somebody is calling the roll of the men whose job was to keep a nation stable, and getting no answer. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers? That is the room this promise is made in, with the officials being read out like names on a memorial and the firmness arriving anyway, from outside the arrangements that failed.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 340 is Lamp and Light (Psalm 119:105).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two