Proverbs 4

4:1Solomon, the third king of Israel, son of the great king David, reigned during Israel’s golden age. When God said he would give him whatever he wanted, he asked for an understanding mind (1 Kings 3:5-14). God was pleased with this request. He not only made Solomon wise but also gave him great riches and power and an era of peace. Solomon built the glorious Temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6) and wrote most of the book of Proverbs. His Profile is found in 1 Kings 3, p. 519.

4:3,4One of the greatest responsibilities of parents is to encourage their children to become wise. Here Solomon tells how his father, David, encouraged him to seek wisdom when he was young (see t Kings 2:1-9 and 1 Chronicles 28-29 for David's charge to his son). This encouragement may have prompted Solomon to ask God for an understanding mind above everything else (1 Kings 3:9). Wisdom can be passed on from parents to children, from generation to generation. Ultimately, of course, all wisdom comes from God; parents can only urge their children to turn to him. If your parents never taught you in this way, you can learn from the Scriptures and then create a fegacy of wisdom as you teach your own children.

4:5-7If you want wisdom, you must decide to go after it. This will take reso!ve—a determination not to abandon the search once you begin, no matter how difficult the road may become. This is not a once-in-a-lifetime step but a daily process of choosing between two paths—the wicked (4:14-17, 19) and the righteous (4:18). Nothing is more important or more valuable.

4:7David taught Solomon as a young boy that seeking God's wisdom was the most important choice he could make. Solomon learned the fesson well. When God appeared to Solomon to fulfill any request, the new king chose wisdom above all else. We should also make God’s wisdam our first choice. We don’t have to wait for God to appear to us. We can boldly ask him for wisdom today through prayer, James 1:5 assures us that God will grant our request.

4:7-9In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life. The foundation of knowledge is to fear the LORD—to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his Word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God—he will make you truly wise.

4:13-17Even friends can make you fall. It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances may lure them to do wrong. Young people who want to be accepted would never confront or criticize a friend for wrong plans or actions. Many other people can’t see how their friends’ actions could lead to trouble. While we should be accepting of others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution. Don’t let your friends cause you to fall into sin.

4:16,17teaches that through Christ the world was created.

4:20The picture of Wisdom shouting in the streets is a personification—a literary device to make wisdom come alive for us. Wisdom is not aliving being; it is the mind of God revealed. By reading about Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, we can see Wisdom in action. In order to understand how to become wise, we need to heed Wisdom calling and instructing us in the book of Proverbs (see the chart in chapter 14, p. 1025). For a New Testament call to wisdom, see James 1:5. Make sure you don’t reject God’s offer of wisdom to you.

4:23-27Our heart—our feelings of love and desire—dictates to a great extent how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy. Solomon tells us to guard our hearts above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections lead you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: Don’t go after everything you see. Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that lead to sin.