Page 108 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

advice on childrearing is intermingled with proverbs about ruling. Can we hear in 29:15 Hezekiah’s
tribute to his own faithful mother? (Her name was Abijah or “Yahweh is my father.”) Her influence for
good was greater than her husband’s influence for evil in the life of Hezekiah. “A rod and a reprimand
impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.” The last unit of the section, 28:17-26
again alternates between instructions on a household and a nation. The two go together. “Discipline
your children, and they will give you peace (29:17a)” sounds very similar to “Where there is no
revelation, people cast off restraint (29:18).” God is the one, of course, who guarantees the truth of the
instructions in real life, much more so than either a good or a bad king. “Many seek an audience with a
ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice (29:26).”

Skipping the sayings of Agur for now (30:1-33), we come to the eighth section of Proverbs, the sayings of
Lemuel (31:1-31). This king writes on two distinct topics, intending them to be connected: the strength
of kings and the strength of women. Clear connections can be seen in his repetition of the Hebrew word
for strength of character (31:3 “strength”, 31:10 “noble”) and his advice to speak up for the poor and
needy (31:9, 20). As with other sections on leadership, King Lemuel implies a connection between good
leadership in the home and in the country. Ruth was a “woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11) who
married Boaz, a “man of standing” (2:1). Their great grandson was David, introduced as a “brave man” (1
Sam. 16:18) who gave God the credit for his “strength” (Psalm 18:32).

The book ends as the book began, using the image of a lady in two senses. Here the noble wife is both
literal and emblematic of how a good ruler should reign. After the introduction in 1:1-7, Proverbs spoke
of a mother’s teaching (1:8) and of the voice of lady wisdom (1:20). The final editor of the book wants us
to see how the family can affect the nation for good or evil. Home is the most powerful force in a life or
in a nation. In striking fashion, the last unit of the book ends with an acrostic structure, each verse
beginning with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in order. Here are the ABC’s of practical wisdom.

King Lemuel learned wisdom from his mother and called the result “inspired utterances” (31:1). He
acknowledged his kingly indebtedness to the character of his mother. His description of a “wife of noble
character” is of the same person. Her example, clearly described in terms of a wife, is intended to be
translated into the duties of rulers and all in positions of authority. She is a hard worker who serves her
family. She is an intelligent business woman who helps other succeed and has a genuine concern for
poor people. Wisdom flows from her in word and action. The people around her see the difference she
makes and praise her. Here is the message of Proverbs. Family, properly lived before Yahweh, affects
nation.

Family is powerful for good or for evil as Hezekiah has already pointed out (25:1-29). Parents guide
children toward or away from God’s righteousness lived through his wisdom. Children see the life of their
parents daily and learn. The lessons are powerful on young minds for the rest of life.

For better or worse most parents in fact still do profoundly influence their adolescents –
often more than do their peers – their children’s apparent resistance and lack of
appreciation notwithstanding… Simply by living and interacting with their children, most
parents, establish expectations, define normalcy, model life practices, set boundaries,
and make demands – all of which cannot help but influence teenagers, for good or ill.
Most teenagers and their parents may not realize it, but a lot of research in the sociology

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