January 16, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
Solomon was king David’s son, he was not king David’s favourite son, Absalom was king David’s favourite. However, Absalom did not listen to his father’s instruction and was slain for it. In fact, Absalom rebelled against his father and tried to take the kingdom from his father and died hanging by his hair in a wood and having darts thrust through him while hanging there.
Solomon listened to his father’s instruction and was blessed as a result. Solomon listened, he then gives us instruction here in our text.
In fact: “Solomon is the writer of three of these books of poetry: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Proverbs is the book on wisdom. Ecclesiastes is the book on folly. Song of Solomon is the book on love. Love is the happy medium between wisdom and folly. Solomon was an expert on all three subjects! The Word of God says about him: “And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five” (1Kings 4:32). We have only one of his songs out of 1,005 that he wrote. And, actually, we have very few of his proverbs. “And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom” (1Kings 4:33-34).” (J. Vernon McGee)
Although Solomon gave instruction to his own son Rehoboam, Rehoboam rebelled against that instruction and followed the wisdom of counsellors who knew not the wisdom of God.
The kingdom that David left to Solomon and Solomon then left to Rehoboam was split and will not be rejoined together again until Jesus comes back after the tribulation period.
Do you see how important it is to listen to the wisdom of the father?
Our wisdom comes from our Father the LORD God of heaven. We have the written wisdom, the bible. To neglect the wisdom of God is to embrace scorn.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
God blesses the man who listens to His instruction and curses the scorner.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Proverbs 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
Solomon found the blessings, Absalom and Reheboam did not. One embraced the instruction of the father, the other two did not.
The instruction of the Father compels us to listen to Jesus.
On the mount of transfiguration, God the Father spoke and said: “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (Luke 9:35)
Jesus tells us what the instruction of the Father is. John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Would you receive the instruction of the Father or will you scorn?
The choice is till yours,
Pastor Cook
