proverbs 4

Read Proverbs 4 at Bible Gateway.

The instruction of a father that is recorded in this chapter of Proverbs, is the instruction of David to his son Solomon. David was an older man when Solomon was a child. David had realized that the folly of his older sons, Amnon and Absalom, had cost them their lives in their youth. So David taught his son Solomon, that wisdom was precious, and that it was the primary thing in life worth getting. Solomon wrote his father’s wisdom down for his own son to follow (alas, he did not, as we shall see). But in a broader sense, the Father speaking here, pleading with His children to value wisdom above all, is our Father God.

My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;
for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man’s whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. Pro 4:20-23

And again we see that the way to gain wisdom to to pay attention to the words of the Father’s heart, guard them like a special treasure, and to live our lives by them. And again we see the result of obeying the Father’s word is life in this physical world and health for our physical bodies. Just as we saw in Deuteronomy, The written word (Torah) gives physical life, and the living word (Yeshua) gives spiritual life.

What is a “wellspring”? Webster’s says it is “a souce of continual supply.” Shortest definition in the dictionary! Our hearts are the source of a continual supply of life, so we must guard it with all diligence, keeping the Word of our Father continually refreshed within it.