Solomon sure loved his Dad. I get the impression he was also very fond of his son. I get that impression because it’s fairly regular we read in the book of wisdom the father talking to his son.
The thing about the book of Proverbs is there are some things in there that are observations, there are some comparisons, there are some suggestions – then there are some clear instructions. It’s pretty clear when the father wants the son to pick up on some observations, or take on and consider some suggestions.
When it comes to the instructions, however, there’s no room for the laid-back, chilled approach. The father is insistent that the son for his health and safety should take heed.
Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, (Proverbs 22:17)
I love how those insistent verbs – pay, turn and apply – have a lot to do with an ongoing, deliberate act of the will. There’s no room to doubt what we should be doing.
Pay attention – It is apparent that we are far too easily distracted. Things happen, our eye catches something that looks mildly interesting and before you know it we’re off the track we should be on. So it’s good that we get these good sharp, short calls to focus. Get rid of anything inside or outside that would look to take our attention. Time given paying attention now saves time paying for it later on in terms of those consequences which tends to incur expenses, taxes and rates of interest that can make the eyes water.
Turn your ear – What are you listening to? Chances are you’re giving room to listen to some junk. Gossip about someone which does nothing to help anyone. Banal chatter on television or radio marked as ‘entertainment’ which is rubbish. Paying attention is the wake up call we need, then we acknowledge the junk we get in the ear system and pledge to change. Change the channel, change the station so we’re listening to Wisdom FM on Channel Wisdom.
Apply your heart – Now, as ever it’s sweet hearing good words. You paid attention to the sermon, you could probably recite the key points in it. What a lovely testimony we heard. How sweet to hear such good tips from the sister. That’s not good enough for the father though. It’s not just for a superficial acknowledgement. Applying the heart is the commitment of the seat of our passions and emotions to follow the ways of wisdom. Something will happen – changes will be made, because wisdom points out the wrong and shines the light on the good for us to pursue.
You don’t have to live long to know that there’s something wrong with the setting of the world and society. Every indication of ‘progress’ is countered by evidence of the same tendency for inhumanity to our fellow man.
We are not just listening to the heart of King Solomon to his son in these proverbs. We are hearing the heart of the Heavenly Father so His children take good instruction to truly live. Somewhere along the journey we need to pay attention to wisdom – starting with the fear of God. We need to listen carefully to what wisdom has to say and take that on. We need to be living out what we are in the light of what has been said.
These are not suggestions. These are not observations. These are essential life instructions to ensure that the way we walk however narrow and with whatever obstacles, will be a path that shines the light of truth and love and leads to the Author of all truth and all love.
It’s time we pay attention, turn our ears and apply our hearts to what wisdom offers us.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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