Stand Guard
Proverbs 4:23
Proverbs 4:23 - Watch (stand guard) over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (NASB95)
In Basic Training we were taught to stand guard.
Near the end of Basic Training, I was assigned as guard for two hours (8 - 10 PM) inside the front door of another barrack. My responsibility was to protect the 40+ men inside the barrack.
Sure enough, about 20 minutes before my watch ended, a Tech Sergeant came to the door. I saw the name on his uniform. That name matched the roster, but I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to see his ID. He didn’t want to show his ID. He demanded for me to let him in. I responded, “Show me your ID.”
When I opened the door, he came in cursing about the “dumb recruit”, but he did not look me in the eye.
As I stood guard that night, I must stand guard over every area of my life.
The word “guard” is this passage carries the idea of standing guard. Note the other commands to obey.
Proverbs 4:20–27 - My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.
For further study:
A passionate father stresses the importance of personal disciplines. All are rooted in the heart.
Give attention to my words - Focus, Self-Control - Proverbs 4:20
Incline your ear to my sayings - Listen - Proverbs 4:20; 20:12
Do not let them depart from your sight - Reinforce them by reading the Word - Proverbs 4:21
Keep them in the midst of your heart - Treasure the Word - Memorize the Word
Watch over your heart - Proverbs 4:23; Jeremiah 17:9
Stand guard over your heart - guard it like a prison guard - hold yourself accountable
Sources of life - everything you think, say, and do has its source in the heart
Put away from you / put far from you - Proverbs 4:24
A deceitful mouth - Speech
Devious speech - Motive - spoken or implied - Matthew 15:11-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Set your eyes directly ahead / straight in front of you - Sight - Proverbs 4:25; Habakkuk 1:13
Watch your path so that your ways are established - Standards - Proverbs 4:26
Do not turn aside / intentionally turn your foot away from evil - Path - Proverbs 4:27
Stay faithful,
Van