Proverbs 13—Gospel Hope is Delivered by the Instruction of a Father

I remember a thought when I began to write about my own story of loss. Sometimes things go without saying, but my journey through loss was not going to be one of those times. Sometimes it is safe to simply assume; loss was not one of those times for me.

I recognized that loss is uncomfortable, and people shy away from bringing up the subject. It’s personal and private, we think.

My father was not one of those who avoided speaking about it. He had advice for me.

“A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1

My father, as I have written, repeatedly gave me a caution. He warned me about making any major decisions in the depths of grief. Again, he repeated this advice. While Proverbs is not speaking purely about loss, loss is worthy of note as an illustration of the importance of the message written in this chapter.

Life affords many choices, directions, and responses. God designed families as a training ground for the next generation. A wise son hears—receives, embraces, and acts upon—the instruction delivered to him by his father.

A scoffer—a non-listener—does not hear and follow his father’s teaching.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12

One reason for the need to listen to wise counsel is that your heart is sick. It’s been injured. Loss—whether sudden or a long journey to loss—defers the hope you’ve carried. Or loss dashes your hope. The desire for happiness and companionship is ripped from your hands. Later in Proverbs 13 in verse twelve we read, “A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul…” Life is sweet; then, instantly it’s not. Hope is deferred; the heart is sick.

But the medicine for healing is available. The word of God, the truth of God, and the gospel message speak directly to the pain of loss. I’ve reflected over my journey how some view loss as proof that God does not exist; the truth is loss proves that God does exist. His gospel speaks directly to the fog of loss.

“Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.” Proverbs 13:13

Do not despise the word. Instead, loss is a time to double down on your reverence of God’s word. Turning away from the word and its teachings brings destruction. It’s self-destruction. By contrast, the one who fears and values the word and its teachings will be rewarded.

As I have said in my journaling through The Psalms, I’ve been drawn to the pain pronounced, the correction communicated, and the healing heralded. The Psalms was a hiding place for me. I ran to and not away from the healing. I also wrote how the psalter read and understood me. All one-hundred-and-fifty psalms read my heart, my pain, my emotions, and my confusion. It was as if I was put under a microscope. The commandments, instructions, and statutes must be revered.

Turning back to Proverbs where we are now, there is much wisdom for our good. Turn to the wisdom of these pages, and reward is yours. Turn way from these pages, and destruction will by yours. Choose reward over destruction.

Prudence leads you to humbly seek knowledge and live within the instruction you receive. Fools boast of their recklessness. The choice is simple. Choose the wisdom delivered by a father and by the word. Reject the foolhardiness of the simple. There really is no better way. As Proverbs 14:12 will remind us, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” This is one of those stark contrasts.

Choose the prudence of a father and refuse foolishness.

“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” Proverbs 13:16