Posted on 09/07/2019 6:54:43 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths” (Proverbs 7:24-25 KJV).
The parent is speaking to the child. He is beseeching him to listen to wisdom and not follow in the steps of a fool. All through the Book of Proverbs the encouragement is to embrace wisdom, and in order to do this, the life of the fool is examined in many aspects. We are to be as children. How often have we heard the phrase, “ours is a simple, childlike faith.” Jesus used the same illustration: “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein” (Mark 10:15 KJV).
He said that except we come as children, we won’t really believe. We need the faith of a child when it comes to what’s right, when it comes to what’s good for us. If we come as an adult, we have the natural tendency to think, “Well, I know a little bit better than all that . . .” but when you come as a child you are willing to learn, willing to take instruction.
“Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline . . .,” or as we saw earlier: “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding” (Proverbs 2:2 KJV). It is much better to INCLINE than it is to DECLINE. The inclination of our life should be toward the truth, or there will be a decline, that is, backsliding or apostasy.
“Let not thine heart decline to her ways,” that is, the world’s wisdom. The evil woman above may be viewed in its literal sense and the dangers that accompany illicit sexual encounters, or it may be seen in its figurative sense. The woman, in this case, is the exact opposite of wisdom that comes from above, personified in Jesus Christ. Don’t let the wisdom of this world, which is “earthly, sensual, devilish, for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:15-16).
Stay out of the situations that would get you into a mess.
- Don’t let your senses be stimulated by sin. - Stay away from bad companions - Avoid the things that brought about this young man’s capture.
“Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.”
“The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath” (Proverbs 15:24 KJV).
Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!
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