1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

These verses are a call to us to not only hear but be attentive to God’s Word.  He promises to give us insight as we diligently pay attention to what His Word is telling us. This is why we are doing this series on Proverbs.  Our marriages need wisdom to succeed. In a time when over half of all marriages fail, it is obvious something is lacking.  We believe it is wisdom.  And wisdom comes from God.

A “precept” according to Noah Webster is authoritative instruction pertaining to moral conduct, and no where in Scripture is morality more prevalent than the Proverbs. Solomon had great wisdom and he used his wisdom to instruct us  how to live.  First and foremost in our lives is obtaining wisdom.  For one who gains it will walk rightly.

Yet how does wisdom apply to us today?  In our marriage routine, in our social calendar, in our church life?  What difference does wisdom make?  We believe simply asking these questions is a sign of wisdom, for many give no thought at all to applying godly wisdom as to how they live, much less seek it wholeheartedly.

Solomon continues:

20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.

Since I am staying with my daughter and son-in-law this week, I thought I’d ask Seth his thoughts about this chapter.  These verses above are the one which stood out to him.  He pointed out the best way to be attentive to God’s Word is to memorize it.  How true, but how many of us take the time to purposefully do this?  There is an iphone app available that makes Scripture memorization quite simple.  It’s called Fighter Verses, and it’s only $2.99 – a small price to pay for this tremendous tool.  Listen to John Piper’s take on it:

Fighter Verses on Your iPhone or Android.

If we are serious about pursuing wisdom for our marriages then why not take this challenge to memorize God’s Word together?  It will help keep your foot from slipping and most of all it will keep you on the path of the righteous.

8 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.