Day 952: Proverbs 4- The Way Of Wisdom

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,
    and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
    do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
    tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
    keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
    do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
    love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
    and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
    she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
    she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
 
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
    that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
    I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
    and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
    guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
    turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know over what they stumble.
 
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
    for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
    then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
    turn your foot away from evil.
 
Meditation
More reliable than seeking direction from Siri or Google Maps, God’s people are invited to find direction in the way of wisdom. The light of wisdom’s ways will illuminate our steps during dark days and shine bright as noon day when our hearts hold fast to God.
 
The way of wisdom is passed down through generations (1-3) but must be held fast within our hearts (4). The lifelong pilgrimage seeks and prizes wisdom, trusting wisdom to guard and reward (5-9).
 
Two paths are before us: The way of wisdom or the way of the wicked. Keeping wisdom will protect us from stumbling in life (10-13). Rejecting wisdom will lead us into darkness without sleep, tripping and stubbing our toes (14-17, 19). The path of wisdom is like a sunrise, slowly illuminating our steps and all of life (18). By wisdom we see the world within God’s design and our lives will truly begin to shine.
 
Walking in wisdom includes focusing our minds (20), holding fast to God’s ways from our heart (21-23), fixing our eyes forward (24-25), and moving our feet in God’s righteous path (26-27). For the Christian, walking in wisdom is to focus our faith on Jesus and follow Him. Jesus is “the Way” (John 14:6) and the treasury of wisdom (Colossians 2:3). Jesus is the light of our path and when we respond to His grace by walking in His ways then the love of Jesus will shine through us as sunlight in noon day.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about the way of wisdom?
 
-Rejecting wisdom is to live in darkness without sleep. When have you suffered the affliction of the way of the wicked? In which areas of life were you rejecting God and His righteous ways?
 
-Jesus is the way! And the Light! To focus our faith on Jesus is to follow Jesus in all of life. Where do you need to respond to His grace by more intentionally walking in God’s ways? Be specific.
 
Key verse
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.