Introduction
What words of advice or wisdom will you or did you pass on to your children? Here Solomon has words of wisdom passed on from generation to generation.
Hold On To The Supreme Wisdom
‘Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, ‘Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. ’ Proverbs 4:1-4
Solomon said that when he was a boy, his father passed on words of wisdom to him, Deuteronomy 6:6-9 / 1 Kings 2:1-9 / Ephesians 6:4. Who was his father? David. Who was his mother? Bathsheba.
There is a great responsibility on Christian parents to teach their kids the ways of God from a very early age. We all have a choice in life; there are only two choices of roads to go on, the wicked or the righteous, Matthew 7:13-14.
‘Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.’ Proverbs 4:5-9
His father was anxious regarding his son’s learning, Proverbs 4:5-6.
Solomon could look back on his childhood memories with happy recollections. He was taught by his father while he was young and what he learned was important for the rest of his life, 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 / Psalm 19:7-11.
Wisdom doesn’t just happen; you need to go after it, no matter how difficult life becomes or how hard the road gets. We know that Solomon asked God to be wise, but what other things may he have asked for that others might have thought were more important?
What does it mean when it says that wisdom will be a garland of grace on your head and a crown of splendour? There is nothing more precious or valuable or important than wisdom. We all know that some people are very good at listening, we can tell people about a truth in the Bible and they will say ‘Amen’ but they never seem to do what they learn.
Why do some people find it hard to accept what they are being taught? It could be because the teaching is too hard or it makes them feel uncomfortable etc.
‘Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.’ Proverbs 4:10-19
Again, Solomon tells us that wisdom and long life go together. He tells us to avoid walking on the road of evil and he tells us not to even think about putting one step in that direction. In fact, if you see that wide road, go in another direction just to keep clear of it, 1 Corinthians 10:13.
These people that Solomon is describing here are pure evil. Do you ever struggle to sleep at night sometimes because you’ve got something on your mind? Well, these people can’t sleep because they are always thinking about evil things. They are always thinking about whom their next victim is going to be.
Solomon says that people who live there live wisely and know where they are going in life but those who are wicked haven’t got a clue where they are going, John 8:34 / Ephesians 4:19.
The path of the righteous is like the shining sun, in other words, just as the sun becomes brighter and brighter as it rises to reach its highest point in the sky, so the righteous are progressively enlightened, Matthew 7:14 / 2 Corinthians 3:18 / 1 Peter 2:2 / 2 Peter 3:18.
The way of the wicked is like darkness, they go through life stumbling time and time again without knowing why, Matthew 7:13 / Ephesians 4:17-18.
‘My son pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.’ Proverbs 4:20-27
You will notice that in the remaining verses different parts of the body are mentioned eleven times, the eyes, 1 Timothy 4:13, the feet, Psalm 37:23 / Psalm 40:2 / Proverbs 3:6, and the heart are mentioned twice, Mark 7:21-23 / Philippians 4:8, and the ear, Acts 17:11, the body, the mouth and the lips, Ephesians 4:25 / Ephesians 4:29, and the eyelids once, Matthew 6:22-23. We need to honour God with our entire body, John 6:63 / Romans 6:12-13.
Why are Solomon’s words to be kept near our hearts and why are they so important? Because they are a matter of life and health. ‘Why is the heart so important? Simply because God has always been interested in our hearts, Proverbs 27:19 / Matthew 15:17-20.
We shouldn’t be looking for any excuse to complain, Philippians 2:14-16, and we should keep our eyes focused on Christ, Hebrews 12:2. We need to remain strong and courageous and trust God to help us, Joshua 1:6-8.
It’s so important to stick to the truth and nothing but the truth; no matter how much pressure the world puts on us.
