Proverbs 4:1-19
It is in the family circle that the child of Christian parents begins to acquire the elements of the wisdom which is according to God. To dispute, or despise, or forsake (v. 2) "good doctrine" heard in the home, these are attitudes which cannot bring blessing, and often mark the point of departure of lives from the path of true witness (cf. v. 10 with Exodus 20:12).
"The father to the children shall make known thy truth" (Isaiah 38:19). Christian teaching is the responsibility of the head of the family, who passes on to his children that which he himself has often received from his own parents (Psalms 78:4-6). Solomon, the inspired writer of the Proverbs, no doubt often remembered the words of his father David (v. 3; 1 Kings 2:1-3).
Vv. 11-13 instruct us as to our walk, vv. 14-19 as to the way. The path of the wicked is described for us so that we may know how to avoid it, and be established firmly in the path of the just which is "as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (v. 18). Wisdom is a realm in which we progress little by little (cf. Luke 2:52). What is not normal is when this growth stops because of a bad conscience. May this v. 18 sum up the life of each one of us.