Guidance for Family Living

GOLDEN TEXT: “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother.” —Proverbs 6:20

PROVERBS 4:1-4; 6:20-23; 19:13,14; 31:10-12

WHILE the scriptures cited for today’s lesson, including the Golden Text, are appropriate as directives in the guidance of family relationships, we think that their intended principal application is to the family of God, the family in which the consecrated followers of Jesus are the children of “our Father which art in heaven.”

It was for the guidance of these Spirit-begotten children of God that the entire Bible was particularly written. Concerning the Old Testament writers, the Apostle Peter says that “not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you, … which things the angels desire to look into.”—I Pet. 1:12

Jesus, himself the Son of God, began the work of calling out from the people those who would constitute this Gospel age house of sons. His personal work in this connection was confined to the nation of Israel, the nation to which the promises of God originally belonged. We read that he came to his own, but his own (as a nation) received him not, but as many as did receive him, to them he gave “power” [margin, right or privilege] to become the “sons of God.”—John 1:11,12

In the divine plan provision was made for a definite number to compose this house of sons—that number being 144,000. Far less than this number of Jews accepted Christ, so the remainder is being gathered from among the Gentiles. It was for this purpose that “God at the first did visit the Gentiles.”—Acts 15:14

In Revelation 7:4, this entire company of sons is spoken of as though they were Israelites. This is in keeping with the original promise to Abraham that it would be through his “seed” that all the families of earth would be blessed, for the Israelites are his natural descendants. The intent of the original promise is not transferred to Gentiles as such, but individual Gentiles are invited to become, as it were, spiritual Israelites.

Paul presents this thought by likening Gentile believers to “wild olive branches” which are grafted into the original tree of promise. (Rom. 11:17) These Gentile believers, Paul further explains in Ephesians 2:12, were originally “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise.” But now, through Christ and the begetting of the Holy Spirit,” we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”—Eph. 2:19

It is to these sons, these children of the Lord, that the Proverbs are particularly addressed. It is these sons who, in our Golden Text, are admonished to keep the commandments of their Heavenly Father—the commandments and instructions which are found throughout the Father’s Word.

These are also admonished not to forsake the law of their mother. Paul speaks of the covenant God made with Abraham, which became operative through Sarah, as “the mother of us all.” (Gal. 4:22-28) Consecrated believers receive the begetting of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word of truth. Then his many promises which combine to round out his covenant pertaining to the “seed” through which the world is to be blessed, nourish the new life until it is brought to birth in the resurrection.

While the Book of Proverbs was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Lord permitted the personal experiences and background of the writer to be reflected just as he did in the case of David’s writings, as for example, in the Twenty-third Psalm. Thus, in the fourth chapter, the children of the Lord are addressed, and the writer, Solomon, speaks of his own experience as a child in order to impress the importance of the instructions.

To these children the Heavenly Father has indeed given” good doctrine,” good teachings—all the various features of the divine plan of the ages, and the will of God pertaining to our share therein. These doctrines are held precious to every child of God.

The church, complete, and united with her Lord, is likened to a “bride.” She is the “Lamb’s wife.” (Rev. 21:2; 19:9; 22:17) Paul used this illustration when he admonished the brethren to love their wives, even as Christ loved his church—also that wives be subject to their husbands. (Eph. 5:22-33) Proverbs 19:13,14 indicate the result of failure along these lines.

In principle, at least, we could apply Proverbs 31:10-12 to the true church of Christ. When complete she will be pure and virtuous, and more precious than rubies; for she was bought with the precious blood of Christ. And she will do her husband good, for she will work with him to bless all mankind as the “bride” who will say, “Come, … let him take the water of life freely.”—Rev. 22:17

QUESTIONS

Who are the children primarily referred to in the Book of Proverbs?

When did the work of selecting the “house of sons” begin, and by whom was it started?

Since many of these “children” were formerly Gentiles, why is the entire number referred to in Revelation 7:4 as Israelites?

Does the New Testament refer to these “children” as having a “mother”?

What is one of the New Testament illustrations of the church, as related to Christ, of which we are reminded in this lesson?

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