19 Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. 20-21 Be not among  drunkards [those who drink too much wine] or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23  Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. 25 Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe [delight in] my ways. 27-28 For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress [a foreign woman] is a narrow well. She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. Proverbs 23:19-28 (English Standard Version)

There's a lovely incident in the Bible of how a man from Ethiopia was reading the words of a Jewish prophet as he journeyed home from Jerusalem in a chariot, and he was met by a man named Philip who offered to explain what the prophet's words meant. Having explained how it was all about the salvation and eternal life God has provided in Jesus Christ, the Ethiopian asked to be baptized in the the name of Jesus. And we're told that “when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:39)

He went on his way rejoicing because he had discovered the blessings of what became known as 'the way'. The first Christians were called followers of 'the way'. In today's reading we see how the father was also calling his son to a way of life that led to rejoicing, not only for the son, but for the parents as well. (vs 19 & vs 25) What is required of anyone who wishes to find this way of life that leads to rejoicing? (vs 26)

It is our heart, the seat of our affections, that needs wise direction for living (vs 19), and that would be found by the son if he gave his heart to his father's instructions. (vs 26) There's a sense in which God the Father says the words 'give Me your heart' to each of us too. In the story Jesus told of when a son who’d wasted his life on reckless living came to his senses, and returned to his father to ask forgiveness, the father rejoiced greatly. There's an amazing verse in the Bible which says of the people God saves: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17) Salvation doesn't only bring great joy to the man or woman who is saved from sin’s pathways, it gladdens the heart of God as well!

What was one of sin's pathways the father called his son to turn away from in vs 20-21?

He told him to steer clear of people given to drunkenness and gluttony. The apostle Paul warned Christians about this too when he wrote: “Many of whom I've often told you, and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

What was the other danger the son was warned of in vs 27-28?

While Proverbs is written from the standpoint of a father to the son, it's principles apply to all. We see that from vs 22 & 25. So while it is usually men who resort to prostitutes, women are also vulnerable to sexual temptations and sinful actions. It is both men and women who produce the vulgar songs and videos of today's music industry. And what a temptation that world is to young people. Oh how we need to pray for our youth that they will give their hearts to the Father who truly loves them, and who will guide them in a way that leads to true rejoicing. May they discover that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and come to the Father through Him.