I am so excited to be covering chapter 4 with you all this month! It is packed with so much advice from a Good Father. I hope we will all walk away from this study a little wiser 🙂

If you are just now joining in on this study and want to start from the beginning, you can find the Proverbs 1/2 post here and Proverbs 3 post here.

Let’s get started!

Proverbs 4:1 (TPT): Listen to my correction, my sons, for I speak to you as your father. Let discernment enter your heart and you will grow wise with the understanding I impart.

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, is referring to God, our perfect Heavenly Father! God has an abundance of wisdom, but often times we can miss it, choosing instead to seek out advice from the world. We are encouraged to be “attentive” to this wise council from the one who sees our past, present, and future. We’re encouraged to let discernment enter our hearts. Discernment means having the ability to judge well or make good decisions. Practice making good decisions and you will grow wiser.

Verses 5-6: Make wisdom your quest- search for the revelation of life’s meaning. Stick with wisdom and she will stick with you, protecting you throughout your days.

True life is found at the wisdom of our Father. What’s beautiful here is that the son made a conscious decision to stay, to listen, and to learn. He wasn’t looking for a quick fix, and his father was incredibly patient in teaching him. This is a beautiful picture of wisdom in and of itself: humbly absorbing instruction that will stick with you and protect you.

Verses 8-9: Wisdom will exalt you when you exalt her truth. You will be adorned with beauty and grace, and wisdoms glory will wrap itself around you.

Friend, we are seeing here that wisdom will not chase you down, but “she” (meaning wisdom) loves to be caught. She is a prized possession, set aside by our father for the ones who see the value in the gifts she gives and in her warm embrace.

Verse 12: Your progress will have no limits when you come along with me, and you will never stumble as you walk along the way.

Again, we are seeing the Father making him (us) aware that this abundance of wisdom is at his (our) disposal, yet he (we) must choose to hear and accept it. Wisdom leads to protection, endurance, and life. What are you willing to choose?

Verses 14-15, 17: Do not detour into darkness or even set foot on that path. Stay away from it; don’t even go there! They feed on darkness and drink until they’re drunk on the wine of wickedness.

Often times, we tip-toe toward sin instead of run away from any temptation of it. This verse encourages us to do the latter-stay away from it! We are either moving toward death or moving toward life. The analogy of food and wine is used here as it’s easy to understand. We are either feasting on the “bread of life” or the “bread of wickedness”. We are either drinking from the true vine or the wine of violence. Friends, flee from temptation and cling to life! We want to be a people who live and breath with fresh life.

Verses 21 & 23: Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your heart. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you have.

Towards the end, the father is winding down his lesson to his son and we see that he mentions the son’s heart twice. Why is this?  We will always worship what has our affections—what has our heart. Our greatest affections will always dwell in our hearts. If we tuck wisdom away in our hearts, our life will produce “springs of life”. I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be known as a “spring of life” by the one who provides living water for my soul.

Verses 24-27: Avoid dishonest speech; set your gaze on the path before you; watch where you’re going; Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for an even a moment.

Just like any good father, he ends with practical advice that we all should cling to. Anything we say, whatever we look at, and anywhere we go will always be an indicator of wisdoms work in our life or the lack thereof. Pure speech, a clear gaze, and a straight path are the markers of a wisdom filled life. Keep them in mind. It will be a way to measure whether your life is on track or not according to what God has for you.  Write verses 24-27 on your mirror, put them in your car, or save them as your screensaver to be reminded to walk in the way of wisdom! This is where freedom is found!

I am so thankful to get to walk through chapter 4 with you and would love to hear your favorite verse from this chapter and what you learned. Add it to the comments below. As always, I hope you walk away strengthen and encouraged by God’s word.

XO

Your sister and friend,

Sadie Rob

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