Read Proverbs 4:1–9
Questions from the Scripture text: What familiar commands do Proverbs 4:1-2 give? What kind of doctrine/teaching is he giving them? What time of his life does he mention in Proverbs 4:3? What happened at that time (that led to his being able to give good doctrine now, Proverbs 4:4)? What command from his dad does he repeat four times in Proverbs 4:5-7? What prohibition does he repeat three times? What additional command does he recall in Proverbs 4:6b? And what in Proverbs 4:8a? What five things does he recall that wisdom will do for those who get and love and exalt her (Proverbs 4:6b, Proverbs 4:8-9)?
Where does being an everlasting king begin? Proverbs 4:1–9 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that becoming everlasting royalty begins with taking God’s Word to heart, even as a newborn.
Where good doctrine begins. The instruction to hear and give attention to fatherly instruction (Proverbs 4:1) is supported by the assertion that the teaching/doctrine is good (Proverbs 4:2a). How did this particular father get to have such good doctrine? It began when he was so young and tender as to be in those early days when he was the entire focus of his parents (Proverbs 4:3). Caring for a newborn is demanding! And the Spirit here indicates that while the parents were giving such attention to their newborn, the father was already teaching him (Proverbs 4:4a), already addressing his heart (verse 4b), already urging him to obey his commands (verse 4c).
Let us not underestimate what even a newborn may learn—especially when what is being taught is the Word, which the Spirit attends with His power and uses to give life. And let no child think himself too young to pay attention and learn from the Bible, or too young to deal in matters of the heart. Begin early! And in this way, you too might one day be able to give good doctrine to others—even to your own children.
What to do with good doctrine. Get it (Proverbs 4:5a), get it (verse 5a again), get it (Proverbs 4:7b), and get it (verse 7c) above all other things that you get. Don’t forget it (Proverbs 4:5b), don’t turn from it (verse 5b), don’t forsake it (Proverbs 4:6a). And what will fuel this? The condition of the heart toward wisdom: love her (verse 6b, cf. Proverbs 4:8b “embrace her”) and exalt her (verse 8a). The path to pursuing wisdom is to love her. We must seek from the Spirit a wholehearted desire for, and delight in, His wisdom. And we maintain this affection by savoring it, when we are blessed to obtain it.
What good doctrine will do for you. Wisdom will preserve and keep you (Proverbs 4:6a). Wisdom will lift you up (“promote,” Proverbs 4:8a) and bring you honor (verse 8b). How much? Wisdom will put on your head a wreath of grace and a crown of glory (Proverbs 4:9). From this particular king father to his prince son, this makes sense; he hopes to be a king in this life. But from our heavenly Father to any believer, this is a true and great promise: God’s wisdom is training us to be His children, and kings is exactly what Christ has redeemed us to be (cf. Revelation 5:10). A Christian is a king-in-training, and God’s Word is His plan for bringing this about.
How do you encourage all the little ones in the church to pay attention to the Word and take it to heart? How are you doing this with the little ones at home? What efforts are you making to get good doctrine? What efforts are you making to keep it? What are your feelings about good doctrine? What place does looking forward to being new-heavens-and-new-earth royalty have in your thoughts?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us Your own fatherly instruction. Grant that we would address Your littlest ones with it. Make us and them to love Your wisdom so that we would get it and never let it go. By Your wisdom give us to come into our inheritance as kings, most of all to have You Yourself as our portion in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed he Man ” or TPH173 “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast”
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