Family Legacy Blessings Through Faithfulness

Proverbs 9:
3. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Yesterday in chapter 8 we noticed that Wisdom cries out in the public forum. How does she do that? First, she calls out in the creation.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3)

Wisdom speaks in a language that everyone understands, and she speaks so clearly that no one has an excuse for not understanding.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

But Wisdom also speaks to everyone through the law because the “work of the law,” the conscience, is written on everyone’s heart.

“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)” (Romans 2:14-15)

How do we know this is true? – Because we observe that people approve what is right and condemn what is wrong – at least in the actions of others. But how do people respond when they themselves do the things that they condemn others for doing? When that happens their conscience shouts to them the goodness of God. How does it do that?

“And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:3-4)

An historical example of these principles in operation is when the prophet Nathan confronted King David about his sin with Bathsheba.

“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.” (2 Samuel 12:1-7a)

Notice how Nathan did not teach David any moral principle he didn’t already know. All he did was present a situation that David was ready to quickly condemn and then revealed that he was talking about him. David’s later repentance is recorded in Psalm 51 and it is obvious in that Psalm that it is God’s goodness toward David that brought that repentance.

How can this possibly have any thing to do with building a Family Legacy? Consider this. Wisdom is offering to the simple a bountiful and sumptuous table filled with good things as analogous to getting the good life and understanding. There is no threatening in this context. Sometimes in our attempt to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord we choose the path of provoking them to wrath out of a fear of being permissive, i.e., “The floggings will continue until the attitude improves.” Wisdom’s approach, at least in this context, is to encourage with the promise of blessings through faithfulness.