The Book of Proverbs: 4-7 🕯️

Proverbs 4 – Wisdom is supreme. When wisdom is not forsaken it will protect a person. When it is loved it will watch over. It will lead among straight paths. Steps will not be hampered and there would be no stumbling. The path of the righteous is filled with brightness. God’s word is life to those who find them and health to all their body. If we store good things in our heart our words and actions will be good. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

Proverbs 5 – Warning against adultery – The father warns the son to maintain discretion.The speech of an adultress is sweeter than honey. But in the end she is like a bitter herb and her paths are crooked. The son is instructed to keep away from her. If he spurns correction, in old age he will look back and sadly acknowledge that he has played the fool. Let his own wife be a source of pleasure, as water refreshes a thirsty man. In the light of the sheer joy found within the bond of marriage and the utter ruin outside it why commit adultery?

Proverbs 6 – Warning against folly – If a person has been trapped by his own words or ensnared by the words of his mouth, he has to humble himself and get right with his neighbour. Learn a lesson from the ants so very busy. Dont be a sluggered. Laziness only leads to poverty. A wicked man achieves the deceitful plots of his heart. Through slander he creates distrust. Disaster will surely overtake him.

Seven things God hates – Haughty eyes, lying tongue, shedding innocent blood, wicked schemes, feet that rush into evil, false witness, stirring dissension among people.

Proverbs 7 – To keep away from adultery a son should listen to his father’s instructions. He should keep his words, store his commands in his heart and guard his teaching. He should make wisdom his intimate companion and keep away from the path of a wicked adultress.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai

Proverbs 6

Deliver yourself (1-5). Wicked works will ensnare you (Proverbs 5:22), but so will reckless words. You must be careful when you make promises. If you do not learn to say no, you will end up in bondage, and the price will be very high. Better to humble yourself and get free than to let your pride ruin you.

Teach yourself (6-11). Learn from the world of nature (Proverbs 30:15-31). The ant makes good use of opportunities to prepare for the future, but the sluggard is aimless and lazy and ends up in poverty.

Guard yourself (12-35). Watch out for the wicked man (Vs. 12-19) and the evil woman (Vs. 20-35). Hate what God hates and love what God loves and you will enjoy what God enjoys.

The Sluggard
The sluggard likes to sleep (Proverbs 6:6-11; 24:30-34) and expects everybody else to serve him (Proverbs 12:27; 19:24). He dreams of wealth but ends up poor (Proverbs 13:4; 21:25-26). He is good at excuses (Proverbs 20:4; 22:13; 26:13-16) but poor at performance (Proverbs 10:26). He is not a builder but a destroyer (Proverbs 18:9).

Proverbs 4

The wise person encourages others to hear the Word and find wisdom. The father received wisdom when he was a boy, and he admonished his children to do the same. Live today so that your counsel and example will influence others and help them live wisely.

When you have wisdom, you have protection (Vs. 6) and promotion (Vs. 8 – 9) and you will have the freedom to make progress (Vs. 12). As you obey His Word, the light will get brighter on the path of life (Vs. 18). But this is not true if you are on the path of the wicked.

Again, Solomon emphasized having your whole person controlled by God’s Word (Vs 20-27; Colossians 3:16). This will guide you on the right path and keep you from detours.

Posted by Brother Narayan