This father instructs his son that wisdom is God's preservative.

By this instruction it is the father's intention, it is the father's vision for his son that wisdom enter into his son's heart.

It is the father's vision that wisdom become pleasant unto the soul of his son.

Not a vision of filling the mind but a vision of filling the heart.

Wisdom having dominion over a willing son is what this father's eye looks to.

This father desires to rear his son to love the truth.

This father rears his son that God might write the truth in his heart.

This is a son who will take pleasure in the knowledge of God and the pursuit of knowledge of God.

He will be like Paul who counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord.

But Paul weren't you circumcised the eighth day?

Weren't you of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; a Pharisee?

Weren't you blameless concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law?

Weren't all those things gain to you?

Paul says No!

I count all those things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

You mean to say preparing your son for a prosperous career whereby security is gained for a comfortable life is not the right vision?

You mean to say that sending him to the finest schools shouldn't be most important?

What about connections with those who can help him succeed in this life?

No, Paul says with a resounding voice, I count those all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.

And the father of this proverb passage agrees that wisdom enters into his son's heart.

He desires that knowledge of God is pleasant unto the soul of his son.

His vision includes a son who sees the beauties of wisdom.

This is a son whose eyes are opened to see its glory and its sweetness.

This is a son who rejoices in truths even though they reveal to him his own wickedness.

He knows that without his son seeing the reality of his own wickedness he'll not see God.

God does not involve himself in the imaginary that the world does to cover up its wickedness.

But this father's son glories in truth because it accomplishes what nothing else does in this world.

David was such a son when he wrote in the Psalms:

Psalm 119:27,  Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

David would never have said: "We are awesome in the anointing."

Psalm 119:40,  Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Psalm 119:111,  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Psalm 119:159,  Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

Psalm 119:160,  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Psalm 42:1,  .... As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

This is what God expects of those who desire wisdom to enter the heart.

The hart or deer pants for water.

As his thirst drives him to the water brooks so must we thirst after the water of life.

That is how wisdom enters the heart, that is how wisdom has dominion over this son.

This father loves this son and desires greatly to equip him with that which will preserve him.

For: Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

Discretion means to be cautious in judgment.

It means to judge critically of what is correct and proper

Understanding means to separate mentally.

Unless you can separate knowledge mentally you do not have understanding.

It means the ability to discern, to differentiate, to discriminate or to distinguish.

Understanding makes for right choices.

The word understanding in this verse pertains to the ability to steer.

To know the direction and how to get there.

To understand the way. To know foundational truths.

So discretion slows down the man in order for understanding to be engaged.

Discretion provides clear knowledge of the result of choices.

Where will this choice or that choice lead?

The father's desire is for his son's heart to be governed by wisdom.

He desires that wisdom be pleasant to his son's soul so that the discretion that comes with wisdom will, as he continues in: Go to Proverbs 2:12-15