By: J.M.G — 10/4/22
Solomon wrote, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV).
The International Standard Version reads: “Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flows the springs of life;” The New American Bible reads: “With all vigilance guard your heart…;” The New Living Translation has: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
So, the warning to GUARD our hearts is also a warning not to give in to the temptation of sinful living, i.e., indulging in sin as a way of life. Sin may satisfy short term desires/lusts, but its consequences are long-term.
Following the “keep/guard” your heart warning, Solomon writes, “Let your eyes look straight ahead and your gaze be focused forward” (v.25). He tells us to “Survey the path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure,” (v.26). He, in v. 20, 21 speaks of the faculties of hearing/ears and seeing/eyes. So, our eyes/ears/mouth/feet are all connected to the heart. Our heart can and does determine our course in life. Jesus taught about the “Narrow gate,” which leads to life (few who find it); He taught about the “wide gate” and the broad-way which leads to destruction (many go in by it.”) (Matthew 7:13, 14).
Solomon’s Proverb 4:20-27 is about acquiring wisdom in order to be healthy spiritually: hearing the Words of life and keeping them in your heart; Speaking and acting in accord with the wisdom that has been stored in the heart; Solomon mentions 7 members of the body: ears, eyes, heart, mouth, lips, eyelids, and feet.
How do we allow our eyes to focus on the things of the here-and-now? Hear things that are not good for our health; our hearts are either weighed down with fears, and anxieties or with lusts and pleasures; our mouths say things that are contrary to things that uplift/edify; we look upon things that will bring in darkness, dread, discouragement?
Guard: Hebrew natsar (a primary root): “to guard in a good sense (i.e. to protect, maintain, obey, etc.), keep, observe, preserve, watch.”
Actually, what Solomon wrote (and, sadly, did not practice at times) came directly from the LORD’s heart: Heart-to-heart.
I like the ISV most of all: “Above everything else.” 3 powerful words we’re to GUARD our hearts – our very lives depend on it. TOO many professing “Christians” allow weeds to over take their garden, allow insects and rodents to come in and eat at will. Having grown up in the country it was a constant chore to weed and keep out pests that destroy crops. Song of Solomon speaks of foxes that spoil the vines. Chapter 4 and 5 speaks of the garden, as does Chapter 6. How are we keeping our garden?
Guard: a diligent guard is alert and on duty; not sleepy or sleeping. I dare say in this hour and in this generation, the Church is sleeping and dreaming. Jude wrote about “these dreamers” who “defile the flesh,” (v.8). Jude calls them “godless persons, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v.4). If one does not GUARD the heart, we too can become godless, pollute the body/soul/spirit. Bodily pollution can be diverse; sexual, social, sensual etc.
The NKJV, v. 20-22 reads:
“My son, give attention to My words; incline your ear to My saying. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart (or center); for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”
Our heart is who we are. The Bible speaks volumes about the heart, the core, the very essence of who and what we are. We are warned against a heart of unbelief, a disobedient heart, a prideful heart etc.
The Amplified Bible says, “Out of it (heart) flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). It is rightly said that the LORD God designed His healing springs to flow from Jesus to our physical bodies, providing restoration. Jesus said, “Rivers of Living Water will flow from within him,” (John 7:38 NAB). The Living Water He spoke of was the Holy Spirit: the Spirit would flow from Jesus and to the believer’s heart. “From within him:” either Jesus is the believer; if Jesus, it continues the Jesus-Moses motif (i.e. water from the rock, Exodus 17:6/Numbers 20:11) as well as Jesus as the new Temple (Ezra 47:1). Grammatically, it goes better with the believer in this verse).
The Bible says, “More tortuous than anything is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, explore the mind and test the heart giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9, 10). There you have it. You see, God gives us the “rope of hope” (salvation) it is enough “rope to hang ourselves’’ if foolish!
We can have a joyous or grievous heart, a trusting heart or a deceitful, unforgiving heart. God tests it.
Isaiah wrote about Jesus, “He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, knowing pain…” (Isaiah 53:3). He was pained in His heart/spirit over the rejection of His own people. Do we add to His pain?
Isaiah says He was “struck for the sins of His people… though He had done no wrong, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:8, 9).
Isaiah said of Jesus, “He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows…” (Isaiah 53:4). Grief (Hebrew, choliy) “malady, anxiety, calamity, disease, sickness,” taken from chalah (a prim. root), “to be weak/sick/afflicted, to grieve, infirmity, sore, weakness, be wounded.” Grief means “heartache/heartbreak.” We should also know by now that Jesus’ heart was pained/broken so that ours wouldn’t have to be… alone.
Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me (Lord), because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor (in spirit). He has sent Me to heal the BROKEN HEARTED, to proclaim liberty to the (sin) captives and recovery of sight to the blind (lit. and fig.), to set at liberty those who are oppressed (i.e. down trodden); to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” This was taken from Isaiah 61:1, 2.
We’ve all suffered form a hurt spirit/broken heart. I have many times. But by His stripes we were/are healed, physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Thank God for Jesus who bore our sins and sickness on the cross. Our suffering in life will identify us with Him/Them.