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In Deuteronomy 6, Israel is commanded to teach their children and children’s children that the Lord is one and to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and strength. Someone teaching their children’s children is a granddaddy, a grandmamma. Proverbs 4 gives us a unique perspective from the wise words of a grandfather to his grandson. When I was a son with my father he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commandments, and live. (vv.3-4) Here is a fresh perspective on “tradition.” Tradition in some sectors is seen with negative connotations. Here, the tradition worth maintaining is a tradition of chasing after wisdom. Proverbs 4 demonstrates the pursuit of wisdom through generations.
I recall a story from Vance Havner when he was asked as an old man if he still struggled with lust. Havner answered, I often pray, Lord keep me from being a dirty old man. The pursuit of wisdom is something we are always to be pursuing.
Wisdom is something, as verse 7 tells us, we are to get. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though that sounds redundant the effect is to focus us towards what the book is about – Getting wisdom. Getting wisdom comes through:
v.4 - Let your heart hold fast to my words;
Keep my commandments and live.
v.5 – Do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
v.6 – Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
v.8 – Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
V.9 – She will place on your head a graceful garland;
She will bestow on you a beautiful crown.
The call to pursue wisdom is a call for endurance. The pursuit of wisdom lasts not moments but a lifetime; not years but decades. Our response cannot be lax or lazy. Instead, we pursue wisdom with emboldened passion. The reward of wisdom far exceeds the hazards of being unwise.
Verses 10-19 continue, there are two ways set before us. One way is wisdom’s way. The other way is the fool or simpleton’s way. One road is to be prized, the other way to be despised. The path you take will determine the outcome of your life. Thankful we are not left without a guide. God has given us revelation to call us to seek him, to follow him down a path he has already walked.
The ground of Wisdom’s Way is paved with the fear of the Lord. Verse 12, when you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run you will not stumble. Pursuing wisdom is a matter of life and death. I wonder if we approach the pursuit of wisdom that seriously? Verse 13, Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her for she is your life. In contrast with the way of the fool, verses 18-19, But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.
As we come to the final appeal of Proverbs 4 we see the discipline we need in full bloom. Be attentive to my words; incline your ears to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. Verse 23, Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24, Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25, Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. 26, Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27, Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Take the advice, in Proverbs 4, of an older one who is in the midst of pursing wisdom themselves, and, as the Proverb says, prepare to get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Delight comes from walking wisdom’s path.