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Song of Solomon 1 to 4
Have you ever realised that we sometimes use sayings without knowing what they mean, and certainly without understanding their origin?
2 Sam 5:6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. 8 On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies." That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace." NIV
I don't suppose any of us today are familiar with the 'well known phrase' "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."
It would be reasonable to assume that disabled access was poor in those days, so perhaps this was why the blind and lame could not enter the palace.
Maybe there was some bigotry going on, perhaps the King didn't want people limping around his luxurious palace.
Perhaps it was because many of the disabled were war veterans and the palace was supposed to be a place of peace?
The reason could even have been a religious one – implying in some way that the disabled caused some sort of defilement – as was the case with the priests.
Lev 21:17 'For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. 18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed...NIV
Clearly not everyone knew why this saying was used, so it is explained to us. All of our well-thought-out reasons are total rubbish!
When David took by force the 'City of David' those living there simply said that even the disabled amongst them could hold the fortress because it was impossible to overthrow it. To commemorate that victory and the fatal flaw of their overconfidence the 'blind and lame' could not enter David's palace.
Have you ever put two and two together and got five? Sometimes we get the 'wrong end of the stick' or we totally miss-understand a situation because we go in with all five senses blazing. We make assessments that are wrong, we hear half the information we need to, and we jump to conclusions.
Some of these miss-judgements cause offences and hurt, others just delay us in accomplishing anything.
In every situation, pray first. Ask God for wisdom and clarity. Ask for revelation.
James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom , he should ask God, NIV
1 Cor 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom , to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, NIV
Be careful not to misjudge a situation or problem – it may look physical but it may be spiritual. It may be a red herring disguising another problem altogether.
Ask God to make it clear to you and hear the true story – it may save your life.