Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Ok, I am going to push it today; I don't have quite enough 'heart/hearts' verses in Proverbs for three more posts but going to make a couple of rather long posts, and I'm only covering two chapters. Diving in...and including verses as necessary for context.
Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. -- Prov. 23:6-7; 'Heart' is the familiar Strong's H3820, Leb - inner man, mind will, heart, understanding.
I read those verses and saw in my head the old Winnie-the-Pooh cartoon, in which he consumes all of Rabbit's honey, while Rabbit is saying, while shaking his head, "Are you sure you won't have some more?" This is just fatherly advice here; read the room, lol.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. -- Prov. 23:12; 'heart' is H3820 again.
This is pretty much the theme of Proverbs; the importance about being intentional to obtain knowledge and wisdom. It takes intentionality to apply one's heart to anything.
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad. -- Prov. 23:15; both instances of 'heart' are H 3820.
As a parent...I can confirm that this is absolutely so. I have joked that it's harder to be a parent than to be a college student... in college, you study hard, take the test, know immediately if you did well or messed up. In parenting...it's 20ish years before you find out if you messed it up or not. Seeing the offspring make wise decisions/ speak wise words is one of the greatest reliefs known, lol.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. -- Prov. 23:17; Heart is H3820 once more.
I would say being zealous for the fear of the Lord is protection against developing envy for anyone...the temporal pleasures they have are all pretty shallow compared to the glory of God. If the fear of the Lord is valued; the temptation to envy others will not have anywhere to flourish.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. -- Prov. 23:19; 'heart' is, again, H3820.
Once more, wisdom is shown to be intentionally attained (by listening) and equated with keeping the heart...and by implication, one's life...on the right path. Of course, this also implies that there are paths that are not right...so that's worth a bit of consideration as well.
And the wise father offers one more way to the son to avoid evil influences:
My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways. -- Prov. 23:26; 'heart' is, again, H3820.
Basically, dad is saying "follow my example". Of course, that means that dad is confident that his life has been committed to the zeal of the Lord, to seeking wisdom and listening to wise counselors. If there is no other reason to do those things, setting the example for our kids to follow would be enough.
On to the next chapter....
Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about making trouble. -- Prov. 24: 1-2; 'hearts' is, once more Strong's H3820.
This strikes me as quite a contrast to the discussion of 'heart' in the previous chapter...that is, the heart that is wise, is applied to seeking wisdom, is following the wisdom of parents...these are hearts that plot violence and whose conversation is about causing trouble. Confirms that there ARE hearts that are consumed with wickedness.
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? -- Prov.24:12; 'Heart' is Strongs H3826, Liba, which is the noun meaning 'heart'. Like, the actual organ is weighed.
Feigned ignorance will not avail. This has popped up before...God KNOWS our hearts. He knows if we have just ignored something, if we've stuck our fingers in our ears and sang 'la la la' to avoid knowing a thing. The verse before is actually a reference to rescuing folks who are heading for destruction, but I think it can apply to any area in which we rather artfully avoid confronting and acknowledging truth.
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. -- Prov. 24:17; 'Heart' is H3820 again.
Schadenfreude is a real temptation. Oh, how glorious to see an opponent...an antagonist...even just someone who has behaved in an entitled manner...get served a heaping helping of humble pie. But. You know, sooner or later, every one of us will have that plate set in front of us to consume. Snarky responses to another's pain...deserved or not...has a way of biting back. Much better to remember that we are all fallible and if that person stumbled this week...it may be me next week. Rather, pray that they learn something of God's grace while they're down.
One more verse today...and it's in the middle of a long thought. The author observed the property of someone known to be lazy and lacking in judgement; seeing the thorns and the weeds and the fallen stone wall, he considers the situation.
I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: -- Prov. 24:32; 'Heart' is H3820 again.
Sometimes wisdom comes not just from listening to those older and wiser, but from keen observation of cause and effect around us. The author noted in the next couple of verses that it doesn't take much neglect of responsibility to result in chaos.
One more week in Proverbs, ya'll. It has been kind of interesting to see that the verses are, by and large, repeating the same themes.