PROVERBS 4

1 ¶ Hear, ye children, the instruction (correction) of a father, and attend to know understanding (i.e. mark well; regard; pay attention).

• Listening to the godly instruction of parents contains this promise from The Lord.
• Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
• How much more does this apply to believers when it comes to listening to the instruction of God through the Scriptures.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

• Reading this as New Testament saints, what law is it that we are not to forsake?
• Ro 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
• Jas 2:8 ¶ If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well
• Of course, the supreme law that rises above all is to love The Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

How important it is to pass along to our children and grandchildren good doctrine. Here are just a few of the reason why doctrine is so important.

• Ps 19:7 The law (doctrine) of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
• 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
• In this day and age when the very core of our beliefs are being challenged by the secular educational and world systems, it is important that our children know not just what the Bible says, but Who The Author is personally and intimately.
• One of the keys to learning is being a good listener, and the key to listening is having an undivided heart with a deliberate decision to apply the truth of God to our lives.
• Lu 6:46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? 47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

• Solomon knew that he was loved by David and Bathsheba. In the midst of raising our children and going through the seasons of discipline as such, may we never lose sight of the importance of loving them as gifts on loan to us from God.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

• He taught me- Mom and dad, the chief burden of raising our children in the things of The Lord lies squarely upon our shoulders; the secondary source of teaching of course is the local church.

• Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
• De 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
• Ge 18:19 For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment
• Let thine heart-19 times in the proverbs we find references to thine heart. As we mentioned last week, our faith is a faith that rests in the heart.
• The Bible says much about the heart. The heart is the throne room of the spirit, the Holy of Holies of the body temple. It is the reservoir from which flows the issues of life.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

• Neither decline from the words of my mouth- i.e. getting this kind of wisdom is not a hit and miss kind of a thing; we must be consistent and diligent.

• We have already seen how the very source of all wisdom and knowledge is the fear of The Lord.
• Paul tells us that it is in Christ Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that we need in this life are wrapped up in the Person of The Lord Jesus Christ.
• On a practical note, the exhortation to get both wisdom and understanding means that we must put legs on our prayers and pursue God’s wisdom or understanding that we are praying for in any given situation. 

6 Forsake her not (do not turn your back on her), and she shall preserve (keep, defend) thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

• Note that wisdom here is spoken of in the feminine gender. There is a tenderness associated with the wisdom of God.
• The father tells the son not to forsake following wisdom; later on in the proverbs, he will tell his son what to forsake: Pr 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

• Principal is the same word as beginning. Wisdom is the foundation of a fruitful life, and the foundation of true wisdom is the fear of The Lord.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

• I find it interesting that the world almost worships the accumulation of knowledge that stems from secular education; but The Living God puts a premium on the wisdom that comes from knowing Him and fearing Him. Luke was a medical doctor and would certainly have been recognized as a learned man in human terms, but his true wisdom as revealed in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts came from his knowledge of The Holy One.
• Note the blessings of embracing godly wisdom; she shall promote you, she shall give you honor, she shall be like an ornament of grace upon your head and she shall deliver you from evil.
• I would only add that walking in the wisdom of God prevents us from doing foolish things. Wisdom prevents us from making fleshly, knee jerk kind of decisions. Wisdom gives us the ability to see the consequence of making carnal unwise decisions.

10 Hear, O my son (relationship), and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

• Note that this father not only taught his son with his words, but he led him by example. The greatest teacher in life is example.
• After Jesus washed the disciples feet, He said to them, John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
• Paul told young Timothy, 1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
• Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
• Do I neglect to say that there are only two kinds of examples, good ones and bad ones?

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened (your path will be clear and open); and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

• We will read a lot about the value of instruction throughout the Proverbs. In order to cherish instruction, we must have soft, teachable hearts. Here are a couple of proverbs that speak of the importance of heeding instruction:
• Prov 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life
• Pr 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
• Pr 15:33 ¶ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

• 2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
• Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
• Ps 1:1 ¶ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

• 4 verbs identify aspects necessary in urgently dealing with sin at its start. (1) Avoid the sinful situation or source of the temptation (2) keep your distance from it (3) turn away from it when it is in your path (4) flee in the opposite direction.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

• Verse 17 is the unsaved persons “communion”; the bread of wickedness and the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

• As we grow in grace and in the knowledge of The Lord Jesus Christ, our lives shine brighter and brighter in this dark world.
• Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
• 1 Pet 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

• There are only two roads for a person to be on, it is either the path of the just or it is the way of the wicked.
• Jesus said, Mt 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
• The way of the wicked is as darkness, because they are following the prince of darkness and his unholy, worldly principles. Until a person is born again and Spirit filled, he or she is blind and unable to see or discern what is holy.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

• Whatever is in the heart in abundance will make a convert of the mind. That is why we need to soak our lives in the Word of The Lord, reading it, meditating upon it and doing it.
• Ps 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
• Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health (medicine) to all their flesh.

23 Keep (guard) thy heart (Thy thoughts, will, and affections- Wesley) with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

• We must guard our hearts because the heart is the depository of all wisdom and the source of whatever affects life and character (Mt 12:35; 15:19). As the heart is either pure or corrupt, so is the whole course of man's life.
• Every single one of us here tonight knows how apt our affections and desires are pulled towards this ungodly or worldly enticement and apt to go astray. That is why we need to renew our minds with God’s word and sow God’s truth in our hearts with a determination to apply the divine medicine of truth to our lives. A prescription in a bottle will do a sick person no good.
• The Psalmist asked The Lord to give unto Him and undivided heart. No man can serve two masters.
• If I only believe something in my mind, I may never respond in a proper way; but, if I believe something in my heart, the correct actions are sure to follow.
• Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

• Perverse lips- falsehood; dishonesty; twisted on foul speech. Integrity in all that we do.
• Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
• Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

• Pursue a sincere and direct purpose, avoiding temptations. One of the ways of the world according to John is called the lust of the eyes. How we need to set our eyes on the things of The Lord.
• The Psalmist said, Ps 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.
• The Psalmist prayed, Ps 119:37 ¶ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
• The eyes of our hearts must be fixed upon The Lord. Ps 121:1 ¶ <<A Song of degrees.>> I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

26 Ponder (give careful thought to) the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

• To ponder suggest the idea of considering a wise course that results from prayer and biblical forethought. Some translations read make level the paths of your feet, which suggest the idea of avoiding things that might trip us up.
• Psa 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
• Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
• Hag 1:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil (even the appearance of it).

Paul told the saints in Ephesus to walk circumspectly.

• Note beloved that guarding the heart (vs. 20) involves watching what I say (vs. 24) what I look at (vs. 25) and what I do (vs. 26,27).
• Let me repeat that the life that brings glory to God is a life of integrity that requires careful attention to the heart, our speech, our eyes, and conduct.
• Ro 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
• Avoid all crooked ways. Walk in the ways of uprightness.