Teaching Parents: A Legacy

Introduction:

This morning we return to Proverbs after a brief, month long, hiatus.

Would you consider yourself a teacher? Priests, prophets, pastors, kings

Having a child means being a teacher.

Parents provide the most important instruction in their children’s lives: teaching them to love God, to hear HIs Word, and to obey Him for life.

Dt. 6:4-10; Eph. 6; Col. 3.

Ex 12:26, Ex 13:7-16, Dt 6 at the end.

The parent-child relationship is akin to the relationship between God and his people.

It brings with it mutual responsibilities.

This text will model this responsibility for us.

Teaching and Listening: Responsibilities

We open with a slight shift from the usual pattern.

Proverbs now makes an appeal to “sons.”

This is not applicable only to one of his children.

For godly instruction to be passed down, two sides must be responsible:

The parent to teach: we have an obligation to God and to our parents who taught us to pass information along.

The child has an obligation to God, their ancestors, and their parents to listen.

Hear, sons, instruction of a father, and listen to know understanding. מוּסָר‎ (mûsār). n. masc. discipline, correction, reproof. Refers to corrective discipline or instruction.

According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, this word primarily refers to oral instruction and is a close synonym to “tora” (1.387).

“The theological basis for an earthly father’s discipline over his son is in the covenant. He bears the image of his covenant Lord, and as such stands in parallel relationship over his his children-chastening, correcting, instructing, providing-which are expressions of an interpersonal relationship of love” (1.387).

Knowledge of God’s word comes through listening to oral instruction from parents who fulfill their responsibility to teach it.

A Sound Reason to Listen: Confidence in the Word of God

Solomon does more than appeal and command.

He gives reasons why his entreaties or appeals should not go unheeded.

Prov. 4:2 explains parental confidence in the soundness of the Word of God.

Because I give to you good instruction, please do not forsake my law.

Instruction: A Legacy

We can model for our children what a parent does.

We should teach the word of God.

The writer of Proverbs has been in the shoes of his sons, and he has known the appeal of a loving parent.

Instruction began when he was quite young, and perhaps even the recipient of the most tender affection of a singularly focused mother.

The instruction his father passed on to him resembled in tone and content the same appeals he has made to his son.

1 Kings 2:1-4.

It turns out the father has, at one time, been the son.

He benefited from a teaching father who fulfilled his God-given responsibility.

He, then, was placed in the position of needing to be responsible for listening to his father’s instruction.

The appeal itself consists of a series of imperatives:

Let your heart (mind) cling to my words.

Keep my commandments and live.

Get wisdom.

Get insight.

Do not forget.

Do not turn away (God’s word is not to be treated like a false idol).

Do not forsake.

Love.

Get wisdom.

Get insight.

Value her.

That appeal is based upon a series of established truths:

Wisdom will guard you (Prov. 4:6).

She will exalt you (Prov. 4:8).

She will honor you (Prov. 4:8).

She will beautify you (Prov. 4:9).

Evening Framing

Tonight we want to revisit the passage from this morning, but also, we want to start with how the New Testament presents the role of parents in the same light.

We find continuing there parental responsibility as well as child responsibility.

Unified homes oriented toward the truth of God’s word is the aim.