Memory Verses

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father, And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment. Proverbs 4:1 AMP

16 These six things the Lord hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: 17 A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that creates wicked plans,
Feet that run swiftly to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP

Key people

Here is a list of key people found in today’s reading (in order of appearance) with bios from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Solomon. Also called Jedidiah. Was, according to the Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Quran, and Hadiths, a fabulously wealthy and wise king of the United Kingdom of Israel who succeeded his father, King David.

Today’s Devotional Reading: Proverbs 4 – 7

Proverbs 4 Amplified Version (AMP)
Proverbs 5 Amplified Version (AMP)
Proverbs 6 Amplified Version (AMP)
Proverbs 7 Amplified Version (AMP)

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary

When the things of God are to be taught precept must be upon precept, and line upon line, not only because the things themselves are of great worth and weight, but because men’s minds, at the best, are unapt to admit them and commonly prejudiced against them; and therefore Solomon, in this chapter, with a great variety of expression and a pleasant powerful flood of divine eloquence, inculcates the same things that he had pressed upon us in the foregoing chapters. Here is, I. An earnest exhortation to the study of wisdom, that is, of true religion and godliness, borrowed from the good instructions which his father gave him, and enforced with many considerable arguments, Prov. 4:1-13. II. A necessary caution against bad company and all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, Prov. 4:14-19. III. Particular directions for the attaining and preserving of wisdom, and bringing forth the fruits of it, Prov. 4:20-27. So plainly, so pressingly, is the case laid before us, that we shall be for ever inexcusable if we perish in our folly (Chapter 4).

The scope of this chapter is much the same with that of Prov. 2:1-22. To write the same things, in other words, ought not to be grievous, for it is safe, Phil. 3:1. Here is, I. An exhortation to get acquaintance with and submit to the laws of wisdom in general, Prov. 5:2. II. A particular caution against the sin of whoredom, Prov. 5:3-14. III. Remedies prescribed against that sin. 1. Conjugal love, Prov. 5:15-20. 2. A regard to God’s omniscience, Prov. 5:21. 3. A dread of the miserable end of wicked people, Prov. 5:22, 23. And all little enough to arm young people against those fleshly lusts which war against the soul (Chapter 5).

In this chapter we have, I. A caution against rash suretiship, Prov. 6:1-5. II. A rebuke to slothfulness, Prov. 6:6-11. III. The character and fate of a malicious mischievous man, Prov. 6:12-15. IV. An account of seven things which God hates, Prov. 6:16-19. V. An exhortation to make the word of God familiar to us, Prov. 6:20-23. VI. A repeated warning of the pernicious consequences of the sin of whoredom, Prov. 6:24-35. We are here dissuaded from sin very much by arguments borrowed from our secular interests, for it is not only represented as damning in the other world, but as impoverishing in this (Chapter 6).

The scope of this chapter is, as of several before, to warn young men against the lusts of the flesh. Solomon remembered of what ill consequence it was to his father, perhaps found himself, and perceived his son, addicted to it, or at least had observed how many hopeful young men among his subjects had been ruined by those lusts; and therefore he thought he could never say enough to dissuade men from them, that “every one may possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of uncleanness.” In this chapter we have, I. A general exhortation to get our minds principled and governed by the world of God, as a sovereign antidote against this sin, Prov. 7:1-5. II. A particular representation of the great danger which unwary young men are in of being inveigled into this snare, Prov. 7:6-23. III. A serious caution inferred thence, in the close, to take heed of all approaches towards this sin, Prov. 7:24-27. We should all pray, “Lord, lead us not into this temptation (Chapter 7).

Reflection

Solomon wrote letters to his son, the way Solomon’s father David had written letters to him. These personal communications must have solidified the relationship between father and son.

According to Science Daily, “A father’s love is one of the greatest influences on personality development.” …and a father’s love contributes as much — and sometimes more — to a child’s development as does a mother’s love. That is one of many findings in a new large-scale analysis of research about the power of parental rejection and acceptance in shaping our personalities as children and into adulthood.

When I was about three years old, my parents divorced for the last time (they had divorced and remarried three times). When they went their separate ways, I felt like I had lost a father and friend. My Dad never again remarried.

I idolized my Dad throughout my life. I was a true Daddy’s girl; but growing up, I never felt like he was proud of me. He had a dream and he pursued it. I admired him very much. All I wanted to do was make him proud. He was an author, which I admired most because I wanted to be an author.

I thought that graduating high school would be enough to make me feel accomplished and consequently make my father so proud that he would write about me. He was proud, but I didn’t translate it well. I couldn’t feel it through the physical distance between us. I thought that graduating college would be enough. After the first and then the second degree, it wasn’t enough for me to feel like I had really accomplished something in his eyes.

During my teens I was depressed and anorexic. I once asked my Dad if he wished that he had had a son instead of me. He said no, but I didn’t believe him. Living with a single parent most of my life, I felt cheated. I blamed him for not being there to stop the abuse I suffered as a child.

It was not until I discovered my Dad’s writings in my early twenties that I realized what I meant to him. I finally saw that he spoke my love language – (written) words of affirmation. When my father passed on March 4, 2019, I was still trying to live up to his massive reputation as a leader and teacher. I guess its what leads me to be an overachiever to this day.

My Dad included a dedication to me in his most popular book, Manhood: A Light From Within. He might not have been husband material, but he was a good, good Father.

References

« The Amplified Bible
« The King James Bible
« Matthew Henry’s Commentary

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Image Source: 365 Seeds of Promise by Shenica Graham.

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