"The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother."
Proverbs 10:1
Part 1
Today: “My Wise Son!”
“The proverbs of Solomon.”
The book of the Proverbs of Solomon was initially divided into three parts. Part I, 1:1-9:18. Part II, 10:1-22:16. And Part III, 22:17-25:28 (see JFB[1]). Solomon was wiser than all others in his time. “For he was wiser than all men…” (1 Kings 4:31). He shared his wisdom with others.
“And he [Solomon] spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five” (1 Kings 4:32).
Solomon’s book teaches us that all those who pick up and embrace the principles of wisdom are wise. Those who shun and reject wisdom, particularly God’s wisdom, tragically, in the words of the Bible, are fools!
In our verse, we witness parents’ reactions to a wise son and a foolish son. The one brings immense joy and thankfulness, while the other, deep sense of sorrow and grieving.
“A wise son.”
A “wise” child is not a perfect child who never does wrong. Quite the contrary, he or she still sins because they are sinners. But this child who shows some wisdom is the one who will listen to mom and dad. They are polite.
Here are some characteristics of the “child” who is wise.
He listens to and learns from his father’s discipline (Proverbs 4:1; 13:1).
He makes his father glad (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20).
He listens to his dad and cares for his mom when she is old (Proverbs 23:22).
He is a “righteous” son (Proverbs 23:24).
He brings gladness and rejoicing to his parents (Proverbs 23:25).
He “keeps the law” (Proverbs 28:24).
These are just a few qualities they strive for; the scriptures teach us many more. This child sees the value of his parent’s teaching and happily learns from them. Solomon was correct when he wrote,
“Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father…” (Proverbs 29:3a).
“Maketh a glad father.”
Children, did you know that you can make your parents happy?
The “wise son gladdens a father”[2] (JFB).
“It is in your power to make your father glad, and God expects you to do it. Here is one of the sweetest fruits of wisdom—a son’s wisdom is his father’s joy.”[3]
Can you see that bringing gladness to your father is not so much what you do for him, but it is what you are that matters most to him?
“The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice” (Proverbs 23:24).
“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things” (Proverbs 23:15).
What does this verse teach us about fools? Come back tomorrow, and we will look further into it.
Quote: “Being wise will make your earthly parents and your Heavenly Father glad. Why would you want to live any other way?[4] (Paul Chapman).
[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. Proverbs 10:1.
[2] JFB. Ibid.
[3] The Biblical Illustrator, the electronic version in eSword. Proverbs 10:1.
[4] Chapman’s quote Downloaded: Monday, April 26, 2021. From: https://paulechapman.com/2020/06/21/a-wise-son-maketh-a-glad-father-proverbs-101-1520/.