All true knowledge, all moral knowledge begins by putting God in His own place. Nothing is right or true without that, for to leave Him out falsifies the position and relationship of all. The reasoning on facts, even in that which is the legitimate sphere of experimental science, if God is left out, only leaves man to the wandering of his own mind, and he never will, and never can, know creation without knowing a Creator. When we turn to moral things and intellectual philosophy, it is evident there can be no knowledge without the fear of God; for then I enter on the sphere of relationships and obligations, and how can I be right, when I leave out the first and principal one?
Family
We are to follow the teaching and instruction of our mother and father who (in Proverbs) are believers. This teaching, if followed, will prove a garland of grace upon the head (victory over Satan), and chains upon the neck. Gold chains were a special award of honor placed upon the neck of one who had been of outstanding service to one in authority over him. See Joseph (Gen. 41:4242And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; (Genesis 41:42)). The parent may not be a believer, but the God-given parental authority is a necessity for the instruction of the child.
How glad we are to see young people engaged in physical activities, as well as studies in natural things. That which is natural is first, then that which is spiritual. Gradually, under the wise parents’ guidance, spiritual things fill the place that was mostly taken up with what was natural. We must be careful not to connect that which is natural with that which is evil.
In the family, the father and mother guide and guard. The analogy of a child to a tender bough being supported helps us to understand the tenderness with which the child should be raised. The instruction (nurture and admonition) of the father and the teaching of the mother in early, pliable years, with the will in subjection and with honor, respect and obligation to his parents, is that into which the mind of the child should tenderly be led.
Precepts taught suppose the willingness to learn. Law is straight correction and should be used sparingly, because the child is not under law. When confidence of the child with the parent has been fixed in the child’s mind, the rod should rarely be needed. If confidence is lost, even in later life, it will bring sorrow.
God has established father and mother as the first and original bond of authority. The child’s will is put in subjection to the parents’, and honor, obligation and respect are a vital part of the relationship. The relationship is not one of law to meet and break the child’s will (if he isn’t willful), but the parent instructs, forms and guides with authority. The parent’s place and God-given authority are honored by the child with a bond of affection between them that produces willingness instead of will.
Character is what the Spirit of God through the parent forms in a sinful world, where there is constant irritation, like the forming of the pearl in the flesh of the oyster. If there is no irritation, there is no pearl and nothing of worth.
In 1 Samuel 1:21-2821And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 22But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever. 23And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. 25And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli. 26And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. 27For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: 28Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. (1 Samuel 1:21‑28), we have the story of Hannah and Samuel, which helps us see how the child is to be raised before the Lord. First she weaned her son; then she took him up to the temple of the Lord to appear before the Lord and abide there forever. When she brought the child to Eli, the priest, they slew a bullock. In this way, Samuel was presented to God on the ground of the death of Christ. Also, the mother made a little coat each year and brought it to him, anticipating that there would be constant spiritual growth.
Reverence (honor) for father and mother is not to be confined to the years of restraint; it is to be lifelong.
Violence and Corruption
Violence and corruption are the two forms of evil that Satan uses to deceive man. This is seen all through Scripture and ends with the “beast” of violence and the “harlot” of corruption at the time of the destruction of Christendom and the civilized earth. (The time for this draws near.)
We are told not to join with evil persons for temporal gain, or for any other purpose. Violence is the wrong way to get money. Wealth should never be an object for the believer. With the violent man or the strange woman we are not to keep company. Then Satan’s net is laid in vain.
Wisdom cries without. She raises her voice which has authority over all, evidenced by those who hear or witness it. Her moral power is greater than all other voices. The Word, read and practiced by those who hear it and repent, is a public warning whereby wisdom raises her voice above the din of public activities, men’s possessions and earthly hopes. If some do not respond to wisdom’s voice, the day will come when they will call and wisdom will not answer.