The "path" metaphore takes center stage in this chapter, but interestingly, preservation of the heart (the soul, one's spiritual center) seems to be the compass point that keeps one on the right path. ... Pay attetion to the "heart" references as you read (maybe underline?), we will do a little paper about the "heart" towards the end of the class.
Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The heart is the seat of God's honor.But the heart is desperately wicked(Jer 17:9) so therefore we must guard it, as it can be pure or corrupt and will flow out to the rest of one's life. Prov 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely,He shall be delivered.
H3820 לב lêb labe A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
Proverbs 4:24-27 We all can learn from these Proverbs. Do not talk corruptly, look straight ahead, walk only on level and firm ground, and do not swerve from the right or left. If we follow these instructions life will be a little better for all. This is the path of Wisdom.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
This verse spoke to me, what we hold onto in life is important to us. But what if we could trade all we have for wisdom? Would we do it? Once we have it would we follow it? Regardless of all the wisdom we have in our heads if it is not in our hearts we can not avoid the wantings of the world.
In verse 18, the author paints an amazing picture of the Christian walk:
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
This just reminds me of how even though our life's journey can get rough, we are still fulfilling God's will for us. I would hope that the older we get the more we have to look back at and say, "Yes, yes, God is with me, and wow He is good!" Just as the light of the path gets brighter, so should our understanding and faithfulness in and to God.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;keep them within your heart. Being an athlete, Coaches have always told me to keep my "eye on the prize" or "eye on the ball." They were always instructing me where to keep my eyes. The same is true in this verse. When your eyes are focesed on the goal or Christ, how you live your life will flow from that. Not only are not suppose to let these words out of our sight but we are suppose to treasure them in our hearts. Meditate or memorize and live by them.
vs. 7 - "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom. and with all your acquiring, get understanding." If we are to get wisdom, the very first thing we have to do, like most things in life, is to make a choice...the choice we have to make here is that we want wisdom and will do anything to attain it!
The part of this passage that stood out to me the most was verses 11 and 12. They say "I guide you in the way of wsdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." This stood out to me the most because we are to strive to stay on paths towards wisdom and when we stay on the path we stay away from evil. This passages shows the importance of staying away from the path of the wicked.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
I don't think we realize how important wisdom is. I don't think I could admit that wisdom is my ultimate goal in life. This verse states that wisdom is invaluable - it is worthy of the time, effort, and possessions that go into obtaining wisdom. When I start desiring wisdom, that is when wisdom begins.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder [3] the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. These two verses were very important to me becuase it used the idea of focusing completley on what you hsould be doing and looking forward to God. Also the word ponder is know and it stresses being sure where you are going and not wandering aimlessly but having a purpose.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. As well as the other verses about the heart. Reminds me that my heart is where all my actions and words flow from, which i need to keep in check.
I was looking through the comments and a lot of people picked up on the consistent theme of wisdom and the path of righteousness. What's intersting is the third time Solomon says "listen my son..." he seems to reach the point that drives it all home. I need to guard my heart. That means I need to watch my mouth, focus my eyes, and guide my feet. This is wisdom in action...
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
the wicked man is so accustomed to doing evil that they do not even recognize a foul step or a foothold. they stumble in such deep, hopeless darkness that they can not even see what it is that caused them to stumble. the light can only be seen in wisdom which the do not have nor do they seem to even want. it is hard for me to envision such a person. what a tragic way to live.
The path of my life has been rough in some spots and smooth in others, just like most of yours. The past few weeks it has been rough in my heart, and now it is rough for my closest love. I need to listen to the Word of the Lord inorder for my path tho be smooth again.
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14 comments:
The "path" metaphore takes center stage in this chapter, but interestingly, preservation of the heart (the soul, one's spiritual center) seems to be the compass point that keeps one on the right path. ... Pay attetion to the "heart" references as you read (maybe underline?), we will do a little paper about the "heart" towards the end of the class.
Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The heart is the seat of God's honor.But the heart is desperately wicked(Jer 17:9) so therefore we must guard it, as it can be pure or corrupt and will flow out to the rest of one's life. Prov 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely,He shall be delivered.
H3820
לב
lêb
labe
A form of H3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
Proverbs 4:24-27
We all can learn from these Proverbs. Do not talk corruptly, look straight ahead, walk only on level and firm ground, and do not swerve from the right or left. If we follow these instructions life will be a little better for all. This is the path of Wisdom.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
This verse spoke to me, what we hold onto in life is important to us. But what if we could trade all we have for wisdom? Would we do it? Once we have it would we follow it? Regardless of all the wisdom we have in our heads if it is not in our hearts we can not avoid the wantings of the world.
In verse 18, the author paints an amazing picture of the Christian walk:
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
This just reminds me of how even though our life's journey can get rough, we are still fulfilling God's will for us. I would hope that the older we get the more we have to look back at and say, "Yes, yes, God is with me, and wow He is good!" Just as the light of the path gets brighter, so should our understanding and faithfulness in and to God.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;keep them within your heart.
Being an athlete, Coaches have always told me to keep my "eye on the prize" or "eye on the ball." They were always instructing me where to keep my eyes. The same is true in this verse. When your eyes are focesed on the goal or Christ, how you live your life will flow from that. Not only are not suppose to let these words out of our sight but we are suppose to treasure them in our hearts. Meditate or memorize and live by them.
vs. 7 - "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom. and with all your acquiring, get understanding." If we are to get wisdom, the very first thing we have to do, like most things in life, is to make a choice...the choice we have to make here is that we want wisdom and will do anything to attain it!
The part of this passage that stood out to me the most was verses 11 and 12. They say "I guide you in the way of wsdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." This stood out to me the most because we are to strive to stay on paths towards wisdom and when we stay on the path we stay away from evil. This passages shows the importance of staying away from the path of the wicked.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
I don't think we realize how important wisdom is. I don't think I could admit that wisdom is my ultimate goal in life. This verse states that wisdom is invaluable - it is worthy of the time, effort, and possessions that go into obtaining wisdom. When I start desiring wisdom, that is when wisdom begins.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder [3] the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
These two verses were very important to me becuase it used the idea of focusing completley on what you hsould be doing and looking forward to God. Also the word ponder is know and it stresses being sure where you are going and not wandering aimlessly but having a purpose.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life. As well as the other verses about the heart. Reminds me that my heart is where all my actions and words flow from, which i need to keep in check.
I was looking through the comments and a lot of people picked up on the consistent theme of wisdom and the path of righteousness. What's intersting is the third time Solomon says "listen my son..." he seems to reach the point that drives it all home. I need to guard my heart. That means I need to watch my mouth, focus my eyes, and guide my feet. This is wisdom in action...
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
the wicked man is so accustomed to doing evil that they do not even recognize a foul step or a foothold. they stumble in such deep, hopeless darkness that they can not even see what it is that caused them to stumble. the light can only be seen in wisdom which the do not have nor do they seem to even want. it is hard for me to envision such a person. what a tragic way to live.
The path of my life has been rough in some spots and smooth in others, just like most of yours. The past few weeks it has been rough in my heart, and now it is rough for my closest love. I need to listen to the Word of the Lord inorder for my path tho be smooth again.
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