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Parenting by the Book

Proverbs   Study
Study 218

STUDY 218

Text: Proverbs 19
28 August 2005

Dear Parents,

THE SUBJECT OF “COUNSEL”
Children will listen to parents when they are very young. But with each passing year, the danger of not paying attention to good counsel is very real! We have excellent advice on this subject in this text.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand.

Proverbs 19:20-21

Three sets of counsels may be noted in this text:-

1. Counsel from parents and teachers

Though this is not explicitly stated, the context makes is clear. The overall context of the book of Proverbs is about children receiving good counsel from parents and teachers (Proverbs 1:8; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1 etc).

2. Counsel from one’s own heart

The phrase “There are many plans in a man’s heart” would indicate that the source of counsel is from the individual himself. In this context, he has set aside the counsel of his elders in preference to his own counsel.

3. Counsel from the LORD Himself

The Lord’s counsel is well established! They are to be found in the written Scriptures!

SOUND ADVICE
The natural tendency is to listen more to self than to anyone else! Yet, the individual is challenged to consider the following truths:-

1. “That you may be wise in your latter days”

The challenge is to consider that wisdom is not attained immediately. Only the latter days will yield the proof of one’s wisdom! The factor of “the latter days” must challenge the person who professes wisdom to pause and consider receiving good and wise counsel from parents and teachers.

2. “Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand”

The worth of the counsel from the Scriptures has been proven time and time again! Surely one cannot dismiss the wisdom of the Scriptures outright!

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie

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