Lessons to his son Prov. 1:8-10

Introduction

The book of proverbs is made up of short sentences or parables to teach lessons to an individual or group of people.

In Proverbs often times the lesson is for Solomons son Rehoboam and the Lessons Solomon wants him to get are for wisdom.

Solomon was the wisest man to live outside of Jesus Christ and he wrote around 3000 of these proverbs in his life. In the first 9 Chapters of Proverbs there are 17 specific lessons each beginning with “my son” or “hear ye children” and every reference is about them listening to the teachings that they have received.

Solomon is going to give his son several proverbs on how to act towards his parents and how to act towards fellow men.

How to act towards parents vs. 8-9

Parent/Children relationships is one of the most talked about relationships in the Bible.

Several times beginning in the 10 commandments children are told to obey their parents and there are several more times in the Bible where we are told the same thing

Ex. 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Matt. 15:4 “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”

Eph. 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Col. 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

Here in vs. 8 it is no different.

Hear the instruction of thy father vs. 8a

The word instruction here means “The act of teaching or informing the understanding in that of which it was before ignorant”

In other words Solomon is telling his son to listen to the teaching that he is going to give him.

I believe it’s just as important for the fathers to listen to this verse as it is for the son.

As dad’s, grandpa’s, great-grandpa’s we have a responsibility to give good instructions to those we are leading.

Deut. 6:6-7 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

I Thess. 2:10-12 “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

Leading our children in to the truth, leads to verses like 3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

We should listen to our earthly father as God is the one who gave him to us, but we should listen to our heavenly father. Our heavenly father is the giver of wisdom and he gave us the instruction manual for life. We must read the instructions, not just glance at them.

Forsake not the law of thy mother

Our mother deserves the same honor and respect as our father does.

The Bible tells us to honor our father and mother.

Prov. 10:1 “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”

Prov. 15:20 “A wise son maketh a glad father: But a foolish man despiseth his mother.”

For they shall be vs. 9

they here is pointing back to the instruction of the father and the law of the mother

Parental teaching isn’t meant to be a heavy burden but rather an ornament of grace and a chain around their neck

The ornament of grace upon their head would be some sort of head dress that would be special to them. In those days headdresses would communicate Authority and Honor.

The necklace was also special for the young men showing that he was given a new responsibility. It could also serve as a reminder to their heritage.

Both of these could be sign of riches. Solomon proved that it was better to be rich in Godly wisdom, rather than earthly riches though he had both.

How to act towards fellow man vs. 10

It is important that we set boundaries with unbelievers as you become who you hang around.

Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Here Solomon tells his son to watch out for sinners who try to entice you

The word entice means “To incite or instigate, by exciting hope or desire; usually in a bad sense; as, to entice one to evil. Hence, to seduce; to lead astray; to induce to sin, by promises or persuasions.”

Isn’t it amazing how the devil works, he can use anything to suck us in to sin.

We must be careful what our eyes see.

One of the ways Satan got Eve to sin in the Garden was by having her look on how good the fruit looked. Satan tries to package sin in a way that it appeals to our eyes.

If you don’t believe me just turn on your TV or drive through Dallas or Fort Worth and look at the billboards that are there for everybody to see. We have digressed as a people where they used to not even have unmarried couples in the same bed on TV to now its in almost every TV show today.

We can’t allow sinners/satan to entice us with our eyes.

We must be careful with our ears.

In the day and age we live in we must be careful what comes into our ears. The music we listen to, the tv shows we hear, the things we listen to on the radio can cause us to sin.

I used to love to listen to sports radio and now I can only turn it on during the rangers game because the mouths on that station use so many curse words.

I’m not trying to come off as “holier than thou” but as believers we have to have standards. We can’t take a bath in the world and come out as a sweet smelling savor before the Lord.

We must be careful where we go

If you wouldn’t take Jesus where you’re going you shouldn’t be going there either

I remember learning a song growing up that went like this

Oh be careful little eyes what you see, oh be careful little eyes what you see for the father up above is looking down in love oh be careful little eyes what you see . ears what you hear, feet where you go.

Solomon says here if a sinner is trying to entice you consent them not.

Consent Literally, to think with another. Hence, to agree or accord. More generally, to agree in mind and will; to yield to what one has the power, the right, or the disposition to withhold, or refuse to grant.

Literally he is saying if a sinner tries to lead you astray, don’t give in to them

Gen. 39:7-10 “And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.”

Joseph was enticed and he ran from it, there is a lesson for us.

Conclusion

As children we should obey and Honor our parents

As fathers and mothers we should lead our children in paths of righteousness

As sons and daughters of God we must be careful what, we see, hear, and do because we can easily be enticed by sin if we don’t have on the full armor of God.