Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. -- Proverbs 4:23, Green's Literal.
Our physical heart provides the sources of the blood that is pumped throughout our body, sustaining life in our body. The figurative heart pertains to our thoughts, desires, and affections. In proportion as our heart is primarily set on love for our Heavenly Father, our heart will produce righteous thoughts, desires, and affections. Although our body of sinful flesh may offer hindrance, the heart stayed on Jehovah will produce activities that are in harmony with the love of and service of Jehovah. If we do not seek to diligently keep our hearts in harmony with our God through Jesus, some evil ambition will undoubtedly creep in. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
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The Hebrew word rendered "keep" is a verb that carries the meaning of "watch, guard, keep". The Hebrew word rendered as "diligence" is a noun that carries several meanings. It can refer to prison or a place of confinement. It can also mean to guard, to watch. These two words together appear to be referring to the thought that we need to protect our heart above all else we might need to guard or give our attention to. Our heart, of course, is referring to our inner thoughts, desires, motives, and ambitions. To the extent that we control our heart, such will be reflected in our actions.
Jesus stated, "The things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies." (Matthew 15:18,19, World English) He also stated: "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, World English) Our text harmonizes well with what Jesus said, showing how our heart influences who we are.
From the heart are the issues of life. The Hebrew word rendered as "issues" in the translation above also has a variety of meanings. Brown-Driver-Briggs gives it the following meanings: "outgoing, extremity, source(?), escape". Some translations render this word as "source" in Proverbs 4:32, but this definition may be questionable. Evidently, the only place in the Bible where some give it this meaning is in this verse. Nevertheless, as the physical heart pumps blood throughout our body, providing life, so our inner being, what we think, etc., can lead us on a path of righteousness, resulting in life, or on a path of what is bad, leading to death. Thus, it is indeed essential for us to guard our hearts, that we dwell on what is good in God's eyes, rather than on the foolish and bad thoughts that can lead one away from life. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
See also: Daily Heavenly Manna for January 27
Related Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 6:5,6; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 12:14; Psalm 22:26; Psalm 31:10; Psalm 57:7; Psalm 139:23,24; Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 16:1; Isaiah 26:3; Jeremiah 17:9,10; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 9:4; Matthew 12:35; Matthew 15:18,19; Mark 7:21-23; Mark 14:38; Romans 2:5; Romans 10:8; Hebrews 3:8; Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 12:15; James 1:14,15.
