Proverbs 4:1-4

Proverbs 4:1-4 "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live."
East Aurora NY Christian Church
For the first time in his Book of Proverbs, Solomon broadens his audience in chapter 4. Having used the phrase, “my son” seven times in three chapters, Solomon starts this chapter by addressing “ye children.”  Clearly, he wrote these proverbs with more than just his heir in mind.  The Book of Proverbs is a book that was primarily written for one child but intended to be read by all of the other children.  If the Book of Proverbs were an email, Rehoboam would be the main recipient while all of his brothers and sisters would be carbon copied.  In many ways, this is how the Bible was written by our Heavenly Father.  God has designed His living book of wisdom for us to be read as a personal letter from Him while all of His other sons and daughters are to read the same instruction.

When Solomon addresses the “children,” I don’t believe he is using that term loosely to refer to all of his unrelated readers or citizens.  This book is a very paternal book - a very personal book.  Furthermore, the passage clearly connects his family relationship as a son to his family relationship as a father.  Solomon wants his biological children to listen carefully to him as their father, not as their king.  He wants them to see him as something far more important than a legal or civil authority over them.  He wants them to view him as something more than their ruling monarch – he wants them to view him as their loving father.

Having growing up in a home where the father of the home was the king of the land, Solomon tries to relate to his children how he felt in their shoes.  David and Bathsheba successfully made Solomon feel like a son rather than a subject.  Even though he knew his parents were king and queen, he easily viewed them as father and mother.  As a result, their words remained very personal to the young Solomon.  In this passage, an older Solomon reminisces about his childhood and informs his children that the words he heard growing up were the words of a father teaching his son instead of the words of a king ordering his subject.  Solomon wanted his children to receive his words in the same manner.

The primary application of this passage for us today pertains to children having a respectful ear for their parents’ instruction.  Children need to see their parents as father and mother instead of seeing them as engineer and nurse or as mechanic and accountant.  Any good parent will tell you that they don’t see other children the same way they see their own children.  Any good parent will tell you that they don’t care nearly as much about other children as they do about their own children.  A good parent will treat their child far differently and far better than they will any other child.  This isn’t to say that a parent is to treat children not their own poorly.  A good parent understands that they have a general responsibility to care for all children but that general responsibility doesn’t compare to the massive responsibility they have to the child or children they brought into this world.
 
Solomon wanted his children to understand that their father was more than a king to them – he was their father.  His responsibility to his sons and daughters was much higher than his responsibility to his subjects and citizens.  Young children rarely understand this parental dynamic until they have children of their own but Solomon wisely tried to help his kids grasp his very personal relationship to them.  What he told them, he didn’t tell everyone.  How he felt about them, he didn’t feel about everyone.  To him, they were special and for that reason, they received special instruction.
 
The secondary application of this passage for us today pertains to fathers.  Fathers reading these verses should take note of Solomon’s counsel for his kids to “hear the instruction of A FATHER.”  When choosing to address his children for the first time in the book, Solomon didn’t tell his kids to “hear the instruction of a father and a mother.”  This passage doesn’t disregard the teaching responsibilities of a mother nor does it minimize the teaching value of a mother but it clearly emphasizes the teaching responsibilities of a father.  These verses highlight the responsibility a father has to teach his children.  In verse two, Solomon wrote that he was doing his duty as a father in giving them “good doctrine.”  In verse four, he then wrote that his father did his duty as he “taught him also.”  There are plenty of places in the Book of Proverbs as well as in the rest of the Bible that teach mothers also have a responsibility to teach their children but the Bible puts that important responsibility first on fathers.

The Bible doesn’t elevate a father’s teaching ability over a mother’s teaching ability nor does it elevate a father’s effectiveness over a mother’s effectiveness.  The Bible does however, elevate a father’s responsibility to teach his children over a mother’s responsibility.  In Joshua 4, the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River and finally enter the Promised Land after decades of wandering in the wilderness.  Before they crossed the Jordan, God told them to take twelve stones out of the Jordan River and set them on land for a monument of God’s miraculous drying of the Jordan.  When explaining the monument’s purpose for future generations, the natural responsibility falling on the shoulders of fathers is clearly implied by Joshua when he said on two occasions, “When your children ask their FATHERS in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?” (Joshua 4:6,21).  In Ephesians 6:4, the emphasis on teaching is again placed on fathers when Paul wrote, FATHERS, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

This passage is an excellent reminder to all fathers that providing food, clothes and shelter is not the only nor is it the most important responsibility of a father.  Providing instruction, counsel and wisdom is the most important responsibility of a father.  Sadly, many fathers have opted out of this responsibility wrongly assuming that their wives are responsible for teaching the children.  Instead of getting answers and instruction from their fathers, many sons and daughters are unfortunately used to hearing, “go ask your mother.” 
 
Biblically-speaking, fathers are to be the primary teachers, counselors and advisors in the home.  To fulfill that Biblical role, fathers need to possess wisdom and knowledge to share.  Solomon told his children that he gives them “good doctrine.”  DADS, do you know “good doctrine” so you can teach “good doctrine” to your children?  Are you with your children enough to give them “good doctrine?”  Most importantly, do you realize that you have a RESPONSIBILITY to TEACH your children “good doctrine?”

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

Rehoboam Solomon fear of God health pride self-sufficiency wisdom 1 Corinthians 1 John 2020 5th Commandment Aaron Abel Abigail Abortion Abraham Absalom Accident Accomplishment Achan Acts 17 Acts Adam & Eve Adam Adolescence Adolf Hitler Adulterer Adulteress Aesop's Fable Aesop\'s Fable Aesop\\\'s Fable Affair Age Agreement Ahijah Ahithophel Albany Alcoholism Alive Ally Alone Amazon Ambition American America Amnon Andrew Finch Animal Abuse Animals Answered Prayer Antichrist Applause Apple of Eye Approval Arrogance Arthritis Asaph Ashamed Athletes Athletics Attorney Backbone Back Balaam Balance Bank Accounts Bathsheba Beauty Bedroom Beecher Beef Behavior Benefit Benjamin BestBuy Bethlehem Betting Bezaleel Bible reading Bible teacher Bible-reading Bible Biblical instruction Big Mouths Big Picture Bin Laden Birth Blog Boasting Bonar Bondage Books Boomerang Boyfriend Brutal Brutish Budget Buffalo Bills Builder Building Business CA Rt 1 Cable News Calamity Call of Duty Calming Calvin Canaan Cancer Candidates Careers Cares of Life Casey Viner Change Character Cheesecake Factory Christian upbringing Christ Churches Circumspect Clamor Cleaning Clinton Clothes Clothing Coaches Coach College Commands Commend Communication Companionship Companions Company Compliance Conceit Conception Condemnation of God Confession Confidentiality Conflict Conservation Consumer Consumption Contentions Contrast Conversation Conviction Cooking Cooperation Corinthians Corrupt Cosigner Cosigning Cosign Cotton Candy Counseling Countenance Courting Coworkers Creation Creator Creatures Crime Criminals Crooked Cruel Curiosity Currency Danger Daniel Data Dating Daughters David Days Death Deceit Deceptive Delilah Delivery Democracy Democratic Desires Desire Deuteronomy Devil Diet Diligent Diploma Discovery Diseases Disease Dishonesty Dishonor Dislikes Divorce Domestic Violence Doorhanger Dreams Dress Drink Drug lords Drunk Driver Drunk Early Adulthood Ears Eastern Culture Eating Ecclesiastes Economic Stability Eden Elderly Elihu Elijah Eliphaz Emai Emerson Emmies Employers Encouragement Engagement Enoch Ephesians Ephraimites Esau Estate Planning Esther Eternity Evening Eve Evolution Excellence Excel Exodus Expectations Expectation Experience FaceBook Face Faithful Fall of Man False Fame Families Famine Farmer Farming Farm Fashion Favor of God Fear of the Lord Fearing God Feast of Purim Financial Advisor Financial Planning Financial Security Fingers Food Foolish Football Free-will Freedom Friendships Friendship Friend Froward Fruit Fumble GPS Gadarenes Galatians 6:7 Galatians Gamble Gang Garden of Eden Garden of Gethsemane Garden Gender Differences Genesis Gideon Gileadites Girlfriend Girls Giving Glad Gluttony Goals God's Kingdom God\'s Kingdom Godhead Goliath Goodness Gossip Graciousness Grammies Grandchildren Gratitude Grave Grief Guess Guide Guilt Culture Gun Control Gun Violence Guns Gutters Hagar Haman Hamlet Hands Hannah Hard Work Hard-Working Harlot Hate Evil Hatred Head Healthcare Healthy Hearing Heaven Heaviness Heavy Heart Hebrews Helicopters Hell Herod Highway History Hollywood Holy Spirit Home Depot Homeowner Homes Homicide Homosexuality Honesty House Human Nature Humble Humility Hungry Hunting Hypocrisy Hypocrites IRS Ian Brady Illness Immorality Inconsiderate Independence Industrious Inheritance Inherit Insecurity Insight Instagram Instructing Integrity Internet Interview Intoxication Inventions Isaac Israel Jacob Jairus James Jealousy Jeffrey Dahmer Jello Jenga Jeremiah Jeroboam Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jesus Jewish Law Jewish Jimmy Soul Jobs Job John the Apostle John Jonah Joseph Joshua Josiah Joy Judah Judaism Judas Iscariot Judges Judging Judgmental Jury Justice System Kindness King David King Hezekiah King of kings Kings King Know-it-all Language Last Testament Law Enforcement Laws Law Leaders Learn Legislation Liars Liar Liberty Library Lies Life Lesson Life-Insurance Likes Lion Loan Longevity Look Looting Lori Loughlin Loss of Health Loss of LIfe Loss Lottery Love Triangle Lowliness Luke 7 Luke Luther Luxury Lying MLB Magazines Majority Maker Makeup Maniac Manna Mansion Maple Trees Mark Martyrs Martyr Marvel Mary Matthew Media Memories Mentors Men Merciful Merriness Messages Mike Tyson Mindset Ministers Mob Mocker Mocking Monarchy Monarch Monopoly Month Moody Morality Mordecai Morning Moses Motherhood Mouths Murder Musician NBA NFL NHL Natural Disaster Naughtiness Nebuchadnezzar Negative Nehemiah New Tricks News Anchors Noah Nobles Nose Numbers Nutrition O.J. Simpson Obama Observation Obtain Old Dogs Olive Garden Order Others Paint Parenting Passion Pastors Pastor Paul the Apostle Paul Perspective Perverse Perversion Peter Pharisees Pharoah Philippians Phone Call Physical Appearance Plant Player Pleasure Policies Political Parties Politicians Politics Polygamy Poor Popularity Portrait Positive Possessions Potiphar's Wife Potiphar\'s Wife Potiphar\\\'s Wife Potiphar\\\\\\\'s Wife Praise Prate Prating Preacher Pregnancy Pregnant Preparation Princes Prince Principal Thing Principal Procrastinate Procrastinator Profit Proof Prophecy Prophet Prosperity Gospel Prostitute Protests Proud Proverbs Proverb Psalm 21 Psalm 23 Psalm 35 Psalm 37 Psalms 37 Psalms Psalm Punishment Pure Purity Purpose QVC Questions Rachel Rage Ransom Rebate Rebekkah Rebel Red Lobster Reels Regulations Regulation Rehoboam Rehoboma Relationship Difficulties Relationship Religion Remember Repentance Reporter Reprove Republican Reputation Research Resistance Responsibilities Resume Resurrection Retirement Revealing Revelation Reward Rich & Famous Rich Man Rich Ridicule Righteouness Right Riot Road Romania Romans 8:28 Romans Rulers Ruler Rules Rule Sabbath Sadness Samson Samuel Sarah Satan Satisfaction Satisfy Saul Saving Scale Scam School Science Scientist Scoffer Scripture Sea of Galilee Seasons Seatbelts Secrets Seduce Seed Seek Self-Confidence Selfies Selfishness Senses Sermons Servitude Sexual Chaos Sexual Confusion Shakespeare Shame Culture Shame Shane Gaskill Shenandoah Valley Shepherd Shoe Laces Siblings Sickness Sight Silence Simon Peter Simon Sinning Slothful Smelling Social Media Social Society Solomon Song of Solomon Sons Sorrow Source Speaking Speak Speculation Speech Speeding Spies Spiritual Security Sporting Sports Sport Spouses Stanley Cup Steal Stephen Stimulus Stock Market Strange Woman Strangers Stratego Strength Stress Struggles Student Super Bowl Rings Surely Surety Swatting Sweat Talebearer Talkative Talking Tamar Tasting Taylor Teachers Teaching Teenagers Teenager Teens Tendency Tension Texas Roadhouse Text Theft Theocracy Tik Tok Till Timothy Tithes To be or not to be Toddlers Toddler Tolerance Tomb Tongue Touching Tour Guide Traffic Light Traffic Signal Trainer Transgressor Travel Treasure Treatment Tribute Trickery Trinity Trips Trouble True Love True Wisdom True Turner Tyler Barriss Uber Eats Understanding Unemployment Unforgiveness Unhealthy Universities Unjust Unrighteous Uprightness Upright Vain Value Vanity Vehicle Vengeance Videos Virtuous Vision Votes Voting Walk Walmart Washington Watsom Way of Life Way Wealthy Weight Western Culture Winking Wink Wise Men Witnessing Womb Women Work Ethic Worth Wrong X Yankees YouTube Zechariah addiction adultery advertisements advertiser advertising advice advisor affection affirmation aggression alcohol amos angels anointing ant anxiety appetite argument assumption as attractions authority background backyard bankrupt battle beginning birds bitterness blessed brain bright broken nose buckler campfire cardinal sins career carelessness car cause certainty charity chastening childhood childrearing children child choices church attendance church command confidence confident consequences considerate contention contentment conversaion correction counselor counsel courage covetousness criticism cruelty cynicism dads dad darkness dark daughter debt deception decisions defend defense demands destruction determination diamonds diligence direction disappointment discernment discipleship disciples disciple discipline discontentment discord discretion distractions distress doctrine dogs drinking drugs dying ear education effort emotions employee employer employment enemies enticement enticing envy equity evil communications evil men evil women evil example eyelids eyes ezekiel facts failure fairness faith family fathers father favor fear of God fear of man fear feelings feminine fighting fight filthy finances fire flattery focus following foolishness foolishnes fools fool forgiveness fornication friends future gambling gangs gender gold good men good government grace greed guard guilt happiness happy harm hate headlights health heart hear hold your peace holiness home honor hope hunger husbands husband ignorance illustration income inequality infidelity influence iniquity insomnia instincts instruction intimacy investigation investing isaiah issued issue jabs jewelry judgment justice just kidnapper kidney kids knowledge labor law of sowing and reaping laziness lazy leadership learning legacy length of days lessons let life light lips listening listen little liver living loans loneliness long life longterm love lucifer lust man marketing marriage math memorization memory mercy messenger millions mind ministry mischief misery loves company misery mistakes mom money mothers mother motive mouth movies nature necklace neck neighbor obscenity observant oil oppression oppressor organs ornaments parable paranoia parenthood parents parent pastoring path peace peculiarity peer pressure peers peer permission personification pleasant politician ponder pornography pottymouth poverty power prayer preservation pride priests private procrastination prodigal profanity prosperity prostitution protection protect prudence public restroom purchases reading reaping reason rebellion rebuke regret rejection relate relationships relevant remedy remembrance remorse repetition replacement reproof respect responsibility responsible retain retention riches righteousness righteous risk robber romance rubies safety sailor salvation schools scorner secret security seduction seeing see self-sufficiency self-sufficient serpent seven deadly sins seven sexist sexual sin sex short-term silver simple simplicity sinners sin skepticism slander sleeplessness sleep slothfulness sluggard smoke to the eyes smoke son soul sowing spleen spouse stability stranger strange strife striving successful success suicide surgeon sword talents talk taxes teacher television temptation tendencies thief thieves thinking think thoughtfulness thoughts thought threats time tithe trains tree of life trust truth tv vehicles vice video games vinegar to the teeth vinegar violence violent virtue virtuous woman visual voice of God voice vulgar walking war wealth well wickedness wicked wife will wine wisdom wise sayings wise wives woman word of God words workplace work worry young man young people young youth