31 Days of Wisdom: Day 4 - Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4 Background

In Proverbs 4 a father delivers three messages to his sons. The first is to pursue Wisdom and never let her go, the second is to avoid the wicked by taking the correct path, and the third is to stick to that path because it is a source of life.

Proverbs 4 - Security In Wisdom
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.

Pastor's Reflection
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. -Proverbs 4:7

I want to share this commentary with you from BibleRef.com on Proverbs 4:7. It makes it crystal clear and I believe it is worth sharing. Here is what it says:

Read carelessly, this statement can seem circular. The point, however, comes naturally from lessons already given in this book. Wisdom is far more valuable than any material possession (Proverbs 3:13–15). So the wisest thing a person can do is to seek wisdom. In more modern terms, we might say "the first rule of wisdom is to always seek more wisdom."

The key concept here comes from the root word rē'sit, which is used at the very start of Scripture, in Genesis 1:1. The term generically means "what comes first," which can imply a beginning or something of utmost importance. Both concepts apply here, which is why various English translations choose to focus on one or the other. The need to acquire wisdom is simultaneously "step one" along the wise path as well as the key principle by which to stay on it.

People set goals and work hard to reach them. Some spend great effort to get rich, some search hard for happiness. All these objectives fade in comparison to the value of acquiring wisdom and insight. The words Solomon relates here are those he once heard from his father, David (Proverbs 4:3). David challenged his son to get wisdom and insight. Nothing in life is as valuable as the wisdom to know and do God's will and to understand how to respond correctly to obstacles and opportunities.

In his later life, Solomon searched in vain for what was truly valuable. He pursued knowledge, pleasure, wealth, and honor, but finally concluded that true satisfaction comes only from knowing God. The book of Ecclesiastes traces his vain pursuits and concludes with the counsel, "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them'" (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Reflections
1. What sticks our to you about Proverbs 4? What verse speaks to you where you are in life?

2. In Proverbs 4:10-19, Solomon gives a list of do/ do not statements. How well are you doing with the do statements? How much work is needed on the do not statements.

3. How will you make Proverbs 4 a part of your.life?