Proverbs (Part 074) - Pro 7:2-4

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2. Pro 7:2 - "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." A. Keep my commandments, and live; i. Having told his son to keep and lay up his commandments in Pro 7:1, Solomon now tells him why: to live. a. This was the nature of the Old Testament: if a man kept God's commandments he would live (Lev 18:5). b. If he broke God's commandments he would die (Rom 6:23). ii. The sin of adultery merited the death penalty (Lev 20:10). a. This is what Solomon is trying to spare his son from. b. Those who don't listen have death awaiting them (Pro 5:23; Pro 7:26-27). B. and my law as the apple of thine eye. i. God's law should be the apple of our eye. ii. Apple n. - 7. a. apple of the eye: the pupil or circular aperture in the centre of the eye through which the dark retina is seen; so called, because it was supposed to be a globular solid body. Sometimes extended to the iris and pupil; or to the eyeball; but apparently only by misunderstanding. b. Used as a symbol of that which is cherished with the greatest regard. iii. The law of God should be cherished with the greatest regard compared with anything we have or could desire. iv. God's children are the apple of his eye (Deut 32:10; Psa 17:8; Zec 2:8). a. In other words, God cherishes us with the greatest regard. b. God showed us how much He loved us by dying for us in the person of Jesus Christ (1Jo 3:16). v. God's word should be the apple of our eye. a. We show God how much we love Him by keeping His commandments in His word (Joh 14:15). b. When we love the word of God (Psa 119:97) and live by it (Mat 4:4), we show that it is the apple of our eye. 3. Pro 7:3 - "Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart." A. Bind them upon thy fingers, i. The commandments and the law of God (Pro 7:2) are to bound to us. a. Bind v. - I. To tie fast. 1. a. trans. To make fast with a tie; to fasten, tie up. b. To tie fast to (on, upon). b. In other words the scriptures are to be with us at all times as if they were tied to us. ii. God's commandments are to be bound to three different parts of our person: a. Our neck (Pro 3:3). (i) Our neck signifies the place on our person that is most easily seen. (ii) It is not normally covered with clothing, and it is near the face which is the area of the body that is most often looked at. (iii) Binding the law of God around our necks is symbolic of letting our light shine to others as we live according to God's precepts. b. Our heart (Pro 6:21). (i) Our heart signifies our inward man consisting of our will, intellect, and emotions (see notes on Pro 6:21). (ii) Binding the law of God on our hearts signifies that it is in our memories and is a vital part of our inner lives. c. Our fingers/hands (Pro 7:3; Deut 6:8). (i) Our fingers and hands signify our work and vocation (Psa 8:3; Act 20:34). (ii) They are also symbolic of our spiritual warfare (Psa 144:1 c/w 2Co 10:4-5). (iii) Binding the law of God on our fingers and hands signifies that our work and warfare are done according to the word of God. (iv) Our fingers and hands are also visible to us nearly at all times (unlike our own necks), so binding God's commandments to them is symbolic of having the scriptures ever in front of our eyes. B. write them upon the table of thine heart. i. Writing the commandments of God upon our hearts is another way of saying to hide them in our hearts (Psa 119:11; Psa 37:31). ii. When the scriptures are written upon our hearts we can then think and talk of God's word at any time throughout the day (Deut 6:6-7). iii. Therefore, they are ever with us to guide us whether we have a Bible in front of us or not (Pro 6:22). 4. Pro 7:4 - "Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:" A. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; i. Wisdom n. - 1. a. Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs: opp. to folly. ii. Wisdom is here personified as a man's sister. iii. Sister n. - I. 1. a. A female in relationship to another person or persons having the same parents. 7. a. A thing having close kinship or relationship to another. iv. It is obvious that sister is being used figuratively in this verse in that an immaterial thing like wisdom cannot be born to the same parents as a man. v. The sons of God should have a close relationship to, and fondness for, wisdom, just as a man would have for his own sister. vi. Solomon called his wife his sister to express his love and fondness for her (Son 4:10). a. We should feel the same way toward wisdom which is found in God's word (Pro 2:6 c/w Pro 4:6). b. If we love her, she will love us back (Pro 8:17). vii. If we do the will of God (God's word) we are Christ's (who is the wisdom of God - 1Co 1:24) sister (Mar 3:35). B. and call understanding thy kinswoman: i. Understanding n. - 1. a. (Without article.) Power or ability to understand; intellect, intelligence. ii. Understand v. - 1. To comprehend; to apprehend the meaning or import of; to grasp the idea of. iii. Kinswoman n. - A woman of one's own kin; a female relative. iv. Understanding should be sought diligently (Pro 4:5). v. It should be loved like a kinswoman such as a mother, grandmother, sister, or aunt (Pro 4:6). vi. It (along with wisdom) should be the most important thing in our lives (Pro 4:7) because it will enable us to comprehend the word of God which will facilitate us knowing Him and His will for our lives. C. If we embrace wisdom and understanding like a sister and a kinswoman they will keep us from wicked women who will destroy us (Pro 7:5), just like a sister would do for a brother whom she loved.