Proverbs 4

There is a bit of a pattern in these verses related to the acquistion of wisdom: Remember, Retain, Acquire, Value.

Remember

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

We must first hear the instruction and the first place we ever learn anything is at our parent's feet. We hear; we attend; we know. It comes to us through hearing, is assimilated as we pay attention and apply it, and is finally known through experience.

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

Doctrine is teaching and it stays with us unless we forsake it.

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

The teacher reflects on his own past and the process through which he gained wisdom. This reflection is itself, an aid to remembering.

Retain

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

The teacher's father was also a teacher. He taught him to retain truth in his heart. It is not enough to acquire knowledge mentally. It must become a part of who we are. We must desire it as something life-giving and life-sustaining. We come to our study of wisdom with the attitude that we will retain what we learn. It is for life.

Acquire

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

We start with the end in mind. We acquire wisdom with a bias - that we will never let it go. The secret of that is preventing decline. Neglect is a greater enemy that wilful rejection because it sneaks in on us and is often unnoticed until it has taken its toll.

Value

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 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. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

How we value wisdom will determine how much of it we acquire and retain and how effective it will be in shaping our lives. Wisdom will preserve us and keep us if we love her. She becomes our protector. It may cost us everything, but it is the main thing. We can use wisdom to get whatever we need. All promotions, honor, and recognition go to the wise. Among her blessings are long life and glory.

Two Ways

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; 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.

Wisdom guides us along the right path. It is a straight path. It is an even path. It is the path of life.

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

The alternative to wise living is wickedness. We are to avoid it.

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

Say it as many ways as necessary. Get off the evil path and stay off.

So, if we are on the wrong path, what do we do? We must TURN ( The biblical word for turning is repentance).

Making the Detour = TURN

1. T – Take another route.
2. U – Understand the difference (See the following verses.)
3. R – Reject the restless riot.
4. N – Nix the need for naughtiness.

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.

We need to recognize the allure of sin and reject it. Like overindulging in food or becoming intoxicated with wine, or even being caught up in a frenzy of hyperactive compulsion to do evil, the path of wickedness creates an altered state of spiritual consicousness that feeds on itself. It takes strong intention and much grace to break the cycle. Turn.

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

Wise people love light because in the light, truth is plainly seen and falsehood is exposed.

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

The converse is also true. wickedness is a blinding darkness that obscures truth and covers the obstacles in its path until we stumble over them.

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

Our remedy is to return to truth, to the teachings of our youth, to the Word of God and the words of wisdom we have learned from godly parents and teachers.

Solomon makes some practical suggestions for us here:

1. Visual reminders
   
2. Heart engagement
3. Incentives - Life!
4. Make the connection between wisdom and well being.

We are then given 5 specific instructions:

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

(1) Guard your heart - Don't let anything into your "center" that does not belong there. Watch out for anything trying to sneak in. All of your life flows from your heart.

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

(2) Guard your speech - Things sometimes get inside of you as you say them. Don't speak any negativity into existence in your own life. The mouth bone's connected to the heart bone.

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

(3) Guard your focus - or you might say, "Guard your gaze." What you gaze upon will become your focus and will find its way to your heart. don't waver.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

(4) Guard your planning. Plan for success in righteousness. Don't fantasize about evil or anything less than God's best.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

(5) Guard your consistency. Keep on keeping on. It is not those who start well who win the race, but those who finish well.