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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
August, 1940
SEPTEMBER 22, 1940 THE VOICE OF WISDOM .P roverbs 4
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sleepless desire to do evil. So determined are they to cause the fall of others that they cannot sleep unless their evil de sire has been fulfilled. Wisdom makes an appeal for those who hear to choose the path of the righteous. The argument is that the path o f the just is as the shining light, ever growing brighter until the perfect day is attained, while the path of the wicked is as darkness, ever growing blacker until it ends in the outer darkness. Along the latter path the wicked stum ble, ignorant of the cause of stumbling. HI. W isd o m ' s M a n if e s t a t io n (20-27) Four words tell of the manifestation of Wisdom (vs. 20-22): Hear, see, keep, and find. The words of Wisdom are to be so “heard” that other voices will be silenced, so “seen” that other allure ments will be suppressed; so "kept” that other attractions will be obscured, and so “found” that other enticements will be robbed of influence. The manifestation of Wisdom will be possible only when the heart is guarded with -all diligence. Out of the heart pro ceed the issues of life. Because the natural heart is a sink of iniquity (Mk.' 7:20-23) which issues in death, every man’s imperative need is for a new heart, one controlled by Wisdom, the Lord Himself. In order to have a new heart, one must have experienced the new birth; and that transformation is brought about by simple acceptance of Jesus Christ as one’s personal Saviour. He who has a guarded heart will have also acceptable speech and a single eye for the Lord’s ways and will. There will be no turning aside to the right hand or to the left, but the walk will be straight on, as the Lord shall lead. The Christian may well take to heart the instruction of the voice of Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, the greatest known textbook on philosophy, for it is that voice—of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself—which echoes through the ex hortations, warnings, and promises, in the New Testament. Points and Problems 1. “Hear . . and receive my sayings” (Prov. 4:10). It is not enough that we should “hear” the Word oi God. We must “receive” it, that is, take it into our lives and feed upon it'so that it be-
Prov. 4:10 Hear, O niy 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 wick ed, and so 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 wicked ness, and drink the wine of violence. IS 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 ns dark ness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words? in cline thine ear unto my sayiirss. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst o f 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. LESSON TEXT : Prov. 4:10-27. GOLDEN TEXT : ‘‘Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). DEVOTIONAL READING: Psalm 15. Outline and Exposition I. W isdom ' s A ppeal (10-13) I N THE Book of Proverbs, the Lord is personified as Wisdom, speaking through parents, prophets, a n d seers. Hence it is the voice of the Lord that one hears through this passage, appealing for attention to His direction and response to His teaching. But be cause the path in which the Lord leads is one of uprightness, sinful nature would seek to avoid it. Obedience to the appeal guarantees progress in the present life: The "steps” of the obedient one will not be “strait ened” (v. 12). There will be no stum bling in the way. The appeal is emphasized by the threefold exhortation to “take fast hold of instruction” (v. 13). In other words, one is to grasp it with determined hands that will not allow it to slip. The impli cation is that one is "to glue” oneself to it. II. W isdom ' s E nemies (14-19) Wisdom’s enemies are the “wicked” and “evil” persons whose path is to be avoided as one would avoid entering a community in which contagious diseases were epidemic. The conduct pf Wisdom’s enemies (vs. 16, 17) is described as a
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