INTERESTING FACTS : John Jay, PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS; DIPLOMAT; AUTHOR OF THE FEDERALIST PAPERS; ORIGINAL CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE U. S. SUPREME COURT; GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK

 

"Mercy and grace and favor did come by Jesus Christ, and also that truth which verified the promises and predictions concerning Him and which exposed and corrected the various errors which had been imbibed respecting the Supreme Being, His attributes, laws, and dispensations."

 

"By conveying the Bible to people . . . we certainly do them a most interesting act of kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed - that this Redeemer has made atonement "for the sins of the whole world," and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy, has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve. The Bible will also [encourage] them with many explicit and consoling assurances of the Divine mercy to our fallen race, and with repeated invitations to accept the offers of pardon and reconciliation. . . . They, therefore, who enlist in His service, have the highest encouragement to fulfill the duties assigned to their respective stations; for most certain it is, that those of His followers who [participate in] His conquests will also participate in the transcendent glories and blessings of His Triumph94

 

DAILY READING : PROVERBS 4 - 6

 

TEXT : Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.  4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.  4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.  5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.  5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.  

 

THEME : WISDOM

 

The generation we live in has forgotten this truth - "wisdom is the principal thing." In most generations, people knew to seek wisdom and wanted to become wise. However, today many have forgotten what wisdom means to the individual. That is, many have no idea of how wisdom keeps you from trouble, hardship, and heartache. In the Church, there is a more sorrowful application of this fact. Namely, the Bible, designed to make one wise to eternal life, is not diligently studied to improve the Christian and prevent you from repeating the same mistakes or falling into sin. [2Ti_3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.]

 

In  2nd  Timothy notice the word - "wise." The Scriptures are to make the Christian "wise" to salvation. Today, the emphasis in the Church is on entertainment, drama, wild theological claims, unwarranted concerns, and so forth. Yet, the Bible states, it was written [by G od] to make you "wise."

 

Proverbs 4:7

 

Wisdom is the principal thing - ראשית חכמה  reshith chochmah, "wisdom is the principle." It is the punctum saliens ["leaping or starting point" RMB]in all religion to know the true God, and what he requires of man, and for what he has made man; and to this must be added, under the Christian dispensation, to know Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and for what end He was sent, the necessity of his being sent, and the nature of that salvation which he has bought by his own blood.

 

Get wisdom - Consider this as thy chief gain; that in reference to which all thy wisdom, knowledge, and endeavors should be directed.

 

And with all thy getting - Let this be thy chief property. While thou art passing through things temporal, do not lose those things which are eternal; and, while diligent in business, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

 

Get understanding - Do not be contented with the lessons of wisdom merely; do not be satisfied with having a sound religious creed; devils believe and tremble; but see that thou properly comprehend all that thou hast learnt; and see that thou rightly apply all that thou hast been taught.

 

Wisdom prescribes the best end, and the means best calculated for its attainment. Understandin g directs to the ways, times, places, and opportunities of practicing the lessons of wisdom. Wisdom points out the thing requisite; understanding sees to the accomplishment and attainment. Wisdom sees; but understanding feels. One discovers, the other possesses. . [Adam Clarke]

 

You are instructed to "exalt" wisdom. This infers making wisdom the chief aim of life. Becoming wisdom is learning. It is knowing how life was designed by God to operate and being able to cooperate with the principles of life. In other words, wisdom gives you the ability to use your intellect, body, habits, thinking, etc. properly so you enjoy the peace of God. You suffer when you stumble over something you do not understand. Wisdom is learning why you stumble and avoiding the same mistake in the future. It is a pity wisdom is not imparted to the Church today from America's pulpits. For this reason, our country continues to grope in darkness. The Church is to be the light of the world. [Mat_5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.] However, when the Church is in darkness, repeating the same errors over and over - in marriage, Churc h relations, evil company, unethical, unwise business practices and choices and so forth, the Church not only suffers but so does the nation. Without wisdom and the practice of wisdom, there is no lamp to your feet or light to your path.

 

Proverbs 4:8

 

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee,.... Christ is to be exalted in his person, by asserting his proper deity; by ascribing all divine perfections to him; by allowing him to be the author of all divine works; by giving him divine worship and homage; by owning his divine and eternal sonship, and distinct personality: he is to be exalted in all his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, and as the only Redeemer and Saviour; by trusting in him, embracing his Gospel, and submitting to his ordinances, and such that exalt him, he will "promote" them here and hereafter; of which more in the next clause. According to the Talmudists (u), the word for "exalt" signifies a diligent search, by turning things about to find out what is sought; and so the Septuagint interpret the word in the sense of "searching", Jer_50:26;

 

she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her: by faith: for this is an act of faith, and a very considerable one, and is expressive of great nearness to Christ, of much intimacy and familiarity with him, of strong love and affection to him, of a good degree of boldness used with him, and of joy and exaltation in him; for such an action is used by persons near akin, and are very familiar with, and have a very great affection for one another, and use much freedom with each other, and rejoice at meeting together. Now such who embrace Christ, in the arms of their faith, as their alone Saviour, such he promotes and "brings to honour"; not to honour among men, for to embrace Christ and exalt him is the way to disgrace, though the disgrace is an honour, and will be before long rolled off; but to honour hereafter. Such will be set at his right hand, and be owned by him before his Father and his angels; and they will be placed on the same throne with him, and will reign with him for ever and ever; see 1Sa_2:30. "[John Gill]

 

On the other hand, when you gain and practice the wisdom of God, your life increases with knowledge. Like the cloudless day, the dawn of your life brings the first light of God's wisdom then it gets brighter and brighter as morning advances to afternoon. Eventually the sun of wisdom shines fully, making your inner man glow and your outer man radiant. Those without the Light of the world - Christ, walk a dark and slippery path. This is what [true] salvation does. It illuminates your mind so you see clearly what was once hidden in the dark. Then, you go forward and make progress because you know what you are living for, why you are living, for Whom you are living, and how to live. You walk with the Designer according to His design. At this point, life goes from bitter to sweet, hopeless to hopeful, and from fear to courage and determination.

 

Proverbs 4:18

 

But the path of the just - The path of the wicked is gloomy, dark, and dangerous; that of the righteous is open, luminous, and instructive. This verse contains a fine metaphor; it refers to the sun rising above the horizon, and the increasing twilight, till his beams shine full upon the earth. The original, הולך ואור עד נכון היום  holech vaor a d nechon haiyom, may be translated, "going and illuminating unto the prepared day." This seems plainly to refer to the progress of the rising sun while below the horizon; and the gradual increase of the light occasioned by the reflection of his rays by means of the atmosphere, till at last he is completely elevated above the horizon, and then the prepared day has fully taken place, the sun having risen at the determined time. So, the truly wise man is but in his twilight here below; but he is in a state of glorious preparation for the realms of everlasting light; till at last, emerging from darkness and the shadows of death, he is ushered into the full blaze of endless felicity. Yet previously to his enjoyment of this glory, which is prepared for him, he is going - walking in the commandments of his God blameless; and illuminating - reflecting the light of the salvation which he has received on all those who form the circle of his acquaintance. [Adam Clarke]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "WISDOM IS THE PRIMARY GOAL OF LIFE!"

 

When you lack the wisdom of God's Word - His commands, precepts, principles, etc. you do not know what you are missing. In other words, if the goodness of God is out of sight, it must certainly be out of mind. Therefore, you do not know or understand how another is so peaceful, quiescent, tranquil, happy, and content. The righteous, made wise to salvation by the Scriptures, is a mystery to others. People cannot understand why what bothers them does not bother the Christian who is dressed in the garment of wisdom. Thus, you must get wisdom and make it the principle goal of your life. You must seek it as gold, and desire it as a precious jewel. When wisdom adorns yo ur neck, it will keep all the day everywhere you go and in everything you do.

 

Proverbs 4:14-27

 

"The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there they shall shine as the sun in his strength. The way of sin is as darkness. The way of the wicked is dark, therefore dangerous; they fall into sin, but know not how to avoid it. They fall into trouble, but never seek to know wherefore God contends with them, nor what will be in the end of it. This is the way we are bid to shun. Attentive hearing the word of God, is a good sign of a work of grace begun in the heart, and a good means of carrying it on. There is in the word of God a proper remedy for all diseases of the soul. Keep thy heart with all diligence. We must set a strict guard upon our souls; keep our hearts from doing hurt, and getting hurt. A good reason is given; because out of it are the issues of life. Above all, we should seek from the Lord Jesus that living water, the sanctifying Spirit, issuing forth unto everlasting life. Thus we shall be enabled to put away a froward mouth and perverse lips; our eyes will be turned from beholding vanity, looking straight forward, and walking by the rule of God's word, treading in the steps of our Lord and Master. Lord, forgive the past, and enable us to follow thee more closely for the time to come." [Matthew Henry]

 

Therefore, keep your heart under constant guard. This a chief principle of wisdom. In the heart of Man are found the important issues that concern his or her life. [Mat 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. Mat 15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:] On the other hand, if purity, faith, hope, and love are in the h eart, these will likewise come out of the mouth. Therefore, to keep the heart means to watch what you think. This takes diligence and constant surveillance. However, the hard work pays off as you act and behave wisely. The problems of life - particularly, the problems that vex most people, you will avoid. Guard your heart and you will not sin with your mouth. Further, if you can control your tongue you can control  every other member of your physical body thereby "perfecting" your walk with God. Moreover, you will not get yourself in trouble by saying the wrong things. Remember, even a fish doesn't get caught if it keeps its mouth shut.

 

Proverbs 4:23

 

Keep thy heart with all diligence - "Above all keeping," guard thy heart. He who knows any thing of himself, knows how apt his affections are to go astray.

 

For out of it are the issues of life - תוצאות חיים  totseoth chaiyim, "the goings out of lives." Is not this a plain allusion to the arteries which carry the blood from the heart through the whole body, and to the utmost extremities? As long as the heart is capable of receiving and propelling the blood, so long life is continued. Now as the heart is the fountain whence all the streams of life proceed, care must be taken that the fountain be not stopped up nor injured. A double watch for its safety must be kept up. So in spiritual things: the heart is the seat of the Lord of life and glory; and the streams of spiritual life proceed from him to all the powers and faculties of the soul. Watch with all diligence, that this fountain be not sealed up, nor these streams of life be cut off. Therefore "put away from thee a froward mouth and perverse lips - and let thy eyes look straight on." Or, in other words, look inwardlook onward - loo k upward.

 

I know that the twenty-third verse is understood as principally referring to the evils which proceed from the heart, and which must be guarded against; and the good purposes that must be formed in it, from which life takes its colouring. The former should be opposed; the latter should be encouraged and strengthened. If the heart be pure and holy, all its purposes will be just and good. If it be impure and defiled, nothing will proceed from it but abomination. But though all this be true, I have preferred following what I believe to be the metaphor in the text." [Adam Clarke]