THE BOOK OF WISDOM - CHAPTER 4

                                         by Eddie Chumney

Dear Mishpochah (family):

            This teaching article will continue our studies of
Proverbs. As we have seen so far, the SUBJECT of the book of
Proverbs  is the TORAH. The exhortation of the book of Proverbs
is that those who are WISE will FOLLOW TORAH. In this article, we
will examine Proverbs 4


                  THE INSTRUCTION OF THE FATHER IS TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:1 HEAR, ye CHILDREN, the INSTRUCTION of a
FATHER, and attend to know understanding.

KJV Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, FORSAKE ye not
MY TORAH.


                   THE INSTRUCTION OF ANY GOOD FATHER
                                      IS TO FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: YHVH our Elohim is one
YHVH:

KJV Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love YHVH thy Elohim with all
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

KJV Deuteronomy 6:6 And THESE WORDS, which I COMMAND
thee THIS DAY [The commandments given at Mount Sinai], shall be
in thine heart:

KJV Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt TEACH THEM diligently unto thy
CHILDREN, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house,
and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and
when thou risest up.


                        YHVH KNEW ABRAHAM WOULD
                         TEACH HIS CHILDREN TORAH

KJV Genesis 18:18 Seeing that ABRAHAM shall surely become a
great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be
blessed in him?

KJV Genesis 18:19 For I know him, that he WILL COMMAND HIS
CHILDREN and his household after him, and they shall KEEP THE
WAY OF YHVH [Follow Torah] to do justice and judgment; that
YHVH may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

KJV Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto YHVH our
Elohim: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our
CHILDREN FOR EVER, that we may DO all the WORDS of this
Torah.

KJV Deuteronomy 31:12 GATHER the people together, men, and
women, and CHILDREN, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that
they may HEAR, and that they may LEARN, and fear YHVH your
Elohim, and observe to DO all the WORDS of this TORAH:

KJV Deuteronomy 32:45 And Moses made an end of speaking all
these words to all Israel:

KJV Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto
all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall
COMMAND YOUR CHILDREN to observe to DO, all the WORDS of
this TORAH.

KJV Psalm 78:5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and
appointed a TORAH in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that
they should make them KNOWN to their CHILDREN:


             THE SHALOM OF OUR CHILDREN WILL BE GREAT
                     IF WE TEACH THEM TO FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Isaiah 54:13 And all thy CHILDREN shall be TAUGHT of YHVH;
and GREAT shall be the PEACE of thy children.


                      YHVH WILL FORGET OUR CHILDREN
                          IF WE DON'T TEACH THEM TORAH

KJV Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
because thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also REJECT
THEE, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast
FORGOTTEN the TORAH of thy Elohim, I will also FORGET thy
CHILDREN.


                 KEEPING YHVH'S COMMANDMENTS ARE OUR LIFE

KJV Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart
retain my words: KEEP my COMMANDMENTS, and LIVE.

KJV Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of INSTRUCTION; let her not go:
keep her; for she is THY LIFE.


KJV Deuteronomy 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day LIFE and
GOOD, and DEATH and EVIL;

KJV Deuteronomy 30:16 In that I command thee this day to love the
YHVH thy Elohim, to walk in his ways, and to KEEP his
COMMANDMENTS and his statutes and his judgments, that thou
mayest LIVE and MULTIPLY: and YHVH thy Elohim shall bless thee in
the land whither thou goest to possess it.

KJV Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, blessing and
cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may
live:

KJV Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto
all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall
command your children to observe to DO, all the WORDS of this
TORAH.

KJV Deuteronomy 32:47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is
YOUR LIFE: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the
land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.


         WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:5 GET WISDOM, GET UNDERSTANDING: forget it
not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

KJV Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore
GET WISDOM: and with all thy getting get understanding.


          WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you STATUTES and
JUDGMENTS, even as YHVH my Elohim commanded me, that ye
should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:6 KEEP therefore and DO them; for this is YOUR
WISDOM and your UNDERSTANDING in the sight of the nations,
which shall hear all these STATUTES, and say, Surely this great
nation is a WISE and UNDERSTANDING people.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath
STATUTES and JUDGMENTS so righteous as all this TORAH, which I
set before you this day?

        These verses tell us that KEEPING and DOING the TORAH is
done by a WISE and UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE.


            WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall
be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round
about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:12 Only YHVH give thee WISDOM and
UNDERSTANDING, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou
mayest KEEP the TORAH of YHVH thy Elohim.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:13 Then shalt thou PROSPER, if thou takest
heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which YHVH charged Moses
with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor
be dismayed.

        Therefore, a person who is WISE and has UNDERSTANDING
will follow the TORAH and will PROSPER.


                     WHAT IS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING?

KJV Job 28:20 Whence then cometh WISDOM? and where is the
place of UNDERSTANDING?

KJV Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the FEAR of YHVH,
that is WISDOM; and to depart from evil is UNDERSTANDING.

KJV Psalm 111:10 The FEAR of YHVH is the beginning of WISDOM:
a GOOD UNDERSTANDING have all they that DO his
COMMANDMENTS: his praise endureth for ever.

             Job asked what is wisdom and understanding? The
BEGINNING of wisdom and understanding is the fear of YHVH. How
to we express our fear (reverence, respect, awe) of YHVH? We keep
His Torah or commandments!


      FEAR YHVH IS WISDOM = KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS       

      If the fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and
understanding then what is the fear of YHVH?

KJV Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that
they would FEAR ME, and KEEP all my COMMANDMENTS always,
that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

KJV Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore thou shalt KEEP the
COMMANDMENTS of the YHVH thy Elohim, to walk in his ways, and
to FEAR HIM.

KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: FEAR Elohim, and KEEP his COMMANDMENTS: for this is
the whole duty of man.


                              WE ARE TO LOVE THE TORAH
                           (WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING)

KJV Proverbs 4:6 FORSAKE HER NOT, and she shall preserve thee:
LOVE HER, and she shall keep thee.

KJV Joshua 22:5 But take diligent heed to DO the COMMANDMENT
and the TORAH, which Moses the servant of YHVH charged you, to
LOVE YHVH your Elohim, and to walk in all his ways, and to KEEP his
COMMANDMENTS, and to cleave unto him, and to SERVE HIM with
all your heart and with all your soul.

KJV Psalm 119:97 MEM. O how LOVE I thy TORAH! it is my
meditation all the day.

KJV Psalm 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy TORAH do
I LOVE.

KJV Psalm 119:165 GREAT PEACE have they which LOVE thy
TORAH: and nothing shall offend them.


                     WE ARE TO GUARD / PROTECT THE TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love
her, and she shall KEEP <05341> thee.

<05341> Keep in Hebrew is natsar. It is the Strong's number 5341.

1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch,  guard,
keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers

KJV Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall KEEP <05341>
thy TORAH; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
 
KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my Torah; but let thine heart
KEEP <05341> MY COMMANDMENTS:

KJV Proverbs 6:20 My son, KEEP <05341> thy father's
commandment, and forsake not the TORAH of thy mother:

KJV Proverbs 28:7 Whoso KEEPETH <05341> the TORAH is a WISE
SON: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.


            FOLLOWING TORAH WILL BRING GLORY AND HONOUR

KJV Proverbs 4:8 EXALT HER, and she shall PROMOTE THEE:
she shall BRING THEE to HONOUR, when thou dost embrace
her.

KJV Proverbs 4:9 She shall give to thine head an
ornament of grace: a CROWN OF GLORY shall she deliver to
thee.


KJV Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou
shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of YHVH thy
Elohim, to observe and to DO all his COMMANDMENTS which I
command thee this day, that YHVH thy Elohim will set
thee on HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS of the earth:

KJV Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these BLESSINGS shall come
on thee, and OVERTAKE THEE, if thou shalt hearken unto the
voice of YHVH thy Elohim.

KJV Deuteronomy 28:13 And YHVH shall MAKE THEE
the HEAD, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only,
and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto
the COMMANDMENTS of YHVH thy Elohim, which I
command thee this day, to observe and to DO THEM:

KJV Deuteronomy 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if
ye hearken to these JUDGMENTS, and keep, and DO them,
that YHVH thy Elohim shall keep unto thee the covenant
and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

KJV Deuteronomy 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless
thee, and MULTIPLY THEE: he will also BLESS the FRUIT of thy
WOMB, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and
thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy
sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give
thee.

KJV Deuteronomy 7:14 Thou shalt be BLESSED ABOVE ALL
PEOPLE: there shall not be male or female barren among
you, or among your cattle.

KJV Deuteronomy 7:15 And YHVH will TAKE AWAY from
thee ALL SICKNESS, and will put none of the evil diseases of
Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them
upon all them that hate thee.

KJV Leviticus 26:3 If ye walk in my statutes, and KEEP my
COMMANDMENTS, and do them;

KJV Leviticus 26:7 And ye shall CHASE YOUR ENEMIES, and
they shall fall before you by the sword.


                 FOLLOW TORAH ADDS YEARS TO YOUR LIFE

KJV Proverbs 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my
sayings; and the YEARS of thy LIFE shall be MANY.


KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my Torah; but let thine
heart KEEP my COMMANDMENTS:

KJV Proverbs 3:2 For LENGTH of DAYS, and LONG LIFE, and
peace, shall they add to thee.

KJV Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that
they would fear me, and KEEP all my COMMANDMENTS ALWAYS,
that it might BE WELL WITH THEM, and with THEIR CHILDREN for
ever!


KJV Ephesians 6:2 HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER; (which is
the first commandment with promise;)

KJV Ephesians 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest
LIVE LONG on the earth.


                      THE RIGHT PATH IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of WISDOM; I have
led thee in RIGHT PATHS.

KJV Proverbs 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
and when thou runnest, thou shalt NOT STUMBLE.


KJV Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the PATH of thy
COMMANDMENTS; for therein do I delight.

KJV Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a
light unto MY PATH.

KJV Psalm 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O YHVH; TEACH ME THY
PATHS.

KJV Psalm 25:10 All the PATHS of YHVH are mercy and TRUTH unto
such as KEEP HIS COVENANT and his testimonies.

KJV Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of YHVH, to the house of the Elohim of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will WALK in HIS PATHS: for
out of Zion shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of YHVH from
Jerusalem.

KJV Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall BUILD the OLD
WASTE PLACES: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many
generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The
RESTORER of PATHS to dwell in.

KJV Jeremiah 18:15 Because my people hath FORGOTTEN ME, they
have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to
STUMBLE in their ways from the ANCIENT PATHS, to walk in paths,
in a way not cast up;

KJV Jeremiah 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with
supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of
waters in a STRAIGHT WAY [follow Torah], wherein they shall NOT
STUMBLE: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.


                       THE WICKED DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:14 Enter not into the PATH of the WICKED, and go
not in the way of EVIL MEN.

KJV Psalm 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the
WICKED that FORSAKE thy TORAH.

KJV Proverbs 28:4 They that FORSAKE the TORAH PRAISE the
WICKED: but such as keep the Torah contend with them.


      THE PATH OF THE JUST FOLLOWS THE LIGHT OF TORAH

KJV Proverbs 4:18 But the PATH of the JUST is as the SHINING
LIGHT, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

KJV Proverbs 6:23 For the COMMANDMENT is a LAMP; and the
TORAH is LIGHT; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

KJV Isaiah 8:20 To the TORAH and to the testimony: if they SPEAK
NOT according to this word, it is because there is NO LIGHT in them.

KJV Matthew 5:16 Let your LIGHT SO SHINE [following Torah] before
men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which
is in heaven.


             THE TORAH SHOULD BE WRITTEN ON OUR HEART

KJV Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to MY WORDS; incline thine ear
unto my sayings.

KJV Proverbs 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; KEEP THEM
in the midst of THINE HEART.

KJV Proverbs 4:22 For they are LIFE unto those that find them, and
HEALTH to all their flesh.

KJV Proverbs 4:23 KEEP thy HEART with all diligence; for out of it are
the issues of life.

KJV Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, WHAT doth YHVH thy
Elohim REQUIRE of thee, but to fear YHVH thy Elohim, to WALK in all
HIS WAYS, and to LOVE HIM, and to serve YHVH thy Elohim with all
THY HEART and with all thy soul,

KJV Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall
HEARKEN diligently unto MY COMMANDMENTS which I command
you this day, to LOVE YHVH your Elohim, and to serve him with ALL
YOUR HEART and with all your soul,

KJV Deuteronomy 30:6 And YHVH thy Elohim will CIRCUMCISE thine
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to LOVE YHVH thy Elohim with ALL
THINE HEART, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

KJV Ezra 7:10 For EZRA had PREPARED HIS HEART to SEEK the
TORAH of the YHVH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments.

KJV Psalm 37:30 The mouth of the RIGHTEOUS SPEAKETH
WISDOM, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

KJV Psalm 37:31 The TORAH of his Elohim is in HIS HEART; none of
his steps shall slide.

KJV Psalm 40:8 I delight to do THY WILL, O my Elohim: yea, thy
TORAH is within MY HEART.

KJV Psalm 119:11 Thy WORD have I HID in MINE HEART, that I
might not sin against thee.

KJV Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall KEEP thy
TORAH; yea, I shall observe it with my WHOLE HEART.

KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my Torah; but let thine HEART
KEEP my COMMANDMENTS:

KJV Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS,
the people in WHOSE HEART is MY TORAH; fear ye not the reproach
of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

KJV Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the COVENANT that I will make
with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHVH, I will put MY
TORAH in their inward parts, and WRITE it in THEIR HEARTS; and
will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.


         In studying Proverbs 4, we learned the following:

#1) Parents are to teach their children Torah
#2) Great will be the peace of our children if they follow Torah
#3) YHVH will 'forget' our children if we don't teach them Torah
#4) Keeping the Torah of YHVH is our life and length of days
#5) Following the Torah is Wisdom and Understanding
#6) We are to love the Torah with all our heart
#7) We are to guard / protect / cherish the Torah
#8) Following Torah will bring glory and honor
#9) Our right path is choosing to follow Torah
#10) The wicked don't follow Torah
#11) The Torah is our light
#12) The Torah should be written upon our heart


          I pray that this study has been a rich blessing to you.

         May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l