August 9, 2020
Lessons Learned
By Wayne Gaeddert
Proverbs 29:1-3, 12-20
1. Proverbs 25:1-29:27 were composed by Solomon but copied years later by the men of Hezekiah. See Proverbs 25:1
2. The northern kingdom (Israel) had 200 years of evil kings who did not fear the LORD.
3. The northern kingdom (Israel) was conquered by the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Kings 18:9-10
4. Hezekiah reached out to the remnant in Israel not carried away into captivity by Assyria to invite them to worship God in Jerusalem for the Passover. 2 Chronicles 30:1,18-21,25-27
5. This section of Proverbs that Hezekiah’s men copied represents Hezekiah’s effort to restore the spiritual life of Judah and especially Israel. None of the kings of Israel had led the people to serve the LORD.
6. Stiff-necked means obstinate or stubborn.
7. Discipline means moral training and instruction that warns of the consequences of sinful actions or correct those who have sinned.
8. “God uses discipline from society, family, and others to shape His people.”
Dr. Argile Smith
9. “Giving attention to the discipline of their children results in long-term blessing for parents.” Dr. Argile Smith
10. “Hope is squandered by an unwillingness to be quiet long enough to listen to God.”
Dr. Argile Smith
11. “Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.” John Wooden
12. “(Self) discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.”
Abraham Lincoln
13. “Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” John Maxwell
14. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11
15. Being stiff-necked (refusing instruction and refusing discipline) for too long ends in destruction.
> No one would listen to Noah’s preaching for 120 years while he was building the ark resulted in death for all those outside the ark.
> The kings of the Northern kingdom lead the people to worship idols resulted in the
Assyrians carrying them into captivity. > The tribe of Judah strayed away from God resulted in the Babylonians taking them captive.
> Pharaoh would not listen and harden his heart against the Israelites resulted in the ten plagues and the destruction of his army when he chased after the Israelites at the Red Sea.
16. Compare Proverbs 29:2 with Proverbs 28:12;28, and Proverbs 11:10.
17. The government ruling over you can be a source of joy or an overbearing burden. The deciding factor will be determined by whether righteous principles are being observed.
18. The goal for parents as they discipline their children:
> Lead them to fear the LORD.
> Cultivate an atmosphere of peace in the family.
> Reap the harvest of being able to delight in your children.
19. Parenting in Proverbs: Dr. Argile Smith
> Parents give godly instruction to their children (Proverbs 1:8-9; 4:1-4; 6:20-24).
> Parents delight in godly children (Proverbs 17:6; 23:23-25; 29:3,17).
> Parents discipline their children as an expression of love (Proverbs 3:12).
20. How might God be disciplining you right now to draw you closer to Him?
21. When you are facing a challenging situation, open your mind to what God is teaching you.
