Category: Proverbs

False vs Just

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Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. 

‘False balance’ – One faulty in construction or by mischief.

‘Abomination to the LORD.’ Twenty things are an abomination to God: The froward man (3:32; 11:20). A proud look (6:16-17). A lying tongue (6:17; 12:22) Hands that shed innocent blood (6:17). A wicked scheming heart (6:18). Feet quick to sin. A false witness that speaks lies (6:19). A sower of discord. Wickedness (8:7). A false balance (scale, 11:1). The sacrifice of the wicked (15:8; 21:27). The way of the wicked (15:9). The thoughts of the wicked (15:26). The proud of heart (16:5). Justifying the wicked (17:15). Condemning the just (17:15). Diverse weights (20:10, 23). Diverse measures (20:10). Refusing to hear the law (28:9). The prayer of the rebel (28:9).

‘Just weight’ – Literally, perfect stone. Early weights were made of stone (Deut. 25:13-15). This proverb is repeated three times (16:11; 20:10, 23; cp. Lev. 19:36; Deut. 25:13-15; Mic. 6:11). There was a royal standard of weights (2Sam. 14:26).

Wisdom vs Frowardness

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Proverbs 10:31-32 The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks frowardness. 

‘The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.’ The mouth of the just speaks wisdom, but the tongue of the perverse will be cut out. It was an ancient custom in some nations to cut out the tongue for blasphemy, lying, treasonable speeches, and other vocal crimes.

‘The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaks forwardness.’ The righteous know what is acceptable and profitable to speak, but the wicked know what is perverse. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us not to be deceived because evil communications corrupt good manners. Thus, evil ones will corrupt good morals.

‘Frowardness’ [Hebrew: ‛iqqesh] perverse. All such persons are an abomination to God (3:32; 11:20). There are ten froward things noted in Scripture: Generation (Deut. 32:20). Heart (11:20; 17:20; Ps. 101:4). Speech (2:12; 10:31). Paths (2:15). Mouth (4:24; 6:12; 8:13). Tongue (10:31). Men (16:28; 22:5; 1Pet. 2:18). Plans (6:14; 16:30). Ways (21:8; Isa. 57:17). God, when He is forced to be perverse with the wicked to punish them for sin (Ps. 18:26).

Never Be Removed

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Proverbs 10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 

‘The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.’ This is the 6th prophecy in Proverbs (10:30) and is unfulfilled. Redeemed people will inhabit the earth eternally (Gen. 9:12). If one keeps in mind that there will be two classes of eternal people, eternal conditions on earth will be simple to comprehend.

There are two classes of eternal people: [1] Natural people will live from the future tribulation period through the Millennium and then on into the New Earth forever – if they do not commit sin or rebel with satan at the end of the Millennium (Rev. 20:7-10; Matt. 13:39-50; 25:46). [2] Resurrected people who have part in the first resurrection will be the eternal rulers of the eternal generations of natural people (Rev. 20:4). The resurrected people will not marry or give in marriage (Matt. 22:30); but the natural people who are alive at the second coming and who are permitted to be subjects of the eternal kingdom will marry, have children, and carry out the natural program as God intended when He created Adam. They will live forever by virtue of the tree of life (Rev. 22:1-2), not by virtue of a resurrection and a change from mortality to immortality as with glorified saints (1Cor. 15:51-58; Php. 3:21).

The Way of the Lord

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Proverbs 10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 

‘The way of the LORD is strength to the upright.’ The righteous are constantly renewed in strength (2Cor. 4:16), but sudden destruction will come to the wicked (29:1). The outward man is slowly dying through trials and sufferings, but the inward man is being renewed daily.

Many complain that the way of the Lord was not equal and just, for how could a righteous man who had lived in righteousness many years become a sinner again and die because of sin? Why should he not continue to live if he had lived more in righteousness than in sin? Why would he not be rewarded for his many righteous deeds? Why should he die for committing only one sin? God took issue with this kind of reasoning and plainly revealed the fact that sin is sin wherever it is found and in whomsoever it is found. It is a deadly thing that will damn the soul. One sin is sufficient to kill; he who sins incurs the death penalty regardless of all else in his life; and one sin will damn a righteous man as quickly as a wicked man. Every soul that sins will die; but no one needs to die through sin, for all are privileged to be made alive again upon meeting certain conditions of getting rid of sin. The sole responsibility of death or life is with the individual, not with God; He only blesses or curses all alike upon meeting the conditions of life or death. Here, God maintained His ways are equal because He deals with all alike, without respect of persons. The ways of man are unequal because of expecting justice when injustice has been done, expecting righteousness when sin has been committed, and expecting life when one kills himself by sin.

‘But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.’ Four examples of sudden destruction: are Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1-38). Pharoah and his army (Ex. 14:19-31). Saul (1Chr. 10:13-14). Jeroboam (1Kin. 14:7-11).

Hope vs Expectation

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Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. 

‘The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.’ The hope of the righteous will be realized, but that of the wicked will not. The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope (1Tim. 1:1).

Eight Christian hopes are given in the New Testament: Salvation (Rom. 8:20-25; 15:4, 13; 1Thess. 5:8; 2Thess. 2:16; 1Pet. 1:1-25); righteousness (Gal. 5:5); God’s calling (Eph. 1:18; 4:4); our eternal inheritance (Col. 1:5; Eph. 1:11-18; Heb. 9:15; 1Pet. 1:4); God’s glory (Rom. 5:1-5; Col. 1:27); the resurrection (Acts 23:6; 24:15; 1Thess. 4:13; Tit. 2:13; 1Jn. 3:3); eternal life (1Cor. 13:13; 15:19; Eph. 2:12; Col. 1:23; Tit. 1:2; 3:7; Heb. 3:6; 6:11, 18, 19; 7:19; 1Pet. 1:3-13); converts in the presence of Jesus (1Thess. 2:19).

‘Gladness’ – Four examples of joy in hope: Abraham (Rom. 4:18-20); Joseph (Ps. 105:17-21); Hezekiah (Ps. 126:1-6); Daniel (Dan. 6:10).

‘Expectation of the wicked shall perish.’ Four examples of perishing expectation: Goliath (1Sam. 17:44-51); Athaliah (2Kin. 11:1-16); Sennacherib (2Kin. 19:23, 37); Herod (Matt. 2:16).

Prolonged Days

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Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 

‘The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.’ The fear of God promotes righteousness and long life, but wickedness shortens life as stated in Proverbs 11:19, righteousness promotes health and long life (Ps. 34:12-15; 91:1-16; 1Pet. 3:10-11), but wickedness shortens life (11:19).

There are eighteen revelations stated in Scripture of a long life: Freedom from fear (Ps. 34:4). Quickening from God (Ps. 34:5). Boldness – freedom from shame. Freedom from troubles (Ps. 34:6). Divine deliverance (Ps. 34:7). Partaking of God’s life (Ps. 34:8). Absolute trust in God. Fear of God (Ps. 34:7-9). Freedom from want (Ps. 34:9-10). Seeking God first (Ps. 34:10, 15; Matt. 6:33). Godly teaching (Ps. 34:11; 2Tim. 3:15). Control of the tongue (Ps. 34:12-13). Godliness – departing from evil (Ps. 34:14-16). Consecration to doing good (Ps. 34:14). Seeking and pursuing peace. Brokenness and humility (Ps. 34:18). Salvation of the soul (Ps. 34:22). Prosperity – freedom from worry.

One of the blessings of obedience is long life (Deut. 4:1, 4, 10, 40) thus disobedience shortens your life. There are many conditions of long life: Live free from idolatry (Deut. 4:25-26). Keep the commandments (Deut. 4:40; 6:2; 11:8-9; 32:46-47; Matthew 5 – 7). Honour one’s parents (Deut. 5:16; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:2). Teach children God’s Word (Deut. 11:19-21). Walk in God’s ways (Deut. 5:33). Fear God (Deut. 6:2; Pro. 10:27; Eccl. 8:13). Humility and obedience (Deut. 17:20). Kindness to animals (Deut. 22:6-7). Faithfulness to God (Deut. 30:18). Having understanding and knowledge (Pro. 28:2). Hatred of covetousness (Pro. 28:16). Read His Word and learn to fear God and obey His will (Deut. 17:19-20; Rom. 1:5; 10:17). Have perfect and just weights and measures – be honest (Deut. 25:15). Love and obey God (Deut. 20:15-20). Set the heart on obedience to God and His Word (Deut. 32:44-47).

The Sluggard

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Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him. 

‘As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.’ As vinegar sets the teeth on edge and as smoke irritates the eyes, so the sluggard hurts and grieves those who send him.

There are eighteen facts about the slothful: They are unteachable, careless, and indifferent (6:6-9). They love excessive sleep (9:9; 19:15; 24:33). They are irritating to others (10:26). They are servants to others (12:24). They are too lazy to cook food (12:27). They are wishful thinkers (13:4; 24:34). They have a life full of troubles (15:19). They are great wasters (18:9). They are lazy (19:24; 24:30-34; 26:14-15). They refuse to work (20:4; 21:25). They make the most senseless excuses for their laziness (22:13; 26:13). They are void of understanding (24:30). They permit property to ruin (24:31-34; Eccl. 10:18). They are too lazy to move themselves (26:14). They are conceited (26:16). They are unfaithful to trust (Matt. 25:26). They are unbelievers (Heb. 6:12). They lack business ability (Rom. 12:11).

The Wicked vs. the Righteous

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Proverbs 10:25 As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. 

‘As the whirlwind passes, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.’ As a tornado sweeps away everything in its path, so the wrath of God will destroy the wicked (Ps. 145:20). The righteous will never be moved by the wrath of God (Ps. 125:1).

Because the wicked refuse righteousness they will be destroyed by the methods they used to destroy others (21:7) and by the wrath of god. The wrath of God is revealed in the gospel as part of God’s righteousness The phrase ‘wrath of God’ is found ten times in Scripture (Rom. 1:18; Ps. 78:31; John 3:36; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6; Rev. 14:10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1).

God’s wrath is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In Romans 1:18-32 Paul proves the utter ungodliness of the Gentile world and its deserving God’s wrath. In Romans 2:1-3:8 he proves that the Jews are also ungodly and deserving of God’s wrath. In Romans 3:9-20 he sums up the case of both Jews and Gentiles, proving the whole world guilty.

‘The righteous is an everlasting foundation.’ Twelve characteristics of the righteous: They walk uprightly – without blame (Ps. 15:2). They work righteousness. They speak truth inwardly. They be free from backbiting (Ps. 15:3). They do no evil to neighbours. They receive no reproach about neighbours. They hold vile people condemned (Ps. 15:4). They honour them that fear the Lord. They keep their word even to their own hurt. They take no advantage of one in need to increase riches (Ps. 15:5). They refuse bribes. They protect the innocent.

Fear

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Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted. 

‘The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him.’ The wicked will reap what he has feared (11:27; Isa. 66:4; Gal. 6:7-8). The warning of whatever we fear shall come over us is clear from Job 3:25: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Christians should never allow any form of fear to enter their thoughts as this will cause them to fall away from God’s grace (2Tim. 1:7; 1Jn. 4:18).

‘But the desire of the righteous shall be granted.’ Four examples of righteous desire granted: Hannah (1Sam. 1:20); Esther (Est. 4:16; 8:15-17); Daniel ( Dan. 2:18-23; 9:1-23; 10:1-21); Simeon (Luke 2:25-30).

To Do Mischief

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Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding has wisdom. 

‘It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding has wisdom.’ Iniquity is as sport to a fool, but a man of understanding hates sin. He that seeks the good of others gains their favour, but he that seeks their harm shall reap it himself (11:27; Matt. 7:12; Gal. 6:7-8). The law of sowing and reaping is unfailing and unchangeable (Gen. 1:11-12, 21, 24-25, 29).

‘To do mischief’ – mischief is the Hebrew word zimmah, wicked thought or device (Ps. 26:10; 119:150; Pro. 10:23). The wicked man continually conceives deceit and mischief, which lead to nothing but vanity (Job 15:35). He that has a stubborn heart finds no good, and he that has a deceitful and unmanageable tongue falls into evil (17:20).