Proverbs 4 (Listen)
A Father’s Wise Instruction
4:1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain1 insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their2 flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder3 the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.
(ESV)
Proverbs 4 Commentary
Proverbs 4 emphasizes the importance of listening to a father’s instruction in order to gain understanding and live wisely (Proverbs 4:1–2). The father recounts how he was taught to treasure and obey wisdom, which brings life, protection, and honor (Proverbs 4:3–9). He urges his son to accept and follow the way of wisdom, which leads to a long, unhindered, and stable life (Proverbs 4:10–13). He warns against following the path of the wicked, describing their way as destructive and restless until evil is done (Proverbs 4:14–17).
In contrast, the path of the righteous is like the growing light of dawn, while the wicked stumble in darkness without understanding why (Proverbs 4:18–19). The father again urges his son to keep his words in his heart, for they bring life and healing (Proverbs 4:20–22). He commands guarding the heart, avoiding deceitful speech, staying focused ahead, and firmly establishing one’s steps while turning from evil (Proverbs 4:23–27).
David To Solomon
Proverbs 4 records Solomon passing down the wisdom he received from his father, David. He urges his sons to listen closely to a father’s instruction because true understanding comes through receiving and obeying wise teaching. David had instructed Solomon as a young child to hold tightly to wisdom and keep God’s commands for life. Wisdom should be pursued above all else and this is different from knowledge. Knowledge is information but wisdom is understanding how to live rightly. Wisdom will always guard, honor, and guide those who embrace her.
All of this is rooted in the context of the heart, because everything in life flows from it. Words, thoughts, and choices all stem from the heart. The heart leads to thoughts which lead to behaviors. Solomon encourages keeping focused, speaking honestly, staying morally upright, and walking with purpose.
“Mrs. McGee and I were having lunch in a little town in the Northwest and were talking to each other. We noticed that the waitress seemed very much interested and pretty soon she interrupted us. “Aren’t you Dr. McGee?” I answered, “Yes, how did you know me?” She said, “I’ve never seen you before, but I listen to you on the radio.” Later my wife told me, “You had better be very careful what you say. You are recognized by people when you have no idea that you are being recognized.” How true that is, but the care has to begin with the heart.”
J. Vernon McGee
Ultimately, there are two paths: one of righteousness that shines brighter with time, and one of wickedness that leads to confusion and destruction.
The Path Of Christ
As a teen, I remember going down to the beaches of Florida for our family vacations. One particular trip, we were vacationing with extended family. My cousin and I decided that as soon as we arrived, we would immediately hit the beach and begin walking down the coast. As soon as we had put our suitcases in the room, we were off.
We walked for miles, taking in the many sights and sounds of the ocean. We talked as we looked side to side at the seagulls, the seashells, and the people enjoying time together in the sun. After what seemed like only a few minutes, my skin began to feel hot. Our pale white Indiana skin was getting scorched. We turned to look back at how far we had come and we realized we couldn’t even see our condo! Needless to say, by the time we made it back, we were lobsters. The many sights and sounds on the path we were walking had kept us distracted from the distance we had traveled.
“Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead. [26] Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established. [27] Don’t turn to the right or to the left; keep your feet away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:25-27 CSB
The life of a believer is not characterized by wandering aimlessly. Look at the instruction. We are encouraged to fix our eyes forward. The path of Christ has goals and checkpoints. Though it is a constant pursuit, we do not take our eyes off of Him. We may stumble or get momentarily distracted, but our gaze must return straight ahead to the calling of Jesus.
Carefully consider the path you are on. This is a call for self-awareness. How far have you traveled and where are you headed? The path metaphor is understood in terms of our daily decision making. Maybe we don’t think in those terms? The decisions you make today will take you down a path. They will take your family and others who are following you down that same path.
When we let our feet and eyes draw us away from the path God has established, we are walking in foolishness. Wisdom is taking into consideration where we are headed in life and who/what we are focused on during that journey.
