Read Proverbs 23
I read Proverbs 23 from the New Living Translation and the King James.
My thoughts on Proverbs 23:
To really make sense of verse one I had to dig deeper into the meaning of some of the words. This verse reminds us to know who we are interacting with and to diligently consider how to handle them and the circumstances. We must have a plan. Pay attention to who you are interacting with. Eat - lâcham, to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction):—devour, eat, ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring) (Strong's H3898) Consider diligently - bîyn, to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand:—attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man) (Strong's H995)
Don't let any appetite (greed. lust, pleasure), desire, or emotions rule over or control you. Appetite - nephesh, any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, dead(-ly), desire, (dis-) contented, fish, ghost, greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, jeopardy of) life ( in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, slay, soul, tablet, they, thing, ( she) will, would have it. (Strong's 5315) Desire - ʼâvâh, to wish for:—covet, (greatly) desire, be desirous, long, lust (after) (Strong's H183) Outline of Biblical Usage - desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer, (Strong's H183)
Don't waste your words on fools. They don't want your advice. Fool - kᵉçîyl, stupid or silly:—fool(-ish) (Strong's H3684) Outline of Biblical Usage -fool, stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one (Strong's H3684) "Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth." (Proverbs 18:2 MSG)
Be committed to instruction, to learning. Listen carefully to words of knowledge. Be disciplined about learning. "Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it." (Proverbs 8:33 AMPC) "Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; guard her, for she is your life." (Proverbs 4:13 AMPC) "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life." (Proverbs 19:20 NLT)
Don't envy sinners. "For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices." (James 3:16 AMPC) "The Lord laughs at [the wicked], for He sees that their own day [of defeat] is coming." (Psalm 37:13 AMPC)
Listen to wisdom and direct your mind and keep your mind on the right course. Choose His path for your life. Listen - shâmaʻ, to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, attentively, call (gather) together, carefully, certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness (Strong's H8085) "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC)
Get the truth and hold on to it. The Bible says buy it and don't sell it. Also get wisdom, instruction, and understanding. Buy - qânâh, create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively, sell); by implication to own:—attain, buy(-er), teach to keep cattle, get, provoke to jealousy, possess(-or), purchase, recover, redeem, surely, verily (Strong's 7069) Truth - ʼemeth, stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness: —assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity (Strong's H571) Wisdom - chokmâh, wisdom (in a good sense):—skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit (Strong's H2451) Instruction - mûwçâr, properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint:—bond, chastening(-eth), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke (Strong's 4148) Understanding - bîynâh, knowledge, meaning, perfectly, understanding, wisdom. (Strong's H998) "The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding." (Proverbs 9:10 AMPC)
The verses that spoke to me:
"Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge. My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment." (Proverbs 23:12, 19, 23 NLT)
Commit - To give in trust; to put into the hands or power of another; to entrust; with to (Noah Webster 1828 Dictionary)
My takeaway:
I am committed to living in the Word of God on a deeper level this year. These verses remind me of the importance of this commitment and the steps I need to take to make it happen.
"Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge." (Proverbs 23:12 KJV)
Apply - bôwʼ, to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):—abide, apply, attain, be, befall, besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), (Strong's H935)
Heart - lêb, the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything (Strong's H3820)
The steps to living this are outlined in these verses.
Commit and apply myself to instruction
Listen carefully to words of knowledge
Keep my heart on the path God has prepared for me trusting that God has ordered my steps
Seek the truth and live God's Truth in all my encounters with others
Actively seek to get wisdom, discipline, instruction, understanding, and good judgment
FAITH CONFESSION:
Lord, I am committed to applying myself to instruction and actively seeking wisdom, instruction, understanding and good judgment. I will listen carefully to words of knowledge and keep my heart focused on the path You have prepared for me. I know You have ordered my steps. I will seek truth and live by Your Truth, found in Your Word, in my interactions with others so they see Jesus in me. Lord, let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven, through me.
Share in the comments what verse spoke to you and why. Let's grow in wisdom together.
Be Encouraged! ❤