Verse of the Day (October 12, 2020)

Verse of the Day (October 12, 2020) #BMSeminary – {Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men} The instructions to the son are cast in the home, where a father (perhaps Solomon) or mother exhorts their tender child to seek the wisdom of this book. To safeguard the son from accepting the crafty invitation of sinful men, the parents expose those empty promises as well as the self-destructive nature of their claims. The parents’ introduction summarizes the sinner’s seduction (v. 10a) and warns their son (v. 10b). The body elaborates upon the seduction (vv. 11-14) and warning (vv. 15-18). The instruction then concludes with a lesson (v. 19). {Listen. . .son} The primary addressee of the book-and one in need of instruction. In light of the inclusion of the mother and the absence of formal schools in ancient Israel, it appears the son is both the biological and spiritual heir of the father (see 4:3). {father’s . . . mother’s} Establishes the setting of the instructions in the home. Both parents are set in parallel at the introductions of Collections I and II (i.e., 1:8-9:18 and 10:1-22:16, respectively; see 10:1), suggesting that the mother’s presence is assumed in the father’s other lectures (cf. 6:20; 23:22). Together, they are responsible for the son’s social, moral, and theological education. {garland. . .a chain} Ornamental metaphors that highlight the attractiveness, value, and distinction of the parents’ teaching. [Zondervan Study Bible]