‘Blessing’ is preached heavily in the Christendom without even following certain basic adherence whereas it should be taught in God’s perspective and according to the guidelines in God’s Word.  We need to understand both God’s temporal blessings on this earth, and His eternal blessings, in order to understand the plan of God. His perfect plan demonstrates the glory of God and accomplishes the good of those who love God. One of his blessings is the blessing of a family and the parent-child relationship. One of the basic commandments in the Bible is to “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”  (Ephesians 6:2 -3).

In today’s passage, Solomon opens the chapter with an invitation: “Hear, my children!” It is as if in the previous three chapters he has proven to us that he walks in the wisdom of God and has a sincere desire to share that wisdom with us.  He has the same desire as a father, who loves his son and would like to give him life lessons; hence let us look him as a father. The Bible gives great emphasis to the family and the relationship within. God desires us to establish father-to-son relationships. In this context, God wants life lessons to be passed from generation to generation.  When God made covenant with Abraham and He knew that He was making covenant with a nation.  The promise given to Abraham was to “him and his seed.”  Abraham took what he learned naturally and the blessing he had received from God and passed it on to his son, Isaac.  Isaac did the same for Jacob; Jacob did the same for Joseph.  It all follows in like a covenantal relationship and blessings. 

Solomon learned many lessons from his father David. King David taught young Solomon everything he knew; all he had learned from walking and talking with God.  Solomon lovingly admits that as a son to his father, he submitted to his authority, and that he listened to his teaching.  David had fought fearlessly and led heroically but he sinned miserably.  David knew both highs and lows in God, but when he was at his lowest, after sinning terribly before God, David entered deeply into a powerful repentance.  He cried out to Jehovah, asking God to create in him a clean heart, to renew the right spirit within him (Psalm 51:10).  David was not flawless, but he was overall faithful to God.  Later on, in the New Testament, God speaks through Luke and says that David was a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

The relationship between fathers and sons (parental – children) is extremely important to God.  The last verse of the Old Testament points towards the preaching of John the Baptist and it says, “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse” (Malachi 4:6).  So what does this mean to us today? It means that we should take our natural and spiritual father-to-son relationships very seriously.  

David’s influence on Solomon is vividly clear.  As a son, it means that taking heed to your parent’s teaching has great significance in the sight of God.   So nurture our parent-child relationships and allow God to be glorified in it.

Prayer:  

Lord Almighty, I thank you for the wisdom

and knowledge I received from my natural and

spiritual parents.  Use me as a channel through

which You help to shape the future of my/our

children for Your glory!  In Jesus’ name.