Day 3
In our effort to become “Fool proof” we are studying wisdom from Proverbs this summer. As we’ve discovered so far, wisdom is far more than head-knowledge, it’s knowledge that is lived out.
Ultimately, it’s wisdom that good parents try to give their children. They don’t just teach them facts about the world, they want them to learn how to live wisely in it. And when children receive and obey their instruction, it brings parents joy.
With Father’s Day coming up, we’re talking about how children can make their dads happy — and not just with a nice dinner or an awesome gift. Treating our fathers and the wisdom they offer with respect is an even bigger gift that goes way beyond Father’s Day.
Read
Proverbs 4:1–9 (NIV)
4 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
Proverbs 10:1
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,
but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
Proverbs 28:7
7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
Proverbs 29:3
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
Ask Yourself
- What is the father’s plea in 4:1–9? What benefit does wisdom offer that a good father would want for his child?
- Proverbs 1o:1, 13:1, 28:7, and 29:3 have a similar construction. Line 2 is offered as a contrast to line 1. This type of proverb is easy to identify if you look for the word, “but.” What is being contrasted in each of those proverbs? What does wise son do? How does a foolish son affect his father?
Read what others say
On Proverbs 4:1–9
From Tremper Longman
“The father approaches his son and again urges him to embrace the way of wisdom. As in other discourses (Prov. 2:1–22; 3:21–35), the strategy is to highlight the benefits that wisdom will bring to one’s life. Here all the emphasis is on the positive results of adopting wisdom, and nothing is said about the punishments of rejecting wisdom and going with folly, as is the case in many of the other related passages. However, what is truly distinctive here is the appeal to tradition. The primary dynamic of the book is a father’s instruction to a son. Here we have an explicit statement to the effect that the father is simply continuing a tradition that stretches back for generations. He is speaking to his son as his own father (on behalf of himself and his mother) had earlier spoken to him.” [1]
On how to read Proverbs
From Tremper Longman
“The book of Proverbs has a unique concentration of parallel lines that look at the same truth from opposite perspectives. This is called antithetical parallelism, and it involves opposites rather than similarities. This construction is found elsewhere in the Bible, but not with the intensity of the book of Proverbs, particularly in chapters 10–15.
Why is antithetical parallelism so prevalent in the book of Proverbs? As we have already seen, the book is intent on presenting its readers with a fundamental choice in life, the choice between wisdom and folly. These antithetical proverbs are fleshing out the differences between the two.”[2]
On Proverbs 10:1
From Tremper Longman
“The proverb in 10:1 is an observation that helps clarify who is wise and who is a fool. The statement calls for self-observation on the part of the son. The son must reflect on the type of response he elicits from his father and mother. What kinds of emotions do his actions, his speech, and his character evoke from his parents? This proverb illustrates the circumstantial nature of the proverbial truth. It clearly assumes that the parents are wise themselves. If the parents were fools, then their joy would be elicited by their child’s evil, unrighteous behavior. Wise parents, in contrast, would be encouraged by the righteous behavior of their son but chagrined at his folly. This observation could also serve as motivation. Those who love their parents would be motivated to embrace wisdom in hopes of bringing joy to their parents’ lives.”[3]
Pray
Reflect on the emotion the father expresses in Proverbs 4:1–9. He wants his son to get wisdom and understanding because it is best for his son. That’s what God wants for us. He wants us to turn to him for wisdom and understanding for our own good. In prayer, ask the Spirit to show you ways you are ignoring God’s wisdom or willfully rebelling against it. Confess and turn back to God. Commit to seeking out God’s wisdom “though it cost you all you have.” Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to keep that commitment and to send you a faithful Christian friend who will encourage you.
Talk about it
- Our relationships with our parents can be complicated, especially as we move into adulthood. Discuss ways that as an adult you can honor your parents.
- Ideally, all of us would have dads like the wise Father of Proverbs. But even good, God-fearing dads can we wrong in their commands or unwise in their advice. What should our response be then?
[1] Tremper Longman, Proverbs, 147–148.
[2] Tremper Longman III, How to Read Proverbs (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2002), 42.
[3] Tremper Longman, Proverbs, 229.
