Proverbs

Proverbs 23: The LORD gives a lasting hope

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the call to fear the LORD all day, let us bring Him our desires. Ask Him to free us from envy and show us the hope found through Jesus.

“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

Leviticus 10:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to listen when Your Word warns about desires that ruin us. Show us Jesus and help us value truth above the pleasure sin offers. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

A father warns his son to restrain his appetite at a ruler’s table and refuse food offered by a stingy host. Riches fly away, and the strong Defender will plead against anyone who steals the fatherless person’s land. Parents must correct a child to turn him from the road to death, and wise children bring joy to their parents. The son must fear the LORD throughout the day instead of envying sinners, because there is a future hope. He must hear his parents, value truth and avoid unfaithfulness, drunkenness and gluttony. The chapter ends with a drunkard’s injuries, confused senses and desire to seek another drink.

As you read Proverbs 23, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD gives lasting hope, so His wisdom calls us from envy and destructive desires.

The ruler’s table looks attractive, yet appetite can hide the danger of being drawn by its gifts. The knife picture presses the need for strict restraint, without commanding anyone to injure himself. The stingy host offers food while inwardly counting its cost, so his welcome cannot be trusted. These pleasures contrast with the lasting hope held out to the person who fears the LORD. The discipline sayings use the rod and deliverance from Sheol to show that correction opposes a path leading to death. The final drunkard loses sound judgment, suffers injury and still wants more, exposing the power of destructive desire. Wisdom therefore seeks a changed heart that values truth and hears instruction.

How does Proverbs 23 show us that the LORD gives lasting hope, so His wisdom calls us from envy and destructive desires?

The LORD gives a hope worth more than passing pleasure.

Riches can disappear like a flying eagle. Envy measures life by the sinner’s present comfort and overlooks his end. Fearing the LORD all day directs the heart toward a future hope.

God’s wisdom warns us before desires bring ruin.

The father warns about appetite, dishonest hospitality, prostitution and adultery. Drunkenness and gluttony bring poverty, while the drunkard’s confused senses leave him wanting more. Loving correction seeks to turn a child from the road to death.

Memorise

Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long. Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what desire am I excusing when I need to turn to Jesus for mercy?

“Don’t let your heart envy sinners.” The heart can want the pleasures that lead to death. Warnings expose our need for more than a stronger promise to behave.

Jesus came to save His people from the sins that enslave them. He died beneath God’s judgment in their place, carrying their guilt at the cross. Then He rose from the dead. His completed sacrifice is enough to make His people acceptable before God.

Please turn from sin and rest your hope in Jesus. His mercy gives forgiveness to everyone who believes in Him. Bring Him the desires you have defended and ask for a willing heart. The future hope He gives is worth more than the pleasure that deceives.

Parent's note

Tell your children that loving correction requires parental self control and must seek their good without anger or harm. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for warnings that expose destructive desires and for hope beyond passing pleasure. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 5:18

Father, thank You for warning us before sinful desires ruin our lives. Please bring us to Jesus with repentance and faith. Give us hearts that love truth and refuse envy. Teach us restraint, help us hear wise correction and make our home patient, honest and hopeful in Your mercy. Amen.