Proverbs 23:12

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about applying the Word to our lives:

Proverbs 23:12 (ESV)

Apply your heart to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

The concept of "applying"  yourself to something is unique picture for our society.   It is not that we don't apply ourselves; it is just a foreign mindset to think about it and to actually engage in the act of applying ourselves to something.  With that said, we need to understand what Solomon means for us when he uses the word "apply."   The actual Hebrew word is "bo."   Short and sweet, but it has a variety of meanings.   Only once is it translated "apply," even though the verb is used some 2500 times in the O.T. Hebrew.   The more popular use is. “to come in or go out.”   With that in mind Solomon might be telling us to present ourselves (come in) to discipline and knowledge.   When we "apply" ourselves to a sport we present ourselves day and night to the learning that sporting craft.   That is what golfers do ... they go to the range to hit many buckets of balls.  They "present" themselves.   Solomon is telling us to get to the range of discipline and knowledge.   Let our hearts learn inward and outward correction (discipline) and bring our hearts into a place where knowledge can and will shape us.   But how?   When we "go into" (Hebrew "Bo") God's Word we are applying ourselves to disipline and knowledge.  By reading this Proverb and putting it to use we are applying ourselves to its truths and thereby fulfilling it.   It is time to apply our hearts and hearing to God's discipline and knowledge.