“My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.” – Proverbs 5:1–2
Throughout the Book of Proverbs, readers are cautioned and exhorted to pay attention. Think of how difficult it is sometimes to EITHER keep our attention focused where we need it to be OR keep someone we are teaching to maintain attention. Attention results in benefits and so, we reap promises. Solomon gives significant effort to teach us regarding the dangers of our evil world. What is it that distracts and is so dangerous? It is laid out in this chapter. Solomon commands our attention from the very first verse. And, it is not only our attention (or the pretending to be attentive while our thoughts wander off in some cabbage patch) but the intentional effort to listen, receive, and understand what is taught. [PA1] It is a daily battle we all face. What are the promises? We learn to profit from the ability to exercise discretion and gain knowledge. The extreme likelihood of temptation is our call to give attention. Otherwise, we’re likely deluded and see only the present gratification; expecting to taste, the honeycomb (v.3); Hearing the smoothness of the tempter’s voice. But never is the beginning so sweet, as the end is bitter(v.4).
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Esengo Mingi 