Posted by Jeff Short on August 17, 2016 · 1 Comment
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
– Proverbs 4:12
When the road before us is made plain and clear of any obstructions, we may run safely and freely. This verse reinforces the lesson from the previous chapter (Proverbs 3:23). Straitened means to be narrowed or cramped. Stumbling means to trip or fall down. The way of wisdom is not a hard way to walk in, it’s actually the opposite. The difficulty for us is in obtaining wisdom and keeping wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:1).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
– Proverbs 4:11
Way means road or path and figuratively is put for the direction of one’s life. The way of wisdom highlights that wisdom is not philosophical or mere matter for thought. Wisdom is understanding and discernment that works out in life day to day. This idea is reinforced with the reference to right paths. Path is similar to way and refers to a track or trench so it is well marked. Right means upright or straight. The expression has a moral component in the sense of a morally good way and it has a physical component in the sense of being a plain or clear way. Solomon has given instruction in wisdom, but the son must listen and appropriate the teaching.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 15, 2016 · 1 Comment
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
– Proverbs 4:10
Verses 10-19 juxtapose the way of wisdom and the way of folly. Verses 10-13 cover the way of wisdom. Verse 10 starts this section with the call to hear, or listen intelligently. It amounts to listening with understanding and doing. The father’s goal is to impart wisdom. He cannot foresee every turn in the future for his son. If his son can obtain wisdom, the father can have confidence. Wisdom will keep his son as well as him, and better than he could direct every step. Long life is a general truism that stands for the blessing of wisdom and particularly wisdom acquired from a young age.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
– Proverbs 4:9
An ornament decorates and beautifies. The ornament is an ornament of grace, which is favor or pleasantness. Wisdom brings goodness and beauty to a person’s life. A crown is more than an ornament. It suggests power, respect, and even protection. A crown is also a reward, such as a champion being crowned.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 13, 2016 · 1 Comment
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
– Proverbs 4:8
Honor and promotion, in any good sense, do not come by directly seeking them. Here, honoring wisdom has the effect of raising one up. Embrace appeals again to the affections. When wisdom is the desire of the heart so that you love wisdom, wisdom will bring you to honor.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
– Proverbs 4:7
Principal thing means wisdom is of first importance or the beginning. Obtaining wisdom is an aim of first priority. Acquiring wisdom has more to do with desire and pursuit through appointed means than intelligence (James 1:5-7). Getting refers to wealth or goods. Above all the earthly goods, get or seek wisdom. This shows the value of wisdom above all earthly treasures and worth all costs to obtain it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
– Proverbs 4:6
The instruction is to love and not forsake wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a woman throughout Proverbs. There is a hint of exhortation to a man to love and cleave to wisdom as to his wife committedly. Preserving and keeping both speak to guarding or protection. Loving wisdom will guard from many of the errors of folly.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 10, 2016 · 1 Comment
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
– Proverbs 4:5
Solomon reiterates to get wisdom and to get understanding. It is already clear that acquiring these will cost a price and require continual effort. He also urges constancy to stay the course—forget not, decline not. He exhorts to pay the price to obtain wisdom and not let it go at any offer (Proverbs 23:23).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 9, 2016 · 1 Comment
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
– Proverbs 4:4
Solomon’s father’s instruction was the same as he has been giving his son. Solomon was admonished to get, keep, and pursue wisdom. He was likewise instructed in wisdom, the way of life. We infer from this also the eternal nature of wisdom. It never goes out of style or out of date. It’s perpetually relevant from one generation to the next. Wisdom’s value is never diminished by the passage of time.
Solomon also identifies the issue of life and death in his father’s instruction. True life is had through keeping the commandments of wisdom. This life is a theme throughout this chapter and appears in each of the three sections.
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Proverbs 4:12
Posted by Jeff Short on August 17, 2016 · 1 Comment
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
When the road before us is made plain and clear of any obstructions, we may run safely and freely. This verse reinforces the lesson from the previous chapter (Proverbs 3:23). Straitened means to be narrowed or cramped. Stumbling means to trip or fall down. The way of wisdom is not a hard way to walk in, it’s actually the opposite. The difficulty for us is in obtaining wisdom and keeping wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:1).– Proverbs 4:12
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