Saturday, September 7, 2013

SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 7:1-4


He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

The Seduction Of Wickedness: The Need For Preparation: Prov 7:1-4
1) My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2) Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3) Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4) Say unto wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman:

INTRODUCTION:
In chapter 7 of Proverbs, Solomon presents a series of proverbs that will help us to understand the power of wickedness’s seduction.   By looking at a young man who is overcome by temptation, we will be able to learn much about how temptation works, and what is needed to adequately defend ourselves from them.


EXPOSITION:
Solomon begins our case study by explaining some very important aspects to adequate preparation to face the powerful onslaught of temptations that are meant to overcome and destroy us…

1) My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Solomon speaks to us from a heart of love and concern, as one who has learned from his errors and now wants to share Godly wisdom with us.   He begins by explaining eight very important responsibilities given to benefit us when facing temptation:
1.  we are to receive, highly value  and closely guard the words that God has given to us in the Bible
2.  we are to put into storage (in our hearts and minds) the responsibilities that God has laid upon us.

“But he said, Yea rather, blessed [are] they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”  (Luke 11:28)


2) Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3.  we are to receive, highly value and closely guard those responsibilities because they will extend our physical life and grant to us eternal, spiritual life.
4.  we are to value His Kingly prescriptions as the most vital aspect of our lives.  “The apple of thine eye” speaks of the most highly valued aspect that the eye brings gives us…. our physical sight.  We are to look at the prescriptions the living God has given to us as the most valuable asset we have.  They give us spiritual insight into the true nature and value of all that the world has to offer.  This allows us to prioritize our life goals and live a productive lifestyle for His glory.

“After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.  Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I [am] the LORD your God.  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I [am] the LORD.”   (Leviticus 18:3-5)


3) Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
5.  the teachings found in His Word should have an inseparable role in all our outward actions and labors.
6.  these same teachings should be a part of our inward being as well, influencing our every thought and desire.

“Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:”   (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)

4) Say unto wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman:
7.  Wisdom, the application of God’s Word to our life, is to be loved and guarded as if it were a weaker part of the family.  Not only is it our duty to protect it, but also (due to our great love for it)  it should be our joy to do so.
8.  Understanding, the ability to discern the true nature of things, is like wisdom.  It is to be loved and guarded as well.

The above eight principles, given to gain victory in temptation, can be summarized by a very simple statement made by King David, Solomon’s physical father…. 

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)


SUMMARY:
Solomon had given to us a list of preparatory measures to assist us in overcoming temptation’s seductive workings.  These measures all involve the Word of God and it’s place in our lives….
1.  we are to receive, highly value  and closely guard it
2.  we are to put it into storage (in our hearts and minds)
3.  when followed, they will extend our physical life and grant to us eternal, spiritual life.
4.  we are to value them as the most vital aspect of our lives.
5.  they should have an inseparable role in all our outward actions and labors.
6.  they should influence every thought and desire.
7.  the application of God’s Word to our lives is to be loved and guarded as if it were a weaker part of the family.
8.  the ability to perceive the true nature of things is to be loved and guarded in a similar way.

By God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value that they deserve.

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org



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