Going Nowhere Fast?

(Proverbs 4:5 KJV)  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

This is both a command and a statement of the possible.  I have not studied Hebrew so I am not aware of its technical grammatical structure but in English and Greek we would call this an imperative.  This is not the language of suggestion.  God’s people are not allowed to walk around as sheep, ignorant of truth and falsehood.  Proverbs is not saying, “If you can work it into your schedule could you please think about developing your spiritual side?”  Proverbs is saying “Do it!  Now!”

Don’t just be open to the possibility, “get" (acquire NASB) (7069).  This is sometimes translated “buy.”  Get on fire.

What do we “require to acquire?”  We are not to “forget” (7911).  New is not always the best.  It can be better, but how do we know unless we remember what the standard it.  I get a kick out of people who talk about a great new song or how good the “worship team” is and later find out that the person praising them can’t carry a tune.  How can you tell me music is good if you don’t know the standard?  New must be anchored in old.  This is an idea that post-modern society is rejecting.

The word is the anchor.  It keeps coming back to this.  Picture trying to navigate a ship with no compass, GPS, or knowledge of the ocean currents.  You could go fast.  You could go far.  But if you don’t have a point of reference you are wasting your time.  In our reference, you are wasting your life.

So make sure that you know the word.  Know the truth or you won’t know if you are set free.  Do what it takes to get wisdom and understanding.