Sabbath: From Ears to Feet
Read for This Week’s Study: Proverbs 4, 1 Kings 3:9, Matt. 13:44, Proverbs 5, 1 Cor. 10:13, Prov. 6:1–19.
Memory Text: Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil
(Proverbs 4:26-27, NKJV).
Science has demonstrated that hearing impacts how we walk, and that even our balance is influenced by how well we hear. So, instruction, or education — that is, what we hear — is crucial to how we live. Wisdom is the principal thing,
says Proverbs 4:7.
Yet no matter how good the instruction is, the student must pay attention. Not without some irony an ancient Egyptian teacher noted that the the ear of the boy is on his back; he listens when he is beaten.
(In Egyptian art, the student was often represented with big ears on his back.)
It’s not enough just to know about right and wrong; we need to know how to choose right and not wrong. Training in wisdom consists in hearing proper instruction and in following and obeying what we have learned so that we don’t end up walking in the wrong direction.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 10.
(23)
From week to week we study (or read) the carefully prepared Sabbath School lesson. We might ask ourselves why? Is it so we may sound smart when we meet on Sabbath? Is it to appease the conscience, or to privately justify the claim that we are a people of the book, who study regularly? (1 Timothy 2:15). Is it to log compliance to religious duty in the “Book of Remembrance,” the records of heaven? (Malachi 3:16). Or is there a better reason?
It is easy to forget what we studied last year, last quarter, or even last week, and merely recycle old discussions from time to time. However if we study with the intent to let the Holy Spirit do a transforming work in our lives the lessons will have a more lasting effect. We will not only make a harmonious connection of lesson to lesson, we will grow in grace and increase in wisdom and in favor with God (Luke 2:52). What would you like changed this week?
It becomes the remnant people to consider what they might change (or have God change) in their life as they study each lesson. If the lessons make no meaningful difference in our lives we may be logging miles but failing to gain ground, year after year. We do not need to wear ears on our backs, by waiting for God to teach us the same lessons through trials, hardships, and consequences of bad choices; no, not when we are blessed with so much light. Like James said last quarter let us do as we hear (James 1:22). Let the word progress from the ear to the feet – be transformed (Romans 12:2)
Thank you Hugh, your question caused me to stop at each one and reflect on the reason why I study the lessons. Foremost for me is to learn from the Holy Spirit. I must admit, though, I also study to know what is being said in Sabbath school lesson on Sabbath.
Thanks for such such powerful thoughts. Really sets me thinking and turn the searchlight on myself. I really want to be transformed by the word.
Hugh,that is a wonderful sermon that should be preached at the beginning of every bible study guide.Thank you for opening me up
We thank God for the book of Proverbs which is continuing to instill us with practical knowledge and skills to walk in the way of the Lord. It is my prayer that we will not be hearers only, but doers of God's Word. God Bless You.
The analogy of the ear on the boys back reminds me how frequently I turn away and do not heed the call of wisdom.I do my own thing and only here wisdom when I am flogged by disaster.
I thought I'd include the memory verse from The Voice version of the Bible in case it helps clarify it more for anyone else too:
Proverbs 4:26-27 The Voice (VOICE)
26 Take care you don’t stray from the straight path, the way of truth,
and you will safely reach the end of your road.
27 Do not veer off course to the right or the left;
step away from evil, and leave it behind.
just like the ears will hear first, the reaction and action takes palce in the foot.
Assume u heard an unsual sound from a bush and tis time its a lion, the foot will take extra miles by taking u faster (run).
So we shd be transformed and cordinate d just like the impulses from ear to feet.
thanks
Lesson 2 is so interesting to me. Just think how God's amazing creation to human body. I think God wants us to "hear" first, "think" and then react. Our 2 ears are attached and placed in the head of the body and that instruct legs to perform pathways to where it maybe leads.
With this, God reminds us to be selective with whatever we hear so that we might react daily according to God's will.