Fri, 17 March, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

Proverbs 4:1-9

¹ Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
² for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
³ When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴ he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
⁷ The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
⁸ Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
⁹ She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Welcome to the book of Proverbs. In today’s reading, the writer (Solomon?) encourages his son to seek wisdom.

What do we learn from this?

In this passage, we see the way a father should set the tone of the family, pointing the children to wisdom. The training of children is something that should be a part of life in the home, as the father hands down the instruction that he received from his father. The parents have learned much through their lives and they should teach them to their children. And the major thing to teach them is wisdom.

Wisdom is something we must seek. We must go after it, and strive for it. But the work will be rewarded. It is not easy work, but it is valuable work and well worth the effort.

Our children will not naturally know this. They will not naturally seek after wisdom. We need to teach them and train them to do this. We need to encourage our children, just as Solomon is here encouraging his own son.

Where is Christ in this passage?

We learn later in the book that The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

We are to seek wisdom, and the place to start is by learning to fear God. This is not the craven fear of the despot, but rather the respect of a son for his Father. Through the work of Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s family, and God is now our Father. We love Him for what He has done for us, saving us from our sins. But we also respect Him and fear to displease Him, as a child does not want to disappoint his earthly father.

So where does wisdom start? It starts by seeking God in Jesus Christ, and learning to love, respect and fear our Father.