The Son is Exhorted to Heed The Father’s Teaching
August 20, 2019
Commentary
The author knowing the depravity of the human heart and the need of continued warning gives another entire chapter against lust and immorality. He starts off by saying that the best advice is useless against strong temptation unless it is taken to heart and is translated into habits (v.1). Concern in this area should be as sensitive as a person caring for the pupil of his eye (v. 2). In many cases we do not need to learn new truth but just need to start applying the truth we already know.
It is the constant studying, memorizing and meditating upon the Word of God that will keep us from sin(Psalm119:11). Notice how upon both hand and heart the Word is to be bound and written (v.3). This certainly involves far more than just a casual reading of the Scriptures.
One of Satan’s weapons in enticing this young man is flattery and this is what a strange woman uses. Wisdom and understanding are needed to keep a person from this snare (vv. 4-5). A person needs to be as familiar with wisdom as he is with his sister and the same is true of understanding.
Application
If I get something in my eye it affects my whole body. When a person falls into immorality it affects the whole body of Christ. I need to protect myself from this awful sin just as I protect my eyes. Injury to an eye will limit me in what I can do in life and so will involvement in immorality.
Proverbs 7:1– 9 (NET)
1 My child, devote yourself to my words and store up my commands inside yourself.
2 Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession.
3 Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding a close relative,
5 so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who has flattered you with her words.
6 For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out
7 and I saw among the naive — I discerned among the youths — a young man who lacked sense.
8 He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house
9 in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night.
Illustration: Start Some New Habits
Start some new habits
Here are some powerful principles for energizing your time in the Word:
EQUIVALENCE: try a one-for-one ratio of TV and sports for the Word of God.EXCELLENCE: try picking the very best time in the day for the Word of God.ENDURANCE: try to stay with it until you hit treasure in the Word of God.EXPECTANCE: try to come looking for something in the Word of God.ESSENCE: try to ask God to help you find the key to unlock truths in the Word of God.EFFERVESCENCE: try to let it out when you do find riches in the Word of God.(Pastor John Barnett)