Listen to mom and dad

 

Read Proverbs 1

Let’s dive into the second section of this chapter.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

They are a garland to grace your head

    and a chain to adorn your neck.

We see the parallel construction of Hebrew thought that is common to their literature.  Listen to what dad tells you and don’t ignore your mother.  Listen to your parents.

You can go out into the world with your hair a mess, wrinkled and dirty clothing, and mismatched socks or you can go into the world in style.  I am not talking about name-brand clothing and high price cologne.

I speak of receiving the counsel of your parents.  Wisdom is from God but is often delivered by your parents.  In most households, even some where God is not first, parents want their children to have the tools they need to navigate the world.

Seldom do we see parents sending their children into the world equipped only with the parting words of good luck.

I think to Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as Polonius seeks to impart to his son, who is headed off to college, counsel for a lifetime into the moment of departure.

Neither a borrower nor a lender be,

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.

This above all — to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

The proverb tells us not to wait until the last minute to receive the instruction of our parents.  This is a process.  It is a continuing process.

Your parents warn you against hanging out with the wrong group.  Stay away from the kids using dope and breaking the law.  Do your homework.  Brush your teeth.

The proverbs tell us to watch out for the person who tries to trick or trap a person to get his money or valuables.  The trap being set is really for you.  You are setting a trap for yourself.  No ill-gotten gain will get you ahead.

Listen to mom and dad.  They want to impart wisdom to you.  Think to verse 7.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Think to the purpose of the proverbs as we read at the beginning of the chapter. The proverbs are for:

·       Gaining wisdom

·       Understanding insight

·       Developing prudent behavior

·       Doing what is right

·       Doing what is fair

·       Doing what is just

·       Helping the simple

·       Helping a child be brought up in the way he should go

·       To help understand parables and other literature that offer knowledge

How do we do all of this?

Listen to mom and dad and ignore the voices of the wicked.

Hunger for God’s wisdom and detest what is wicked.

You are beginning a journey through God’s best-known book of wisdom.  You will be well served to develop an appetite for wisdom.

Amen.