Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall withal be fitted in your lips.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge; that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth;
that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?
Here the father interrupts his instructions in wisdom for a brief personal exhortation. As fathers teach their children the wisdom of the Word, it is appropriate from time to time for a little exhortation on listening! Every preacher worth his salt will look up occasionally from his notes and make sure everybody is still paying attention. Always reaffirming the importance of the words communicated, he makes sure that his listeners understand the goal of the teaching.
Good listening does not come naturally. How often do your thoughts wander as father or mother teach you the words of wisdom? You see, you must apply yourself to the words of wisdom. It does take discipline to stay tuned into good teaching. You have to believe that what you are hearing is important and it may save your life at some point. Suppose that you were a soldier preparing to raid the enemy camp. Your captain is outlining three things you need to know that will make the difference between life and death in this raid. Do you think that you would pay close attention to what he has to say? You might repeat the words silently in your mind. Or you may write them down on note paper. Now what would you say about some young soldier who was playing a hand-held electronic game while the Captain gave his critical orders? Why is he so disinterested in the Captain’s words? For one thing, he has failed to soberly and gravely consider the life and death circumstances facing him. But the arrogance to think that there is nothing to learn from a wise counselor in the most important matters of life is nothing short of deadly. Perhaps you might tell this young man, “Listen to the Captain. Humble yourself. Listen to him or die.” Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
The wise father in the Proverbs shares his goals with his young disciple. All of these efforts in teaching his son are geared to bring him to trust in the Lord, speak and act in wisdom, and disciple others in the words of truth. Faith is foundational in the life of the saint. Faith is of essence. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Without faith, there is no life. Without faith, there is no freedom in the forgiveness of our Lord. Without faith, there are only guilt-consumed, merit-based, slave-minded works. But how do all of these law-oriented principles generate a trust in the Lord? Well, of course, the Bible never separates the law of God from the comfort of God’s sovereign salvation in Christ. And it is only by God’s power that we will ever be able to implement any of these principles in any meaningful way! Every law in the Old Testament and every principle given in the Book of Proverbs for the discipleship of our children presumes the prerequisite of faith. Don’t even try to read these commands in this book, or execute them, without faith!
Our children need to understand that the vast majority of the world still has not heard the truth, even the truths which they have learned from this little Book of Proverbs. The world is lost in blindness, deceived by billions of various deluding books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and teachings. So if you have any knowledge of the truth, how can you sit passively by while so many others have never heard it? Of course, some willfully reject the truth; they have no interest in it. But the fields are always white. There are those who would be delighted to hear the Word of truth and their ears are open to it (by God’s good purposes). Therefore, it is not for the Christian to fill his head with wonderful notions of truth and then never really do anything with them! God is not interested in fat-headed slugs populating His kingdom! If, by the grace of God, you have come to the knowledge of truth, go share it with somebody.
1. Why are we teaching the Book of Proverbs to our children? What are the goals of this teaching?
2. How well are you listening to these words? What have you learned thus far in this series of studies?
3. If you have learned some good things from God’s Word, what should you do now?