The Book of Proverbs - Chapter 4 - Personal Bible Study

Chapter 1 Click Here

Chapter 2 Click Here

Chapter 3 Click Here

Moving onto Chapter 4, our understanding of the meaning of Wisdom has evolved.  It meaning is deep and those who seek it are more likely to live a long, peaceful and happy life.  Those who follow her ways are less likely to get themselves into trouble.  They avoid evil and don't get themselves into the crazy schemes that men who would do evil sometimes try to get them into.   And they stay faithful to God, true to themselves, kind and respectful to others.  

There is a difference between understanding something and living it.     

Now that it's been pointed out to me through my personal study of the first few chapters this book, I find myself sometimes acting without wisdom and only realizing it after.   I was young and stupid once, maybe I still am.  Never thinking of the consequences of my actions.  I should have acted differently in the moment or I shouldn't have said something that I said.  

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

"Pay attention and gain understanding…  Do not abandon my directive"  I can't help but to think that every word is important.  We must have to learn to live it.  We must train ourselves to walk her ways.  We must pay attention and learn and understand every situation we go into.  Think before we act.

Of course I'm looking at this from a more modern perspective and even though it was written 3000 years ago, it is just as valid today as it was back then.  

3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,

4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

We start learning as children, but it is our choice as to whether to act on it or not.  

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

"Get wisdom, get understanding."  This is what we should be teaching our children.  This is what we should have learned from our parents.  

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Forsake = Abandon, ignore.  Do not forsake wisdom.  It will protect you.  Think before you act.  

7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom.  And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

If you seek wisdom, gain wisdom and live wisely it will all come back to you.  Others will notice and you will look better in their eyes.  You will live a better life with the grace of God as your rock.

10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.

11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

If you live wisely, righteously, seeking god you will live a better life.  You will avoid the situations and pitfalls that others get themselves into.  Others will notice.

13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.

16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

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

Nothing good comes out of doing evil.  That which you gain comes at a cost.  You have to watch your back.  People may seek revenge.  People may try to take what you have taken.  You put yourself in danger.

18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.

This is metaphorical.  Those who live in righteousness don't make enemies.  Those who live honestly don't get caught up in lies and deception.  Those who pay attention to where they are going won't hit their head off a low hanging branch or trip over something.  Those who avoid evil  

20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.

25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.

26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

Doing evil comes with a price tag.  You will pay.  You will fall.  You will live in fear.  You will make enemies and anger others.  If you break the law, there may be consequences.  If you lie, you will be found out.

Walking the straight and narrow path isn't always easy.  There are many temptations along the way.  It is easy to fall.  So living wisely takes a lot of work.  You have to keep working at it.  Pay attention.  Understand what you are getting yourself into.  Never let your guard down. 

Chapter 5 Click Here