Father & Son

Proverbs 10:1-10

The tenth chapter is a collection of Solomon’s Proverbs and we shall explore verse by verse, and see if Scripture supports what Solomon is teaching.  In the first nine chapters, it contains a discourse of wisdom, and wisdom is required to carry out what is necessary to live out these teachings.

Verse one; “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”  So does Scripture support this teaching?  Yes, many of the Proverbs and the Psalms do so, but what about King David’s mother and dad, we do not know much about the mother, she may have been the second wife of his father, Jesse.  But I can tell you from a dad’s perspective that Jesse and his mother took great pride in David’s Kingship, and no matter what was going on with David he made sure that mom and dad were provided for and protected.  As great a king and son as David was, he is a poor example of the joy a son can bring to a Father when we look at what God has to say about His Son. 

How many sons and daughters want to hear a dad say, I am pleased with you, you make my heart glad, but so many never hear these words, and often it is because dad is gone or no longer part of his family?  The son or daughter has not learned that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings punishment, and a dad and mom are often the blame for not teaching this truth.

With that said, we look at Jesus whose Father is God, and the Father often mentioned in Scripture as in the following; "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"  It's recorded in Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22, 2 Peter 1:17, Isaiah 42:1, and yes God is very pleased with His only Son Jesus, for His desire was to bring honor to the Father, and Lady Wisdom would exhort us to follow Jesus and honor and respect our dad’s desires and to please our Father in heaven.

Verse 2, “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.”  Jesus said in Mark 8:36-37, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  For what can a man give in return for his soul?”  I wonder if you have given thought to the words in the book of Ecclesiastes that Solomon tells us, all was vanity and a striving after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”  Now Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 is worthy of your pondering; ^“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice