Hear and Be Wise - Proverbs 23:19

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse nineteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “hear you, my son, and be wise” where we read,

Hear you, my son, and be wise,

and guide your heart in the way.

The verse begins, “Hear you, my son, and be wise, ...” Solomon began with the words, “hear you” or “listen, attend, perceive and attend you, Solomon's son”, “my son” which means “Solomon's immediate male offspring and descendant”, “and be wise” or “and exist as skillful, shrewd and prudent”. Solomon called upon his “son” to listen and attend to him, and the result would be skill, shrewdness and prudence. 

The verse goes on to say, “... and guide your heart in the way.” Solomon continued with the words, “and guide your heart” or “and go straight, advance and progress your, Solomon's son's, soul, mind, will, desires, conscience, living being and seat of emotions and affections” “in the way” which means “within the traveled road, path, journey, manner and direction”. Solomon instructed his son to advance his soul, mind and will within the journey and path of the right course. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see Solomon wanted his son to listen to him so his son would be skillful and prudent. Solomon told his son to advance his soul, mind and will toward that which is a right course. God wants us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. It's the reason we were created, (See Revelation 4:11) and God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind so we could live according to His ways. When we humble ourselves and surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to listen to Him to become “wise” and advance our souls toward His right and correct path. 

Next time Solomon says, “be not among winebibbers”, 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".