The image of turning your ear toward wisdom implies that you’re turning it away from something else. There are so many streams of noise—both audible and visual—constantly bombarding our brains. When Solomon says to pay attention, it means we are intentionally turning our focus to what we listen to, centering it on his words of insight. In this verse specifically, Solomon is concerned about his son battling the sexual temptation he will be surrounded by in life. He anxiously wants his son to not not be aware of the temptation, but to be ready to resist it when it comes. The ability to withstand the temptations of this world ultimately comes from God—His power buried in His truth and activated through the power of His Spirit. Solomon’s concern for his son is needed just as much, if not more, today in our sex-saturated culture. This truth is not limited to sexual temptation, though. Whatever temptation we face cannot be defeated—at least not for long—by our own strength and willpower. Satan is more aware than we are of those tender places where we stand with little resistance to his suggestions and devious strategies. When his temptations run up against God’s wisdom and insight, buried in our hearts and souls through His Word, we recognize them and find the strength and understanding to defeat them. Today, allow His wisdom and insight to create a defense in your soul against the attacks of the evil one. #BeTheEdge
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV
