14 July

Bible In 365 Days                                                  

Proverbs 4-6

Proverbs 4

In this chapter there are three addresses. The first is of the nature of personal testimony (verses Proverbs 4:1-9). The next two are exhortations to fidelity (verses Proverbs 4:10-27). The father urges his own experience. In verses Proverbs 4:3-9 he repeats what his father had said to him, and he declares (verses Proverbs 4:1-2) that it was good. This personal experience lends urgency to his exhortations to his son. Then, conscious of the temptations which ever beset the path of the young, the father urges the son to be obedient. Temptation must be avoided completely. Finally, the father contrasts the path of the righteous with that of the wicked. The former is like the dawn, which increases in brightness to high noon. The latter is like consistent darkness and constant stumbling.

Again, in a second address, fidelity is urged in terms which indicate the necessity for complete devotion. There must be attention, followed by intention. Wisdom in the heart, persistent looking straight ahead, and untiring caution are necessary to fidelity.

Proverbs 5

This is a parental exhortation against impurity. It is expressed in words of great delicacy and beauty, but it is none the less urgent and searching. It recognizes one of the most subtle and natural temptations likely to assail the life of the young, and sets it in the light of true wisdom, which begins in the fear of Jehovah and expresses itself in perpetual recognition of Him. The allurement of the strange woman is vividly described, but it is put into immediate contrast with the issue of yielding thereto. It is a change from honey to wormwood, from the smoothness of oil to the sharpness of a sword, from the path of life to the highway of death. The woman's abode is to be shunned, lest the remorse of those who disobey become the portion of the soul. The paralysis caused by impurity is suggested in the advice that the ideal joys of the marriage relation must be hopelessly marred by all sinful indulgence.

Here, as everywhere, wisdom consists in recognizing that human life is ever under the observation, and within the government, of Jehovah. That government insures the taking of the wicked by the cords which they weave out of their own sins. Impurity of conduct may seem to be of silken texture in its enticement. It becomes a hard and unyielding cable when it binds the life in slavery.

Proverbs 6

The parental exhortations are continued. In this section they are directed against suretyship, indolence, the evil man, and certain specific things which Jehovah hates. The warnings against becoming surety here and elsewhere must be interpreted in the light of the conditions obtaining when they were uttered. The sin of the sluggard is rebuked by the illustration of the ant, who, without the constraint of judge, ruler, or overseer, diligently toils to provide meat for herself.

The description of the worthless person is graphic in the extreme. His methods of communication are not straightforward, but such as suggest deceit and cunning. His influence is that of creating discord.

Then follows a list of things which Jehovah hates, They would seem to give a more detailed description of the "worthless person" already referred to. The "six" and "seven" of the opening statement have their explanation in the description. The six are first stated, and the seventh is that which results, namely, "he that soweth discord among brethren."

This is followed by a parental exhortation. It commences with tender and urgent entreaties to attend to parental counsels, because that counsel is for the good of the son to whom it is addressed. A warning is uttered against the first movement toward sin, desire. "Lust not after her beauty in thy heart." Then the consequences of wrong in social life are set forth. The man who is wronged will take no compensation. His fury will exact the utmost.