Manhood is a Mindset. J. Colin Trisler

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СКАЧАТЬ that for the ancients, the issue “was not authorship in the modern sense, but the authority of works written in the ‘spirit’ of the archetypal lawgiver, psalmist, or sage” (Introduction to Wisdom Literature, 20). With all this in mind, I treat “Solomon, son of David, king of Israel” (Prov 1:1)—be it in the archetypal or literal sense—as the author of Prov 1–9. For as Duane Garrett notes: “The biblical assertion that the Solomonic monarchy witnessed a great literary renaissance and that Solomon himself was the fountainhead is reasonable” (The New American Commentary, 52). I likewise treat his son—again, be it in the general or literal sense—as the intended audience.

      6. David’s most notable sins were murder and adultery. Read about David, his temptation, his sin, the Lord’s discipline, and his restoration in 2 Sam 11–12.

      7. The final two verses of Ecclesiastes indicate that Solomon learned his lesson and repented of his wayward actions: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether good or evil” (Eccl 12:13–14). Although the human author of Ecclesiastes is technically anonymous, as the author simply refers to himself as “the Preacher,” he also refers to himself as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Eccl 1:1). Solomon was indeed the son of David and king in Jerusalem (compare with Prov 1:1). Therefore, Solomon is the probable author. Traditional scholarship also credits Solomon as the author.

      Letter 2

      Factor Fear into Your Way of Thinking

      Prov 1:2–7; 9:10

      “Fear is healthy when you use it according to its purpose.”

      I opened the previous letter with the tale of a brave hero, dark enemies, and perilous heroics.

These kinds of stories are helpful because they bring ideas to life using images that are relevant and striking (and thus easy to remember). C. S. Lewis, a man who understood the power of narrative, agreed with me on this point: “If it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”8

      That being said, the visuals from Indiana Jones and stories like his can be rather ferocious at times, and I’d prefer to open this letter with a brighter, more heartwarming illustration. The image I have in mind is from one of your favorite movies: Disney’s animated version of The Lion King.

      This film has a deeper sense of symbolism than your standard children’s movie. The story itself is rich with character and meaning and is worthy of much consideration. Especially for young men, as it serves as an astute visual representation of a boy’s difficult journey into manhood.

      The story begins with the birth of Simba, a lion cub who is destined to rule the kingdom of the African Pride Lands. Early one morning Simba and his father—the present king, a wise and mighty lion named Mufasa—ascended to the summit of a large stone formation named Pride Rock. There the father and his son, the king and his heir, sat side-by-side and observed the glory of their kingdom entire. And as the Pride Lands sparkled in the light of the rising sun, the two lions marveled at the radiance of their realm.

      “Look, Simba,” Mufasa said. “Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”

      “Everything the light touches . . . ” repeated young Simba with wide-eyed wonder. Simba then stood to his feet and strolled away from the presence of his father. His eyes moved across the vast African plain until they settled on a strange patch of darkness out in the distance. The cub walked to the edge of the rock and asked, “What about that shadowy place?”

      Mufasa moved closer to his son. His answer and his voice were firm. “That’s beyond our borders. You must never go there, Simba.”

      “But I thought a king can do whatever he wants.”

      “Oh, there’s more to being king than getting your way all the time,” Mufasa said with a smile as he casually moved back toward an area of more solid footing. Young Simba, as if by instinct, followed his father away from the edge of the rock and asked “There’s more?”

      Mufasa chuckled at his son’s natural curiosity. And with great thoughtfulness he instructed him on the importance of living with wisdom. In harmony with the circle of life that surrounds him.

      When Disney originally released The Lion King in theaters in 1994, I was in my mid-teens. So watching it today with my own family in my middle-aged years conjures up a fond sense of nostalgia. As a teenager, I identified more with the character of Simba, the impulsive lion cub who embodies the carefree joy and adventurous potential of a young man who has his whole life ahead of him. These days, as a husband and a father and a pastor, I identify more with king Mufasa, the responsible patriarch who dedicates his life not only to governing his kingdom with justice and righteousness, but also to leading his family with strength and love.

      The scene at Pride Rock especially resonates with me. The visual of the wise father sitting high and mighty alongside his young son, who is much smaller but sitting just as upright, is an image as powerful as any scene of heroic battle. It reminds me that a man doesn’t have to use his fists to be a hero. A hero isn’t the man who can hit the hardest or run the fastest. A hero is the man who does the right thing in the right way and for the right reasons. By this definition, any man can be a hero. Even the one who does something as simple as relating to his family with a sense of respect and responsibility. The father who invests time and effort into his relationship with his son is just as heroic as any mighty king. And the son who honors his father’s effort with his attentiveness is just as heroic as any brave knight.

      Son, with this letter, you and I will follow Solomon’s lead and take the first step on our very own hero’s journey. I will establish myself as your instructor and you will be my student. As Henry Jones Sr. did with Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr., I will give you the truth you need to succeed in your journey toward manhood. And as Mufasa did with Simba, I will equip you with the understanding you need to avoid the shadowy fringes of life—those formless voids that lie beyond the borders of truth, goodness, and beauty—and teach you to set your mind on everything the light touches.

      That is my job as your father. Your job as my son and my student is to take hold of my words and utilize them to illuminate your mind and let the light of God’s wisdom radiate within you like a majestic sunrise.

      But in order to accomplish your job, you must first honor my effort with your utmost respect and attention.

      Father to Son

      Prov 1:2–6

After introducing himself as the author in v. 1, Solomon opens his discourse by asserting his God-given parental authority over his son.9

      Notice how he doesn’t hunch down to the boy’s level and present himself as his buddy. He stands tall and upright as the boy’s father, forcing his son to turn his gaze upward and approach him with veneration. When he speaks, he speaks with authority and commands the respect that comes with the title of daddy.

      God had appointed Solomon as the boy’s father. That made it his job to provide his son with the influence and instruction necessary to live a meaningful life. Notice how Solomon doesn’t use his authority to intimidate his son. Nor does he seek to tear him down or provoke discouragement. Instead, his goal is СКАЧАТЬ