03/08/2017 LESSONS OF THE HEART
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. [New International translation]
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. [New International translation]
Summary:
Many of the proverbs in the Book of Proverbs have been called “the wise sayings of King Solomon.” Solomon, the son of King David, was a wise man because GOD gave him wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29 states that GOD gave Solomon wisdom, understanding and “largeness of heart,” that exceeded the wisdom of all those in the East and all the wisdom of Egypt1. He was the wisest man of his time. (1 Kings 4:31) Solomon’s wisdom was as “measureless as the sand on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29) He wrote 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. (1Kings 4:32).
Solomon’s great wisdom and understanding was a “gift” and “an offering.” It was not for self-gratification or self-aggrandizement. Solomon’s wisdom was for service. Knowing that he would one day become King, Solomon asked GOD (in a dream) for the wisdom to be a good leader and a good teacher to GOD’s people. And because Solomon loved GOD and had a heart for service, GOD answered Solomon’s prayer. 1 Kings 3:12.
And so Solomon began to study. Solomon “applied himself “and searched for understanding about “everything in the universe.” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-15) He was passionate about learning. He put “his heart” into the task. It wasn’t magical. It was hard work. After great effort and study, Solomon wrote what he had learned. He wrote a series of proverbs.
The lessons of Proverbs 3:5; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 23:15 are “lessons of the heart.” Mindful of human nature, and the tendency of people to think “they know it all,” “to ignore the instruction of a teacher,” “to not listen” or “to let their own passions lead them in the wrong direction,” Solomon basically reminds the children of Israel and all humanity to “guard the heart,” According to Solomon, listening and trusting GOD is like drinking water for life. GOD’s WORD is a fountain of knowledge. It is a wellspring. GOD’s WORD is a recipe for a good life.
According to Solomon, when we love GOD (i.e., when we get the heart right), then everything else falls in place. We just need to have a heart for GOD.