Pro 4:3-9 | KingComments | STEP | The father calls his children to hear and give attention to his instruction that he may “gain understanding” ( ). A father seeks the best for his children and gives only what is useful to them. He will not give them wrong things ( ). The best he can give is something that serves to increase understanding of God’s thoughts on how life should be lived. The father is convinced that he is teaching his children “sound [literally good] teaching” ( ). He gives sound teaching that therefore includes sound effect. This is quite different from what false prophets and false teachers do, who preach to the people what they like to hear ( ; ; ; ; ). They tell stories that are received well by the religious people, but by which they lead them to ruin. This is not how the father speaks to his sons. He teaches them God’s Word and commands them not to abandon His teaching and not to be dragged away by preachers who only talk cheap gossip. In , the father underlines what he said in . The reasoning word “for” indicates that. He speaks to his sons as one who knows what it is to be “a son” to his father, for he himself has been one. When he thinks back to that period, he sees how “tender” he was ( ). He then felt like “an only child” in the sight of his mother, assured of her loving attention and care. It is a blessing if we can also think back to our parents in this way during the time when they still cared for us. More and more children cannot do that. What those children can do is make sure their children will remember them that way. Here again we have the family as the sphere in which education and teaching take place ( ). We see here again ( ) that the teaching given by father and mother is not given in a formal, academic, school-like manner, but from personal involvement, with warmth and love. This is undoubtedly the best way of teaching. The father passes on to his children what his father has told him ( ). What he tells them he does not make up, but in turn he has heard it from his father. His father also took the time to teach him, his son. This is what a father does when he realizes his responsibility to help his children make good choices in life. Fathers must bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” ( ). We hear the voice of experience echoing through the generations (cf. ; ; cf. ). This makes the teaching of wisdom a valuable tradition through the generations. It is also an encouragement to the sons because it lets them know that the experiences they go through are also their father’s experiences. It is shared experience and not imposed behavior. This makes the teaching attractive. Pictures and anecdotes can show young people that their father was also young and inexperienced and that he took the place toward his father that they now take toward him. Personal fellowship with God cannot be transmitted, but it can be shown and made attractive, creating a desire to possess it as well. Solomon has seen the intimacy that his father David had with God, and that made him jealous. Solomon has certainly also seen his father’s sins. But this does not prevent him from teaching his sons, because in his father he also saw the dejection about his sin. This is true spiritually in the church as well. Thus Paul holds it out to Timothy when he says to him: “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them” ( ). It is a great privilege when we have a “spiritual pedigree”, when we learn from previous generations and pass it on to those who come after us ( ). We will do so if we are fully convinced that what we have learned is consistent with Scripture. In , the father lets his father, the sons’ grandfather, speak. Grandpa speaks and he has something to say. It seems he is speaking until Proverbs 5:6, because in Proverbs 5:7 we hear again how the father addresses his “children”. The grandsons will do well to listen carefully to what their grandfather said to their father. Their father will pass that on to them so that they will make their profit from it. That profit is nothing less than to live . That the father does this proves that he is diligently working to convince his sons of what he says, to make them go the way of wisdom and to preserve their life from destruction. This should be the drive of all parents for every child entrusted to them. It is the purpose of the heart that says: ‘As far as it depends on me, my children will not perish, but will become faithful servants of the Lord.’ That grace must work this does not change the commitment required of parents. To have that profit he, the son, must first of all hold with his heart the words his father has spoken to him. It is about the heart, not the intellect, although of course that is not unrelated. If the heart holds the words, those words will be considered “commandments”, will be observed, will be acted upon in the practice of life. Then life will be lived as God has purposed; it will be lived with all the blessings that a life of obedience to God holds.

‏ Proverbs 4:3-9

A Good Lesson Goes Forth Through Generations

The father calls his children to hear and give attention to his instruction that he may “gain understanding” (Pro 4:1). A father seeks the best for his children and gives only what is useful to them. He will not give them wrong things (Lk 11:11-12). The best he can give is something that serves to increase understanding of God’s thoughts on how life should be lived.

The father is convinced that he is teaching his children “sound [literally good] teaching” (Pro 4:2). He gives sound teaching that therefore includes sound effect. This is quite different from what false prophets and false teachers do, who preach to the people what they like to hear (Isa 30:10; Jer 5:31; Eze 33:31-32; Gal 1:6-7; 2Tim 4:3-4). They tell stories that are received well by the religious people, but by which they lead them to ruin. This is not how the father speaks to his sons. He teaches them God’s Word and commands them not to abandon His teaching and not to be dragged away by preachers who only talk cheap gossip.

In Pro 4:3, the father underlines what he said in Pro 4:1-2. The reasoning word “for” indicates that. He speaks to his sons as one who knows what it is to be “a son” to his father, for he himself has been one. When he thinks back to that period, he sees how “tender” he was (1Chr 22:5 ; 1Chr 29:1). He then felt like “an only child” in the sight of his mother, assured of her loving attention and care.

It is a blessing if we can also think back to our parents in this way during the time when they still cared for us. More and more children cannot do that. What those children can do is make sure their children will remember them that way.

Here again we have the family as the sphere in which education and teaching take place (Deu 6:6-9). We see here again (Pro 1:8) that the teaching given by father and mother is not given in a formal, academic, school-like manner, but from personal involvement, with warmth and love. This is undoubtedly the best way of teaching.

The father passes on to his children what his father has told him (Pro 4:4). What he tells them he does not make up, but in turn he has heard it from his father. His father also took the time to teach him, his son. This is what a father does when he realizes his responsibility to help his children make good choices in life. Fathers must bring their children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).

We hear the voice of experience echoing through the generations (cf. Deu 6:2; 2Tim 1:5; cf. Job 8:8-10). This makes the teaching of wisdom a valuable tradition through the generations. It is also an encouragement to the sons because it lets them know that the experiences they go through are also their father’s experiences. It is shared experience and not imposed behavior. This makes the teaching attractive. Pictures and anecdotes can show young people that their father was also young and inexperienced and that he took the place toward his father that they now take toward him.

Personal fellowship with God cannot be transmitted, but it can be shown and made attractive, creating a desire to possess it as well. Solomon has seen the intimacy that his father David had with God, and that made him jealous. Solomon has certainly also seen his father’s sins. But this does not prevent him from teaching his sons, because in his father he also saw the dejection about his sin.

This is true spiritually in the church as well. Thus Paul holds it out to Timothy when he says to him: “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2Tim 3:14). It is a great privilege when we have a “spiritual pedigree”, when we learn from previous generations and pass it on to those who come after us (2Tim 2:2). We will do so if we are fully convinced that what we have learned is consistent with Scripture.

In Pro 4:4b, the father lets his father, the sons’ grandfather, speak. Grandpa speaks and he has something to say. It seems he is speaking until Proverbs 5:6, because in Proverbs 5:7 we hear again how the father addresses his “children”. The grandsons will do well to listen carefully to what their grandfather said to their father. Their father will pass that on to them so that they will make their profit from it. That profit is nothing less than to live.

That the father does this proves that he is diligently working to convince his sons of what he says, to make them go the way of wisdom and to preserve their life from destruction. This should be the drive of all parents for every child entrusted to them. It is the purpose of the heart that says: ‘As far as it depends on me, my children will not perish, but will become faithful servants of the Lord.’ That grace must work this does not change the commitment required of parents.

To have that profit he, the son, must first of all hold with his heart the words his father has spoken to him. It is about the heart, not the intellect, although of course that is not unrelated. If the heart holds the words, those words will be considered “commandments”, will be observed, will be acted upon in the practice of life. Then life will be lived as God has purposed; it will be lived with all the blessings that a life of obedience to God holds.

Acquire Wisdom, Acquire Understanding!

The father urges his son to acquire “wisdom” and “understanding” at all costs, whatever effort must be made to do so (Pro 4:5). He must make every effort and sacrifice for it. Solomon was already wise, but wisdom can and must increase. He who is wise will want to increase in wisdom. Wisdom and understanding do not come naturally to us; they must be acquired. You can want all kinds of things, but remember that acquiring wisdom and understanding is the most important thing.

Acquiring wisdom means getting to know Christ better. That is what life is about, just for that reason. The son must not forget the words spoken by the father. He must think about them, meditate on them, and keep them in mind. This keeps the memory alive of what God’s Word says. He must not turn away from it.

In Pro 4:6, wisdom is presented as a person who gives safeguard and protection. The condition for experiencing that safeguard and protection is that the son does not forsake wisdom (negative), but loves her (positive). Forsaking wisdom – or Christ – is a great evil, with evil consequences. Then he is at the mercy of all the evil elements in the world. It is important to love wisdom, that is Christ. That is the surest protection against all temptations to sin.

The first step, the beginning, to acquire wisdom is to make the decision to acquire it (Pro 4:7). Here we are given the key to acquire wisdom. Acquiring wisdom takes time, money, effort. It’s not about our intellect or the opportunity we have or don’t have, but about decisiveness, whether we want it. Those who see the superior value of wisdom will want to acquire it at any cost.

The same is true of understanding, which is fathoming and discerning the nature of things or people, whether they are good or evil, whether they have good or evil intentions. Wisdom and understanding belong together. Wisdom emerges from understanding. One who has understanding sees through certain situations and knows how to act; he also knows how to approach or assess certain people.

One of the main differences between the wise and the fool is the awareness that each has of his need. Those who believe they have no problem have the biggest problem. If we realize what our biggest problem is, we will do everything we can to solve it. Here we are talking about our lack of wisdom. If we are aware of the lack of it, we will do everything and use every means to get it. For example, we can think of time for Bible study, time for prayer, time for attending church meetings, time for meetings where God’s Word is explained, speaking with or reading books of believers who have had extensive experience with the Lord to learn from them.

Paul speaks of ‘gaining’ Christ (Phil 3:8). That indicates commitment, as if to win a prize in a contest. He wanted to know Him. Of course Christ was in him and of course he knew Him. But instead of being content with that, it prompted Paul to ‘gain Him’, that is, to become more and more like Him, to know Him better and better.

Wisdom must be held high, as a banner is held up (Pro 4:8). We must have high thoughts of wisdom. There should be nothing that has a higher place in our thinking. As a result, it exalts us. One who holds up wisdom is held in esteem by others. Wisdom is compared to the woman you love and embrace. This is contrasted with embracing the strange woman. The inexperienced youth may give his full dedication and love to wisdom.

Again, we can relate this to Christ, the wisdom of God. Our life is about exalting and honoring Him. Embracing Him means being very close to Him and letting Him feel our love. We do that when He is above everything and everyone for us. We worship Him when we tell Him what qualities we have discovered in Him and praise Him for them. Then those qualities will also become visible in us, which finds appreciation with God. He says: “Those who honor Me I will honor” (1Sam 2:30).

The honor that wisdom bestows on those who love her is compared with “a graceful wreath” and “a graceful crown” on the head (Pro 4:9). A wreath and a crown are bestowed as a clearly visible token of appreciation for the choice of wisdom. They are the tribute to an overcomer. Love of wisdom requires sacrifice. Those who make those sacrifices are rewarded for them by wisdom (Christ) (cf. 1Cor 9:25; 2Tim 4:8; Jam 1:12; 1Pet 5:4; Rev 2:10).