Learning To Treasure God’s Love And Will In Our Lives

Proverbs 7:1-5 NKJV

“My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin, that they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.”

The Value of God’s Words

In the book of Proverbs, we find a passage that emphasizes the importance of treasuring and keeping God’s words and commands. The writer, believed to be King Solomon, addresses his son, urging him to hold onto these teachings as a source of wisdom and guidance. This passage serves as a reminder for all of us to value and prioritize the wisdom found in God’s Word.

When the writer speaks of keeping God’s words, he is not simply referring to memorization or recitation. Instead, he is encouraging his son to internalize and cherish these teachings. It is not enough to merely know the commands; they must be treasured and held close to the heart.

The Apple of Your Eye

The writer uses a powerful metaphor to illustrate the significance of God’s law. He compares it to the apple of one’s eye, which is a phrase used to describe something or someone that is cherished and protected. Just as we instinctively protect our eyes, the writer urges his son to guard and value God’s law above all else.

Binding God’s commands on one’s fingers and writing them on the tablet of the heart symbolizes the constant presence and influence of these teachings in one’s life. It is a call to internalize and live by God’s wisdom, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and decisions.

Wisdom and Understanding as Family

Another significant aspect of this passage is the personification of wisdom and understanding as family members. The writer instructs his son to say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to call understanding his nearest kin. This imagery highlights the intimate and familial relationship we should have with wisdom and understanding.

By considering wisdom as a sister and understanding as a close relative, we are reminded of the importance of cultivating a deep and personal connection with these qualities. They should be cherished and valued as dearly as family, for they provide guidance and protection in the face of temptation and deception.

Guarding Against Temptation

The writer concludes this passage by highlighting the purpose of treasuring God’s words and embracing wisdom and understanding. By doing so, they will keep the reader from falling into the trap of the immoral woman, the seductress who flatters with her words.

This cautionary message serves as a reminder of the dangers of temptation and the importance of staying grounded in God’s truth. The immoral woman represents any form of temptation that seeks to lead us astray from the path of righteousness. By treasuring God’s words and embracing wisdom and understanding, we equip ourselves with the tools to resist these temptations and make wise choices.

The passage from Proverbs 7:1-5 reminds us of the value and significance of God’s words and commands. It encourages us to treasure and internalize these teachings, holding them close to our hearts. By doing so, we guard ourselves against temptation and allow wisdom and understanding to guide our lives.

May we all heed the wisdom found in these verses and strive to make God’s words the apple of our eye, binding them on our fingers and writing them on the tablet of our hearts.