Proverbs 3:21-24

²¹ My son, do not lose sight of these—
    keep sound wisdom and discretion,
²² and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
²³ Then you will walk on your way securely,
    and your foot will not stumble.
²⁴ If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

We are to keep “sound wisdom” and “discretion”, lets look at the original meaning of these words.

The word for Sound Wisdom is tü·shē·yä', meaning enduring success - of the effect of sound wisdom.  Enduring success. I think is important to define “enduring success”, remember that we are trading in man’s economy for God’s economy. Let’s not define success monetarily, or through power and possession.  Let’s define success through the promises that have been listed so far in the first few chapters of Proverbs:

·      Security

·      Ease

·      Without dread of disaster

·      Success

·      Blameless

·      Guarded

·      Shielded

·      Knowledge

·      Pleasant

·      Long life

·      Prosperity

·      Love

·      Faithfulness

·      Favor with God and man

·      Health

·      Barns overflowing

To live our life under these promises would be an enduring success! I love the saying, “Some people are so poor, all they have is money”.  Money, power and control do not leave us with a peaceful, easy feeling that Wisdom – or reverence of God- affords us.

Let’s look at “discretion”: mez·im·mä', meaning a purpose.  Our scriptures today open with Solomon reminding the reader to not loose sight of these two precepts- enduring success through Wisdom and purpose. To never loose sight of them.  Do you see how impossible a task that is, in our world of instant gratification, and a society that is as focused as “Dory” in “Finding Nemo”?  Our society is relentless in demanding our attention. In a fast paced world where internet is on our phones and anyone can reach us at anytime over everything----to NOT LOOSE sight of Enduring success through Wisdom and purpose. It is no wonder that Solomon seems to entreating us to sit up in our seats and take notice.  To HEAR what is being said to our Spirits, not to merely listen.  To understand that we must not loose sight of these tenets, if we want to walk in the promises of God. 

These two things: enduring success and purpose will – literally will be life for our soul. Is is “chay” – life- meaning

·      sustenance

 ·  flowing, fresh (of water)
·  lively, active (of man)
·  reviving (of the springtime)
Is the Word of God not a constant mystery, ready to feed us our daily bread?  Is it not so exciting to dig into His word and find His mysteries?  Sound Wisdom and purpose will flow like fresh water, sustaining us and reviving us.  Drink it in let it nourish your very DNA.
These will bring life to us and be an adornment for our neck.  Here the word is “chen”, meaning:

·      Favor,

·      grace,

·      charm

·      elegance

·      acceptance

Oh my goodness, what promises this book holds, are you prepared to pay the price for all of these promises?  To walk through our days with this sort of character, this sort of stance that allows us to be in the world not of it!  There is a price – we can not loose sight of Wsdom, or our reverence and fear of God.
Solomon is lying down quite the case to take his words seriously.  The cost----- holy obedience to the ordinary. If we can pay the price, Solomon goes on to promise that we will walk in security, our foot will not stumble and when we lie down we will not be afraid. I find myself overwhelmed by the nuances of His Word today.  It soaks into my heart like a fresh spring on parched ground. I am stuck in the words, “DO NOT LOSSE SIGHT OF”…. Help us Lord to not loose sight in the everyday.  Help us to breath you in every moment of every day.