SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 4:20-22

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

Wisdom: The Consistent Application Of Truth Prov 4:20-22

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.

INTRODUCTION:

This set of proverbs reminds us of the importance and benefits of the CONSISTENT application of the Word to our lives…

EXPOSITION:

20) My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Solomon tells his students:
1.  to listen very carefully to these proverbs
2. widen their ears to be sure to catch everything he is teaching.

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.”   (Isaiah 55:3)

But listening and understanding these things is not enough…

21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Along with listening and understanding, these things must be consistently applied to their lives.  Solomon describes this principle as:
1.  consistently reading and reminding themselves of these truths,
2.  guarding them safely in their hearts (desires).
It is only by RETAINING and DESIRING to live according to his teachings that his students will receive benefits.

“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:  That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.”   (Deuteronomy 11:18-21)

22) For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Some of the greatest benefits of the consistent application of God’s Word to our include:
1.  they enhance physical existence on earth, while revealing the way of eternal life and receipt of eternal rewards.
2.  they act as medicine to revive those physically tired, sick and weak;  as well as healing those who are spiritually wounded by the sins and abuses of others.

“Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.  …And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”   (Jeremiah 33:6-8)

SUMMARY:

The thrust of Solomon’s teaching is very simple… pay attention to, learn, and apply the truth of the Word to our lives so that we might be graced with physical, spiritual and eternal blessings.  These blessings can only be maximized through the consistent application of the Word of God.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

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