Except for my youngest son, I had the privilege of being present when my other two sons and my daughter were born. They were born in Australia. I was not present when my youngest son was born and the reason was cultural; it was just not the “done thing” in Pakistan where he was born. Other than this small difference, all four children were loved equally by us, their mother and father, and we prayed for them and endeavoured to teach them, and then trusted God to reveal himself to them in His own way, which He has done. Their early lives were challenging for them, living in Pakistan, and all eventually needing to attend a missionary boarding school in the north of Pakistan. Today we have the privilege of not only relating to and praying for them but also to their children – our 11 grandchildren!
Proverbs chapter 4 continues with a father instructing his children the very truths that he himself was taught by his parents. In fact, he teaches and then reminds them again, conscious of how forgetful we humans can be. So, we read:
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father,
still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
“Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
Nielson comments that this section of Proverbs “is one of my favorites, because it is so personal – and because it has a grandpa and a grandma in it! … The address to ‘sons,’ plural (v 1a), may draw out the sense of passing this generational wisdom on to many.” (# 55)
And so, he continues with this generational knowledge and wisdom from God and says:
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
and present you with a glorious crown.”
Whatever it costs you, he says, just get wisdom! Reminds me of the Nike motto: “Just do it!” But he then continues, once you have wisdom/understanding, then Do not forsake this wisdom! In fact, love her and cherish her and embrace her! The father then shares the wonderful benefits of this very worthwhile activity in life. He reminds the son that in getting wisdom she will protect you… and she will watch over you… she will exalt you… and she will honor you… in fact, experiencing this wisdom will make you more of an “attractive” person – i.e., She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.
In the words of Timothy Keller: “Never, ever give up in your pursuit of wisdom. Do absolutely anything to get it, whatever it costs you. Why? Because it is more costly to not have it. You will make decisions that lead to one difficulty and disaster after another. So do whatever it takes… Wisdom comes not to the most fortunate or intelligent but to those most determined to find it.” (# 51)
Let me finish off with the words of James:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt…” (James 1:5-6)
And, oh yes, don’t forget to apply the wise words of your parents and grandparents!
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 