“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father,..
he taught me and said,
‘Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.’
Hear, my son, and accept my words…
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness…
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on…
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life…
Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.” Proverbs 4:1-11,13-15,18-23,25-27
David had certainly made many a glaring mistake, but his steadfast love for the Lord and willingness to repent identified him as a man after God’s heart. One evidence of that is the care with which, in the press of responsibilities and complicated relationships and wars, he diligently taught Solomon the crucial practice of holding fast to God’s word. His priorities, though not always kept, were right, and indelibly marked his remarkable successor. Holding fast had guarded his years and exploits, and directed his son toward wisdom. (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)
Among all the habits man deems important to establish and keep, holding fast to the Lord is vital for a fruitful life. It assures light and life of spirit, clarifies way and direction. Guarding His word guards us, giving insight by which we are honored and protected, strength to resist evil and avoid wicked paths. It sets sights and desires aright and fortifies resolve to remain true.
How can we hold fast? How attentively do we listen to and heed instruction? Is there any habit or passion so entrenched in our hearts or fists that leaves no room to seize God’s uprightness? What new attention or obedience or stewardship for those who listen to and watch us will we commit to today? (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
Lord, help me prize You above all else and hold fast Your wisdom, to Your renown and glory.
As the rain and snow 