Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you?

Proverbs 22:21

This chapter in Proverbs is basically a lesson to Solomon’s sons on how to treat others with godly wisdom whether they be rich or poor. In the middle of this instruction, Solomon steps up his plea. The full text of this is worth sharing here. Notice the plea to listen, to apply what is heard, and to be ready to give an answer. Please hear Solomon’s “Listen Up!” to his sons.

Proverbs 26:17-21

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer him who sent you?

Can you feel the tension in Solomon’s plea? Can you hear this father’s heart groaning over the conflicts his sons now face and will need to conquer? Can you picture Solomon sitting across from his sons or walking through the palace gardens with his sons and asking them to learn from his mistakes? Can you imagine his sons rolling their eyes and saying, “Oh Dad, you’ve told us all this before.” And then can you visualize Solomon sitting with quill in hand and writing it all down with God’s Spirit breathing the very words for his sons…and for us? 

This is the purpose of Solomon’s writing these proverbs. Sharing with his sons all the important crossroads they will face and how to rightly judge which way to go. Showing them in masterful pros and word pictures all the pitfalls Satan will throw into their path, hoping they will fail. But giving them God’s tools for successfully battling the evil trying to bring them down. He wanted them go back to God’s Truth every time…about every little thing! 

And God wants the same for us! Jesus pleaded with his first disciples and he pleads with us!

Mark 8:34-38

…If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.