Proverbs

PROVERBS

KEY VERSE: PROVERBS 4: 23

FOCAL POINT: GUARD YOUR HEART

INTRODUCTION:

THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IS A BOOK OF WISE, PRACTICAL WISDOM. IT TEACHES SUCH THINGS AS HOW TO RAISE CHILDREN, HOW TO HONOR PARENTS, HOW TO PURSUE CAREERS, HOW TO MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR ENEMIES, HOW TO IDENTIFY A COMPLETE FOOL. PROVERBS LETS US KNOW A WELL ORDERED LIFE IS HONORABLE AND PLEASING TO GOD. IF WE HAVE OUR HEADS FULL OF INFORMATION BUT LIVES THAT DISHONOR GOD, WE ARE ABSOLUTE FOOLS. PROVERBS IS A PRIMER OF THE ART OF LIVING.

PROVERBS 1:1 INDICATES SOLOMON AUTHORED THE WRITINGS. SOME SCHOLARS INDICATE OTHERS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED SOME OF THE PROVERBS. THE BOOK SEEMS TO ORIGINATE FROM THE TENTH CENTURY B.C. IN ISRAEL’S UNITED KINGDOM.

KEY VERSE-PROVERBS 4: 23 (KJV) “KEEP (GUARD) THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE, FOR OUT OF IT (ARE) THE ISSUES OF LIFE.”

WORD STUDY ON KEEP: GUARD, GUARD FROM DANGER, GUARD WITH FIDELITY, WATCH, PRESERVE, OBSERVE, KEPT CLOSE, BLOCKADE, WATCHMAN

SOME SCHOLARS SUGGEST THE HEART CAN ALSO MEAN YOUR MIND, EMOTIONS, WILL AND EVEN YOUR WHOLE INNER PERSON.

THE HEART IS THE SEAT OF WISDOM. IT CAN AFFECT YOUR SPEECH, SIGHT AND CONDUCT.

YOUR SPEECH: PROVERBS 4: 24 (NASB) “PUT AWAY FROM YOU A DECEITFUL MOUTH AND PUT DEVIOUS SPEECH FAR FROM YOU.”

YOUR SIGHT: PROVERBS 4: 25 (NASB) “Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.”

YOUR CONDUCT: PROVERBS: 4: 26-27 (NASB) “WATCH THE PATH OF YOUR FEET AND ALL YOUR WAYS WILL BE ESTABLISHED. DO NOT TURN TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT. TURN YOUR FOOT FROM EVIL.”

YOUR HEART DICTATES YOUR PATH. EMOTIONS DICTATE YOUR PATH. AFFECTIONS DICTATE YOUR PATH. SOLOMON ADVISED US TO GUARD OUR HEART TO MAKE SURE WE STAY FOCUSED AND ON THE RIGHT PATH. BELIEVER, YOU MUST SET A SECURITY FENCE AROUND YOUR HEART: SET YOUR BOUNDARY AND GUARD IT.

APPLICATION: BELIEVERS, RESOLVE NOT TO BREACH THE BOUNDARY! READ PHILIPPIANS 4: 8.

REF: THE BIBLE FOR BLOCKHEADS BY DOUGLAS CONNELLY, THE MIND OF CHRIST BY T. W. HUNT, STRONG’S WORD STUDY, DR. CONSTABLE’S NOTES ON PROVERBS, LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE, MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE, BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG, GOTQUESTIONS.ORG