In general the Old Testament book of Proverbs provides a compendium of seemingly random succinct universal truths about godly wisdom. However, chapters 1""9 offer a coherent curriculum that teaches the reader how to acquire wisdom and build one's life on a foundation of eternal values.

Ostensibly, this curriculum is taught by a father to his son over the course of the first nine chapters. Beginning his instruction by declaring "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Solomon, the author of these chapters, introduces a father narrator who offers seventeen "My son" wisdom instructions to his son.

While these seventeen wisdom instructions involve a father instructing his son, they teach universal wisdom truths for "attaining wisdom and discipline" (Prov. 1:2a), that have intrigued readers of all ages for thousands of years.

Godly wisdom and discipline are rare in our broken and fallen world. As such, godly wisdom and discipline offer us priceless insight and discernment that "is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare. . . . With [wisdom] are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. [Wisdom's] fruit is better than fine gold . . . [and] choice silver" (Prov. 8:11, 18) In other words, wisdom is a treasure to be sought.

Every son or daughter naturally yearns for wise parental guidance and, in particular, the healthy parent/child relationship that is essential for a child to become a thriving adult of integrity. Because parents were once sons or daughters who were influenced by their parents who were once sons and daughters, it makes sense that a parent learns how to guide and instruct a child through his/her own experience as a son or daughter. Because from generation to generation brokenness and sin can distort and disrupt parental instruction, Solomon's timeless God-given fatherly wisdom curriculum provides much needed essential wise counsel from the perfect Father.

--Richard Van Yperen

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