Instruction of a father who had been a son – wisdom, faith, sanctification
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| 1 ¶ 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. |
3
- My father's son All males are their fathers' sons. The text implies
a special relationship. Solomon built the temple David had wanted to build
2sa0712ff,
2sa1224f,
1ch2209.
3 - Only beloved Perhaps uniquely loved by his mother. We might imagine His father was busy. And true mother love is, indeed, special. See 1ch2901. |
| 5 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 honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. |
Links often point to passages with more than one verse. |
| 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. |
12 - Steps Walk without difficulty See jb1807. |
| .14
¶ Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of
evil men.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. .16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. .18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. .19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. |
16
- Unless they cause ... fall This illogical mindset is from the
father of lies jn0844.
18 - Path of the just A picture of growth in grace. While just (righteous), our imperfect characters develop. 18 - Shineth more Notice the literary contrast between the wicked at night v16 and the righteous like the sunlight which gets brighter until the day has fully come. |
| 20 ¶ My son,
attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. |
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| .23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you. (BBE). 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. .26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. |
23
- Keep thy heart Notice the "diligence" required. We must continually
recommit our lives to Christ. Our life both here and in eternity depend
on resisting doubt and skepticism. This does not stifle our thinking but
ennobles it and lifts it above the amusements and selfishness of the natural
mind ep0417,
23.
24 - Put away ... mouth We must resist evil and worthless words. Our words show our character lu0645. Compare ja0301-12. 26 - Ponder ... path We must consider carefully any new association. Tempting money schemes may get us into trouble or hurt those we want to get money from. |
| .27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. | 27
- Turn not See 2ch3402.
27 - Remove When we realize we are doing wrong, we may plead with God to give us strength to change. The word "foot" implies oppression ex2309, pr2222, je0706. |
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