What does it mean to guard our hearts?
When I was in high school and college, “guard your heart” was a clichéd phrase that meant, ‘Don’t get too serious about a romantic interest—keep things friendly and chill until you know you want to get married.’
But the author of Proverbs has a deeper meaning in mind!
In this post, I want to look deeper at Proverbs 4:23. It reads,
Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.
Careful Bible study requires that we look at the same passage through different lenses:
- Scriptural Context
- Cultural Background
- Literary Style
- Church History
- Connection to Christ
- Practical Application
Scriptural Context:
First, one of the fundamental principles of good Bible study is to consider the broader context of a specific verse.
In this regard, the UTB Commentary notes about Proverbs 4:20-27:
Another appeal to my son calls for strict attention and obedience to the words. It is noteworthy that the commands and admonitions center on the heart, mouth, lips, eyes and eyelids (v. 25b, gaze), and feet. If all these parts of the body are regulated, life (v. 22) is secured.
Now that we understand the broader context, let’s examine the cultural background of this verse.
Cultural Background
Another essential practice is to study the original cultural context.
The IVP Old Testament Background Commentary explains,
It is a common tradition in the ancient Near East for the heart to be the seat of the intellect (see Prov 14:33) and the source of stability for one who would adhere to a just and wise life (see Solomon’s request in 1 Kings 3:5–9). In Egyptian religious thought the heart (ib) is distinguished from the soul (ba) and is considered the very essence of a person’s being.
Instead of thinking about the heart in a scientific or medical sense, we need to ensure that we are thinking about our true selves.
With this cultural context in mind, let’s consider the literary style of the passage.
Literary Style
To understand any communication, we need to recognize its genre.
Duane Garrett explains in The New American Commentary, “Metaphoric use of body parts permeates this text.”
If we don’t recognize the use of metaphor, we will read this passage in a very wooden, literal way. Perhaps we will look for specific streets in our city where “the wicked” are said to walk and stay away from them. This approach might blind us to seeing how supposedly respectable people conceal their evil ways from us!
Having examined the text itself, let’s see how the church has interpreted this verse throughout history.
Church History
Reading the Bible with wisdom requires considering the weight of church history.
The Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture quotes Origen, Athanasius, Basil the Great, and other early Christian leaders, who saw this verse as a warning against demonic influence.
While I don’t necessarily see this as a primary concern within this specific text, it is a sobering warning worth keeping in mind.
While historical interpretations are valuable, it’s crucial to understand how this verse connects to Jesus.
Connection to Christ
Most importantly, we want to understand how passages connect to Jesus, who fulfills all Scripture.
Garrett also notes, “This verse, perhaps in conjunction with Ezekiel’s vision of the River of Life (Ezek 47:1-12), apparently was the source of Jesus’ perplexing citation in John 7:38.”
This is what we find in John 7:37-39,
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
I find this link very refreshing!
Instead of adding more pressure to get my heart right, linking this passage to Jesus’ promise reminds me that my heart can be a wellspring of life only when I am filled with the Holy Spirit.
Instead of trying harder, I am invited to depend on God’s resources more.
When the spiritual life of God is at work in my life, my entire identity, purpose, and way of life starts to resemble Jesus.
So, finally, let’s consider how we can apply this wisdom in our daily lives.
Practical Application
Good Bible study leads to application. We want to do what God says! But that requires that we carefully understand what God has actually said!
Writing in the New Bible Commentary, John Goldingay encourages us:
The inner person has to be right, because that is the source of all else; but outward behaviour is not just left to work itself out from that. We also have to pay attention to speaking straight, looking straight, and walking straight.
In other words, we can test the invisible state of our hearts by evaluating its visible outcomes: what we say, what we give our attention to, and how we act.
Here are some suggestions:
- Start each day by meditating on Scripture
- Intentionally ‘practice the presence of God’ (our Together course, available in the Academy, teaches you how to do this).
- Each evening, examine your day. Where did you see God at work? Where did you miss God?
- Take one day a week to disconnect from technology and prioritize time with God
- Deepen a friendship with another sincere Christian. Agree to regularly talk about spiritual matters with each other.
Conclusion
We’ve explored Proverbs 4:23 from various angles - its context, cultural background, literary style, historical interpretation, connection to Jesus, and practical application.
We’ve learned that ‘guarding your heart’ goes far beyond being cautious in relationships. It’s about nurturing the core of our being - our thoughts, emotions, and will.
A hidden life with God is the secret to aligning everything else about us —our words, focus, and actions — with God’s purposes.
As we guard our hearts with God’s help, we will develop spiritual maturity and become fully human.
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