Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:20-27

: I spent the last three weeks speaking about the spirit of a man and the need of having a generous spirit.

: Is there a difference between spirit and heart in the bible?

In the great majority of its occurrences in the Scriptures, the word “heart” is used

. It is said to stand for “the central part in general, the inside, and so for the interior man as manifesting himself in all his various activities, in his desires, affections, emotions, passions, purposes, his thoughts, perceptions, imaginations, his wisdom, knowledge, skill, his beliefs and his reasonings, his memory and his consciousness.”

—Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis, 1882, p. 67.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-the-heart-and-the-soul-from-a-biblical-perspective-Are-these-terms-interchangeable-according-to-scripture

: Is there a difference between heart and soul? This question is a little more complex. I would look at above reference for consideration and study.

: What I want to do now is look at Proverbs 4:20-27 and provide guidance / insight into what Solomon is pointing us toward.

The Hebrew word for heart here is

לֵב leb {labe}

I will get back to this in a moment.

What we shouldn’t confuse is the heart with the mind!

Of course, the heart is an organ in one’s chest, but of greater intensity biblically is its metaphorical use for the

.

As opposed to our head being the central location of our thinking, but the heart, when used by the ancient Hebrews used ‘heart’ comprehensively to indicate the inner person, the

that is the location of a persons

(Prov. 16:1, 9; 19:21) and

(Prov. 14:10, 13; 17:22).

Thus, all of a person’s actions (Pro. 15:13; 2 Sam. 7:3), especially speech (Pro. 16:23), flow from the heart, expressing its content, whether good or bad (Gen 6:5; 8:21; Matthew 12:33-35).

Most important, one’s basic disposition toward God is a matter of the ‘heart’ (Prov 3:5); 19:3; Deut. 6:5; 8:1).

Like a deep well, the heart has a hidden depth.

When seeking to replace Saul, the Lord finds in David ‘a man after his own heart’ (1 Sam 13:14).

Against this background, we can understand the absolute urgency of the admonition of Pro 4:23.

: So, watch this…the close connection of the heart and the external organs and actions that give expression to it are revealed here.

‘Deceitful’ / ‘crooked’ mouth. Also, literally ‘distorted’.

Which is part of the larger conversion from evil that ‘fools’ find so difficult (3:7; 4:27; 13:19)

Verse 26b,

, (NKJ)

{koon}

1) to be firm, be stable, be established 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be set up, be established, be fixed 1a1a) to be firmly established 1a1b) to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring.

2. 

: Of great interest is what follows…Proverbs 5 warns against the peril of our eyes and feet to adultery/fornication/promiscuity.

: Play video on Youtube

All conditions of our ‘I’!