Garlands and Pendants

Photo Source: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Proverbs 1:8, 9

⁸Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
⁹for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.

I love how God teaches us about Himself through His word. Here we have both a father and a mother giving advise to their son, whom they love. Parents are a good gift from God; they are the people who are supposed to love you most. Your mother gives birth to you, your father helps provide for you. They both make sure you have a roof over your head and food in your belly.

In this, they reflect God's love and care for you. But even more so, it is He who created and cares for you (Psalm 139:13, Job 10:12).

Now I know that no one is perfect, parents included. You may be reading this and thinking 'My parents aren't like that at all.' I want you to know that God, through His son Jesus Christ, has adopted many as His own. Me included! If you are Christian, please bask in this truth (1 John 3)! If you are not familiar with the thought that if you are in Christ, then God is your Father, a good source to read is J.I. Packer's Knowing God, the chapter entitled 'Sons of God.' If you have been hurt by your earthly parents, trust that God, our Heavenly Father, is near to those who are brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He can be trusted.

Regardless of your relationship with your parents, it is absolutely true that those who love you, warn you. They care for your well-being.

This father and mother give both instruction and teaching; which are likened to a graceful garland and a pendant. Their faithful instruction and teaching are lavish gifts to their son! And a wise child will take heed to such guidance.

And just what are they teaching him? The difference between foolishness and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

Studying Proverbs

Have decided to study Proverbs during my quiet times (with occasional breaks back to Leviticus). After studying Proverbs 31 for awhile, decided to get to the whole book!

Zeroed in on 1:1-7.

Verse 1 - The opening: these are the proverbs of Solomon*, son of David, the very king of Israel who was a man after God's own heart.

Verse 2 - To know - wisdom** and instruction. To understand - words of insight.

Verse 3 - To receive - instruction in wise dealing (in righteousness, justice, and equity).

Verse 4 - To give - prudence to the simple. Knowledge and understanding to the youth.

Whoa. These reflect RESPONSIBILITY. Also, a readiness to obtain wisdom. To seek it. To learn from it. And to use it to help others.

Who does this, and how does he/she go about it?

Verse 5 - The wise hear and increase in learning. The one who understands obtainsguidance.

Verse 6 - To understand proverbs and sayings. To understand the words of the wise and their riddles***.

Well, the wise person does the things in verse 2-4. But how? These last two verses made me think about hearing. And the difference between active and passive hearing. If one is actively hearing, then they will increase in learning. Passively hearing/listening? I'm thinking that person will not increase in learning. The person in verse 5 hears in such a way that increases his/her learning, and obtains guidance to understand proverbs, sayings, the word and riddles of the wise.

Verse 7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."****

Fear/reverence for the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. If you are seeking wisdom, it's where you begin. Conversely, only a fool despises wisdom and instruction. Could it be that the passive hearer is a fool? And could the all out not-ever-going-t0-listen-person be a fool, as well?

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I'm looking forward into studying this further. Just jotting down some thoughts before I got to bed. Kinda sleepy thoughts, hope they make sense when I'm more awake! Definitely want to pray that by God's grace He would make me yearn to be more wise than foolish. That my heart will set towards Him and His word. That He would continue to teach me with it as He has so faithfully, lovingly, gently has. That I would rely on Christ's strength (and now my "own") as the Holy Spirit works in me.

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*1 Kings 4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore.

**What is wisdom? See 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Hint: it's not the wisdom that this world celebrates.

***Made me think of when the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables in Matthew 13.

****Definitely made me think of the blessed man and the wicked man in Psalm 1. Not that a fool is always wicked, mind you. Just interested in the seemingly parallel.