Category: Proverbs

Gracious and Merciful

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Proverbs 11:16-17 A gracious woman retains honour: and strong men retain riches. The merciful man does good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh. 

‘Gracious’ [Hebrew: chen] grace; favour (11:16; Eccl. 10:12). Translated “grace” 38 times (Gen. 6:8; 19:19; 32:5; Ps. 84:11; etc.). She is strong and graceful, as well as cheerful about the future. Her words are sensible, and her advice is thoughtful. She takes good care of her family and is never lazy.

Scripture here points to a woman who exhibits grace, and the respect she gains from others, as opposed to the money earned by those who are graceless. The implication is that a gracious person can earn both respect and income, whereas a callous person can only gain money.

Grace of manner is deceitful and beauty of form and features will fade, but the woman who fears the Lord shall be praised (31:30).

‘Strong men’ – the diligent, as in the Septuagint and Syriac.

‘The merciful man.’ The man who shows mercy edifies his own soul, but the unmerciful, fretful, and vengeful destroys his own flesh and is sickly in his body.

‘Does good to his own soul.’ Six examples of blessing by kindness: The Kenites (1Sam. 15:6); David (1Sam. 30:11-20); Jonathan (2Sam. 9:7; 21:7); Job (Job 42:10); Cornelius (Acts 10:4); The Maltese (Acts 28:1-10).

‘Troubles this own flesh.’ Six examples of troubling self: Cain (Gen. 4:10-12); Joseph’s brethren (Gen. 37:1-36; 42:21); Adonibezek (Jdg. 1:6-7); Agag (1Sam. 15:33); Haman (Est. 9:25); Jonah (Jon. 4:1-3).

Surety

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Proverbs 11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hates suretiship is sure. 

‘Surety’ – Pledging to stand good for anyone tends to relieve the borrower of the responsibility he should feel, and often lowers the respect of a co-signer in the sight of the one he helps.

Five facts about surety: The command against surety (22:26). The command to get out of surety as quickly as possible (6:1-5). Surety is a sign of a lack of understanding (17:18). Suffering and disappointment are what is promised in surety (11:15). To refrain from surety is the only safe way (11:15).

A man who quickly concludes a contract and becomes surety in the presence of a friend proves he is void of understanding (17:18). Do not be quick to shake hands (make contracts and give promises) or co-sign for the debts of others. If you have nothing to pay, why lose the necessities of life by pledging them as security (22:26-27)?

Safety

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Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. 

‘Counsel’ [Hebrew: tachbulah] helmsman; guide; counsel. Translated as counsel (11:14; 1:5; 12:5; 24:6; Job 37:12); and advice (20:18).

‘But in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety.’ Safety, providing they are real counsellors (cp. Pro. 15:22; 24:6) and in Christ (Ps. 1:1-6). Many today only focus on one’s rights instead of doing what is right. Our main focus must always be to seek God.

Three things to do in seeking God (Hosea 10:12): [1]“Sow to yourselves in righteousness.” This means to stop sinning and start doing what is right in all things – to consecrate to do that which is good and right. Sowing and reaping always stand out against each other, as labour and reward (2Cor. 9:6; Gal. 6:7-9). [2] “Reap in mercy.” This means to accept and appropriate the mercy of God extended to us. If we do not accept mercy from God it will not be ours, for both sowing in righteousness and reaping in mercy are our responsibility. Righteousness is here to do, and mercy is here to receive, but neither will be a man’s experience until he does what is right and accepts the mercy provided (Matt. 5:7; Mark 11:25-26). [3] “Break up your fallow ground.” This also is the work of man. Each must break up the ground of his own life. Fallow ground is that which has been ploughed but not sown; ground not in use; idle ground crusted over and hardened until it needs to be broken up again to receive the seed. Our hearts and wills must be broken and yielded to God. We must make ourselves willing to receive the Word of God and to obey it or seeking Him will not avail us anything (Matt. 13:3-12, 18-23; Jas. 1:18, 21; 1Pet. 1:23).

Holds His Peace

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Proverbs 11:12-13 He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbour: but a man of understanding holds his peace. A talebearer reveals secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter. 

‘Despises his neighbour: but a man of understanding holds his peace.’ He reproaches his neighbour, but a man of understanding holds his peace and keeps his mouth. Even a fool is considered a wise one if he knows when and where to speak, and a so-called wise man is considered a fool if he does not know when to hold his tongue (17:28).

Five sins that will damn the soul: Refusing to live at peace with neighbours (Ps. 55:20). Not keeping one’s word (cp. Ps. 15:4; 2Tim. 3:3). Lying (Ps. 55:21; cp. Rev. 21:8). Plotting the destruction of those who would live in peace. Deceiving and destroying with one’s tongue (cp. Jas. 3:1-18).

‘Talebearer’ [Hebrew: halak and rakiyl], a walking busybody; a peddler in scandal (cp. Lev. 19:16; Jas. 1:26). He reveals whatever is confided to him. He will even reveal his own secrets rather than have nothing to say. Doeg is a good example of talebearing (1Sam. 21:7; 22:9-10; Ps. 52:2).

The Upright vs the Wicked

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Proverbs 11:10-11 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. 

‘When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.’ The righteous are respected and honoured for their examples, prayers, and great blessings to a city that rejoices in their prosperity, but when the wicked perish who have been a curse to a community there is no regret.

‘Well with the righteous.’ Three examples of joy in the righteous: Hezekiah (2Chr. 29:3-36; 30:26); Nehemiah (Neh. 2:1-20; 6:15; 8:17); Mordecai (Est. 8:15-16).

‘When the wicked perish.’ Three examples of the wicked perishing: Pharaoh (Ex. 15:1-27); Sisera (Jdg. 5:1-31); Athaliah (2Kin. 11:20).

‘By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.’ A city rejoices in the blessing of the righteous because it is exalted and honoured by their good deeds, but the wicked helps destroy it.

Hypocrites vs the Just

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Proverbs 11:7-9 When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perishes. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead. An hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. 

‘Hope of unjust men perishes.’ The wicked hope to be saved and have many things the righteous enjoy, but their hope will perish because they refuse to turn to God. Three examples of perishing hope: Balaam’s (Num. 23:10; 31:8); Absalom’s (2Sam. 18:1-33); and the rich fool’s (Luke 12:16-21).

‘Hypocrite’ [Hebrew: chaneph] means infidel, godless, profane – worse than the modern understanding of hypocrite. The hypocrite acts a false part and gives false impressions of himself. He is a cheater, deceiver, imposter, and pretender. He tries to cover up his devices and gain credit for his virtues. He hopes to prosper through deceit. The hypocrite has no hope when God takes away the soul (Job 27:7-12). All his life is miserable – professing to love what he doesn’t love, trying to enjoy what his heart hates, mingling with people with whom he has no sympathy, and joining in worship when his heart isn’t in it.

They seek God daily (Isa. 58:2), their seeking being only an outward show to attract attention to self and deceive others. They pretend to delight in knowing His ways and carry out many rituals, but the heart is far from the Lord (Isa. 29:13).

‘The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked comes in his stead.’ Three examples of the righteous delivered and the wicked perishing in their place: Mordecai and Haman (Est. 7:9-10). Daniel and accusers (Dan. 6:1-28). Israel and Egyptians (Exo. 14:1-31).

Righteousness

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Proverbs 11:4-6 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 

‘Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.’ Riches do wonders among men, but with God they purchase nothing. No sin profits in the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from hell.

‘Righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.’ The righteousness of the blameless man will enable his path to be always light so that he may see his way, but the lawlessness of the wicked will be full of stumbling blocks.

‘The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.’ The righteousness of the upright man shall deliver him from condemnation and eternal judgment, but sins of the wicked will bring them to judgment.

Integrity vs Perverseness – Part 2

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Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

Seven examples of perverseness: Israel (Deut. 1:43-44); Balaam (Num. 22:32; 31:8); Hophni and Phinehas (1Sam. 2:25; 4:11); Saul (1Sam. 15:23); Absalom (2Sam. 15:3-6); Ahithophel (2Sam. 17:1-23); Ahab (1Kin. 21:25-26; 22:34-37).

‘Transgressors’ [Hebrew: bagad] traitors; faithless to the covenant. Translated as “transgress” (1Sam. 14:33; Ps. 25:3; Hab. 2:5); “transgressor” (Pro. 2:22; 11:3, 6; 13:2, 15; 21:8; 22:12; 23:28; Ps. 59:5; 119:158); “treacherous” (Isa. 21:2; 24:16; Jer. 3:8, 11; 9:2); “treacherously” (Jdg. 9:23; Isa. 21:2; 24:16; 33:1; 48:8; Jer. 3:20; 5:11; 12:1, 6; Lam. 1:2; Hos. 5:7; 6:7; Hab. 1:13; Mal. 2:10-16); “deceitfully” (Ex. 21:8; Job 6:15); and “unfaithful” (Ps. 78:57; Pro. 25:19). A transgressor is a deceiving, unfaithful, disloyal hypocrite, and Proverbs warns that, “the integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them” (11:3) and that the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it (2:22).

Integrity vs Perverseness – Part 1

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Proverbs 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 

‘Integrity of the upright shall guide them.’ Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. In all public trust, we must walk uprightly and pay strict attention to truth, justice, and mercy; never planning evil things, or using public trust to enrich oneself, or give bribes as the wicked do (Ps. 26:10-11). A righteous man will be rewarded by having his children blessed by his integrity after his death (20:7).

Three examples of guiding integrity: Joseph (Gen. 39:4, 22-23; 50:25); Jesus Christ (Luke 2:40, 52; 1Pet. 2:21) and Paul (Gal. 2:20).

‘Perverseness’ is defined as the act of perverting or the state of being perverted; a turning from truth or right; a diverting from the true intent or object; a change to something worse; a turning or applying to a wrong end or use.” It is the noun of the word “pervert” which has the following equivalent meanings in Scripture: [Hebrew: haphak] translated as to turn or overturn (Jer. 23:36); [Hebrew: natah] translated as to cause to incline by implication to bend away (including moral deflection); (Deut. 24:17; 27:19; 1Sam. 8:3; Pro. 17:23); [Hebrew: salaph] translated as to overthrow, pervert (Ex. 23:8; Deut. 16:19; Pro. 19:3); [Hebrew: avah] translated as to do perversely, pervert (Job 33:27; Jer. 3:21); [Hebrew: avath] translated as to use perversely (Job 8:3; 34:12); [Hebrew: aqash] translated as to pervert (Pro. 10:9; Mic. 3:9); [Hebrew: shub] translated as to turn or bring back (Isa. 47:10); [Hebrew: shanah] translated as to change, transfer (Pro. 31:5); [Greek: apostrepho] translated as to turn away or off (Luke 23:14); [Greek: diastrepho], translated as to turn diversely, perversely (Luke 23:2); [Greek: metastrepho], translated as to turn away (Gal. 1:7).

To be continued…

Pride

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Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 

‘When pride comes, then comes shame.’ Six examples of shame through pride: Lucifer (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17); Miriam (Num. 12:10); Uzziah (2Chr. 26:16-21); Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:30); Moab (Zeph. 2:8-10); Ninevah (Zeph. 2:15).

Lucifer wanted to become like God at the expense of God and everyone else; this was extreme sinfulness against God and nature. It was by this appeal to be like God that Eve was deceived (Gen. 3:5). Christ came to imitate God among men, and to set an example of true God-likeness, that of being like God in consecration to the good of all – not for the good of self-gratification. Thus He repeatedly declared the true nature of consecration and godliness.

National pride because of ancestry, victory in war, learning, riches, and even religion has always been a human weakness. In excess, it causes prejudice, malice and hatred of others of all peoples. In Exodus 22:21 God used the slavery experience of Israel in Egypt to warn them against oppressing other nations and the weak and poor among themselves.

‘With the lowly is wisdom.’ Four examples of wisdom to the lowly: Joseph (Gen. 41:16, 38-39); Solomon (1Kin. 3:5-13); Daniel (Dan. 2:20-21); Jesus Christ (Luke 2:40, 52; Isa. 11:1).