As Father’s Day approaches, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the sacred and often vulnerable calling of fatherhood. This devotional draws us into the book of Proverbs, where we hear the heartfelt voice of a father longing for his child to choose the way of wisdom. It's a fitting focus for this season, as many of us think not only about the fathers we’ve had, but the kind of fathers– and people– we’re becoming. Whether you’re a dad, have a dad, or simply care about the next generation, this is an invitation to listen again to the ancient wisdom that still speaks with clarity and compassion into the joys and challenges of raising children in a complex world.
A Dad’s wisdom
To be a parent is to be vulnerable – nurturing our children as they grow up in a world that is filled with joy, wonder and exciting possibilities, but also complexity, temptation, and danger.
The book of Proverbs opens with the voice of a father, who is only too aware of this. He speaks to his son who we imagine is getting ready to go out into the world, moving beyond the immediate influence of his parents. Nine chapters urging his son to appreciate and embrace wisdom then gives way to hundreds of proverbial sayings to be chewed over and used as guides for making good decisions in life.
Good decisions. This is what wisdom is about in the Bible: applying knowledge and understanding in the right way at the right time to navigate the complexities of life. Proverbs imagines all areas of life: money, relationships, work, community, and speech to name a few. It means having the skill to know the right course of action, and the will to do it, even when it is hard. Isn’t that what we want for our kids as well? The tools and the tenacity to navigate life?
Proverbs 1
The opening verses set out the book’s stall:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behaviour,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young –
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance –
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise. (NIVUK)
Do you notice how many different ‘wisdom-ish’ words there are? Wisdom, instruction, understanding, insight, prudent behaviour, knowledge, discretion, learning, discerning. They each have difference nuances but the point is clear: the father’s instructions in this book will enable the young hearer to live well in the community, ‘doing what is right and just and fair’ (v. 3).
And what is the cornerstone or the first principle – the one thing that will help connect all the other things?
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This idea of the ‘fear of the LORD’ is the foundational idea of living a wise life in the Old Testament (see also, for example, Proverbs 9:10; Job 28:28; Ecclesiastes 12:13). It means placing all of life's decisions in the context of an awe and respect for God, and a humility about ourselves.
The urgency of the father
I find I read Proverbs differently as a dad. I wonder at the nine whole chapters aimed at convincing the child of the value of choosing the way of wisdom. Why nine, and not just one or two? Is there a note of desperation in the father’s voice, knowing there are so many other voices his child could listen to, including those that will entice, lead astray, damage and deceive?
There is an urgency about the father’s instructions. He so wants his child to make choices towards flourishing, and to see the emptiness of the promises made by the alternatives, no matter how shiny they appear.
We could read the introduction on its own terms but look at how it continues and what the father sees. In verses 9-19 he offers a case study in who not to listen to, even though their voices may be enticing. The father imagines his son being invited to join in with people promising belonging and significance, purpose, power, agency, fast wealth and no consequences (verses 11-14). This gang is appealing but don’t fall for it, says the father; it is a pathway to self-destruction (verses 15-19).
This is all pretty dramatic stuff, although perhaps closer to home than many would like to admit. What I’m moved by, though, is the deep desire of the father who wants the best for his son. In a world fraught with pitfalls, he wants his son to flourish for his own sake and for the sake of his family and wider community.
The poet Wendell Berry describes waking in the night, ‘at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be’ (from The Peace of the Wild Things). There is so much that is beyond our control. As Christian dads we need to find ways of processing our fears in the context of our faith. Do you have other dads in your life you can share with and pray with? Are there daily habits you can cultivate to give it over to God?
The Peace of God
Every night we pray the blessing of Aaron over our kids:
24 ‘“‘The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
I love the way the blessing builds to a finish, ending with the peace – the shalom – of God. That is what I so desperately want for my kids. I realise now that I’m also praying it for myself.
Speaking Wisdom to Every Child
As we reflect on the father’s voice in Proverbs - urging his child toward wisdom, safety, and flourishing - we're reminded that not every child grows up with a parent who can speak that kind of life-giving wisdom over them. In a world where many families face isolation, there is a vital role for communities to offer care, belonging and support.
Safe Families and Home for Good exist because of that same deep longing expressed in Proverbs: to see children flourish, families strengthened, and the vulnerable protected. Father’s Day can be a time to celebrate and reflect - but also to act. Perhaps this is a season to ask how we, as individuals or churches, can echo the voice of wisdom to the next generation - not just in our own families, but also in the lives of those who may not have one.
