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DISCIPLINED INSTRUCTION OF GOD (Book study series - Proverbs) - Message no. 10 Man with his sinful old nature, as self-centered wants to rebel against proper biblical instruction. Solomon knew that God uses His divine Word, people of God, He even allows trials, troubles, difficulties, heavy circumstances, and sometimes sickness in order to train, to shape, to mold His believers to become what God wants them to be. However, may believers of God, become bitter, rebelled, and rejected God’s disciplined instruction and choose to remain in their miserable condition of their lives instead of learning the lessons, growing, and pressing on for the God’s glory. PROPOSITION: WISE BELIEVER WILL NEVER REBEL, BECOME BITTER AGAINST GOD’S DISCIPLINE INSTRUCTION BECAUSE GOD’S CHASTISEMENT AND CORRECTION DEVELOPS THE BELIEVER INTO A WISE PERSON. Solomon gives two primary reasons for not becoming rebellious or hostile to God’s instruction. Two reasons why a believer should never become bitter and rebellious against God’s instruction:
I – BESTOWER OF THE DISCIPLINED INSTRUCTION – v. 11-12
Proverbs 3:11-12 "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."
Kawikaan 3:11-12 “Anak ko, ang disiplina ng Panginoon ay huwag mong hamakin, at ang kanyang saway ay huwag mong itakuwil. 12 Sapagkat sinasaway ng Panginoon ang kanyang minamahal, gaya ng ama sa anak na kanyang kinalulugdan.” FILIPINO VERSION
Verse 11 says, “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:” As we have seen in our previous study that Solomon had instructed the youth in what the young people ought to do, so now Solomon instructed the youth in what he ought to suffer. Religion consists not only in action but also in passive obedience.
The words “despise not” in verse 11, that is Solomon’s instruction not to despise or reject (NASB; ESV), the chastening of the Lord as if it were useless and irksome. The idea behind the word “despise” is to make light of something. Solomon hereby anticipates a covert objection, because if all the favour in the sight of God and in the sight of man, and the health which have been attributed to the fearers the Lord (Proverbs 3:1-20) really be theirs, how is it that we see them often so sorely afflicted? Possibly, some objects that if the chastening of the Lord is for the good, for their favor, for their benefits, and for God’s glory, their question is why still so often they were so afflicted? The reason for this, is that the Lord sends these afflictions, not for evil, but for the good to the people of God.
Solomon tells the youth not despise the chastisement. The word “chastisement” in Greek [kolasis (G2851), or to make it clear to understand it means “punishment”] intended for the sake of the sufferer; while the word “vengeance” [timooria], is intended for the satisfaction of him that inflicts it. The Lord does not even so much punish, as chasten His child. Chastisements are blessings attached in it (Job 5:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”; Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;”; Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”).
Not only Solomon says do not despise chastisement but with regards to the correction of the Lord, in verse 11 Solomon also says, “neither be weary” [taaqots (H6973), from qowts (H6975), means a thorn.] Do not regard the correction of the Lord as an annoying thorn. In addition, the word “weary,” or translated “loathe” (NASB, ESV) is an idea about an attitude that actually is a resentment or aversion even to the point of vomiting.
There are two things that are forbidden here.
1.) Do not despise (make light of) the Lord’s chastening, as if thou couldest easily cast it off-in insensibility to it, not recognizing the Lord’s hand in it, and not humbling thyself under it.
2.) Do not, on the contrary, through pusillanimity, be weary, and impatient, and desponding under the burden. Some says, not to feel thy evils would be inhuman, not to bear them, would be unmanly (Isaiah 9:9; Isaiah 9:13).
Verse 12 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”
We can also read in Deuteronomy 8:5 “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.”
In Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”, this verse is quoted with a slight alteration, it is designed by the Spirit to bring out a somewhat varied aspect of the same truth. The word in this verse “scourgeth” implies the kind of correction, as severe, even to drawing “blood” like as it was stated in Hebrews 12:4 “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”. So, do not make light of the chastening of the Lord. God will chasten you to the point of your life that you will be hurt so much that will draw your attention to the Lord. The word in this verse “receiveth” that takes to God as a child of God accepted and beloved. Therefore, as God “receiveth” us as His Child that answers to the “delighteth” of the Lord, that is mentioned in verse 12 of our passage.
Verse 12 gives the reason why a child of God should never make light of the chastening of the Lord and neither regard the correction of the Lord as an annoying thorn as a disciplined instruction because God (Jehovah) is giving this instruction as a loving Father with a purpose so that He can bring His child to the point where that child of God be a great delight. If we are aware that it is God who is giving us the discipline, it is God who is the bestower of the disciplined instruction, therefore it should not cause us to negatively react or rebel against His disciplinary instruction or correction because when God corrects us in our life He controls all things, so we can learn from everything that God allows us to experience.
Continuation...Part 2... II – BLESSINGS OF THE DISCIPLINED INSTRUCTION – v. 13-20 Notice the word in verse 13, “Happy is the man.” Proverbs 3:13 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Or in Filipino version Kawikaan 3:13 “Mapalad ang tao na nakakasumpong ng karunungan, at ang tao na nagtatamo ng kaunawaan.” The prevailing result for not despising or not making light of the disciplines of God is the result of happiness (verse 13 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” and verse 18b “…happy is every one that retaineth her.”). This is not a kind of emotional giddiness, but this is having an emotional stability as a result of being aware that we are acting in a favorable, successful and strong direction.
The phrase “findeth wisdom” in verse 13 is the idea of finally achieving or reaching or gaining.
The verb “getteth” or “gains” understanding has the idea about a person who is happy, strong, stable who put himself to submit to the disciplines of God and this person has pursued the wisdom of God.
Notice in verses 14 to 15 it says, Proverbs 3:14-15 “For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” Or in Filipino Version Kawikaan 3:14-15 “Sapagkat ang pakinabang dito kaysa pilak ay mas mainam, at ang mapapakinabang dito ay higit kaysa gintong dalisay. 15 Kaysa mga alahas, siya ay mas mahalaga, at wala sa mga bagay na ninanasa mo ang maihahambing sa kanya.” These two verses give the reason for the happiness. A person becomes extremely wealthy and valuable in God’s assessment of God’s wisdom, and that person wealth of God’s wisdom is far beyond the greatest value of wealth of this world.
BENEFITS OF GOD’S WISDOM THAT ARE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN MATERIAL WEALTH: A. Promises are a Length of life and a Riches and honor in life – v.16 Proverbs 3:16 “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.”
Kawikaan 3:16 “Ang mahabang buhay ay nasa kanyang kanang kamay; sa kanyang kaliwang kamay ay mga yaman at karangalan.” FILIPINO VERSION
We read in verse 16, “Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.” Here we see that the wisdom is described as a royal virgin or queen, with both hands full of gifts: in her right hand (the superior hand) is length of life, which is the chief of earthly blessings (no amount of money in all this world can add anything to your length of life), and that which probably (though not expressly) God promised to Solomon himself in connection with the gift of wisdom (I Kings 3:11-12 “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”).
True wisdom from God is a life full of riches (spiritually and financially) and honor. True wisdom is the path of life, because it shuns perils and averts them, and true wisdom provides advantages; true wisdom controls the passions; true wisdom teaches prudence and temperance; and especially because eternal life is its final issue, that is if you are saved or not, if Christ is in you and Christ was seen manifested in your life as a Christian).
We see the words “riches and honour”. We are certain that our ultimate wealth and honor will come in eternity. The person who will pursue the wisdom of God will see how God bestowed unto him a very prosperous life.
B. Products are a way of pleasantness and a peaceful path of life – v. 17 Proverbs 1:17 “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Kawikaan 3:17 “Ang kanyang mga daan ay mga daan ng kaligayahan, at ang lahat niyang mga landas ay kapayapaan.” FILIPINO VERSION
The phrases “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” It means both the way, and the end to which the way leads, is peace. Though her ways are painful to the flesh, they are “pleasantness” to the spirit: not merely pleasant, as it is translated in other version, but “pleasantness” itself; not merely peaceable and peaceful, but “peace” itself. There are many ways in the world pleasant, but not safe; others safe, but not pleasant. A person who pursues God’s wisdom will be given a life of tranquility. C. Perseverance as we have the Eternal life – v.18a Proverbs 3:18a “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
Kawikaan 3:18a “Siya'y punungkahoy ng buhay sa mga humahawak sa kanya; at mapalad ang lahat ng nakakapit sa kanya.” FILIPINO VERSION
The words “lay hold” (machaziquim) – literally, to lay hold with a tenacious grasp, not to be severed from her: This word come from a Hebrew root “strong.” We can compare for similar references to the “the tree of life.” Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.“; Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”; Proverbs 15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
Wisdom brings life to her possessors, as the tree of life in Paradise would have done to our first parents, but that they forfeited it. Genesis 2:9 “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 3:22 “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”
The privilege of eating from this tree was lost in Eden (Genesis 2:7-9; Genesis 3:23-24). The privilege of eating from this tree was theologically restored at Calvary. Ephesian 2:16 “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” Or in FILIPINO VERSION “at kanyang papagkasunduin ang dalawa sa isang katawan sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng krus, na sa pamamagitan niyon ay pinatay ang alitan.”) And will be literally restored in eternity (Revelation 22:2). Wisdom – the saying knowledge of God in Christ, or Christ himself restores us to the life eternal which we lost in Adam. The fruit of other trees appeases hunger for a moment of time but this tree of life which is God’s wisdom satisfies our soul forever. Wisdom saves not merely from death, but from disease. Wisdom is for our health and for our healing. Revelation 22:2 “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”Revelation 2:7 “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Ezekiel 47:12 “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.” The “tree of life” represents special nourishment from God, given to one who is in harmony with Him.
Notice the phrase in verse 18 “and happy is every one that retaineth her.” Happy is in the Hebrew singular, but the participle is plural: literally, “they that retain her are each one happy.” In one sense, it is we who lay hold upon wisdom (I Timothy 6:12). I Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” Let us lay hold upon wisdom and retain wisdom in our close embrace (for it is not the careless and not superficial, not shallow but the earnest and persevering as we reach heaven. But in another sense it is wisdom that lays hold of and retains us, if we be hers.Philippians 3:12 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Or in FILIPINO VERSION, Filipos 3:12 “Hindi sa ito'y aking nakamit na, o ako'y sakdal na; kundi nagpapatuloy ako upang iyon ay aking maabot, kung paanong ako ay inabot din ni Cristo Jesus.” end; Isaiah 65:1 “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” Or in FILIPINO VERSION, Isaias 65:1“Ako'y nakahandang tumugon sa mga hindi nagtatanong sa akin. Ako'y nakahandang matagpuan noong mga naghahanap sa akin. Aking sinabi, “Narito ako, narito ako,” sa isang bansa na hindi tumawag sa pangalan ko.”.
Let us lays hold and retains the Wisdom of God and the Wisdom of God lays hold on us and retains us.
D. Power of a Divine goal – v.19-20 Proverbs 3:19-20 "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”
Kawikaan 3:19-20 “Itinatag ng Panginoon ang daigdig sa pamamagitan ng karunungan; itinayo niya ang mga langit sa pamamagitan ng kaunawaan. 20 Sa kanyang kaalaman ang mga kalaliman ay nabiyak, at nagpapatak ng hamog ang mga ulap.” FILIPINO VERSION
Verse 19 says, “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.” Do not marvel that wisdom secures all these blessings namely the length of days, riches, etc…because wisdom has effected having founded the earth and established the heavens far greater things than these blessings that we enjoy. If through God’s wisdom the earth was founded and the heavens was established how much more our everything that we need in life could not be provided and all problems that we have could not be solved by the wisdom of God. It was by the power of God’s wisdom, as one of God’s divine attributes, that God hath founded the earth and established the heavens. Amen!
Notice in verse 20 says, “By his knowledge the depths are broken up,” It is by God’s knowledge or God’s wisdom that the depths are broken up into the rivers and streams for the refreshment of man. Genesis 1:9-10 “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place,” 10 ”And God…the gathering together of the waters called the Seas: and God saw that it was good.” As the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind as Job needed it and the Lord said something about the sea in Job 38:8 “who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth,” We can see the Lord’s care over His works in Psalms 104:5-18 “Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. 7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8 They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. 9 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.10 He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.”; God intended the depths and waters for our good before He created us in Proverbs 8:24 “When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.” Indeed, by God’s knowledge or Wisdom, He provides everything that man and animals and all His creatures need to in order to survive and enjoy His loving cares. Also, God knows our needs more than we know our needs. God can do more than we ask or think Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”). That is the power of God’s wisdom with a divine goal for our lives.
Notice again in verse 20 says, “and the clouds drop down the dew.” Since dew does not descent from the clouds, but is formed near the ground, the Hebrew for dew is here used to express small or gentle rain in Job 36:27-28 “For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.” or else “the clouds” are used here for the lower regions of the air, where the dew is formed. The Holy Scriptures describes the reality of nature according to phenomena, not in scientific language, which would unfit it for the majority of facts. Now as the first clause describes one instance of God’s wisdom on earth (verse 20a “By his knowledge the depths are broken up,”), so the second describes the instance of God’s wisdom in the heavens or air (verse 20b “and the clouds drop down the dew.”) The dew in the East is a most important boon for vegetation, in the absence of rain. Deuteronomy 33:28 “heavens shall drop down dew.”
By God’s wisdom, He has the power to do and give and provide everything for our good so we can give back the glory for Him. No one can do that, neither the scientists, scholars, the most intelligent government officials, Kings dynamic teachers in this earth, only God through His wisdom, we can learn, we can be change, we can be developed. Amen!
Wisdom is a major communicable attribute of God and therefore wisdom should be a divine goal of our lives. God allows and uses difficulties, pressures, hardships, as He chastened us, to mold us, to shape us, to train us and grant us His wisdom, that is the reason why we as children of God we should never despise or make light of the chastening of the Lord neither weary of the correction of the Lord no matter how difficult it may seem to be.
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