Scripture Reading & Prayer
Notes
Transcript
Commentary
Commentary
As we continue in this proverb, we see the heart of a father express concern for his son that we would be wise. Certainly no surprise for us to see this exhortation, as much of proverbs centers on this concern. But we must be clear that to be wise is to delight in the way. The way is referenced in v. 19 and is a reference to a person’s way of life. The way was used back in 9:6:
Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
The father’s urging here is for his son to conform his life to the way of wisdom, and since Proverbs has also made clear many time already that wisdom is inseparable from a right relationship with God, the heart of this father is that his son would submit himself to God and delight in His ways.
Now, one of the ways that wise living shows itself is in self-control. In other words, living in the way will mean we do not indulge what may appeal to our flesh. Directing our hearts in the way means we recognize that we are in a battle… a spiritual battle, that while for those of us who are in Christ, we have the presence of God in us and has transformed our affections so that we desire what is pleasing to God, we continue to struggle with desires that dishonor God. Perhaps it’s gluttony, perhaps it’s coping with the difficulties of our lives through abuse of alcohol or another substance. This father’s urging to his son reminded me of what Paul made clear to the Galatian church:
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
This is our hope as we engage in the spiritual battle that takes place in us and surrounds us. Christ has overcome the world, and He has granted His followers that victory. The father is not urging mere moral living. This is not fundamentally a behavioral concern. This is a concern for the heart of his son… give me your heart the father says in v. 26. The father in this proverb knows the consequences of rejecting the wisdom of God, and he desperately wants his son to not have to experience those consequences. May God be gracious to us as we pursue the way… His way.
Hear, my son, and be wise,
and direct your heart in the way.
Be not among drunkards
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and slumber will clothe them with rags.
Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.
For a prostitute is a deep pit;
an adulteress is a narrow well.
She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the traitors among mankind.
Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?
Those who tarry long over wine;
those who go to try mixed wine.
Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
In the end it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
Your eyes will see strange things,
and your heart utter perverse things.
You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
like one who lies on the top of a mast.
“They struck me,” you will say, “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I must have another drink.”
Prayer
Prayer
let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
It is right for us to begin our prayer together with a word of praise Lord, because you are worthy. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory. We praise you Lord, and we do pray that the joy we have in praising you would increase. There are many things, good things, experiences, gifts from you that bring us joy. God I pray we would know the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. Simply knowing Christ, God may that be the substance of our joy.
And God, we pray that this joy would lead to our obedience to you. May your people delight to do the works you have prepared for us to do. We thank you for leading us to this church, and we pray that the ministry of the church would continue in faithfulness to you. That the word of God would be central. That your people would be faithful in meditating on your word regularly. That we would never loose sight of the fact that your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths. In it and through your word we draw close to you God. You are light and in you there is no darkness at all.
We recognize that our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a mission. Our mission is to make disciples. Followers of Jesus Christ, and while the mandate is clear we struggle to understand how to best approach fulfilling it. We thank you for how you have been and continue to be at work in your people. That people are growing, that families are concerned to be godly. That parents desire for their children to follow Christ. That grandparents are praying that a legacy of faith continues to be established, and we continue to pray together to that end. But God, help us to be faithful in this moment in our church’s life.
We committed to planting a church. We believe that planting a church is the answer to the need for the gospel to expand in this community. We thank you for the faithful men and women who have been meeting to discuss and seek to discern how you are leading in this particular effort. Give them wisdom Father. Lead them to the place we should plant and to the details and resources necessary to continue in this important work. I pray for us all here today, that as we consider the church plant that we would submit ourselves to your will. You may not be calling all of us to go and be the hand and feet of this effort, but you may call some of us. Give us wisdom Father. Provide us the humility necessary to discern how you may be leading in our own lives. We trust you Father for the place, the timing, the necessary resources for this plant. As we seek your will, give us an increasing desire that people… people who are lost, people who are living in rebellion against you, people who have no hope, people who are burdened by and enslaved to their sin, give us, your people, a burden, a passion to bring the gospel to them. Give the urgency and the focus to be mindful and ready to preach the gospel.
We pray this morning for:
Aaron Stoudt surgery on the 22
Joan Sunday surgery on the 14
Scott MacMillian
Caroline Gardner
healthy pregnancies of Gabriella Hitz, Elizabeth Zuniga and Lindsey Bair