Proverbs 7 … Consider the Words of His Mouth

Originally posted: 12/31/2020

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth, (7:24).

Much effort is spent cautioning his sons on the wiles of the adulterous woman. You can hear the urgency behind the king’s counsel, as he describes the need for wisdom and understanding to escape the deadly snare of her cunning deceptions.

And I saw among the naive,
And discerned among the youths
A young man lacking sense,
⁸ Passing through the street near her corner;
And he takes the way to her house…
²¹ With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.
²² Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
²³ Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life, (7:7-8, 21-23).

And again we hear His Father Heart, earnestly desiring to lead His children in the way they must go that they would be ably equipped to avoid walking into tragedy. It’s what we all want for our children. And like any parent, we have surely spent many an hour pleading and instructing. But one thing we can’t do, is force obedience.

Throughout the Old Testament, God described His relationship with His children as a marriage that must be guarded with fidelity. And while He would never force obedience, He has most certainly provided every resource needed to remain loyal, if we would but pay attention and heed the Words of His Mouth.

Consider the Words of His Mouth

• The Words of His Mouth are to be kept and treasured.
  • My son, keep my words
    And treasure my commandments within you, (7:1).

• The Words of His Mouth are to be obeyed and diligently guarded.
  • Keep my commandments and live,
    And my teaching as the apple of your eye, (7:2).

• The Words of His Mouth are to be firmly fixed upon our actions and our heart.
  • Bind them on your fingers;
    Write them on the tablet of your heart, (7:3).

• The Words of His Mouth are to be our intimate companion.
  • Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    And call understanding your intimate friend, (7:4).

• The Words of His Mouth are to be our defense against temptation.
  • That they may keep you from an adulteress,
    From the foreigner who flatters with her words, (7:5).

How do we respond to the Words of His Mouth?

It’s really too much too fathom, why He even bothers; why He extends the effort to send us His gift of faith through the Words of His Mouth.

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ, (Romans 10:17).

But in His grace, He does exactly that; and if we will keep and obey, and guard and treasure the Words of His Mouth as our intimate companion and defense against temptation, we will enjoy fellowship and the blessing of an intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe.

• Let us listen to the Words of His Mouth, that we would worship only Him.
  • “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you;
    O Israel, if you would listen to Me!
    ⁹ “Let there be no strange god among you;
    Nor shall you worship any foreign god,” (Psalm 81:8-9).

• Let us hear the Words of His Mouth, that we would walk in holy fear and dwell in the peace of His glorious salvation.
  • I will hear what God the Lord will say;
    For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
    But let them not turn back to folly.
    ⁹ Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
    That glory may dwell in our land, (Psalm 85:8-9).

• Let us give all our attention to the Words of His Mouth, that we may find His good blessing as we trust in Him.
  • He who gives attention to the word will find good,
    And blessed is he who trusts in the Lord, (Proverbs 16:20).

• Let us learn to live on the Words of His Mouth, that we would be strengthened to withstand the tempter.
  • And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,’” (Matthew 4:3-4).

• Let us ask Him to soften our hearts, that when we hear the Words of His Mouth, we would respond in faith and obedience.
  • He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
    “Today if you hear His voice,
    Do not harden your hearts,” (Hebrews 4:7).

It is through the Words of His Mouth that He reveals and exalts His great Name. Oh, the privilege we have to know Him. How can we not take seriously His admonition to treasure the Words of His Mouth above all else?

For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name, (Psalm 138:2).

Lord, it is our heart’s desire to remain faithful to You. Please teach us to listen and pay attention, that we would truly treasure the Words of Your Mouth, that we would experience the divine privilege of living a life that faithfully honors and exalts You.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth, (7:24).

Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You, (Psalm 119:11).

Let’s Grow Together!