God Speaks
My children, listen when your father corrects you.
Pay attention and learn good judgment,
2 for I am giving you good guidance.
Don’t turn away from my instructions.
3 For I, too, was once my father’s son,
tenderly loved as my mother’s only child.
4 My father taught me,
“Take my words to heart.
Follow my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom; develop good judgment.
Don’t forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Don’t turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you.
Love her, and she will guard you.
7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
8 If you prize wisdom, she will make you great.
Embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will place a lovely wreath on your head;
she will present you with a beautiful crown.”
10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,
and you will have a long, good life.
11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways
and lead you in straight paths.
12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;
when you run, you won’t stumble.
13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.
Guard them, for they are the key to life.
14 Don’t do as the wicked do,
and don’t follow the path of evildoers.
15 Don’t even think about it; don’t go that way.
Turn away and keep moving.
16 For evil people can’t sleep until they’ve done their evil deed for the day.
They can’t rest until they’ve caused someone to stumble.
17 They eat the food of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence!
18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 4:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God is willing to teach wisdom to people who ask for it and to guide them in the path of righteousness.
2. People are to direct their children in the way of wisdom and lead them in upright paths.
Prayer
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 4?
Dear LORD God, You are the ultimate parent. You are the model for human parenting. Your word, the Bible, is the instruction manual for life here on earth. Help us to pay attention and gain understanding. Help me to be continually growing in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom all centered in You. Help me acquire, love, and hold on to wisdom. Please help me to not be tripped up by sin by not going down that path, by avoiding it, and by turning away from it. Help me not to associate with those who are continually doing evil or perpetrating violence and dark schemes. Instead help me, Holy Spirit, to be steadily increasing in righteousness. Help me please the Father by cooperating with the Holy Spirit to take control of my heart (mind, will and emotions) as well as my body, just as Jesus did. Then I will gain a good reputation and bring glory to Your name, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 4?
- I will ask the LORD to connect me with a mentor who can help me search for and acquire wisdom.
- I will study these proverbs to learn to distinguish wisdom from folly.
- I will practice recognizing wisdom and/or goodness in what I watch, read, or listen to.
- I will break off contact with ______ (a specific person) who is trying to lead me into wickedness or violence.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.