"Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish."
Proverbs 12:1
Part 1
Today: “God’s Instruction is Discipline”
“Whoso loveth instruction.”
“Instruction”
At first glance at this verse, everyone who aspires to be a student says, “Yes! That’s me; I love to learn!” But as we dig into it and look a little closer, we see that this “instruction” has a different tone to it. The old word that Solomon used here as “instruction” means “discipline, chastening,” and “correction”[1] (BDB). Here is another version of the verse that is translated very bluntly, but it gets to the intended meaning.
“Whoever loves discipline loves to learn; whoever hates to be corrected is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1, HSB[2]).
“Whoso loveth…”
The wise person is “loving” – they are willingly accepting of and even desiring discipline.[3] Why would a person “love” correction? It is hard, painful, and involves active work to be accomplished in us. Because a believer knows that their character needs this “moral discipline or correction,”[4] they are willing to endure the process to have the benefit of God’s wisdom. God may use many different people to get this done in us: parents, teachers, pastors, disciplers, bosses, and others.
“Hear instruction (discipline), and be wise, and refuse it not” (Proverbs 8:33).
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction (discipline): but he that refuseth reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17).
“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction (discipline): but he that regardeth reproof shall be honored” (Proverbs 13:18).
“Loveth knowledge.”
What is the proof that a person loves “knowledge?” It is the fact that they love God’s, and their parent’s, and even discipling discipline. The discerning believer knows that this is the right path to become wise. Saying “NO!” to “discipline, chastening,” or “correction” indicates a person has rejected God’s method of gaining wisdom.
“When wisdom entereth into thine heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:10-11).
Can you say with David?
“…O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients because I keep thy precepts” (Psalm 119:97-100).
Friend, what is your attitude when someone wants to help you in an area you might lack? Do you fight it, or will you listen? What will you do when your boss goes off on you, angrily bad-mouthing your work performance? Do you ignore what he or she has said because they were angry? The one who loves knowledge does not overlook that outburst. He or she looks for the kernel of truth in what the boss has said. And then they grow by “hearing the counsel” even if it was delivered poorly.
“Hear counsel, and receive instruction (discipline), that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end” (Proverbs 19:20).
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening (discipline) of the Almighty” (Job 5:17).
What about the flip side? What happens to the person who outright rejects “reproof?” Tomorrow we will look at what God has to say about that. See you then.
Quote: “No matter how dear you are to God, if pride is harbored in your spirit, He will whip it out of you. They that go up in their own estimation must come down again by His discipline”[5] (Charles Spurgeon).
[1] Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword. Proverbs 12:1.
[2] HSB – the Harvest Study Bible, from Harvest Ministries, Guam.
[3] Buzzell, S. S. (1985). Proverbs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 930). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. Proverbs 12:1.
[4] BKC, ibid.
[5] Spurgeon’s quote Downloaded: Thursday, April 29, 2021. From: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-discipline/.