Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Proverbs Chapter 4
Metaphysically Interpreting Proverbs 4:10-27
4:10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;
And the years of thy life shall be many.4:11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;
I have led thee in paths of uprightness.4:12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.4:13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:
Keep her; for she is thy life.4:14Enter not into the path of the wicked,
And walk not in the way of evil men.4:15Avoid it, pass not by it;
Turn from it, and pass on.4:16For they sleep not, except they do evil;
And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.4:17For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.4:18But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light,
That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.4:19The way of the wicked is as darkness:
They know not at what they stumble.4:20My son, attend to my words;
Incline thine ear unto my sayings.4:21Let them not depart from thine eyes;
Keep them in the midst of thy heart.4:22For they are life unto those that find them,
And health to all their flesh.4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence;
For out of it are the issues of life.4:24Put away from thee a wayward mouth,
And perverse lips put far from thee.4:25Let thine eyes look right on,
And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.4:26Make level the path of thy feet,
And let all thy ways be established.4:27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
Remove thy foot from evil.
August 14, 1938: Prov. 4:10-23
What subject is emphasized in this lesson? Wisdom or the understanding of life receives special attention. Understanding is shown to be indispensable to the living of the balanced life.
As understanding is developed in man, what result is seen in him? As man learns the law of life and keeps it, the equilibrium of the law is expressed in him and he reaps the reward of long life and health. “The years of thy life shall be many.”
What do wisdom and uprightness accomplish for man? They free him from limiting conditions (“Thy steps shall not be straitened”) and confident self-control (“If thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble”).
In what sense is instruction the life of man? Wise instruction inculcates the law of life by calling it to man's attention and showing him what it consists in.
What should be a person's attitude toward evil? One who desires to keep the law of life avoids evil ways and holds himself separate and apart from those whose work is evil. The negative way of avoidance is preferable to acceptance or indifference.
“The path of the righteous is as the dawning light.” Why? Because upright conduct clarifies the mental and spiritual perceptions, so that understanding grows clearer daily.
What underlies wickedness? Ignorance is the cause of wickedness. “The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.”
What are the issues of life? These are the outcome of our habitual thoughts. As we control our thought life, we gain control over our destiny.
September 22, 1940: Prov. 4:10-27
What does experience teach us in regard to long life? That the following of wisdom and uprightness conduces to it. The wisdom that one gains through experience is not lost or forgotten, but endures.
What insures that man's steps will not be straitened and that in running he will not stumble? When man is in harmony with the universal life, his ways are divinely ordered, and nothing untoward comes to him.
What instruction is best worth taking hold of? Instruction in everyday practical living, according to the divine standard brings the best results.
What does wisdom teach man in regard to wickedness? The way of wisdom is to shun all experience in wickedness and follow either the precepts of the moral law or the way of the Christ. "Which of you convicteth me of sin?"
How does man most surely perfect his understanding? By acting from honest motives and holding fast the desire and the will to do right, his understanding of right grows increasingly clear to him (shines “more and more unto the perfect day”).
Where does health have its source? Health springs from the right conception of God life, and this conception is that of the heart or subconsciousness. "Keep them (my sayings) in the midst of thy heart. For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh."
How does one keep one’s heart with all diligence? By guarding one's habitual as well as one's random thoughts, thus establishing the heart in habits of thought that are in harmony with Truth.
How does one establish oneself in right habits of thought? By refusing to consider error in either thought or speech and by consistently reflecting on what is true and right.
What is the last step in gaining experience in wisdom and understanding? Faithful practice and persistence in the course that one has chosen lead to perfection and mastery. “Let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.”
August 25, 1946: Prov. 4:14-23
Why is education of such transcendent importance to youth? Because it enables youth to recognize what is right and follow it without the necessity of gaining this knowledge by experience. It is not necessary to undergo negative experiences in order to learn to live the life of God. Life is too sacred to be wasted in negative living.
In what respect does man-made law parallel the divine law? Man-made law takes account of moral law and inculcates it. The divine law includes the moral law.
Is the keeping of the divine law, unfailingly obligatory? It is. He who disobeys the divine law shortens his days, besides putting beyond his realization the satisfactions that come from willing and faithful obedience.
Does the habit of doing what is right improve our understanding of Truth? Yes. Upright thought, speech, and action clarify the thoughts and quicken the understanding.
How do we keep our heart with all diligence? By guarding our hidden thoughts and motives, until our mental habits become instinctively right and true. A disciplined subconsciousness, that is ready to carry out the behest of the will is an invaluable aid in this work.
August 10, 1947: Prov. 4:23-27
How do we keep our heart with all diligence? By guarding our unspoken thoughts and motives until our thinking habits come into full harmony with Truth.
What state of mind aligns us with divine order? The state is formed by disciplined thinking and the action of the will.
Is discipline a necessary part of our training in the use of the spoken word? It is necessary to discipline ourselves in order to avoid “a wayward mouth,” and perverse lips. Thoughtless speech sometimes destroys or nullifies much good work that has been done silently.
Is purposefulness an asset in keeping our heart with all diligence? Yes. We need to keep our goal in mind and advance unflaggingly toward it. “Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.”
How do we attain poise and steadfastness? By maintaining our sense of balance mentally and becoming conscious of God, thus knowing the peace of being infolded in divine love. “Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.”
Is the habit of checking on our progress helpful? It is. With the goal in mind we cannot afford to deviate from our purpose, or fill our life with meaningless ups and downs. “Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.”
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-28-2013
