Take the hats off your flea-bitten heads and listen up, and I will instruct you in the word of the Lord.”
–John Deacon (The Provider–2)
“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”
–1 Timothy 6:17 (KJV)
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8 — My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 — For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.
–Proverbs 1:8-9 (NKJV)
8 — Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. (HCSB)
HEED! That’s the key word for today.
Now the sons of Eli (Hophni and Phinehas) were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. –1 Samuel 2:12, NKJV
Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. –Leviticus 10:1-2, NKJV)
Being “corrupt” literally means, “sons of Belial,” in other words in cohorts with the devil, therefore, persons of no value. Sons of the high priest, sons who had performed their duties before the Lord at other times knowing the right way, became corrupt and decided to do things their own way going against the teachings of their father and more importantly their heavenly Father. They did not heed their father’s instructions and they rejected their mother’s teachings and paid the price.
There is a tremendous responsibility as parents to train up a child in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord. As go the parents and their teachings, so goes the child. Look around and you can see the results of what is happening in the home. Chaos all around, hmm, chaos in the home, or perhaps an apathetic, too permissive homelife. Parents would do well to instruct and teach their children rightly. As J. Vernon McGee says, “May God have mercy on the parents who are not instructing their little ones in the things of God.”
There is a tremendous obligation of the child to listen; to pay attention to the teaching of their parents (and others). They are to be dutiful and respectful in their attentiveness. They are to heed what is being taught! There is an implied warning here–do not abandon what he’s been told. Just like Paul said in Timothy, do not abandon the faith. As evil and wicked times come, more and more will abandon the faith, however, those who heed the teachings, the instruction of their parents and other leaders will be stable and confident in the days of trouble.
To hear means to “receive with readiness.” This teaching is never to be “forsaken” or forgotten. It is to be heeded throughout the journey of life. We see then in verse 7 from last week’s study the first requirement: fear and worship God. Now, we are looking at the second requirement: honor parents by obeying. This teaching will be like an ornament or gold chains. In other words, value the teaching that has been given and show it in your lifestyle. Matthew Henry relates, “Those are truly valuable, and shall be valued, who value themselves more by their virtue and piety than by their worldly wealth and dignity.”
Much more in Proverbs will be referred back to these verses. Do not scoff at instruction. Do not scorn the discipline that is handed out with love. The instruction, if properly given, and properly adhered to will save multitudes of problems in life. “The instruction and discipline of wisdom do at first seem difficult and hard, and are like fetters or iron restraining the corruption and rebellion of nature; but at length they are like chains of gold, worn like ornaments and no burden at all.” (Michael Jermin)