Proverbs 4:20-27 Initial Observations

I have been asked to lead the prayer meeting tomorrow night at Kosmosdale Baptist Church. I will be leading the devotion for the meeting from Proverbs 4:20-27.

²⁰ My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
²³ Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
²⁴ Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
²⁵ Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
²⁶ Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil. (NASB)

NOTES:

vv. 20-21. A progression: the son will listen to his father, the king, speak the words of wisdom, then he will read his father's words once they were written down; finally, the wise son will commit the words to memory (the words will be learned 'by heart').

v. 22. The words are both "life" and "health:" good for the soul and the body. Wisdom yields both eternal and temporal benefits.

vv. 23-27. The king/father instructs his son to give attention to four distinct parts of the body, each one full of biblical symbolism: the heart, the mouth, the eyes, and the feet.