Strong writing employs vivid imagery. Why? Well, it is kind of like the cliché says: Every picture tells a story. It is the same when it comes to the wisdom literature in Scripture. In Proverbs, for example, look at how image-rich Solomon’s words are: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil” (Proverbs 4:23-27, ESV).  

The Images:

* The heart is compared to a spring of water.

* Deceptive speech is visualized as ‘crooked’ ways

* Being wise about the way one walks is compared to the eyes to the front, walking the straight and correct path.

Connection: For several years, my family and I lived in Savannah. We absolutely loved it. The beauty of parts of Savannah is stunning. The food is excellent if you know where to go. The Revolutionary War history is pervasive. There are several parks there that we often walked and lounged in. The list is long of things I love about Savannah.

But the image of eyes looking directly forward that Solomon uses in Proverbs 4 reminds me of the surreys that were common in the touristy sections of Savannah. The horses would pull carriages with tourists. The drivers of the buggies would narrate the history of Savannah–famous writers and architects and leaders who were part of Savannah’s impact. But those horses had leather shingles on their heads that kept their eyes looking ahead. They were not to be distracted. They were to walk the straight path, the way the man driving the buggy led them down the brick and stone streets downtown.

Encouragement:  It is that image—of focus upon the straight path that remains with me. Isn’t there wisdom here? I grew up in church, and I can still hear the country preachers under which I sat for many years, quoting the psalms. One of the verses I don’t remember not knowing was this one: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Again, the image is so clear.