Know the state of they flocks

Proverbs 27:23–27 (KJV 1900)

23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.

24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure to every generation?

25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, And herbs of the mountains are gathered.

26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field.

27 And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the maintenance for thy maidens.

Introduction

We should give careful attention to the basic matters that God has given us. This is what we will sustain us and the work through the generations.

We need to be diligent in knowing the state of our flocks.

The exhortation.

Proverbs 27:23 “23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.”

Put your heart into it.

Proverbs 27:23 “23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.”

Diligence

Diligence: Diligence combines a willingness to work hard with a discerning focus, a sense of urgency, a vigilant carefulness, and faithful perseverance.

Diligence requires wisdom Eph 5:15-17 “15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

Gives us a sense of urgency.

As parents it is extremely important we recognize the time that we are in so we can properly redeem.

Wisdom allows us to know “the will of the Lord”

Know the condition of those to whom God has given to you to care.

“23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.”

This requires listening.

“The finest art of communication is not learning how to express your thoughts. It is learning how to draw out the thoughts of another.”

Do not be passive with what you know.

“23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds.”

We need to be active in protecting them.

Numbers 32:24 “24 Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.”

We need to be mindful of our calling to protect our kids minds and hearts.

Protect their hearts. Proverbs 4:23 “23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.”

Farmer should care for his flocks and herds because they are a wise investment.

Reason for the exhortation

Proverbs 27:24 “24 For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure to every generation?”

Ministry of Neglect

“A diligent person must learn to strategically neglect lesser priorities.”

One of the most effective ministries anywhere in the world is the ministry of neglect.

Paul would have seen this as not just avoiding sinful but morally, good business. 2 Timothy 2:4 “4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Riches are not forever

The rich men of previous generations are not the rich men of this generation. The Rothschilds, Vanderbilts, Morgans, Carnegies, Astors, and Rockefellers have fallen far from the preeminence they once had. Today the rich are Gates, Buffet, Allen, Walton, Ellison, and Ballmer. Some of these could buy out the older families combined. Riches are not for ever – they go away by many means. Economic success is temporary.

Riches will take flight. Proverbs 23:4-5 “4 Labour not to be rich: Cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”

“Recognizing that God has called you to function as his agent defines your task as a parent. Our culture has reduced parenting to providing care. Parents often see the task in these narrow terms. The child must have food, clothes, a bed, and some quality time. In sharp contrast to such a weak view, God has called you to a more profound task than being only a care-provider. You shepherd your child in God's behalf. The task God has given you is not one that can be conveniently scheduled. It is a pervasive task. Training and shepherding are going on whenever you are with your children. Whether waking, walking, talking or resting, you must be involved in helping your child to understand life, himself, and his needs from a biblical perspective (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).” ― Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child's Heart

Our blessings will be a result of God’s gracious, provision to us.

The results of the exhortation.

Proverbs 27:25-27 “25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, And herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field. 27 And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the maintenance for thy maidens.”

God has given us all we need that pertains to life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:2-4 “2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

All things that pertain to life

We have all we need to care for our kids and responsibilities.

All things to pertain to godliness

“Lord, make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made.” - Robert Murray McCheyne

“No Christian drifts into holiness. The flesh is too weak, the devil too deceitful, and the world too alluring.”

God still calls for us to be diligent in the work.

2 Peter 1:5 “5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

We must give diligent attention to our spiritual maturity and growth in Christ.

image of hay gathering and of the provisions given through the flock are a picture of his love and God’s care.

Picture of diligence

The author of Psalm 119 models what desperate diligence might sound like in practice. All throughout the psalm, notes of diligence and notes of desperation meld into a harmony that can come only from the Holy Spirit.

To call the psalmist diligent puts it mildly:

Psalm 119:10 “10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”

Psalm 119:44 “44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever.”

Psalm 119:60 “60 I made haste, and delayed not To keep thy commandments.”

Psalm 119:99 “99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation.”

Psalm 119:164 “164 Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments.”

Here is diligence indeed. Yet it is the diligence of a man who knows, deep down, that he is hopeless apart from his God. Hear his desperation:

Psalm 119:25 “25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.”

Psalm 119:29 “29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously.”

Psalm 119:36 “36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.”

Psalm 119:80 “80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; That I be not ashamed.”

Psalm 119:125 “125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.”