In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “My son, attend to my words; incline your ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-three of Proverbs Solomon said, “keep your heart with all diligence” where we read,
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
The verse begins, “Keep your heart with all diligence;”. Solomon began with the words, “keep your heart” or “ guard, watch, preserve, observe and maintain your, the son of Solomon's, soul, mind, will, desires, conscience, living beings and the seats of emotions and affections” “with all diligence” which means “by the use of the totality of confinement, watching, observance and guarding”. Solomon instructed his son to watch over and protect his soul, mind and will by the use of total observance and guarding.
The verse continues, “for out of it are the issues of life.” Solomon added the words, “for out of it” or “because, since and on account that from the heart” “are the issues of life” which means “exist the outgoings, borders, extremities, sources and boundaries pertaining to flowing, fresh, lively and active living”. Solomon said the heart is the source of each and every border and extremity pertaining to active living.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon knew the soul and mind of his son needed to be protected because the “heart” is the source of all active and lively living. In other words, a person lives according to the condition of their “hearts”. God knows we have sinful “hearts”, and He is willing to forgive us and grant us everlasting life when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When we yield to Jesus, He will change and form our “hearts” according to His own, and we must “guard” and watch over them.
Next time Solomon says, “put away from you a froward mouth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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