May. 1, 2009 - Proverbs
For the My Father's World First Grade program, Beth will be memorizing several verses from Proverbs this year. Earlier this week, Beth and I discussed the purpose of Proverbs:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young --
Proverbs 1:2-4
for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young --
Proverbs 1:2-4
I had a hard time explaining these verses to Beth. Ideas such as wisdom, discipline, insight, justice, fairness, prudence, and discretion seem so deep to me -- how do I explain them to a five-year-old? After I floundered through an explanation with Beth, I took the time to look up the definitions to some of these words in a dictionary so that I might understand the verses better myself. I then attempted to explain the verses in my own words. Here is what I came up with:
Proverbs help us to know what is right and true in God's sight and to live lives that reflect this knowledge. They help us to understand the true nature of things, and to live our lives in doing what is right and proper, in keeping with truth, and free from dishonesty. Proverbs help humble, ordinary people to be wise in practical matters. They teach young people to judge what is right and help them to act according to this judgment.
My simplified explanation to Beth was the first line: that Proverbs help us to know what God wants us to do and to try to do what is right in our lives.
Proverbs help us to know what is right and true in God's sight and to live lives that reflect this knowledge. They help us to understand the true nature of things, and to live our lives in doing what is right and proper, in keeping with truth, and free from dishonesty. Proverbs help humble, ordinary people to be wise in practical matters. They teach young people to judge what is right and help them to act according to this judgment.
My simplified explanation to Beth was the first line: that Proverbs help us to know what God wants us to do and to try to do what is right in our lives.
