Proverbs Chapter 4

• Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 
• 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 
• 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 
• 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 

Solomon's father of course was David the king. David was considered a man after God's own heart. David was a man that was quick to repent if it was pointed out to him that he had sinned. What pleases God is our inward desire to do right even if we don't always do right. If we have the attitude that we don't care what God says, we are going to do what we want, that is the attitude that gets us in trouble. 

David sinned and failed God many times but in his heart, he wanted to do right. When David did sin though, he paid for that sin through his children and children's children. We reap what we sow. That is a natural result from our mistakes even though when we repent, God forgives, but the natural law of reaping and sowing may still occur. Our children will do what they see us do.  

We see from Solomon's writings here that David taught Solomon and instructed him not to make the same mistakes. 

In the gospels we see that it is not always the religious that obtain salvation but those who are willing to repent of sin and believe in Christ. They do not think of themselves as righteous and in no need of salvation. In order to obtain eternal life, we must recognize our need to turn from sin and turn to God. 

We can't be saved from sin if we never understand our need to be saved from sin. 

• Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 
• 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. 

What is this wisdom? We know from scripture that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom so that is where one starts: We start by seeking the Lord and studying His word. 

• Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, 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. 

The right kind of wisdom will increase the lifespan. It doesn't take much intelligence to figure out why. Sin has consequences in the natural realm. If we live in sexual immorality, one day it catches up with us. If we drink alcoholic drinks, eat too much, smoke cigarettes or other substances, it takes a toll on our health. If we drive recklessly, don't take precautions, take too many drugs, we suffer the results. 

• Proverbs 4:11 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. 

If there was only some way to get the human race to understand the need for the wisdom that God gives. If we could only see what is best for us and that our source is with God. His word is our life, our health and our very salvation. There is no life outside of God. He is our only true source. 

• Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 
• 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 

The wicked walk a pathway to death both in the natural and in the eternal. To choose pleasure for the moment without thinking of the consequences is the wrong way to live. Sin has pleasure but only for a short time. When the fruit of sin begins to takes its toll, we see it was all for nothing. 

• Proverbs 4:16 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. 
• 18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 

Shouldn't our desire to be walk in this type of path? When we pass on to glory, and are with God, to be able to hear Him say, "Well done" is more than we could ever want to hear. To have lived a life that brought light and hope to others is a joy that will be with us for eternity. We can be an influence for good or evil.

• Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 

Those that are wicked or trust only in the wisdom of the world, do not know, their eyes are blind and they cannot see the darkness they walk in. 

• Proverbs 4:20 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. 
• 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

Both a life of peace and joy here (with tribulations) and in eternity peace and joy forever without tribulation is the result of seeking the wisdom that comes from God. 

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. The fear of God leads one to recognize his need for God and to repent of sins. This leads us to find the one God sent to us to save us from sin. This is Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus one obtains the Holy Spirit which brings us into more of the wisdom of God. All this is gifts from God which helps us in this life and brings us eternal life. Without God, our life is for nothing. 

• Proverbs 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 

If we meditate on the wisdom of God and study His word continually, the words of our mouth will be right words. We become what we spend our time doing. Our minds will be filled with whatever we spend our time doing. If we spend hours watching TV, that is what our minds will be filled with. Then we wonder why we have so much trouble in the flesh.  

• Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 
• 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 
• 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. 

God allows us all to have a free will to choose who we follow and what path we take. It is up to us to choose life or death. -Dorna