Proverbs 22:6 is a passage of Scripture that has been the topic of many discussions between friends and family. No doubt, many parents have beat themselves over this verse when the children that they tried to raise right go astray. In the same manner, countless Pastors have raked parents over the coals who have had children depart from the way. The problem with this is a terrible misunderstanding of the nature and design of the Proverbs, as well as an ignorance of the whole body of Scripture. It is important that we understand what a Proverb is. A Proverb is a trite statement expressing something that is generally true. Furthermore, the Proverbs are not promises and should not be taken as such. The truth is that when a child is trained in the right way, it is hoped, and generally is the case that the child follows the right way.

First of all, lets look at the author of the Proverb in question. It is generally accepted that Solomon is the author of the majority of the Proverbs and is of this one as well. There certainly is no argument as to whether or not Solomon departed from the way. Solomon’s father was David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, a man after God’s own heart. It is true that David sinned, but God continuously spoke of David as a man that walked in His precepts. Likewise, it was said of wicked kings that they did not follow the Lord as David did. It is a fair assumption that David trained his children in the way they should go, yet several of them departed from the way. The rebellion of Absalom and of Solomon in particular is not a reflection of David’s parenting

God is certainly the greatest example of a good father. He is indeed a perfect father. Anyone remember the book of Isaiah? In Chapter one, Jehovah is rebuking Israel for their backsliding. Look at the words of God in verse number two. “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.” Anyone with any understanding would acknowledge that Israel had departed from the way. Had God not reared them properly? Was God a bad parent? Certainly there could be no greater Father than Jehovah God, yet even the best of parents have children that rebel against their teaching.

What about the heroes of the Faith? To make it easy on everyone involved, we will give several Old Testament saints a batting average as it relates to their children that turned out right. We will give them a base hit for each child that turned out right and a strikeout for those that didn’t. Is that fair? I’m glad you agree. One would think that the great Patriarch Abraham would have a high batting average. Abraham gets a 500 hundred average for the children that the Bible says anything about. A 500 average certainly is respectable, but one would think that Abraham could do a bit better. Isaac also gets a .500. I hate to say it, but the lineup seems to get worse with Jacob not even able to bat .250. A .250 batting average is okay I suppose (unless your playing softball), but lets face it an average like that wont keep you in the Big Leagues for long. I could go on but we dare not belabor the point.

While we all hope for our children to walk in the right way, we can not blame ourselves if they do not walk in the path that we have trained them. Likewise, we dare not sit in judgment when others children go astray. We must determine to teach our children the truth and pray that God in His mercy would keep them in the right way. We can teach our kids, but we can not give them a pure heart. Whatever good becomes of our kids, we should give glory to God, and trust Him to bring the prodigals home. While this Proverb is not necessarily a promise, you and I can have confidence in the Gospel and lean on the fact that if God begins a good work in our children, He will perform it.