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Sunday, February 07, 2010

Wisdom Project 2/7



Proverbs 7 - NIV
Proverbs 7 - ESV

Proverbs 7:1 ... My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.

Commentary on Proverbs 7:1-4

Solomon’s remedy for promiscuity is to know and obey the word of God. However out-dated and simplistic this may seem, the same is true in our age, where those being advocated – sex education, contraception, free love, etc. – have all failed. . .
Series of vivid comparisons.
(a) Keep them as you would treasure (v.1 – store).
(b) Keep them as you would your life (v.2a).
Obedience to God’s Word is a matter of life, both its length and quality (4:20-23).
(c) Keep them as you would the tenderest part of your anatomy (v.2b), such as the pupil of the eye, which is sensitive to the slightest speck. We are to God as the apple of his eye (Deut. 32:10, Ps. 17:8, Zech. 2:8), so let his words be thus to us.
(d) Keep them as you would something precious to you personally, (v.3a) such as the ring on your finger, which may have monetary value, and will certainly have sentimental value.
(e) Keep them as you would those whom you are most fond of, like the friends whose name you cherish in your heart (v.3b).
(f) Keep them as you would the affection of a close relative (v.4). This means cultivating familiarity and intimacy with the Word, as if it were speaking personally to you (cf. 1:20f, 3:13-18). Keep his words like this and they will keep you from dangerous liaisons.

From: Paul Apple - Quoting Eric Lane, at the Precept website

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for

25 comments:

Bill H said...

Shawna said...

3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

This verse jump out to me after reading the story in Proverbs 7 about this unfortunate young man who fell into the adulterous wife hands. We are constantly told to read God's Word and to memorize Scripture sometimes without a reason why I think this verse is a wonderful safe guard and reference for us to us with our young people to explain why memorization is so important. As I teach Sunday school this morning and I see the faces of my young students I hope I give them the tools the need and the encouragement to have the safeguard of Scripture bond on there fingers and written on their hearts.

7:57 AM

Unknown said...

The study of chapter 7 through the past weeks has given me a deeper concern for sexual immorality . Solomon warns the son of the horrific consequence of adultery, death! Death was probably feared more back then, then now. So I can imagine the son really getting a sense of urgency. For me, I gravitate to the warnings of the traps and snares. I can just see helpless animals falling into a well planned trap. Their end, their end will be nothing short of suffering and death. I need to apply caution to my daily activity, and I must flee the sight of these temptations.

Nate said...

Man the verse that gets me every time I read Proverbs 7 is verse 22 "All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a stag is caught fast till and arrow pierces its liver" That is so tough to read. An ox, a trusting, massive and powerful animal just goes right to the killing block. A stag, beautiful, graceful, gets caught in a trap and is easily killed. That is was happens when this unwise man sets himself up to be taken by adultery. He goes someplace where he knows the wicked woman will be and then does not flee while he can. How sad. How I DON'T want to be like that. It is just a sad picture that crushes me every time I read it.

Anonymous said...

Proverbs 7:1 ... My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you
Storing up the treasure of God’s wisdom is vital in our relationship with God. It also reflect in our relationship with others. We need to realize that the great wealth of the Christian walk and life is primarily spiritual .God is far more interested in restructuring the inner man. Paul also spoke of the treasure that we possess in earthen vessels. 2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.


Mat 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
John Erbentraut

Danielle Cummings said...

"Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of you eye;" This verse shows us where God's commandments should lie on our priority list. Its hard to think about the order in which we view things of importance. When i think my my priorities, obeying God's commands arent even on it. WHat i dont think about is that when we do placed God's commands as our main focus, everything else falls into place.

Rachel said...

I was considering what it meant to "keep my teaching as the apple of your eye"; the author is consistently cautioning his son to treasure his commands and wise teaching and here is another example of his warning. The implication of this phrase is to maintain wise teaching as the central focal point, the one purpose upon which we set our gaze. With a proper focus, with the eyes set upon the right treasure, lesser "treasures" will not be able to steal our gaze away so easily.

Krista Harrison said...

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
This is the verse that challenged me the most. As Christians we need to be more than just saved by the blood of Christ and use that as our fire insurance. God asked for more than just our sunday best. He wants us to know Him intimately and make wisdom apart of our daily lives. In the previous verses it says obey my commandments and live long. I think that a lot of Christians have lost their respect and knowledge of our responsiblities of being godly men and women. We have to make wisdom and insight a part of our souls. Some how stitch it in to our hearts....

Unknown said...

Before this chapter ever gets into discussing the harlot, it starts with instructing the son to remember his instruction and take hold of wisdom. These are vital to the son in staying away from this woman. I think that right living all starts with our hearts and minds and how seriously we are taking and adhearing to instruction and wisdom.

Unknown said...

Before this chapter ever gets into discussing the harlot, it starts with instructing the son to remember his instruction and take hold of wisdom. These are vital to the son in staying away from this woman. I think that right living all starts with our hearts and minds and how seriously we are taking and adhearing to instruction and wisdom.

Unknown said...

Before this chapter ever gets into discussing the harlot, it starts with instructing the son to remember his instruction and take hold of wisdom. These are vital to the son in staying away from this woman. I think that right living all starts with our hearts and minds and how seriously we are taking and adhearing to instruction and wisdom.

Unknown said...

The whole proverb was very good, however the first few verses are what stuck out to me the most. especially verse two, keep my commandments and LIVE, keep my teaching s the apple of your eye. this was just such the verse i needed to day. Just the whole thought of obeying what God has set as immovable commandments/standards for His children, but afterwards the Psalmist says "and Live", its so funny b/c the world thinks that your "living" when you have no boundaries, yet God says your living, (and we truly are) when we abide within the commandments that he has placed before us. It gave me a kind of peace when reading this. Knowing that true living/true life is through Christ and the keeping of his standards.

Unknown said...

“Listen to me and keep my words” in v1 is reiterated in v24. Again I am (we are) reminded – daily, of the importance of hearing the Word of God and the instruction contained therein, and learning it, and living it. To God be the glory as He continues to allow us to be transformed into the image of His Son by the renewing of our minds. Mike T.

Mandi said...

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. I need to remember His word and the things that I have learned and gained from it so I can remember it in times of temptation. God is the ultimate source of wisdom so if I want to become more wise I need to remember His Word.

Carrie L. said...

This chapter really revealed the dangers of the adulturous woman. Solomon was stressing the importance of keeping wisdom written on the tablets of our hearts, for it is the way to life. We need to stay away from temptation and the evil person so as to not get caught in their snares.
Everyday I must bind these words to my heart and meditate on them day and night, so that I might grow in God's love and share it with others.

Danyelle Steckiel said...

temptation can look very different for different peeople. But what I learned from this passage, is that if I fall into the things that are tempting me, then I am "like an ox going to the slaughter" (vs. 22). I will not be living as God has called me to live if I run into these things I know will trap me.

Lisa Griffiths said...

I think something that really hit me after reading this is just the description of the "wily" women. How I need to make sure that those attributes are never something that would describe me. Ever.

julee said...

I noticed that the simple man, the one who lacked judgment was walking around the area where the adulteress lived. Either he didn't know that she was there or he didn't realized the danger.. or he was just careless, not thinking.. Either way, he went close to her instead of staying away. Areas where one is weak need to be known and avoided.

Melissa Jordan said...

The first part of the passage really struck me. Phrases such as "bind them on your fingers" "write them on the tablet of your heart" treasure them... It is so important to know God's Word and obey it! By knowing God's Word and valuing it He will increase our understanding and wisdom which will help us in order to combat temptation. When I read this chapter I couldn't help but think of all the people I know who have fallen into temptation because they let their guard down and gave in to temptation. We are all capable of it that is why it is important for us to keep one another accountable, to know scripture and to be disciplined. We need to know our weaknesses so that we set boundaries to help us not fall into temptation. One thing that was recently brought to my attention is He promises to give us a way of escape. The reason we fall is because we are not relying on Him, we often give up and loose heart.

Jessica said...

"My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."
I need to remember this. God is our ultimate source of wisdom and I need to keep this in mind.

Ashlie said...

This passage is a really good example of what can happen if someone is to given to sin. The illustrations and the result of what can happen if the sin is pursued. It kind of reminded me of James 1:14-16.

Jim Morrison said...

Verses 22-27 - Although we will answer for all sins one day, there are some sins that will also cause us great consequences in life. The son is told that this young mans decision to follow this sinful desire for the adultress woman will cost him his life. Those who she seduces are refered to as victims, her house is a highway to the grave. This decision will cause many problems for this young man, there will be consequences for his actions right here on earth as well as the fact that he will have to answer to God for these actions.

TWash said...

Talk about a heavy dose! What stood out to me was the keeping of the commands. We hear this all time, especially at bbc. However, what hit me was the true application of this. The more we get know our God and his character, the more we begin to see that those things we used to look at as sucking the fun out of everything or unfair, we now desire for ou lives just as God does. We become appreciative of the guidelines!

Renee said...

The guy in this chapter seems to go out looking for trouble. I need to avoid any area of temptation in my life and not just toy with it at the edges thinking that I could make myself stop. Also, I need to understand the power of words and use them wisely, out of love for others and for God.

Chris Howard said...

I love how this passage reinforces the idea of keeping the teachings of your parents so close to you that when we are in the trenches of life we can make the right choices. Hide they Word in your heart so that you might not sin against thee, Psalm 119:11. If we keep the Godly wisdom we’re taught close to us, when the time comes we’ll be able to make the wise decisions.

SarahK said...

I think it is first interesting that this man is walking by the prostitutes house at night...not exactly the place a young man should be at that hour. And I also think its interesting that she is described as a loud woman. :) I just find it funny.