24.212 | LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS | Proverbs 1:8-19 | God's Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Prov 1:8-19 (ESV)

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,

and forsake not your mother's teaching,

9 for they are a graceful garland for your head

and pendants for your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

do not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we shall find all precious goods,

we shall fill our houses with plunder;

14 throw in your lot among us;

we will all have one purse”—

15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;

hold back your foot from their paths,

16 for their feet run to evil,

and they make haste to shed blood.

17 For in vain is a net spread

in the sight of any bird,

18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;

they set an ambush for their own lives.

19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;

it takes away the life of its possessors.

LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS

Chapters 1 to 9 are focused to the relationship of parents to children. Here in the first chapter of Proverbs, we see Solomon giving the same exhortation to follow the wise instruction of parents. Children are commanded to honor them.[Ex 20:12] This goes beyond simple obedience, and includes the ideas of respect and consideration. In the New Testament Paul points out to us that this command is the first which comes with a promise. (Eph 6:1-4). Paul also commands fathers to raise their children in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord."

The wise instructions of a parent are like fine jewelry. Jewelry is a status symbol and serves as an item of beautification. Solomon gives a clear picture that parents, specifically their instructions, are not to be despised. Instead, they should be cherished as treasures.

The number one instruction from a godly parent is for children not to indulge in sin. Solomon is not saying "if" sinners entice you, he is saying "when" sinners entice you. Verse 11-14 is a personification of sin to pressure in tempting naïve kids, that is;

11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;

let us ambush the innocent without reason;

12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we shall find all precious goods,

we shall fill our houses with plunder;

14 throw in your lot among us;

we will all have one purse”—

The purpose of the example is to help us recognize and reject those "sales tactics", peer pressure, ends justifying the means, personal gain, and glory. Solomon's plea to children is to not even pay attention to these kinds of temptations.[v.15] The terms he uses here are "do not walk," and "hold back your foot." In other words, don't even let them get a word out, don't listen at all, "stay completely away from the path. In no way, shape, or form should we cooperate with those who are pursuing evil. This is an all-too-common plea from parents to their children: "Don't make the same mistakes I did."

Parents who have learned the hard way are the best teachers. They see the end from the start. As Solomon sees the consequence, that is;

16 for their feet run to evil,

and they make haste to shed blood.

17 For in vain is a net spread

in the sight of any bird,

18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;

they set an ambush for their own lives.

19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;

it takes away the life of its possessors.

We have a wise saying in the Philippines, “Ang mga matatanda ay nagsasalita, ang mga bata ay nakikinig” This is no different to what Solomon says. The wisest thing to do is to listen and consider.

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