January 4, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 4
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Following Scripture Verses

1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
10. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
12. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

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Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding - Proverbs 4:7

The statement of Proverbs 4:7 explains why Solomon devoted so much of his life and writing to the pursuit of wisdom. He states that "wisdom is the principle thing". The word "principle" means the first in rank, the chief, or the beginning. According to Solomon there is nothing more important than gaining wisdom and understanding. Note that wisdom is not something that a man comes by naturally. A man may have intelligence, but this does not always translate into wisdom and knowledge. We are instructed to "get wisdom", which means that some effort must be expended on our part. In fact, the second half of the verse indicates that a man ought to dedicate himself to the acquisition of wisdom, for he is to use all his ability and all that he has already acquired to get more understanding.

How does a man gain wisdom? First he must fear the Lord (Prov 1:7). Second, he must receive it from the Lord and His Word, for Proverbs 2:6 states,

"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.".

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9).

Paul wrote that his desire was "that I may know Him" (Phil. 3:10). May this be our goal as well.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery