June 8, 2020

The book of Proverbs is a collection of short sayings in the Old Testament meant to instill wisdom in God’s people. As we read, it is important to remember that a proverb is a statement which is generally true in principle, not a universally true promise. Let’s dig into the Word together and allow the Lord to shape our hearts, our minds, and our lives in his wisdom over the next month!

Proverbs 22 communicates God’s wisdom on wealth, poverty, and discipline before beginning the 30 “sayings of the wise” which will go on for the next chunk of the book. There are multiple verses concerning the raising of children, such as the famous principle of verse 6 (it is incredibly important to remember here that these are generally true principles and not universally true promises!). 

Verse 15 asserts that “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.” The statement implies something that any parent knows all too well; children don’t have to learn foolishness, rebellion, or disobedience. They know it inherently from a very early age! 

The rest of the proverb affirms the pivotal importance of disciplining children in order to drive that inherent folly and rebellion from their hearts! What is true of earthly parents and children is also true of us with our Heavenly Father; we don’t have to learn to rebel against His authority, we do it instinctively! Sin is the most natural thing for us, and it takes mercy and discipline to drive it out of us!

Just as we are called to raise our children in the instruction and discipline of the Lord, God disciplines His children in order to drive folly out of our hearts, in order to lead us to repentance! It is important to remember that God’s discipline and judgment is always a mercy to us because it always has as its purpose to lead us back to God’s way which, as we have discovered in our journey through Proverbs, is the only way to true and full life and joy!

Our God, in His mercy, intentionally allows trials and hardship to come on us because, just like an earthly parent with their children, He knows what we don’t know, He sees what we can’t see, and He loves us enough to zealously pursue our hearts, even if that means temporary suffering, pain, or discomfort for us.

Proverbs 22

22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2 The rich and the poor meet together;
    the Lord is the Maker of them all.
3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his fury will fail.
9 Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,
    for he shares his bread with the poor.
10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
    and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;
    he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21 to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the Lord will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Be not one of those who give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not move the ancient landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29 Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Family Discussion Question:

  • What does it mean for God to “discipline” us? How is it actually a good thing for us?
  • Why is it important to remember that, even though God’s mercy and grace are not always comfortable for us, they are always working to transform our hearts through the discomfort?

20 thoughts on “Daily Devotional-June 8”

    1. Gracias padre por tú palabra bendícela y te pido padre amado que no me dejes caer en tentación que tus palabras sean lumbreras a mis pies, gracias padre porque tú eres sabio y día a día nos corriges nuestro caminar para ser más obediente a tu palabra, gracias por la familia que me has dado la pongo en tus manos para que seas tú a guiarnos a cada uno de nosotros y nos apartemos del mal en nombre y por amor a tú hijo amado amén ?

    2. These words were given by Solomon to his son to help in with advice to follow God and adhere to His commands. It’s too bad that Solomon did not obey the Lord when He told him as a king of his people he was not to accumulate wives and horses! Which Solomon did! I take from this that we individually need to go to our Lord first and foremost to get any advice on anything!!

  5. Father, maker of the heavens and the earth, hollowed by thy name. There will be a time when every knee shall bow, every tongue confesses. Father, may each of my family members bow on the right side, may none be lost forever. I lift each up to you pleading with you to draw each close to your heart. May I not be a stumbling block. May I taste my words before I utter them. May all see you shining through me. Now Father, together, let’s go find one more for Jesus. Amen

  6. Dear Lord, thank You for the lives of my three children…and Your pursuit of their hearts and souls… Thank You for opening their eyes to Your grace & mercy… Thank You Jesus for paying the price that has written their names in the Book of Life.

    Amen

  8. Let me be prudent and hide from evil. Let me be humble and fear the Lord. Let me listen to the words of the wise and apply my mind to Your knowledge. Let me keep them within me that it will be pleasant and ready on my lips.

  9. We are thankful that God gives us wise counsel and knowledge in His Word. (Proverbs 22:20)

  10. “Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.” Proverbs 22:17-18 (NLT)

    Thank you, Lord, for Your Word that instructs and provides wisdom. I pray Your Word will stay fresh in my heart and be kept in the forefront of my mind so I can draw from it and walk in Your ways today.

    In Jesus’s name.
    Amen

  11. Dear Heavenly Father,
    You are my Savior and my Lord whom I depend on and I trust. I have given my heart to You. You are all knowing and all powerful and I am nothing without You. I want You to lead me in the ways I should go, even if it causes me pain. I know that You only want the best for me and though I may have chosen I different path or cry out why, I will obey You. Thank you for loving me so much that You sent Your only son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Please stay by my side forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

  13. This is truly an awesome Proverb and I love that God loves us enough to discipline us.

    Heavenly Father,
    As I read this Proverb today, this is why on Easter Sunday I was able to thank you for the pandemic because I believe this is a discipline for the world as we are getting further away from you. I thank you also because when you discipline us you will get the glory. I loved how you put everyone around the world, whether rich or poor; young or old in isolation with this pandemic and more people spent time on Easter Sunday watching or listening to hear the message of Jesus. I pray that you would continue to wake us up as a nation to want to know you more with a personal relationship and to share your word with others. I pray that the churches that are proclaiming the gospel would speak truth and not water down your word. I pray that all Christians are convicted when we are not speaking your truth in everything we do and say. Help us all to be better Warriors for Christ with love and a humility spirit . Thank you for grace and mercy and choosing me before I ever chose you. I pray these things in the Precious name of Jesus. Amen

  14. 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
    Thank you Lord for loving me enough to be concerned about what I do and who I am, paying attention to me, to discipline me as needed. Thank you for your patience, mercy and grace. I pray I have the strength to learn from my mistakes and progress daily toward your will for my life.

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