I believe most Christians know the book of Proverbs is a book about wisdom. I believe it is so much more than that, especially made clear in the passages in Proverbs 17 through 20.
Proverbs 17 starts us off with “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full with feasting with strife.” Morsel, I’m guessing, is a small piece of something. He starts us off with a reminder to be humble with what we have. The whole passage talks about man and his inability to control his tongue, and, on a deeper level, his broken spirit. He is selfish without any care for who he hurts. If you seek knowledge, you will find peace, humility, and a calm spirit.
Proverbs 18: This scripture starts off with “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all judgement.” I know people like this and have been there myself. I was bitter and was only concerned about my own feelings and thoughts. I didn't want to hear truth because it wasn't aligned with my heart. I wanted what I wanted and isolated myself from everyone. This passage is a reflection of what's inside a man or woman's heart, which will reflect our everyday life identity. 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Powerful and insightful!
Proverbs 19: Once again, the passage is filled with the “heart” scriptures. “The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the Lord.” Whenever I hear people talk about this in a sermon, the heart as it is mentioned throughout the Bible, most people glance over it. They passively mention the heart. God wants to know your heart. David was a man after God's own heart. The Word of God mentions the heart over 850 times, so it must be important to our Father and is not to be taken or said lightly.
Proverbs 20:9. “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” and 20:27: “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart, and by the loving kindness he upholds the throne.” Our Father knows us, knows what we really think and feel, and if we have a heart to change, to repent and seek Him first and only, above all else, He is a God of the Heart. He wants us to understand that our thoughts and feelings and actions might stem from the heart, but we don't have to finish there. He wants us to understand that our inheritance is here and waiting for us.
