Posted by Jeff Short on July 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
– Proverbs 15:32
The word for
instruction means discipline and it is the tutelage of wisdom. To refuse it is to harm oneself (Proverbs 8:33-36). The word for
heareth means to hear intelligently, or listen attentively. To hear
reproof is to acquire and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 15:14; 18:15). It is a mark of the wise to receive reproof and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 9:9-10; 17:10; 19:25). It is not that the wise enjoy reproof or correction, but it has its intended effect and they rejoice in gained wisdom (Proverbs 21:11; Hebrews 12:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
– Proverbs 15:5
Proverbs teaches wisdom is had by instruction and correction (Proverbs 1:2-4, 23). The
prudent, or wise, will heed it (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The
fool despiseth, or scorns, sound correction and instruction (Proverbs 10:1; 13:1). They will not hear wise counsel (Proverbs 1:7; 10:8; 12:15) and they mock sin (Proverbs 14:9). Referring to
his father’s instruction shows his foolishness early on (Proverbs 22:15), which can lead to an irremediable scoffing fool (Proverbs 27:22). This proverb also reveals character by how we respond to correction and instruction.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
– Proverbs 13:18
This proverb is a truism of outcomes in life. The word for
shame points to disgrace, or dishonor, and
poverty is just that. This comes to one who refuses
instruction, which is discipline including correction. Despising instruction is the proverbial characteristic of the fool (Proverbs 1:7). The contrast is to regard
reproof. To regard is to keep or give heed. The word for
reproof leans more to the correction. Such correction is an indispensable part of acquiring wisdom (Proverbs 15:5, 31-32; 9:9; 25:12).
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Posted by Jeff Short on April 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Chapter 13 continues the first section of the Proverbs of Solomon. The proverbs in this chapter mainly have a two-line antithetical structure. The proverbs in this chapter touch on words, or speech, wealth and poverty, pride, parenting, and wisdom generally.
A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
– Proverbs 13:1
Training in wisdom begins at home with one’s parents. The word for instruction means discipline and so includes correction. A wise son is characterized as one who receives instruction and correction, which sets him at odds with a fool (Proverbs 15:5). The contrast is with a scorner, which is the hardest form of a fool, or the final progression of the fool. A scorner despises correction and hates those who try to correct him (Proverbs 9:7-8; 15:12). The word for rebuke means a chiding and is stronger than in the first phrase. The tenor of the proverb is that a son who chafes at the discipline of his father at home is on his way to becoming a scorner. Scorners ultimately find themselves scorned by God at the last (Proverbs 3:34).
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Posted by Jeff Short on March 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Chapter 12 continues the major section of the Proverbs, “The proverbs of Solomon,” which starts with chapter 10 and goes through chapter 22. There is no obvious topical arrangement of the proverbs, but several subjects have been addressed more than once to this point. Chapter 12 will add some proverbs to these subjects and cover a few more.
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
– Proverbs 12:1
The contrast in this proverb is between love and hate. Instruction and reproof parallel, with the first meaning discipline or training and the second meaning correction, even chastisement. To acquire and grow in wisdom, we must receive correction (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:18). Hating instruction and correction will be the last lament of the fool as he is finally brought to shame and ruin (Proverbs 5:11-13). The word for brutish means an animal like a cow. When it is used of people, it means stupidity of the highest order (Psalm 32:9; 92:6). An animal has no reasoning capacity and doesn’t know what is best for it. A person who despises the correction of wisdom is just like a brute beast.
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Posted by Jeff Short on February 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
– Proverbs 10:17
Life in the Proverbs is a quality of life and not a quantity of life. Life also includes thoughts of the spiritual and the afterlife. The
way of life is to them who
keepeth instruction. Proverbs emphasizes the importance of hearing instruction but also the importance of retaining it (Proverbs 3:1-2, 18; 4:4, 13). The contrast is made between keeping and refusing, or forsaking, as the word indicates. To err is to go astray and we know it is ultimately to come to ruin (Proverbs 15:10; 29:1).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
– Proverbs 8:33
Instruction is discipline or correction. It carries the idea of a warning. The instruction of wisdom teaches us the way of wisdom. If we hear it intelligently so that we learn from it, we avoid the rod and correction from failure (Proverbs 24:32). Therefore, we are to pay attention and
be wise. However, those who ignore, or
refuse it, head to poverty and shame (Proverbs 13:18) without any consideration for their own soul (Proverbs 15:32) and their end reward is death (Proverbs 5:32).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 5, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
– Proverbs 8:10
Instruction is discipline and correction. It is the training in wisdom we are exhorted to receive. Knowledge refers to discernment and not just a store of facts. Receiving the training of wisdom and discernment are more valuable than money—silver and choice gold. A choice is presented suggesting that you cannot pursue both.
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Proverbs 15:32
Posted by Jeff Short on July 23, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
The word for instruction means discipline and it is the tutelage of wisdom. To refuse it is to harm oneself (Proverbs 8:33-36). The word for heareth means to hear intelligently, or listen attentively. To hear reproof is to acquire and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 15:14; 18:15). It is a mark of the wise to receive reproof and grow in wisdom (Proverbs 9:9-10; 17:10; 19:25). It is not that the wise enjoy reproof or correction, but it has its intended effect and they rejoice in gained wisdom (Proverbs 21:11; Hebrews 12:11).– Proverbs 15:32
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