Very impressive indeed! This section is titled The Proverbs of Solomon and concerning this we read in 1 Kings 4:32 that He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. And this was just one of his amazing credentials. Read 1 Kings 4:29-34 for the full CV. I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised though when you consider that his father was David, well known for composing multiple songs and Psalms.
And so, the ‘single sentence proverbs’ of Solomon begin with:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Certainly, in the early years of his life, Solomon would have fitted this description, of a wise son bringing joy to his mother and father, very well.
It is not too surprising really that the 5th Commandment concerns a right relationship between parents and children, considering how life at its most satisfying and meaningful, as planned by God, begins with this relationship. And so, it says:
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16)
Tragically, in the Western world in particular, this whole idea of honouring parents has been eroded away as our culture moves further away from basic Christian family values.
This subject is obviously considered important by Proverbs as it is mentioned another 6 times as follows:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish man despises his mother. (15:20)
To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. (17:21)
A foolish child is a father’s ruin… (19:13a)
Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful! (23:22-25)
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. (27:11)
A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. (29:3)
Did you notice the repetition of the word joy or rejoice or joyful in these verses? They are all connected with the son (or daughter) who is wise or righteous. I think we can all agree with the author when he says: May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful! Maybe you can pray this blessing over a newborn next time you visit a new mother after she has just given birth.
Although applying to anyone, these verses that follow can describe the character and activities of a wise or foolish son?
Solomon continues:
2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
A foolish son/daughter seeks things that are of no lasting value. If only they had been wise and known the consequences of such activity and lived a righteous life.
3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Goldsworthy comments: “Proverbs emphasizes the natural correlation of wisdom and life… [and the contrast where] behind this natural retribution is the hand of the Lord.” (# 53)
4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
On the same subject as above (v. 3) Keller says “There’s an order to creation, and so natural consequences are embedded in life.” (# 51) Of course, we know that it is not quite this black and white and there are times when poverty may not be the fault of the person or riches due to diligence. The book of Job is relevant to this, as well as Psalm 73. (see also Post # 417 Proverbs 6:1-19. Warning: ‘Go to the ant, you sluggard.’)
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
And so we return to the family relationships with the prudent (which could also read wise or righteous) son realizing and fulfilling his duties as a faithful member of the family. This being in contrast to the lazy son who is basically causing disgrace to the family and reminds us of the other proverb, A foolish child is a father’s ruin… (19:13a)
Of course, in all this there is the truth that not only children need to be wise, but their parents as well, always setting a good example. There is no room for “do what I say and not what I do.”
Paul, writing to the Ephesian church gave this wise advice:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 