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).
