BIBLE STUDIES ARCHIVE.....Proverbs 4:20-22

"Incline your ear to my sayings, do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh."
 
In this Scripture we hear the voice of Wisdom speak directly to our hearts.  Both our ears and eyes are to be attracted to Wisdom's voice, heard through the sayings and truth of the Holy Scriptures.  The visual and auditory senses are inclined, or attentive, to the word of God.
 
The Hebrew word for "ear" is ozen, the organ of hearing.  In the Old Testament, the use of the word ear typically represented hearing and obedience.  Ozen comes from the root word azran, meaning  "to pay attention."  From this we can conclude that God desires for us to keep our ears open for His precepts, to pay attention to His word, and to obey it.   
 
Accordingly, we are instructed to keep His sayings continually in front of our eyes; that is, to be in the word so that we are "washed of water by the word."  (Eph. 5:26).  Reading and hearing the word of God is the "renewing of our mind."  (Rom. 12:2). 
 
As we hear the word and see the word, we are to keep it close to our heart.  Keep in Hebrew in shamar, which means to guard, keep safe, and to protect.  God was called the "Keeper of Israel" in Psalm 121:4.  He who keeps His church calls us to keep His word. 
 
Proverbs 3:3-4 instructs us:  "Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man."    Proverbs 2:1 and 2:5 further states:  "My son, if you receive my words and treasure my commands within you...then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  These truths confirm to us that as we seek and keep the word of God close to our heart, we will find favor in the sight of God and in man, and in addition we will find the knowledge of God!  What a wonderful promise! 
 
Yet there is more to this text, as we find His words "are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh."  This tells us the word of God is life, and is health.  Let's explore this statement a little further.
 
The word for life is chay in Hebrew, which is translated as living, or having life.  The Hebrews saw life as a set of experiences in which health, prosperity and vitality were directly associated.  They viewed life as being directly connected to a right relationship with God.  As such, the words of God bring us life in all its fullness.
 
The word for health in Hebrew is marpe  which is found 13 times in the Old Testament.  It means healing, restoration of health; a remedy or cure; medicine; tranquility; deliverance; refreshing.  This word comes from the Hebrew verb rapha which is defined as to mend or to cure.  Many of us know the Lord as Jehovah-Rapha, our Healing God.  Thus we see the sayings of God bring us healing, restoration and deliverance.   
 
Proverbs 3:5-8 indicates the following:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil, it will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."    Here we see that trusting, acknowledging and fearing the Lord, departing from evil and leaning on Him and His ways will be health to our flesh and strength to our bones.  Proverbs 12:18 indicates that "...the tongue of the wise promotes health."  
 
The use of marpe is also found in Malachi 4:2: "But to you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings;"  This Sun of Righteousness is Jesus Christ, who promises to arise with healing in His wings.
 
What is the benefit of the words of God?  The favor of God, the esteem of others, the very essence of life, and health.  And so consider the following questions:
 
1. Are your ears attuned to the words, written and spoken, of God?
2. Are you obeying the words of God that you hear?
3. Do you have a time you set aside each day for your eyes to read God's Word?
4. Are you keeping the words of God close to your heart?
5. Do you trust the Lord?
6. Are you experiencing the fullness and vitality of life?
7. Have you experienced healing, deliverance, and tranquility in your life?
8. Does your tongue promote life?