A LOVE FOR INSTRUCTION

 

A LOVE FOR INSTRUCTION

 

Proverbs 12:1 – Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge….

There is an abundance of self-help videos on Youtube and various social media platforms because people want to learn how to do build or repair something; or learn how to bake certain recipes or decorate a cake; or maybe they want to learn how to make certain crafts; and the list goes on.

Some want to grow in knowledge and learn a skill that will help them become better at something so they seek to learn from others who are skilled in that area.

Many young people go to college in order to increase their knowledge so that they may obtain special degrees so as to obtain better paying jobs.

While this is all good and necessary, this is not the knowledge that this verse is referring to.  I opened my Bible directly to Prov 12:1 the other day and could not get past this particular verse.  It caught my attention so I dug a little deeper as to the meaning behind it.

The word ‘instruction’ means ‘(H4148) chastisement, warning, reproof, discipline.’

Proverbs 12:1 – Whoso loveth instruction (H4148 = chastisement, warning, reproof, discipline) loveth knowledge:

It is not just any instruction that the Bible is referring to in this Scipture - it is referring to instruction given as a chastisement, a warning, to reprove or discipline us. 

Whoso loveth chastisement; whoso loveth receiving warnings and reproofs; whoso loveth receiving discipline loves knowledge.

That is a tough verse to swallow.  We are supposed to love being chastised? We are supposed to love receiving warnings and reproofs and discipline? 

Yes, because chastisments, warnings, reproofs, and discipline help us to learn and discern between right and wrong and correct bad behavior.

When I was a child….

1 Corinthians 13:11 – When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man (when I finally grew up), I put away childish things.

Prov 22:15 – Foolishness (lack of wisdom or good judgment) is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Children do not reason, or think, or talk, or understand as adults do.  Even when they are teenagers, they do not fully understand or comprehend as adults do.  That is why they can be peer pressured into doing something they shouldn’t or become prey to predators.

No child or teen likes to be punished/grounded for misconduct.  They will cry and plead and yes, even lie to get out of being punished, grounded, or losing a privilege, but it is a punishment issued and followed through with that helps them to remember the consequences for poor behavior and choose not to repeat them.

Prov 1:8 admonishes – My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Prov 4:1 – Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Prov 13:1 – A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

Scorner means (H3887) ‘to make mouths at’ in other words ‘mouthy.’
A scorner is someone who expresses contempt or disdain for someone or something.  They will not listen to rebuke.  They get ‘mouthy,’ are rude, disrespectful, and will back talk rather than humble their self and submit to instruction.   (Sadly, I’ve seen adults who still exhibit this trait because they did not learn to submit as a child)

Prov 15:5 – A fool despiseth (his father’s) instructions: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent (showing wisdom).

Prov 13:24 – He that spareth his rod (correcting bad behavior) hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Have you ever seen parents who let their children run wild, undisciplined? They Bible says those that do this hate their child.  They do not care about what the child is doing as long as it doesn’t bother them and they stay out of their hair.

A parent who truly cares instructs and issues punishments BECAUSE they love their child and want to see them become a better person.  Just as God instructs and punishes us when needed BECAUSE he loves us.

 

Sometimes the Lord has to issue correction…..

We are human and our flesh wants to do things that we should not.  We see example after example of this throughout the Bible when Israel was punished by God yet they would not repent and turn away from sin so He finally sent them into captivity.

God sent many prophets (men of God) to warn what was coming if they did not repent, yet they refused to hear:

Jer 5:3 – ….Thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; Thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

Jer 2:30 – In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction…

Jer 7:28 – But thou shalt say unto them, this is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Jer 10:8 – But they are altogether brutish (senseless) and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities (they are instructed by worthless idols).

Prov 19:27 – Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

The instructions they were listening to and receiving were not instructing them in the ways of Truth and righteousness. They were not listening to the right voice!

It was pleasing to the flesh but was causing them to stray and err from the words of knowledge.

It grieved God….

Jer 17:23 – But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

Jer 32:33 – And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: (they turned their backs on God) though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened (to hear intelligently) to receive instruction (H4148 = chastisement, correction).

When we hear preached what God’s Word instructs us to do or not do yet we refuse to hear or change and continue to do or not do what God instructed through the preacher, we are turning to Him our backs.  We are not listening or receiving God’s instruction to correct and lead us in the paths of righteousness.

If God’s Word says “do not do (you fill in the blank)” yet we continue to do it, we are turning to Him our backs, refusing to listen and obey.

If God’s Word says “Do this (you fill in the blank)” yet we do not do it, we are turning to Him our backs, refusing to listen and obey.

I don’t want to disobey God.  I do not want to turn to Him my back rather than my face to receive instruction and correction whenever needed.

God in His mercy again reached out to His people in Jer 35:13 – ….will ye not receive instruction to hearken to My words? saith the Lord.

Yet – She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God. Zeph 3:2

God called out again in Zeph 3:7 – I said, surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

Sadly, there are some who will refuse to stop sinning no matter what calamity or turmoil that may come into their life over and over again. They are a slave to sin.

God, at times, allows adversity to come our way to refine us or get our attention (because He cares and is not willing that any should perish). Yet, some become angry at God and demand that He do things for them while refusing to listen to and obey God.

Prov 3:11 – My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction.

Heb 12:5 - ….my son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of Him.

Don’t get weary or upset when God rebukes you, because….

Job 5:17 – Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Rev 3:19 – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Correction from the Lord shows that He loves us just as a parent corrects their children because they love them and want good for them.

There is a warning for those that hate correction….

Prov 12:1 starts out – Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge….

Prov 12:1 continues ….but he that hateth reproof (H8433 = correction, reasoning, rebuke) is brutish (H1198 = not wise, foolish).

That’s strong, but that’s Bible.

The hardest part about being a pastor is that people hate correction. 

They do not want to be warned against sin.  They do not want to be told that they are not living in a way that is pleasing to God. They want to do whatever they want to do. They want to live how they want to live and hear motivational preaching, making them feel good about their self and their ways.

If a pastor dares to approach them to admonish them against sin or instruct them in the way of righteousness (right living), they will either bull up and sow discord (or) they will leave that Church and talk against the pastor as they make their way to the next Church.  

However, Pastors are Biblically instructed to…

2 Tim 4:20 – Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Notice reprove and rebuke are listed first.  Exhort is mentioned last.  Yet, a pastor must do it with patience and soundness of doctrine.

Titus 1:13 - …wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

1 Tim 5:20 – Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Most will not go for that.  If a pastor openly calls out sin, then the gossip mill runs amuck that he is rude and mean and controlling. Yet, the Bible says to rebuke before all.

Titus 2:15 – These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Don’t despise a pastor that cares enough for your soul to warn against sin. Most do not realize when and if a pastor openly rebukes someone, he’s most likely privately admonished that person time and again.

 

The Bible warns that those who hate correction and rebuke are brutish (they are not wise; they are foolish).  (Proverbs 12:1)

Prov 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 15:10 – Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

Prov 10:17 – He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

In Psalms 50:17, God became upset because – Seeing thou hatest insruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

God explains the ways they were showing that they hated instruction and were ignoring His instructions as though casting them away like trash….

Psalm 50:18-20 - When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him (H7521 = approved and excused what was done), and hast been partaker with adulterers (H2506 = spoke smoothly to them; flattered them with words – rather than condemn the unrighteous act).  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.  Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother (H251 – can also mean ‘another’); thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

They thought God didn’t care that they did these things.  They justified their selves but God warned…

Psalm 50:21 – These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself (doing all these things, approving, and excusing them), BUT I will reprove (correct) thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

God may let things slide for a while because His mercy is reaching out and calling each to repentance, but, after a while, if there is not a turning from unrighteousness/sin, He will send correction.

Solomon warned his son of the words he and others would cry as consequences followed if they did not heed the words of warning and admonition from their parents, the preacher, or the teacher….

Prov 5:12-13 – …How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof. And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

There will come a time when those who do not obey and continue to do things there own way will realize the parents, the preacher, and the teacher were right. But it will be a grievous lesson to learn at a price greater than they may be wanting to pay.

 

God cried out against those who refused to be instructed….

Prov 1:25 – But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Prov 1:30 – They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Prov 5:12 – And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart, despised reproof.

Prov 5:23 – He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Prov 29:1 – He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.  

That is a strong warning not to harden our hearts, rebel, and refuse to receive correction. 

 

But whoso loveth instruction….

…openeth also their ear to discipline as God commands that they turn from iniquity. (Job 36:10)

They seek to know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; (Prov 1:2)

They receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity (uprightness). (Prov 1:3)

Prov 4:13 – Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Prov 6:23 – For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

Prov 13:18 – Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

Prov 15:31 – The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Prov 15:32 – He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Prov 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

Prov 16:22 – Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

Prov 19:20 – Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Prov 23:12 – Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

 

Prov 8:10 – Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

Prov 24:32 – Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

We know that….

Heb 12:11 – Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised (trained) thereby.

Correction is not pleasant at that moment – it’s painful! It hurts!, but afterward when it brings about a change for the better and helps us to become better, we understand that correction is necessary and is for our good. 

Therefore… Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Prov 8:33

Because…. Whoso loveth instruction (chastisement, warning, reproof, discipline) loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof (correction, reasoning, rebuke) is brutish (not wise, foolish).