Proverbs 4
I would offer that the word love is not a verb, it is a noun. It is not a thing you do. It is the light that you are made of and what you were created to be.
A Fathers Wise Advice
1 My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment, 2 for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from my instructions. 3 For I, too, was once my father’s son, tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
4 My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment. Don’t forget my words or turn away from them. 6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. 8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. 9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say, and you will have a long, good life. 11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back; when you run, you won’t stumble. 13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do, and don’t follow the path of evildoers. 15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way. Turn away and keep moving. 16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day. They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble. 17 They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. 26 Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. 27 Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (NLT)
insights
The poetic lines in verses 1-9 speak of a family tradition. From fathers to sons, over many generations, the instruction to seek after wisdom has been handed down. It is an ancient message and has survived the generations because it has proven to be true. If this was not so, we might find Solomon teaching his royal heir about royal matters, but for Solomon, and his ancestors, Wisdom had more importance, and was valued above worldly things.
Wisdom is compared to a woman in that if she is honored and well treated, she will bring much joy and comfort. She will protect you if you love her.
Life, when lived according to God’s plan, is a journey. When we plan our journey with wisdom, we can avoid many dangers. We need never walk alone. He will provide for our needs and lead us to what Jesus described as mansions, when he said he would prepare a place for us to dwell with Him forever.
Solomon will teach his sons to seek wisdom so that they will be strong. He references the words of the prophet Isaiah 40:31, “when they walk, they will not become tired, when they run they shall not fall.”
He contrasts this to the evil doers who can find satisfaction in nothing but their evil ways. Just as a person in our society might deny themselves good food and proper clothing in order to obtain the drug to which they are addicted, Solomon describes those following the ways of evil as unable to eat, drink, or sleep until after they have accomplished their evil deeds. This point is driven home with eloquence in the poetry of verses 18 -19
Now Solomon reminds his audience just how important these lessons are. They bring life and healing to those who understand them because they direct us in the way God intended for us to live.
Guard your heart, don’t let the world pull you away from your true self, the core of your being formed of pure love! Watch what you say, because what you speak becomes your reality and can separate you from God and from your true self that longs to be with God!
Look forward as you journey, stay focused and don’t get sidetracked by worldly things, for as Jesus said in Luke 9:62,”No man places his hand upon the handle of a plough and looks backward, and is useful in the Kingdom of Elohim.” AENT*
lynnibug
*Aramaic English New Testament published by Netzari Press.
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