The early chapters of the Book of Proverbs are addressed to sons (we could say children), the King’s advice to his young family. God also speaks today, to us, His children.
4 Listen, MY SONS, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching. Proverbs 4
God requires our full attention before He will begin to teach us anything. We must set aside other things which demand our attention and come before Him.
‘Wisdom is supreme’, though not greatly sought after in our day. Wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge, but the Bible also refers to Wisdom as a person. We need to value and esteem someone if we are going to befriend them.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom.
THOUGH IT COST ALL YOU HAVE, get understanding.
8 CHERISH her, and she will exalt you;
EMBRACE her, and she will honour you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.’
Proverbs promise many powerful blessings to those who seek the Wisdom of God, very different from that of this world.
10 Listen, MY SON, accept what I say,
and the years of your life will be many (Longlife).
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths (no wrong trails).
The path of the Righteous becomes brighter and brighter, but the way of the wicked grows darker. We don’t know what’s along a path until we’ve walked on it. God warns us, His children, to follow the path with the light.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.
God demands our attention to what He’s saying and that we keep His Words in our heart (we have to have His Words with us).
20 MY SON, pay attention to what I say;
turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to one’s whole body.
23 ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART,
for everything you do flows from it (YOUR WHOLE LIFE FLOWS FROM IT).
God speaks to us as His Sons and Daughters (worth considering that the Creator of everything speaks to us), surely the Words of God (written or spoken directly) are worth giving our attention to, they are the very words of life.
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’” Numbers 6