In Today's Email:
Proverbs 4 Notes
In this chapter Solomon continues his fatherly instruction.
vs. 1-9 – Solomon recalls his upbringing and training. His father, David, had pressed on him the importance of gaining and utilizing wisdom. We note also the mention of his mother, Bathsheba, of which more will be said later.
vs. 10-19 – Solomon implores his son to follow his counsel. He lays out the two paths of righteousness and wickedness, showing the benefit of the path of righteousness and wisdom.
vs. 20-27 – Solomon continues to press his son to follow his teaching and apply it in his life and rule.
Proverbs 5 Notes
In this chapter Solomon advises his son against the strange woman and praises faithful marriage.
vs. 1-14 – The strange woman of 2:16 reappearance. Here the wiles of the seductress are described as well as the cost of succumbing to her temptation. Sadly, Solomon did not follow his own advice and allowed his many wives to sway his heart (I Kings 11:4).
vs. 15-23 – The blessedness of faithful matrimony is expressed as counter to the dangers of the strange woman.
Proverbs 6 Notes
In this chapter Solomon continues his fatherly advice.
vs. 1-5 – A warning against becoming entangled in contracts and agreements.
vs. 6-11 – The idle and lazy are pointed to observe the industrious ant. The insect has more sense than they do! He labors and prepares for the future, while the sluggard is unprepared for what comes his way.
vs. 12-19 – The description of a worthless person, building on the discussion of the sluggard. The Hebrew word used to describe them is Belial, like the sons of Belial we met in Deuteronomy 13:13 and many more times. Just as with the sluggard, destruction waits for him.
vs. 20-35 – We see Godly wisdom as guiding the steps of the good man. This is applied particularly to avoiding the strange woman and her wiles. Again, adultery and fornication are denounced.
Closing Thoughts
Of all the topics Solomon could seek to apply wisdom to, I find it instructive that he brings up marriage and adultery. If this was written as instruction for Rehoboam before he became king, then Solomon surely was speaking by experience. Sadly, sometimes it takes being burned to learn that a stove top is hot. Heed the advice of those who have made such mistakes and not seek to test them for yourself. Part of wisdom is learning from experience and, as we will see in Ecclesiastes, Solomon did just that at great cost to himself.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “O Happy Home”. It was originally written in French by Karl Johann Philipp Spitta in 1833 and translated in English by Sarah B. Findlater in 1858. We need more songs like this to reinforce this idea in our modern age.
O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,
Thou loving Friend and Savior of our race,
And where among the guests there never cometh
One who can hold such high and honored place!
O happy home, where two in heart united
In holy faith and blessèd hope are one,
Whom death a little while alone divideth,
And cannot end the union here begun!
O happy home, whose little ones are given
Early to Thee, in humble faith and prayer,
To Thee, their Friend, who from the heights of Heaven
Guides them, and guards with more than mother’s care!
O happy home, where each one serves Thee, lowly,
Whatever his appointed work may be,
Till every common task seems great and holy,
When it is done, O Lord, as unto Thee!
O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten,
Where joy is overflowing, full and free,
O happy home, where every wounded spirit
Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee—
Until at last, when earth’s day’s work is ended,
All meet Thee in the blessèd home above,
From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,
Thy everlasting home of peace and love!