May 27th

Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 1-4

Commentaries on today's passage
Proverbs 1:7-33 The Two Ways by Bob Deffinbaugh
Proverbs 1:7-9 Do Not Forsake Your Mother's Teaching by John Piper
Proverbs 4 Get Wisdom by John Piper

There are just so many verses that jumped out at me! I'm disappointed that we're going to fly through the Proverbs in just 8 days.

Here are just a few of them that stood out from today's passage....

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Prov 1:7
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Prov 3:3-4
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5-6
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Prov 3:27
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Prov 4:7
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Prov 4:23

So much good stuff in here!

A few comments I'd like to make.

First of all, it is very clear that wisdom is something that we can strive for. It is a gift of God, and yet it also is something we need to work hard for - it will require effort.

There are numerous blessings or benefits of wisdom mentioned in the Proverbs - long life, prosperous life, favor with God and people, success, health, riches, honour, peace, pleasure, protection, etc. So - if you don't have those things does it mean you are not wise enough? That you have not searched for understanding? No, not necessarily. These are not guarantees, they are general principles. In a perfect world, all who strive for wisdom would receive all the blessings and benefits of wisdom. But we do not live in a perfect world. Often, wisdom does have benefits in this life, but sometimes sin intervenes and blessings have to be delayed until Jesus' return.

Another thing I had not noticed before - and likely reading chronologically is what triggered this thought for me - in the beginning of chapter 4, King Solomon is telling his son (and us!) about his father's teaching. King David instructed his son very clearly on the importance of striving for wisdom. He said "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she wil watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor." Proverbs 4:4-9 Is it any wonder that Solomon asked God for wisdom? He was listening to the instruction of his father!

And how do we get wisdom? In John Piper's sermon, he indicates five ways to get wisdom - we must desire wisdom, we must study God's word and other great books on theology and biblical interpretation (he puts forth a challenge in this sermon - on average, if you would spend 15 minutes each day reading a book, you could read 20 books in a year. He guarantees that if you commit to doing that, you will not be the same person in a year from now!), we must pray to God for wisdom, we must think of the shortness of this life and the infinite life of the next, and we must come to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. Prov 1:7-9
John Piper's sermon on these verses is absolutely excellent and I highly recommend reading it in it's entirety. Here are his main points (for those that are too short on time)....

First of all, the family is God's idea (mother, father, children) and it is for His glory.

Secondly, the family is a school. Though we may receive support from Sunday School teachers, friends, grandparents, mentors, etc - raising our children in the Lord is our responsibility as parents and we will be held accountable for the job we did, as well as who we entrusted our children to.

Third, the foundation of the family and of the family school, is the fear of the Lord. God is to be central.

Fourth, the responsibility belongs to both mothers and fathers. Neither is exempt from the awesome responsibility of training our children. And the rewards are eternal!

Fifth, children are to listen to their parent's instruction while they are young and at home, and they are not to forsake their teaching once they have left home.

Sixth, hearing their father's instruction and not forsaking their mother's teaching will result in rewards for our sons and daughters - gifts and prizes around their necks.

The family, as a home and as a school was God's idea, for His glory, as a way to teach and instruct our children how to live in this world with a godly perspective. When children honour their parents by listening and not forsaking their teaching, they will be rewarded.

Tomorrow's passage: Proverbs 5-7