Tonight we’ll be in Proverbs chapter 4. In way of introduction I’d like to note,

The greatest gift a father can give to his
children is the Word of God.

The Christian faith must be purposely passed on from father to children if the faith is to progress as Jesus designed it to. The only time that angels will proclaim the Gospel is during the Great Tribulation:

Revelation 14:6 (ESV) I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

Even during that time God will set out 144,000 Hebrew Evangelists (Revelation 7:4) to preach and lead the lost on the earth out of that Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:14) – though it will cost them their lives. Until that time God has called humans to spread the Word of God. We are all familiar with the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The Church is to spread the Gospel. But in the home, the father – as leader of the family – is to share the Word of God with his children.

Proverbs 4:1-4 HEAR, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Let’s break this down.

Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

The father as the head of the family teaches his children to love God’s Word. In a section of scripture the Jews call “The Shema” or “The Hearing”, God tells His people:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NKJV) “Hear (šāmaʿ pronunciation shaw-mah’), O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Word Study: The word HEAR or šāmaʿ found in Deuteronomy 6:4 and in our text at Proverbs 4:1 means not to just hear something as noise, but to “hear with the intent of obeying, to perceive and do”. There is no value in hearing something – even if it is intelligent – then doing nothing about it.

Illustrate: I was talking with a pastor friend of mine this morning about the homeless problem in America. Politicians and liberal tell us if we throw enough money at it, the problem will go away. That’s not true. The only way to alleviate homelessness is to teach the homeless to be productive, and to reward productivity. The Bible is very clear on this point:

1 We are to give to the poor:

We are to help poor BELIEVERS: Deuteronomy 15:7, 11 (NKJV) “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 11 For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’

Galatians 6:10 (NKJV) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We are to help ALL poor: Psalm 41:1 (NKJV) Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.

Proverbs 19:17 (NKJV) He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.

2 We are not to give to those who will NOT work:

2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 (ESV) For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

The welfare system in America is a tool of Satan, for it holds down rather than lifting up. It enables bad behavior. If we love people – if we love our children – then what we do or don’t do will be modeled based on the teaching of Scripture.

Not OPINION, But GOD’S WORD

Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Many people attend Church today to get a little “sugar”, a little something “sweet” to make them feel better about themselves. Parents are instructed to spoil and give in to their children. The Bible, however, instructs fathers to “give GOOD DOCTRINE”.

What is “GOOD DOCTRINE?”

Word Study: The word translated “GOOD” is the Hebrew ṭôḇ (pronunciation tobe), which means “good, wealthy, precious, pleasant, beneficial”. This type of “GOOD” does not come from man, but from God. As God created the earth and the Heavens, the Scripture says:

“God saw the light, that it was GOOD (ṭôḇ)” (Genesis 1:4)

“God called the dry land Earth … it was GOOD (ṭôḇ)”
(Genesis 1:10)

“God saw everything He had made … it was very GOOD (ṭôḇ)”
(Genesis 1:31)

What God made is GOOD (ṭôḇ). God alone has the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of GOOD (ṭôḇ) and evil (Genesis 2:17). It is God, not man who establishes what is GOOD (ṭôḇ). The Bible teaches is that:

“There is NONE GOOD but One, that is, God” (Matthew 19:17)

“All have gone astray … there is NONE THAT DOETH GOOD,
no, not one (Psalm 14:3)

Human good is no good at all. When the father says “I give you GOOD DOCTRINE (leqaḥ pronunciation leh’-kakh, learning, teaching)”, this is not based on his opinion, but on what God has said. Further, the father says:

Proverbs 4:2 … forsake ye not my law.

He is not saying that this is truths that he made up, but as a believer he has assumed ownership of the Word that God gave him.

The Apostle Paul did the same thing with the Gospel of salvation when he said:

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ …

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

The Apostle Paul did not write the Gospel, but he assumed ownership and stewardship of it without changing it. It became “MY GOSPEL”. We as believers are to be so appreciative of the Word of God that we, like Paul and the writer of Proverbs, call the text “MY DOCTRINE”. God gave it to us as a stewardship – and we are to share it with others that we love.

Proverbs 4:3-4 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

The writer tells us that “I was my father’s son”. He was loved of his father, for his father taught him the Heavenly Father’s Word. He was “only beloved” in the sight of his mother. Why was Solomon “only beloved” of his mother? Solomon was not the firstborn child of King David. The firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess. The second-born was Daniel by Abigail the Carmelitess, and the third-born Absalom the son of Maacah. While David was in Jerusalem, he had four children by Bathsheba: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. (see 1 Chronicles 3:1-9). If you’re counting, Solomon was actually the seventh-born child of David.

Why did David choose Solomon his son to reign in his place (1 Chronicles 29:28)? Why didn’t David follow the regular succession, and choose the firstborn Amnon to succeed him?

The Bible gives us the answer in:

1 Chronicles 22:7-10 (NKJV) … David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God; 8 but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’

The reason that David chose Solomon to succeed him is because God chose Solomon to be the successor. David said “THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME”. God called Solomon to succeed David, because SOLOMON BELIEVED IN GOD AND HIS WORD. Solomon was a born again believer. God said of him, “he shall be My son, and I will be his Father”.

God established the Throne of David through a believer, not through unbelievers. God blesses those who hear and DO His Word. David was “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) because, though flawed as we all are, he cherished and looked for God’s Word. David said of God’s Word:

Psalm 119:47-48 (ESV) … for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. 48 I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.

And again,

Psalm 119:2-3 (ESV) … Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, 3 who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways!

Solomon was like his father in this. He sought the Word of the Lord.

Wisdom – The Application Of God’s Word –
Will Richly Bless You

Proverbs 4:5-8 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.

Word Study: WISDOM – the ability to not only know what the Scripture says, but the ability to USE it – “is the principal thing”. The phrase “THE PRINCIPLE THING” is the Hebrew rē’šîṯ {pronunciation ray-sheeth’}, which means “that which is chief or best, the choicest”. Again, to understand this word we have to go back to the Creation of all things. The word rē’šîṯ is the very first word in the Bible:

Genesis 1:1 IN THE BEGINNING {rē’šîṯ} God created the heaven and the earth.

Wisdom is from Heaven. It is from God. It is the foundation of EVERYTHING. To have wisdom in your life is to be blessed beyond measure. James 3:17 says:

“the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere”.

Proverbs 4:9-13 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. 10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. 11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Biblical wisdom – the ability to not just know what the Scripture says, but to put it into action – leads to

GRACE
A CROWN OF GLORY
LONG LIFE
A STEADY WALK

Without applying Biblical knowledge, you cannot be saved. The Bible says that:

Romans 10:9 (NKJV) if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.You can know that you are a sinner in need of salvation. But unless you “CONFESS” Jesus as Lord, and do so PUBLICLY, you cannot be saved. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:33 … whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Grace is a free gift from God, but it is not received in secret. When Noah found grace in the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8), the Lord told him to build an Ark – and do so publicly. If you do not both HEAR and DO what Jesus says, you will not be saved.

Wisdom – the application of Biblical knowledge – brings “A CROWN OF GLORY”. The Crown of Glory is mentioned in Peter in reference to God Called Pastors who do their jobs:

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The Pastor who cares for the Church God has entrusted him with, who FEEDS the flock the Word of God, who is not authoritarian or power hungry, who does not do it for money but who models Christ – this Pastor shall receive the Crown of Glory. The Crown of Glory is given to those who effectively use the spiritual gifts that God has entrusted to them for HIS glory and honor. It doesn’t apply to just the Pastor, but to every member in the Body of Christ. A devotional at Ligonier Ministries notes:

“… even though our salvation is a gift we do not earn, our Father not only promises eternal life to those who follow His Son, He promises many extra rewards to those who obey Him. This promise of extra blessings is found throughout the Bible. To the people of Israel already saved from the bondage of slavery, God promised many blessings if they would persevere in their obedience to Him (Deut. 28:1–14). Jesus promised that those who would leave everything to follow Him would receive a hundredfold reward in addition to eternal life (Mark 10:29–31). … God’s faithful servants can expect a reward. … And in the end, this reward will be for God’s glory, for one day we will cast these crowns at the foot of His throne in worship (Revelation 4:9–11; 22:3).”

Those who love the Lord and His Word will be granted a long and stable life. Oh, that we all would realize that the greatest blessing is not the land of Canaan nor the glory of Heaven. The greatest blessing is to live the life that God has given you under His watchful eye, doing what He says until the day you are received into glory.

Amen and Amen.