The Stability of the Righteous

Introduction

“Proverbs 11:28–12:4 (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (NAC)): Proverbs 11:28–29 and 12:3–4 teach that a man cannot provide for the security of his family through any means that violate basic principles of right and wrong. Rather than focus his attention on making as much money as possible, a man should give thought to the choice of a good wife and then to the spiritual nurture of his children. Above all else, he must conduct his own life with integrity if he expects the same from his family.”

The goal of ever believer is supposed to be likeness to Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28–30 NASB95

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

V.1

Proverbs 12:1 NAS

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 12:1 BHW 4.18

אֹהֵ֣ב מ֭וּסָר* אֹ֣הֵֽב דָּ֑עַת וְשֹׂנֵ֖א תוֹכַ֣חַת בָּֽעַר׃

Conditional:

”If he loves discipline, (then) he loves knowledge.“

The goal is to get to the point where you appreciate the value of being disciplined.

This includes children, adults, or even entire nations.

Means of training.

God:

Deuteronomy 4:36 NASB95

36 “Out of the heavens He let you hear His voice to discipline you; and on earth He let you see His great fire, and you heard His words from the midst of the fire.

Deuteronomy 8:1–5 NASB95

1 “All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. 2 “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 4 “Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 “Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

Revelation 3:19 NASB95

19 ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

OT: Galatians 3:24

Galatians 3:24 NASB95

24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

NT: Titus 2:11-14

Titus 2:11–14 NASB95

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Parents:

Ephesians 6:1–4 NASB95

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Government:

Romans 13:1–6 NASB95

1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

Proverbs 12:1 NASB95

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.

“stupid”

Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament 264 בָּעַר

264b בָּעַר (bāʿar) brutish person.

The verbal forms of this root may well be denominative from the noun form “beast.” In turn, it is tempting to see a connection between that word and the Piel form of bāʿar “to graze.” However, such a connection must remain highly tenuous. The root seems to contrast man’s ability to reason and understand with the beast’s inability to do so (Prov 30:2).

בְּעִיר (bĕʿîr). Beasts, cattle. Does not seem to stress the brutish aspect of beasts, but is simply a synonym for bĕhēmâ or miqneh.

בַּעַר (baʿar). A brutish person. Occurs five times in Psalms and Proverbs. Such a person is one who stubbornly refuses to accept God’s grace (Ps 73:22). The use of the figure in Prov 30:2 shows Agur’s humility.

Bibliography: TDOT, II, pp. 201–204.