Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. Mankind are reasonable creatures, and the religion which God enjoins upon them is a reasonable service. But it has always been found extremely difficult to reason with men upon religious subjects. God here speaks with paternal affection and authority. I. EXPLAIN THE PRECEPT IN THE TEXT. 1. It implies the exercising of love to God. To love, and to give the heart, signify the same thing. 2. It implies loving God for what He is in Himself. Men may love God for His favours, without loving His true character. 3. It implies loving God supremely. He is the Supreme Being, He possesses supreme natural, and moral excellences; and to love Him for these is to love Him supremely. II. THE REASONABLENESS OF COMPLYING WITH THIS DIVINE INJUNCTION. Consider — 1. That we are the offspring of God. 2. He is infinitely worthy of the love of all mankind. 3. The conduct, as well as the character, of God makes giving Him our hearts reasonable. 4. This will afford us the highest happiness that we are capable of enjoying. 5. There is really nothing to hinder us from thus giving our hearts. Improvement:(1) It is reasonable that all men should be really religious. (2) Not reasonable to think hardly of God if He rejects services when hearts are withheld. (3) It is reasonable to exhort men to exercise supreme love to God immediately. (4) Every scheme of religion which keeps hearts from God is unreasonable. (5) It is most unreasonable to withdraw hearts from God when they have once been given. (N. Emmons, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.WEB: My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. |
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