May 10, 2023 – Wednesday
Proverbs 23:25 NIV
25 May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!
Comments
Proverbs 23 is made up of Sayings 7 through 19. The first six are in Proverbs 22 and Sayings 20 through 30 are in Proverbs 24 along with further Sayings of the wise. Our verse for today is the concluding verse for Saying 17.
Saying 17 is as follows:
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it—
wisdom, instruction and insight as well.
24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
25 May your father and mother rejoice;
may she who gave you birth be joyful!
The above is an octastich, consisting of eight lines when broken apart as above. I find it interesting both verses 22 and 25 end with references to the mothers. Verse 22 begins with Listen to your father who gave you life and ends with do not despise your mother when she is old. This may imply husbands died earlier than wives, and it is mothers who live on into old age. The Pulpit Commentary adds, When old age with its consequent infirmities comes upon thy mother, despise her not, but rather thank God for giving her long life, and profit by her love and long experience.
Verse 23, pay whatever price is necessary for the truth, the truth of God especially and then no matter what, do not give up that knowledge for any price. Also go after all the wisdom, instruction, and insight into the truth as well. Then in verse 24, clearly the father of a righteous son who has gone after truth and profited by the truth in his life has good cause to be glad.
Verse 25 builds on verse 24 and in some versions reads, 25 Let your father and Let your mother rejoice. Either way it is an exhortation for the son to prove by his own conduct the statement of the preceding verse. The verse ends with may she who gave you birth be joyful! Indeed! The Pulpit Commentary states, As in verse 24 the father’s joy was expressly mentioned, so here prominence is given to that of the mother. To this Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible adds, and she that bare thee shall rejoice; thy mother particularly, who bore and brought thee forth with so much pain, and brought thee up with so much care and trouble, will think it much recompence for all, if thou art truly wise and religious.
Bottom Line: Our parents almost always desire our success, but not necessarily in worldly terms. Almost always in Godly terms, to have a relationship with the Father in prayer, with His Son as Lord and Savior and with the Holy Spirit as comforter and guide.
Prayer: Almighty God, Help us always find a way to honor our parents and to bring joy to them with our life choices. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek