Proverbs 15.5
“A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.”
The core theme of the book of Proverbs is be teachable and learn wisdom. In particular, Proverbs admonishes you to commit to the disciplined process of learning and applying God’s standards and principles to your life. This process of instruction is the Hebrew word musar, and it is referred to throughout Proverbs.
The metaphor of a father instructing his son is used, because our Heavenly Father seeks to instruct us just like earthly fathers seek to instruct their children. It is a foolish child who rejects his father’s instruction; it is a wise child who responds to direction and correction from his father.
There is a way that God wants us to go about life. There are standards he wants us to know and obey. There is a path he wants us to follow. Musar is the process of learning to live the life to which the Lord calls us. It is learning to stay on the path, and being responsive to his correction and reproof when we stray off-path.
“A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.” (Proverbs 15:12)
Keep in mind that the book of Proverbs was originally written to the nation of Israel — God’s covenant people. God was the heavenly father who sought to instruct Israel, his children, but they would not obey. They abandoned the covenant, forsook the way of the Lord, and rejected the reproofs of the prophets. The Lord was patient and sent many prophets over many years and issued many warnings, but the people of Israel would not listen.
The consequences were severe. In 722 BC the Assyrians invaded and took captive the northern tribes of Israel, and in 605 BC and again in 586 BC the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem and took captive the southern tribes. The people of Israel stubbornly refused to listen to the warning of Proverbs 15.10: “There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.”
There are serious consequences for those who reject the path and refuse correction. It is truly a matter of life and death.
Proverbs 15.6
“In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.”
A home that is rich with love and truth is far better than a wealthy estate with pain and trouble attached. A righteous man is content with whatever he has, but a wicked man has adversity and suffering even while increasing financially. This proverb compares the personal results of righteous and wicked lifestyles.
Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of all covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Real treasure is found in obedience to God. True wealth is found in right living. The fruit of the Spirit is priceless.
The lesson is simple. A righteous man may lack the wealth of the wicked, but because he lives rightly, his house is filled with treasure that the wicked man cannot even imagine – a clear conscience, God’s presence, love, peace, joy, and assurance of a coming eternal inheritance in the Kingdom.
Solomon summarizes it well in verses 16-17 of this chapter: “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”
