Category: Proverbs

A Faithful Man

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Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 

Faithfulness is uncommon, and most people speak of their own goodness without proving it. True wisdom is recognising and valuing those whose actions match their words.

Biblical examples: [1] Absalom (2Sam. 15:4) – sought to win the hearts of the people while undermining his father, King David. He publicly presented himself as a righteous and caring leader: “Absalom would rise early, and stand beside the way of the gate; and when any man came to the king for judgment, Absalom would call unto him, and say, of what city art thou? And he would say, Thy matters are good and right: but he would take the people’s hearts.” Outward appearances and flattery conceal selfish ambition and deceit. [2] Jehu (2Kin. 10:16, 31) – claimed to act zealously for God by destroying the house of Ahab and eliminating idolatry. Yet his later actions revealed violence and bloodshed for personal power, not purely for righteousness. Proclaiming devotion or moral zeal does not guarantee integrity; motives matter. [3] The scribes (Matt. 6:2; 23:5) – performed religious duties publicly to gain praise from men rather than honour God. “They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces.” Public proclamation of goodness is motivated by pride and desire for recognition, not true righteousness. [4] The rich young ruler (Matt. 19:20-22) – proclaimed his goodness by claiming he had kept all the commandments since his youth. However, when Jesus called him to surrender wealth and follow Him, he went away sorrowful, revealing that his “goodness” was superficial and incomplete. Self-proclaimed goodness fails under divine testing. True righteousness requires obedience, not just verbal claims. [5] The Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14). In the parable, the Pharisee proudly enumerates his own righteousness, thanking God that he is not like others (e.g., the tax collector). His “goodness” was self-focused, arrogant, and superficial. By contrast, the tax collector humbled himself and received justification. Proclaiming one’s own goodness is often a sign of pride, while humility reveals true righteousness.

These examples illustrate that self-proclaimed goodness is common, but often deceitful, incomplete, or prideful. True goodness is demonstrated in obedience, humility, and faithfulness, not just in words or outward appearance.

Observe actions and motives, not self-praise. Be cautious of those who boast of their moral superiority. Seek to cultivate true humility and integrity, letting actions demonstrate righteousness.

Proclaim His Own Goodness

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Proverbs 20:6  Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 

People naturally overestimate or exaggerate their own virtues. Many boast of loyalty, honesty, or skill, but words do not always match reality. Human nature tends toward self-promotion and self-justification (cf. Jer. 17:9). Be cautious in trusting claims about character without observing consistent actions.

‘But a faithful man who can find?’ True faithfulness, loyalty, and integrity are rare. A faithful person: Keeps promises even when inconvenient. Demonstrates consistency in word and deed. Acts with honesty and reliability, not just self-promotion.

True integrity is tested in circumstances, not just declared. Seek relationships and partnerships with those proven faithful.

Observe behaviour over time to determine character. Value loyalty, honesty, and faithfulness over empty claims. Strive personally to be faithful in small and large matters, as integrity is rare and precious.

To be continued…

The Heart of Man

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Proverbs 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 

Human thoughts, motives, and plans are often hidden, complex, and difficult to discern. Like water in a deep well, the true intent of a person’s heart is not immediately visible. People may speak words that mask their real purposes, or they may be unaware of their own deeper motives.

Scripture warns that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jer. 17:9) And that all the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits (16:2).

‘But a man of understanding will draw it out.’ A person with wisdom, discernment, and patience can uncover hidden motives, plans, or intentions. This requires observation: noticing words, actions, and patterns; discernment: interpreting behaviour in light of experience and truth; and patience: gently questioning or guiding conversation to reveal inner thoughts.

Like drawing water from a deep well, understanding requires effort and skill. Leaders, counsellors, and teachers benefit from understanding motives before reacting. Friends and family can avoid conflict by seeking to understand rather than assume. Spiritual discernment allows one to address hidden sin or needs effectively.

Avoid snap judgments; seek to understand before acting. Exercise patience and discernment in relationships. Recognise that God knows the intent of others when we ask Him for guidance, and His counsel can guide our understanding (1Sam. 16:7). Hidden motives are like deep water; not everyone can reach them, but the discerning person, guided by wisdom and understanding, can uncover the truth and act wisely.

The Sluggard

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Proverbs 20:4  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 

The sluggard, or lazy person, excuses his laziness by waiting for ideal conditions. The sluggard’s delay in work shows lack of foresight, discipline, and diligence (6:6-11; 10:4).

‘Cold’ symbolises perceived obstacles or discomfort that the lazy mind uses to justify inaction. Laziness often hides behind excuses; procrastination and fear of discomfort prevent productivity.

‘Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.’ The consequence of laziness, the time for opportunity passes, and the sluggard suffers need. ‘Harvest’ represents the reward of work, whether literal crops or metaphorical blessings from diligence. By refusing to labour when it is necessary, the sluggard ends up dependent on others and destitute. Neglecting preparation and effort leads to inevitable loss.

This proverb contrasts diligence and foresight with laziness and excuses: Diligent workers prepare early, regardless of discomfort. Sluggards wait for perfect conditions, losing opportunity and reward. Consequences are inevitable: poverty, shame, and dependence.

Avoid procrastination, even when conditions are inconvenient. Trust God’s timing and plan; act faithfully in the present. Discipline and consistent effort produce future blessings, while laziness produces lack. Excuses cannot replace effort. Wisdom calls for faithful labour even in unfavourable conditions, because neglect brings inevitable poverty, while diligence secures reward.

Cease from Strife

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Proverbs 20:3  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 

True wisdom and honour are shown in avoiding unnecessary conflict. Ceasing from strife does not mean weakness, but self-control, humility, and discernment. Strife often leads to harm, division, and wasted energy. Choosing peace preserves dignity and relationships.

Three Biblical examples of ceasing from strife: Abraham (Gen. 13:7-9) – Lot and his herdsmen conflicted over grazing land. Abraham graciously yielded to Lot to maintain peace. Isaac (Gen. 26:12-30) – Isaac faced disputes over wells with the Philistines. Rather than fighting, he moved and renamed wells, maintaining peace and trusting God. David (1Sam 25:32-34) – David restrained himself from vengeance against Nabal, honouring God’s timing and mercy, choosing peace over immediate retaliation.

Ceasing from strife is an act of wisdom, trust in God, and moral strength, not cowardice. Honour and wisdom are displayed when one avoids strife and exercises self-restraint.

‘Every fool’ – Hebrew: ’eviyl, one who is morally deficient, thoughtless, or spiritually naive. Foolishness is characterised by rashness, lack of understanding, and pride. The fool cannot restrain himself from entering disputes, even when it is unwise.

‘Meddling’ -Hebrew: gala‛ literally “breaking forth” or interfering where one should not. Meddling refers to provoking quarrels, escalating conflicts, or intruding unnecessarily.

Scripture states that the beginning of strife is like letting out water; therefore, restrain contention before it breaks out (17:14) and that the discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression” (19:11).

Restrain impulses to argue or retaliate. Seek peace, even when it costs personal pride. Trust God to vindicate justice rather than taking matters into your own hands.

Fear of a King

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Proverbs 20:2  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provokes him to anger sins against his own soul. 

‘The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion.’ The proverb uses vivid imagery: a lion’s roar signals danger, invoking fear and caution. Similarly, the anger or displeasure of a king is dangerous and must be respected. This does not merely refer to earthly kings, but also reflects the principle of authority in general.

Cross reference: “The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass” (19:12). Respect authority, whether governmental, familial, or spiritual. Anger provoked in those in power can lead to serious consequences.

‘Whoso provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.’ To provoke a king is self-destructive; it harms the one who acts foolishly. “Sin against his own soul” implies that imprudence in dealing with authority can lead to personal ruin, both spiritually and physically. Defiance or rashness toward rightful authority is not only unwise but sinful, because it disregards God’s ordinance of leadership (Rom. 13:1-4).

Choose to act with respect toward your government, even when it acts unjustly. God can then guard you and keep you safe from wrongdoing. Wisdom involves discretion: Speak and act with caution before those in authority, remembering that God holds all rulers accountable (Dan. 4:17; Rom. 13:1-7).

Wine – Part 2

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Proverbs 20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 

Cross references for the use of alcohol: The woes of excessive drinking (23:29-35). Christians are warned against drunkenness (Eph. 5:18).

‘Whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.’ Being “deceived” means thinking one can handle alcohol without harm. Foolishness is revealed when one loses self-control or acts contrary to reason and God’s law. True wisdom requires temperance, self-discipline, and discernment, and at all times, be sober!! (1Thess. 5:6, 8; Tit. 2:2, 4, 6; 1Pet. 1:13; 5:8).

Eight Biblical examples of intoxication: Noah (Gen. 9:20-21) drank from the fruit of his vineyard and got drunk, lay uncovered in his tent, leading to family shame and generational curses. Lot (Gen. 19:30-38) – Intoxicated daughters led to incestuous acts. Nabal (1Sam. 25:36) – his drunkenness provoked foolish and violent behaviour. Elah, the king of Israel (1Kin. 16:8-10) – under the influence, made poor judgments, leading to assassination by Zimri. Benhadad (1Kin. 20:16-21) – relying on drink led to overconfidence and military miscalculations in battle; he lost the advantage in the conflict. Ephraim (Isa. 28:7) – Their soldiers were weakened by wine, failed in leadership and discernment because their judgment was impaired. Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1-31) – Drunken revelry led to profaning holy vessels; he ignored God’s warning; he fell that same night. Nineveh (Nahum 1:10) – alcohol contributed to social decay and vulnerability to judgment; the city was ultimately destroyed. These examples demonstrate that intoxication often leads to shame, moral lapse, and, in some cases, divine judgment.

Wine – Part 1

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Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 

In the Bible, the English word “wine” does not always mean an alcoholic, fermented beverage, the way we use the word today. This is because the Hebrew and Greek words translated as “wine” were broader terms, often referring simply to the juice of the grape in any state, fresh, fermenting, or fermented. In both the Old and New Testaments, the phrase “fruit of the vine” (Hebrew: peri hagafen, Greek: genēma tēs ampelou) explicitly refers to grape juice, without specifying whether it was fermented. Jesus used this phrase when He instituted the Lord’s Supper: “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine…” (Matt. 26:29). This was a common Jewish expression for grape juice in any form.

The Old Testament speaks of wine as a blessing, a symbol of joy and abundance. This did not require fermentation; fresh fruit, grape juice, and grapes themselves were all considered part of God’s “wine” harvest blessing.

‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging.’ Across history and Scripture, intoxication leads to impaired judgment, moral lapse, and often divine judgment. Proverbs 20:1 uses these examples to warn that the use of alcohol leads to serious consequences. Wine “mocks” its victims: it promises pleasure but leads to foolishness, loss of self-control, and vulnerability. Strong drink produces rage or wild behaviour, turning reason into chaos. Submitting to alcohol’s power is a mark of folly because it impairs judgment, decision-making, and moral restraint. To be continued…

Judgements – Part 2

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Proverbs 19:29  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools. 

‘Judgments are prepared for scorners.’ The word “judgments” here refers to divine or moral consequences. Scorners (mockers) delight in ridiculing truth and justice (19:28), and God has set judgment in readiness for them. Their punishment is not arbitrary, but the natural and just outcome of their choices (1:26; Ps. 1:4-6).

Mockery and contempt for truth carry inevitable consequences; one cannot escape God’s justice.

‘Stripes for the back of fools.’ Lashes, blows, or corrections are disciplinary measures for the foolish. Fools are those who refuse wisdom and reproof, acting against instruction (19:27). In biblical teaching, correction is meant to restore, not merely punish (10:13; 22:15).

Discipline, whether from God, parents, or life circumstances, is intended to redirect the foolish toward understanding.

Verse 28 describes the active sinfulness of the wicked, scorners who devour iniquity. Verse 29 shows the consequences of that sin: judgment and correction are prepared and unavoidable. Together, they illustrate the moral law of sowing and reaping: persistent mockery and folly lead to punishment, while heeding wisdom avoids disgrace.

Scorners and fools cannot escape justice. God’s judgment may be immediate or delayed, but it is certain. Correction (“stripes”) is a tool to teach, restrain, and restore, especially for the foolish who resist reproof.

Wisdom calls believers to: avoid mockery and contempt, receive instruction humbly and recognise that God’s justice is certain and just.

Mockery and folly carry consequences prepared by God. Judgment for the scorner and correction for the fool are both part of His wise governance, warning that sin and ignorance have inevitable outcomes.

Judgment -Part 1

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Proverbs 19:28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 

‘An ungodly witness scornes judgment.’ An ungodly or false witness rejects truth and justice. Such a person mockingly despises legal and moral standards, refusing to respect or uphold righteousness. The term “witness” implies someone who gives testimony; a false witness perverts justice, often to harm the innocent or advance personal gain (Ex. 20:16; Pro. 6:19).

This warns against dishonesty in courts, public affairs, or even personal testimony. A scorner of judgment is an enemy of both human justice and God’s righteousness.

‘The mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.’ The imagery is vivid: the wicked swallow sin as if it were a delicacy, taking delight in wrongdoing. Their speech propagates iniquity: lies, slander, deceit, and corrupt counsel. Unlike someone who restrains harmful words, the wicked actively consume and spread sin through speech (10:20; Ps. 52:2-4). The wicked not only act sinfully but also promote it through words, undermining justice and leading others into evil.

This verse highlights two aspects of wickedness: the rejection of justice, where the false witness scorns moral and legal standards. Delight in sin, where the wicked speak and consume iniquity as if it were a pleasure.

God warns that corrupt testimony and malicious speech have serious consequences. Upholding truth and justice is foundational to righteous living.

Wickedness is active, not passive: it disrespects law and judgment and feeds on sin. Wisdom calls the righteous to honour justice and guard their speech against spreading iniquity.

To be continued…