Pearls From Proverbs – Chapter Four
We now turn to chapter four of Proverbs.
THE FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding; 2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. 3 When I was my father's son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live. Proverbs 4:1-4 (NKJV)
As a good father instructs his children – so too, God wants to instruct us. Instruction carries with it reproof and correction – two things none of us like but need. Instruction also carries with it the obligation of obedience. If one does not obey – how can they learn? Get wisdom – take pains to get it. For an athlete to grow strong there must be sacrifice and pain. So too we who are spiritual athletes will suffer pain – for the greater good.
God always gives that which is good – His doctrine and law are no exception.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:5-7 (NKJV)
If you want wisdom – you must decide to go after it. It will take effort to obtain it. It will take resolve and a determination. Do not abandon the search once you begin, no matter how difficult the road may become. The road is long – it will take a lifetime of travel. It is not a once-in-a-lifetime step but a daily process of choosing between two paths – God’s way or the way of the wicked. But there is nothing is more valuable or important.
Even though wisdom is the principle thing – what good is it without understanding? To be wise and have no common sense is foolishness. A person can be highly educated – yet still do stupid things. A person can be a professor at a university will all kinds of diplomas hanging on the wall – yet have no fear of God. When all is said and done – what value is that?
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her. 9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you."
Proverbs 4:8-9 (NKJV)
These two verses are a conditional statement. If you exalt wisdom:
1. She will promote you
2. She will bring you honor
3. She will cover your head with an ornament of grace
4. She will crown you with glory
5. She will deliver you
The Holman translation says it this way:
“Cherish her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. She will place a garland of grace on your head; she will give you a crown of beauty.” Proverbs 4:8-9 (HCSB)
Whatever else we do – the first importance is to embrace wisdom.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. 11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, And when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. Proverbs 4:10-13 (NKJV)
If we follow wisdom she will teach us to walk in righteousness. True wisdom will teach us to keep out of embarrassing situations. The fear of God will lead a person to live an upright and honest life. There are many traps and snares in this world – but if you take a firm hold on wisdom she will never let you go – for she is your life.
THE PATH OF THE WICKED
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence. Proverbs 4:14-17 (NKJV)
Even your friends can make you fall. It is easy to submit to the pressure of friends. Many people who want to be accepted would never confront or criticize a friend for bad plans or misguided actions. While we should be accepting of others we need to realize that there are many people who will lead us astray. When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution. Do not let your friends cause you to slip and fall into sin.
Christ is to be our Way – our Truth – and our Life. Let us seek His Way above any other way. His path leads to righteousness and to eternal life. The path of the wicked leads to death and destruction – it is a path that leads to darkness. Let us keep our hearts pure with all diligence.
THE STRAIGHT PATH
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. Proverbs 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Probably the most important word in the Bible is the word “but”. Things can be going in the wrong direction – but they get changed around. The wages of sin is death – but the free gift of God is eternal life. We should never discount the word “but” when we see it in the Bible. The path of the wicked is headed down the road of destruction – but there is a path of the just that leads to another destination. Thank God.
The way of evil men may seem pleasant, but it is still an evil way. Christ has told us that He is the Way and he is the Light. The way of sin is darkness. The way of the wicked is dangerous. We should avoid it all cost. Keep your heart in tune with God with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls. As shining light increases from twilight to noonday splendor – so should the just increase in purity.
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27 (NKJV)
Notice in this passage of scripture all the body parts that are mentioned:
1. The ear – verse 20
2. The eyes – verse 21 and 25
3. The heart – verse 21 and 23
4. The mouth – verse 24
5. The lips – verse 24
6. The eyelids – verse 25
7. The feet – verse 26
8. The foot – verse 26
What this tells me is that the whole body needs to be involved in resisting evil. It takes more than just listening to the Word of God. I must also walk in the Word of God. I must make sure that my feet do not travel down the road of evil. My heart must be kept pure at all cost. I must watch where I look – keep my eyes focused on the straight and narrow. And I must be careful that no filth comes out of my mouth. May there never be any unkind words come out of my mouth and may my lips never curse another.
Matthew Henry has said:
We must act with steadiness, caution, and consistency: “Let all thy ways be established (Pro_4:26) and be not unstable in them, as the double-minded man is; halt not between two, but go on in an even uniform course of obedience; turn not to the right hand not to the left, for there are errors on both hands, and Satan gains his point if he prevails to draw us aside either way. Be very careful to remove thy foot from evil; take heed of extremes, for in them there is evil, and let thy eyes look right on, that thou mayest keep the golden mean.” Those that would approve themselves wise must always be watchful.
Amen.
