Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
    pay attention and gain understanding.
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
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.
Get wisdom, get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
    love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
    Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.”
Listen, my son, accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.
I instruct you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
For they cannot rest until they do evil;
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
    they do not know what makes them stumble.
My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

• Proverbs 4:1-27

“These words occur in a passage where the wise man exhorts us to take care of all parts of our nature, which he indicates by members of the body: heart, mouth, lips, eyes, feet. Every part of our nature needs to be carefully watched, lest in any way it should become the cause of sin. Any one member or faculty is readily able to defile all the rest, and therefore every part must be guarded with care. Our eyes, for example, are windows of light that need to be guarded, lest what we take into our soul should be darkness rather than light. And they need to be careful, lest the glances of the eye should be full of iniquity, or should suggest foolish thoughts.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, from sermon notes (Proverbs 4:25)

We are again reminded that the first nine chapters of Proverbs is fatherly encouragement to pursue wisdom.

We should pursue wisdom and understanding with all our being, just as we pursue Jesus and try to keep our gaze upon Him.  We are to not stumble to the right or the left, for wisdom is life.

We are to love wisdom and watch over wisdom.  While wisdom is the knowledge and understanding of God Himself, wisdom comes from God and the things from God should be watched over.

And wisdom has value.  If we cherish wisdom, wisdom will exalt us.  If we embrace wisdom, wisdom will honor us.  We must hold onto wisdom.

Solomon shifts from the positives regarding cherishing wisdom to the negatives of falling astray.  Those that take the wrong path will eat the bread of wickedness and the wine of violence.  Note that wine and bread are used.  These were considered the staples of life.  Thus, straying from the teachings of God has its bread and wine of misery, but taking the bread and wine that Jesus offers gives life.

And above all else, we are to guard our heart.  Where our heart goes, our desires, thus goes everything else.

And now let us sing.

The following song is sung by Patsy Cline, Just a Closer Walk with Thee.

“I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be

When my feeble life is o’er
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom’s shore, to Thy shore

Just a closer walk with Thee
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be” 

• Traditional, Just a Closer Walk with Thee

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  And wisdom comes from seeking You.  As we draw closer to You, we gain more wisdom as we cherish and embrace wisdom and understanding.  Help us to keep our eyes on You, Lord.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.