Shalom Family,
Thanks for accepting the call to corporately study and share. We will be doing one chapter a day. I encourage as many as can, to read, study, meditate and share a thought/s from your devotion.
May the Lord bless our devotions.
Key Verse: Proverbs 1:7
The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.
Proverbs 4
Day 4 .
Mon May 04 2020 23:59:59 GMT+0300 (East Africa Time)
Overview
✳️ Verses: 27.
✳️ Theme: Supremacy of Wisdom as Instructed by a Father. Salient Features
The setting of this chapter depicts a father instructing his son on the need for wisdom. As much as wisdom comes from God, it is can also be gained through parental instructions. Hence the importance of a family in advancing the ways of God, including teaching the wisdom of God as a strategy for effective living. In the real sense, this is Solomon sharing his upbringing in wisdom. No wonder when God visited him, he knew the best thing to ask in life is wisdom!
Not all of us have the privilege of coming from families/homes where there is deliberate effort to learn the ways of God together. What do you do if you don't have that privilege? The word of God becomes your “Father” to instruct you in His ways.
You will also note that wisdom is feminized heavily in this chapter (use of she and her). We already explained this! Key Verse: 18-19
18 But the path of the just (righteous) is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is like [deep] darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
✅ Verse 2 – the NIV translation uses “sound learning”; Amplified and NKJV use the word “Sound doctrine”; NLT uses the word “good guidance”; the living bible uses “truth”. Whichever translation you use, the key thing to grasp is that wisdom is profitable for sound learning, sound doctrine and sound pursuit of truth. And that can only come from God. We ought to realize that where there is wisdom of God (authentic), there is a counterfeit. And both have “fruit”.
✅ Verse 3 – Solomon introduces us to how his father David, in the sight of his mother, taught him wisdom.
✅ Verses 11-12 The father declares that he has done his part! Now it is up to Solomon walk in the instructed paths. Wisdom establishes upright paths where there is no impediment if walking nor stumbling if your run. No matter your momentum or speed (walk or run), Your path is lit; light of the word of God!
✅ Verses 17 Bread of wickedness, wine of violence! If you take the path ordained by the wisdom of God, you will find fruit; benefits. On the converse, the path of folly has fruit too al beit short lived! Both the righteous and the wicked eat bread and drink wine. But from different places, makers and brands! And the don't taste the same. This calls for checking of taste buds 🤭😜..
✅ Verse 23 – we spend time watching over things we consider valuable. But we ought not forget that the heart is the one that gives value to things. The heart is the principle “weigher” , scale or latili of al things. It is what we need to keep watch over. It defines/gives interpretation. Before you see and touch, your heart has already led you. The heart leads us to what we will eventually reach out to touch, smell, desire, lust after etc. May we guard our hearts.
✅ Verse 26 – Consider the path of your feet. The word consider implies careful thought. That word is also used in contract law as an advance fee or retainer for professional services. Wisdom calls for a lifestyle of considering! It is about knowing in advance the value of what you wish to procure. You find the value of something before consumption.
Whenever you are buying an asset such as land or a house, you engage a valuer to do a valuation. A valuation report tells you the market value of the asset. Is it worth the money you want to spend? Will it appreciate? What are the factors that may cause its appreciation, depreciation or even becoming obsolete!
Considering our paths daily means having the right estimations and valuations for what we are trying to procure, consume or pursue.
May God help us to live "considerate" lives.
Selah and shalom.
Commentaries
Nduta : Views on Proverbs 4
I have learnt the following things about wisdom.
Wisdom is the most valuable thing I can ever have in life. When I live in wisdom, honor and favor will come.
Wisdom will exalt me when I exalt her truth. The Bible in 1cor 1 talks of Christ as the power of God and wisdom of God. So when I exalt wisdom(Christ), wisdom (Christ) will exalt me.
When I have wisdom, I will be adorned with beauty and grace. Beauty is the reflecting of the glory of God that causes us to be radiant and grace is the divine ability to walk the walk of salvation.
Wisdom will give me progress without limits. Wisdom illuminates my path as I walk, there's no stumbling along the way.
I should always fill my thoughts with the word of God until they penetrate deep in my spirit. When I meditate the word of God it will bring true life and radiant health in my body. This means I enjoy a life of total health without disease.
I should guard my innermost being diligently. My innermost being affects how I am. When I am bitter, angry, anxious, fearful, it shows my innermost being is being neglected. The word of God should fill me up so much for it affects my well being in wholesome.
Ciruu Kinitu: on Proverbs 4
Emphasis on the importance of Wisdom is made- the benefits of gaining Wisdom include; Protection, defence, being guarded, promotion, beauty ,honor... (so many benefits associated with Wisdom)
Wisdom will cost me all I have but it’s worth surpasses everything else.
Avoid the wicked, their dealings, their paths and company. Sometimes- especially in the country we live it, its easy to see and think that the wicked are prospering. I know many times I have been tempted to go into their way----I mean a shaddy deal here can score me big money ---but when I come back to the Word, and scripture like this, and the emphasis made on Wisdom…nawacha tu!
Focus, focus focus! I love this last part of Proverbs 4. Fix my gaze straight ahead…focusing on my race. It is so easy to be sidetracked by things happening around us, stopping to do irrelevant things; but I am reminded to keep my eyes fixed (with a fixed purpose) and then what? All my ways will be established and ordered straight!
I bless the Lord!
I love what I am learning from all of you! @Nduta beauty and grace from Wisdom...! Yaani what else would we want...kwanza that part of grace...I desire to be graceful as a woman 😁😁that's one quality
Nduta :Proverbs 4 reviews.
About beauty am reminded of this verse👇🏼
Let your true beauty come from your inner personality, not a focus on the external. For lasting beauty comes from a gentle and peaceful spirit, which is precious in God’s sight and is much more important than the outward adornment of elaborate hair, jewelry, and fine clothes.
1 Peter 3:3-4 TPT
Now this is true beauty. Ewe bwana tusaidie🙏🏻
Sau Karani Proverbs 4
For me my take away from this study is verses 8 and 9
If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you. She will place a lovely wreath on your head; she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
Proverbs 4:8-9 NL T
What caught my eye was the word Crown. There are many crowns in life. Crowns normally given by the world. Most of which we are not able to attain because they are unfair crowns given without good judgement. The crowns the world gives are crowns that bring feelings of anger, envy, fear and shame. E.g the competition in beauty pageants, schools or colleges, sports etc. What happens to those that cannot attain them? But the wisdom of God's word brings good judgement and every one is a winner, everyone is welcome.
With wisdom one is able to make good judgement thus removing fear and stress, and being honourable and great😇
It is said Corona means crown in Latin. In this time as we battle this virus that is crowned( by satan himself) Shall we use wisdom as we approach this situation. The wisdom of God says there is none greater than He is, and therefore there is no crown greater than His. Therefore we shall not be afraid because He, the one who is the King of Kings, is above all crowns!
Lastly with wisdom I am enabled to persevere under trials and I can get that final crown, the crown of life, in heaven .
Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life.
Proverbs 4:13 NLT
God's word, wisdom, has all that I need pertaining to every situation that I go through. Wisdom is the key!
Julius Mwangi: Proverbs 4
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. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:4, 7 NIV
When we get to Proverbs 8 , we'll get to see that wisdom was there from the beginning..
Wisdom isn't some vague thing that we get to grasp . I see wisdom as a person . Wisdom is Jesus.
Johh 14:6 tells us that Christ is *the way, and truth and life. No one gets to the Father except through Him (Christ).
The scripture inviting us into a space of intimacy with Christ . To have the understanding (revelation) of who Christ is and apply it ( wisdom).
@Obed Pastor how can one differentiate between the new age thinking (sermon) and the true word inspired by Holy spirit?
I've realized that the word can be simply twisted and still sound a true theology...
Obed Pastor: Very important question 🙏🙏🙏
New age focuses on:
Drawing from within and not from the word of God.
Becoming a better person through positive thinking and confession. Remember, we don't become by confessing but by believing.
Outdoing - become better comparatively to others rather than becoming uniquely what God desires you to be.. 🙏 🙏
Evelyn on Proverbs Chapter 4
: In proverbs 4 :5 we are made to believe that wisdom is like a woman. In vs 5 we are told not to foresake her n she will preserve u. How many as a man look at wisdom as a woman.
Don Mwas
Proverb chapter 4
What i get from this chapter is the importance of cherishing wisdom..for if you honour her she will honour you back, and there's no way you will ever go astray with her guidance.. Amen.. No going astray 🙏
JOSEPH MAHUGU
: Proverbs 4
One thing that caught me is that wisdom doesn't come on a silver platter. She's acquired through listening to teachings, paying attention and gaining understanding. With that, she'll guide you and no going astray.
Moureen :Provervs 4 insights and a Question.
I feel verse 26 for me summarizes the chapter.
Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
The chapter emphasises caution of life and taking decisions.
Like it is easier to do the wrong thing but choose the higher life of doing the right thing which maybe inconveniencing for now but at the end of the day the your life will be established.
Moureen: I have a question, Guard your heart.
How do we guard our hearts with all diligence ?
Julius Mwangi: My thoughts..
One of the ways is by reading the word, meditating on it. You'll be in a space to discern and make the right judgements by knowing the truth .
Pst. Obed: Thanks a lot @Moureen for your question.
I have a longer answer than @Julius Mwangi 🙈🤭🤣🤣...
Guard - when we guard we are basically saying we are keeping watch over!
Guarding the heart - the heart is not just the organ. It is the treasury for synthesis of thoughts.
So we are primarily watching over are thoughts.
So we diligently watch over our thoughts.. 🙏
Thoughts motivate and mold. They establish a lifestyle.
Hold on.. 🙈🤭🤭😁😁.. I have more.
Expound on first fruits in our setting today and how it looks like. Because its a requirement to honor God
Guarding our thoughts, like @Julius Mwangi has said, begins with storing up the word of God in our hearts.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You (Psalms 119:9, 11).
The word of God is the only guarantee to purity of thought! It is not about positive thinking. This is not new age thinking or meditation. It is storing up the word of God in your heart (not mind). It is making sure that when you read the word of God it docks in your heart and not just mind!
After the word has docked in your heart, you begin to bring it out through meditation!
Meditation, as we have shared before, is a spiritual discipline.
It is brooding over and over on the word of God.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful (Joshua 1:8).
Meditation introduces you to a life of seeking to do what one is brooding over. This is what manifests as obedience - doing His will. Ultimately, what you do becomes a product of your thinking (purified meditation).
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates]. He says to you, “Eat and drink,” Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost] (Proverbs 23:7).
What a man/woman thinks, so is he/she. 🙏
“Sow a thought, reap a deed. Sow a deed, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” (Anonymous)
Every doing is preceded by a thought. Thoughts inform attitudes; attitudes sire actions hence lifestyle. 🙏.
Thoughts are so critical such that even the first flood in human history was informed by wayward thoughts of men!
The Lord saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).
God destroyed people because of the depravity of their thoughts.
Obed Pastor: From word, we go in to mediation then doing..
So we need to review...
❇️ What are you hearing?
❇️ What are you believing? As you hear you believe or disbelief! Is it a truth or a lie?
❇️ As you believe, you become (John 1:12).
So what have you heard and what has docked in your heart? What is your heart syenthsizing?
What have you become?
Is what you have become a reflection of the image and likeness of God? Does it declare conformity to who Christ is (Romans 8).
Does that reflect Christ like personality? The character of Christ. 🙏
Talking of conformity, consider Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Becoming therefore is a change of thought process! This also informs the meaning of repentance.
Diligently guarding our hearts, which now we can deduct is a careful watch over our thoughts, means that we determined to think right, live right, and do right (Live out truth).
This is also means filtering thoughts because all manner of thoughts flood our lives, whether pure or evil.
You will be on your phone and depending on which "groups" you belong to, something naughty will come! You will need to filter the thoughts that come after you see or read!
