Being Wise in an Unwise World
Can you think of a message that your Mom or Dad constantly drilled into you growing up? For example: You can be or do anything you set your mind to; make something of your life; don’t let others define who you are; or never settle. Maybe your parents were exceptionally competitive and the message was: win at any cost or only losers lose. Remember the song “Que Sera Sera”? That mother passed down to her child: whatever will be will be. 2 Peter 2:14 talks about some “having a heart trained in greed.” We can only imagine what was pounded into them growing up. Obviously, not all messages pounded into us make us better people.
In Proverbs 4 we have the message David drilled into his son, Solomon: Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! No wonder when God offered him anything he could possibly want, Solomon requested wisdom. Solomon got the message. He passed it down, not only to his son, but also to all sons and daughters.
Proverbs 4:1-4a Hear, sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding, for I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my instructions. When I was a son to my father, tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, then he taught me and said to me …
Here is David’s advice to Solomon – Solomon’s counsel to his son – God’s instructions to us:
Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live: Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth, do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her and she will watch over you. (Proverbs 4:4b-6)
There are few specific words in David’s message that we need to pull out and put under the microscope. Understanding these terms puts the rest of chapter 4 in context as Solomon built on these in this chapter and beyond. These are the words “guard” and “watch over.” “Guard” is the word shamar. “Watch over” is the word natsar. In the Book of Proverbs, these two words are used 18 and 29 times, respectively. Both of these are often translated into the same words, such as guard, keep, keep watch, and watch over. However, each has a very different function:
· Shamar refers to doing the work of a bodyguard. The word literally means to place a hedge about. It is intense and personal, hands-on, high cost interaction and involves interference when necessary.
· Natsar refers to doing the work of a sentry or watchman. This requires being alert and astute – paying attention to what is or isn’t happening. A sentry sounds the alarm when aware of a threat. He/she discerns who or what is allowed access or entry. Like a bodyguard, this is an important line of protection and defense.
David drilled into Solomon: Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forsake her and she will guard you (shamar– be a bodyguard); love her, and she will watch over you (natsar– be a sentry). Wisdom will be your bodyguard and your sentry – both a shield of protection and personal detail that keeps you safe and secure.
Wisdom will do its job, but there has to be commitment, interaction, and cooperation on our part. Someone who willfully refuses to cooperate with his/her security detail forfeits all the protection and provisions provided. Out from under that necessary protection, they are not only in danger, but become a danger and liability. There is a reason why the family of the president is provided Secret Service coverage. Wisdom not only protect us, but others and God Himself. When we avoid or sidestep wisdom we endanger God’s work and reputation.
According to Proverbs 4:4-6, our responsibilities include: hold fast words of wisdom – hold on like your life depends on it; keep what we have been told to do or not to do; don’t forget nor turn away from those instructions and truth; don’t forsake – push aside as irrelevant - the wisdom God has for us; and love – really care, invest self into all this.
That word “keep” in verse 4 is the same word translated “guard” -shamar - do the work of a bodyguard. This guard duty goes both ways. We are to protectively guard what has been entrusted to us, and wisdom will protectively guard us.
According to Proverbs 4:23, there is one specific area we are to guard. “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the spring of life.” Our heart is the vital core of what makes us who and what we are. We are to “watch over” – natsar– set a watchman or sentry over what defines us. As a sentry, it is our responsibility to determine exactly what is allowed temporary or permanent access to our hearts and minds. God has given us the authority to: refuse access altogether; allow visiting rights, but refuse to let it take up residence; as well as, determine what is given a permanent place and defining influence on our hearts and minds.
We are to carry out this responsibility “with all diligence.” In the original text this is stated first for emphasis. “With all diligence watch over your heart!” This word, mishmar, actually refers to the defining attributes or doing the work of a military or prison guard. It is with that kind of unwavering and fierce authority that we are to watch over our hearts. We have to pay close attention to what is going on around us, being acutely aware of the slightest thing that might impact or endanger our heart.
Proverbs 3:19-21 By wisdom the LORD founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew. My son, let them [wisdom, understanding and knowledge] not vanish from your sight; keep [shamar– be a bodyguard of] sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck.
Proverbs 6:20-22 My son, observe [natsar– be a sentry over] the commandments of your father and do not forsake the teachings of your mother. Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep they will watch over [natsar] you and when you are awake they will talk to you.
We have been very neglectful watchmen. Bribed by looks good, feels good, makes good, we have allowed the world unfettered access to our hearts and minds. There is so much garbage allowed in that there is no room for wisdom to take root and flourish. What goes in determines what comes out. NIV translation of Proverbs 4:23 reads, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” What is in our hearts and minds defines who we are and what we do.
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil out of the evil brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” (Luke 6:45) I don’t know about you, but there are times that I am absolutely shocked at a thought that comes to mind or worse a comment that flies out of my mouth. My reaction is: Where did that come from? Truth is: I let it in by failing to diligently watch over my heart. An unguarded mouth is evidence of an unguarded heart. A guarded mouth is evidence of a guarded heart.
Proverbs 13:3 warns: The one who guards [natsar - posts a sentry over] his mouth preserves [shamar– provides a bodyguard over] his life; the one who opens wide his lips [unguarded mouth] comes to ruin. On the other hand, Proverbs 21:23 promises, “he who guards [shamar – provides a bodyguard for] his mouth and his tongue, guards [shamar] his soul from troubles.”
Thank God, we do NOT have to try and do this alone. We can and should pray: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3) “Keep watch over” is the now familiar word natsar. We should daily ask the Holy Spirit to serve as a sentry ruthlessly sounding the alarm when something ungodly and displeasing attempts to escape our mouths. “Set a guard,” however, is a different term. This one is shomra – a higher authority, a supervisor or warden that makes sure we are doing what we are supposed to be doing: guarding what has been entrusted to us. “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you”. (2 Timothy 1:14) We have been entrusted with a responsibility for not only what comes out of our mouths, but also what goes into our hearts.
So how do we guard our hearts?
1) Identify twisted truths and don’t give them an iota of attention.
Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you.
These two adjectives “deceitful” (‘iqqeshut) and “devious” (lezut) refer to something with a subtle bend and/or slight twist that ends up being way off. The problem is this twist is not noticeable until the damage and deception is done. They sound interesting and important. They may even come across as truth. But the deceitful bends and devious twist means they do not pass the wisdom test: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, [and] without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)
Ephesians 5:6 warns, “Let no one deceive you with empty words.” 1 Timothy 6:20 tells us to, “Guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly empty chatter, the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge.” Remember, you have the authority to forbid entrance into your heart and mind. Use that authority!
2) Stay focused.
Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Roman 8:5-8 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
3) Pay attention to where you are at, where you are going and whom or what you are following.
Proverbs 4:26 Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.
Proverbs 15:24 The path of life leads upward for the wise that he may keep away from Sheol below.
Psalm 1:1 states, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” We have a much better option. “Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths.” (Psalm 25:4) “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth.” (Psalm 86:11a) The Lord promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8NIV)
4) Don’t get distracted.
Proverbs 4:27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.
We are all familiar with “Martha syndrome” – “But Martha was distracted with all her preparations.” (Luke 10:40a) Even the best bodyguard or sentry is worthless when distracted. The enemy of our souls knows exactly how to distract us. “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17,18)
It comes down to this: guarding our hearts equates to guarding our lives. It is dual guard duty. We guard our heart and the knowledge/truth entrusted to us. The Lord provides the wisdom and His Spirit that guards us.
How committed are you to guard duty? “I will stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me, and how I am to reply when I am reproved [challenged].” (Habakkuk 2:1) The rampart is the ramp that leads up to the watchtower or down into the walled city. This is all about waiting on the edge of obedience, ready and willing to do whatever the Lord commands us to do, go wherever He directs us to go.