"Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart"
Solomon brings up a technique for life change that our generation does not hear often. You must repeat important material over and over again, or you will forget it and will drift back to your normal selfish mode which you were born with. Our culture is into cataclysmic change and overpowering change, but we no longer want to hear that there are some things that we will need to do every day, every week, every month if we are going to live a successful life. It is true, of course, but we don't want to hear it; so the only things we repeat every day are useless jingles from commercials and ridiculous things our impulses attach to.
We need to be repeating every day things like the Ten Commandments, The Lord's Prayer, The Golden Rule, The Ladder of Virtue, The Beatitudes, The Fruit of the Spirit. These will change our life if we focus on allowing God the Holy Spirit to develop them every day in our lives.
depart
This is the Hebrew word luz, which means to turn aside, to depart. Solomon here is exhorting his young charges that they need to focus on the words that he is saying if they are to live securely and safely.
keep
This is the Hebrew word shamar, which means to watch, to keep, to preserve. There is a focus on watching over something with intensity. Solomon is saying you must give your attention to the meaning of the things I am saying to you if you are to build a truly abundant life.
These are not lessons that you learn once and then never review. These lessons are there constantly and need to be reviewed constantly.
heart
Notice that Solomon uses the word heartor leb, which is the standard word for the soul and spirit. The inner part of a person's being must begin to be affected by the words. If there is not penetration of the words, then it will not do you any good. This book must go deeper and change the way you think and live. The words of wisdom need to be in the nerve center of your heart and directing how you speak, act, think, and even your mental mind-set called your attitude.
Are you repeating Scripture so that you can hide it in your heart? Are the power phrases of Scripture informing how you are acting or are the lyrics from the Top 40 giving you input on what you should do?
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz