Proverbs 4:11-27 - NOTES
11I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
12When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
13Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
14Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
15Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
16For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
19The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
20My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.
23Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.
OUTLINE
1. (Prov. 4:11-13) Receive and take firm hold of wisdom's lessons.
2. (Prov. 4:14-15) Avoid the path of the wicked
3. (Prov. 4:16-19) Why the way of the wicked is to be avoided.
4. (Prov. 4:20-22) A plea to be heard.
5. (Prov. 4:23) Keep your heart.
6. (Prov. 4:24-27) A plea to stay on the right path.
Context--Proverbs 4:11-19: contains both positive and negative counsel: ''do'' and ''do not'' statements. Solomon urges his son to choose the positive path of wisdom and avoid the negative ways of wickedness. Those caught in evil are portrayed as overcome, addicted, and desperate. Solomon concludes this section by comparing the path of the righteous to bright light and the way of the wicked to deep darkness.
v. 11: I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.
The proverb has three lessons - the duty, content, and confidence of good parenting and teaching. Read Solomon's words, and see all three lessons, and purpose, so you can apply these lessons today. The three are: (1) You must teach; (2) you must teach the right things; and (3) you must teach by example.
These things, which lead to pleasing God and man in life, are no longer being taught in our schools. The scope and sequence of today's schools is a curriculum that is secular humanist. God is mentioned nowhere. Therefore, as parents, you must teach godly wisdom and true knowledge at home. The pastor is not responsible, for a few hours a week does not come close to the daily instruction of faithful parents.
The lesson here is not a suggestion for fathers - it is a commandment (Eph 6:4). Let every man fulfill his charge from Heaven, and let him see the future with the eye of faith. A godly seed to God's glory, the defense of the faith, and the happiness of your family is well worth it. Consider the duty, the content, and the confidence of teaching - and do it
v. 12: When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble.
Consider the proverb. If you learn wisdom, your steps will not be impeded or impaired when you go through life. What are impeded steps? It is a hard life that is limited, restrained, or tied up from enjoying the best in pleasure and prosperity. As a strait jacket binds and keeps a person from moving, natural foolishness binds and keeps a person from joy and success.
What is running without stumbling? It is progressing rapidly through life, without all the adversity, pain, and trouble that fools suffer during their lives. Every man will meet obstacles in life, but wisdom will save the prudent man from most of them. He will not trip and fall over difficulties like the fool. He will not fall flat in shame very often.
v. 13: Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.
Instruction is your life. Everything you know you had to learn. Everything you need to know you must learn. Everything right and true that you learn must be kept securely. Your life depends on being corrected from error and taught truth to know how to live. If you love and retain instruction to obey it, you will be blessed; if you ignore or reject it, you will be cursed.
You cannot know anything without being taught, which means humbling yourself to teachers, whether they are God, parents, pastors, or others. A wise man craves instruction so he can be wiser (Pr 1:5; 9:9; 19:20). Fools despise it to their ruin (Pr 12:1; 13:18). When you find good teachers, learn everything you can from them
The proverb teaches you how to listen to instruction. You must grasp with understanding what you hear and not let it slip away. The instruction of wisdom is what will save you from dilemmas and dangers of life. You must hold it tight and not let it go. You must retain what you learn.
v. 14: Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men.
Wickedness is wrong! You know that. But you must also avoid friendships with wicked persons, and you must reject their lifestyles. Solomon warned his son against evil friends and their habits, for he wanted him in the way of wisdom and right paths (Pr 4:10-13).
This simple rule is crucial, especially for youth, because they are most susceptible to evil influences of peer pressure. They are more impressionable by what they see on television, which is nothing but glamorization of the way of the wicked. They are more vulnerable to the insinuations and subtle instruction of false teachers. This simple rule is crucial!
What is the moral lifestyle of the wicked? Habits and preferences that promote sin! You can judge activities and places by those using them.
v. 15: Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on.
Consider the choice of words by God and Solomon for this simple proverb. To "avoid it" is to keep clear of it or away from it, to have nothing to do with it, to shun it. To "Turn away from it and pass on" is to keep a safe distance, to not approach it, to choose a way in another direction.
You are vulnerable to the opinions and influence of others. Paul said, "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." (1 Cor. 15:33). The type of friends you have can make you or break you. If you choose worldly friends, they will pull you down. If you allow unnecessary worldly relations, you will not be wise or righteous before God. What's "necessary" in your work, your community, and even in families is a matter of using godly discretion and wisdom to make correct decisions.
If you truly desire to be wise and walk with God in this world, you must choose the way of righteousness and limit your friends to those who also fear God by their actions (Ps 119:63). You may have few friends here, but you are united to a great company of angels and just men waiting with Jesus for you in heaven (Heb. 12:22-24). Believe it! Rejoice!
v. 16: For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
This proverb and the next are Solomon's warning about the depraved character of wicked people (Pr 4:16-17). Mischief and wickedness are more important to them than sleep. They cannot rest nor be content unless they have corrupted or hurt others. Wickedness and violence are their bread and wine. They must eat them every day to satisfy their hunger!
There are two kinds of people on earth - the righteous and the wicked. While the wicked may perform outward acts that appear good, those acts come from a heart that is only evil in God's sight (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:9-18). While the righteous may sometimes live foolishly, yet they have a righteous heart that is vexed by sin (Ps 73:16-22; II Pet 2:7-8).
There are no neutral people in this world. Righteous people are the followers of Jesus Christ and godliness, and wicked people are the captive slaves of Satan and sin. People either base their lives on the absolute terms of the Bible, or they base them on the world's lies as sowed by the devil. It is this great antagonism that makes worldly friends unworkable for dedicated Christians. Therefore, you must measure your friends and associates carefully and strictly and reject those that do not meet God's high standards.
v. 17: For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
Some people feed on wickedness. It is their diet. They get anxious and irritable, when they cannot sin and hurt other people. They have no pleasure in righteousness, for it does not satisfy their cravings for mischief and harm.
What is the lesson here? Stay far away from such persons! Consider Solomon's words. He wrote, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Pr 4:14-15). Look at his words! There is no room for any compromise with these kind of wicked persons. You cannot even go near them. You must be intolerant of them, their ideas, and their practices. They will corrupt your good manners and take you down to destruction and hell with them. Stay away!
Brothers and sisters, we are no different from these cursed souls by nature. We were born just like them, and u lived just like them, until we were born again by the grace and power of God (Eph 2:1-3; Titus 3:3-7).
v. 18: But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
Run with the light God gives you! He offers truth to every person at some point in his or her life. The visible creation proves God exists with eternal power and Godhead (Rom 1:18-20; Ps 19:1-6). Men are without excuse. When they get haughty and reject Him, God darkens their hearts and rewires their brains for evil desires and ignorant thinking, like idolatry and evolution (Rom. 1:21-23).
God also offers truth to ordinary men. If they reject it, however, He "gives them over" to the deceit of their hearts and the influence of other men.
But the same sovereign God will bless just and good men. As this proverb declares, He will provide a shining light to reveal more and more truth, as good men obey what He has already revealed. This is one of the greatest incentives to obey all the truth that you are shown. He will either bless your obedience with more light, or judge your disobedience by taking away the light you think you have (Luke 8:18). Take heed, dear reader!
v. 19: The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
Solomon includes a contrasting parallelism here: In the previous proverb, he described the life of a just man as the shining light, which increases until the full light of day is seen (Pr 4:18). As a man learns and applies truth and wisdom, God gives him more understanding in the same way a sunrise chases away darkness and eventually brings full and clear daylight. However, the wicked cannot see at all, for they walk in darkness. They do not know why they trip and fall, for they cannot see the errors in their thinking
Are you appalled at the stupidity of the human race, especially what we see going on today? You should be. Due to the depravity of their hearts and ignorance of their minds, they live in darkness as to truth and wisdom. They keep hurting themselves with what they cannot see, and their lives become more and more dysfunctional each passing day.
But for us there is light in Scripture! It can save you from the dark insanity of the world. Listen to the psalmist. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps 119:105).
v. 20: My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
Proverbs is the book of wisdom, designed to teach understanding. Since all men arrive as helpless and ignorant infants, there is a great learning curve to take them from the breast and diapers to be the sober and successful leaders of others. Solomon knew the keys were humility and attention to the instruction of parents and teachers, so he emphasized these points often.
In order to achieve understanding, we must listen and learn. Being attentive to instruction is one of the great secrets of wisdom, just as Solomon wrote in his introduction (Pr 1:5). The better we listen and learn, the greater in wisdom we will be. Rather than think of what you would like to say or what you do not like about the person speaking, you should focus all your powers on humbly listening to every word. Your success in any endeavor depends on it.
How well do you pay attention to instruction? Do you hear what you are taught? Solomon was a great king, the wisest of men, and a loving father. He knew his son's success depended on learning from his vast experience and wisdom. He had seen his son shortly after birth, had watched him during childhood, and had witnessed his foolishness during puberty and adolescence. His son knew nothing and had everything to learn!
Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, is calling His sons and daughters today. He uses creation, providence, conscience, parents, scripture, and teachers. Are you listening? Do you pay attention? Do you ask for more? Listen to Him!
v. 21: Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart.
What do you think about? Aim for? Hold dear in your heart? Solomon had sober words of advice and warning for his son (Pr 4:20-22). Childhood and youth are vanity: the eyes and hearts of young men are easily distracted with foolishness (Pr 17:24; Eccl 11:10). This wise father tried to focus his son on the great goals of wisdom and understanding.
Your physical eyes are the means of sight for your whole body. Vision is the ability to see what is in front of you and direct your body accordingly. Men take great pains and pay great prices to see clearly, for their physical skills are only as useful as their ability to direct their bodily movements by their eyes. Hand-eye coordination is considered a most precious gift and a certain indicator of physical aptitude.
Your "mental" eyes, which are figurative, direct your life and set your priorities, so your eyes must be focused on one object - wisdom, or you will lose in life. Jesus Christ taught these words: "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Mt. 6:22).
v. 22: For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body.
We could call this one Solomon's wellness program. According to him, a person who lives life according to sound wisdom and discretion will have a wonderful life and better health. Ask yourself what's keeping you from getting there.
What is "life to those who find them"? True wisdom and discretion give a happy and successful life rather than a depressed, dysfunctional, or destructive life. Wisdom and discretion keep you from making fatal mistakes, and though it's not a guarantee, help you lead a less stressful, more peaceful, and physically disciplined lifestyle that can possibly increase your lifespan. Discipline can include measures like a healthy diet, regular exercise, and good sleep habits.
And what about discretion? It directly relates to the fruit of self-control. Using sound discretion knows what words or actions are best for whatever situation you're facing. It knows what, when, where, and how to do anything, and do it right. It is the self-control that holds a person back from foolish and impulsive behavior. It is the discipline not to say the first words you that pop into your mind and the foolish actions likely to follow them. It's using careful and discerning judgment to determine the best approach or solution to any situation.
v. 23: Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
This is one of the most important proverbs, because our hearts determine our life. Whether you experience blessings or grief in life will depend upon training and ruling the desires of your heart. If you direct and instruct your heart with godly inputs, there is no limit to your potential success before God and men.
Whatever is in your heart comes out in your life. If your heart is full of good things, your life will show that goodness; if your heart is full of sinful thoughts, your life will show them. The large tests and decisions you will face many times in life are dependent on your heart, and so are the small choices that you make hundreds of times a day. So ask yourself if your heart is. Are you working to keep it pure today? Do you realize that if you neglect this issue it will cause trouble and pain in your life? You must eliminate negative influences to your heart, for example, engaging in sinful entertainment in movies, worldly music, sinful friends, etc. Instead, you should be filling your heart with Bible reading, steadfast prayer, godly entertainment and music, and maybe most important, the friends you choose (local EAA story?).
v. 24: Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you.
Solomon's advice: Rule your speech, watch your tongue, and evaluate your words. After keeping your heart with all diligence, Solomon warns us to reject ungodly speech (Pr 4:23). Beginning with the thoughts and intents of the heart, wisdom demands that you control (1) your speech (Pr 4:24), (2) your eyes (Pr 4:25), and (3) your feet (Pr 4:26-27).
Control your speech by cutting your words in half and listening instead. James said it this way: This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. (Jas. 1:19). then must rule your spirit, for it can kindle a fire from hell (Pr 16:32; Jas 3:3-8). And you have to avoid arguments (Pr 26:4-5; (2 Tim 2:23).
It's nearly impossible to have godly and gracious speech without a pure heart, because the content of the heart supplies the words of the mouth (Matt 12:33-35). And you can tell a good heart by the kind and virtuous words, while a dark heart contain harsh or foul words.
v. 25: Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Your eyes select objects and direct your attention them (or away from them), but it is your heart and mind that gives and receives the feedback from your eyes. So heart and eyes cannot really be separated. So as part of the overall person, you must keep your eyes directed in the way of wisdom and truth.
So how is your vision? Forget detail, distance, or depth. How is your directional vision? Do you see straight ahead, or do you have peripheral vision? Peripheral vision, seeing things from the corner of your eye, works well for things like driving or watching sports, but doesn't work well for Christians. In our straight ahead vision, we must remain focused on only one object: God, His kingdom, and His righteousness.
The apostle Paul often analogized the Christian life race (I Cor 9:26). He stressed that to win, runners must look straight ahead without being distracted by competitors or other things. Is anything distracting your vision or interfering with your progress? If you do, put on your blinders and keep your eye straight ahead toward God and His heaven.
v. 26: Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
A wise person doesn't just allow life to happen-whatever. They act with careful thought and sober reflection. They plan and manage their lives. They choose wise, achievable goals and plan the means for achieving them, and as they move forward in life, compare their progress to them. Other than the rare acts of God they cannot avoid, they control and direct their circumstances to serve them, not vice versa.
Rather than bouncing from one goal or direction to another, prudent men fix their lives on one steady course. They discipline all aspects of their lives toward their chosen goals. They carefully consider every part of life. They question, evaluate, and consider each choice they make to keep their overall objective before them.
So ask yourself, where am I going? Consider the path of your feet. Is getting older all you are doing? Is life happening to you, rather than you directing it? Your daily and weekly routines should have a solid purpose and clear objectives. Or are you in a rut, not making any progress? Step back. Ponder the path of your feet. Examine yourself (2 Cor 13:5). Consider your ways (Hag 1:5). Commune with your own heart (Ps 4:4).
v. 27: Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil
Do not wander through life. Once you know where you should go, do not vary from that direction. Get away from every wrong or tempting thing. Set your eyes on pleasing God in each part of life, and do not be turned away by anything.
The way of wisdom - the road of righteousness - the highway of holiness - the path of purity - leads straight forward (Pr 4:25-27). The warning is clear! Do not veer from the road into the swamp of sin on either side. And the remedy is clear! If you have already veered into the swamp, then jerk your foot out of the mess and leap back onto the road.
The way of wisdom - the road of righteousness - is straight. Do not turn even a little. Do not modify God's commands even a little. Do not think for a second a new millennium justifies a new look at Scripture. Do not listen to the clamor on all sides for more tolerance at innovations in doctrine and practice. Turn not to the right hand or to the left!
