Tag: Proverbs

In Every Place

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Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 

‘The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.’ Man’s heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). God alone knows the heart because He searches it and tries the reins (kidneys) to distribute rewards according to the ways and doings of each man. God sees through our choices, attitudes and doings what the intents of our hearts are, and He will reward us accordingly.

Three examples of God seeing evil: Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-24); Achan and his sin (Jos. 7:1-26), and Belshazzar (Dan. 5:1-31).

Three examples of God seeing good: are Abraham (Gen. 22:1-24), Joseph (Gen. 39:1-23), and Jesus Christ (Acts 10:38).

The Tongue

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Proverbs 15:2, 4, 7 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish does not so. 

‘The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.’ A wise man uses knowledge rightly, but a fool has no true sense of its proper use.

‘A wholesome tongue.’ A gentle tongue speaks truth and life, but a piercing tongue kills the soul.

‘Tree of life’ [Hebrew: ‛ets; chayiy], tree of lives, because it produces constant and eternal life (15:4; 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; Gen. 2:9; 3:24; Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14). In these passages, a literal tree of life is meant.

Sixteen sources of Life: The tree of Life (15:4; 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; Gen. 2:9; 3:24; Rev. 2:7; 22:2, 14). The path of life (Ps. 16:11; Pro. 5:6). The fountain of life (Ps. 36:9; Pro. 13:14; 14:27; Rev. 7:17). The well of life (10:11; John 4:14). The way of life (10:17; 15:24). The wellspring of life (16:22). The bread of life (John 6:35). The ways of life (Acts 2:28). The Prince of Life (Acts 3:15). The Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2; Rev. 11:1-19). The savour of life (2Cor. 2:16). The Word of Life (Php. 2:16; 1Jn. 1:1-10). The promise of life (2Tim. 1:1). The hope of life (Tit. 3:7). The grace of life (1Pet. 3:7). The water of life (Rev. 22:1; 17).

Four figurative Trees of Life: Wisdom and understanding (3:18), the fruit of the righteous (11:30), hope and desire fulfilled (13:12), and a wholesome tongue (15:4).

‘The lips of the wise.’ It is in the heart of the wise to spread knowledge, but not so with fools.

Turns Away Wrath

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Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 

‘A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.’ Gentleness will disarm the most furious, but angry words will produce wrath.

The Holy Spirit can be recognized in one’s life by the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Gal. 5:22-23). It will lead to freedom from faultfinding, surmising, whispering, and slander; and freedom from all the works of the flesh listed in Mark 7:19-21; Romans 1:24-32; 1Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21 and Colossians 3:5-10. A Christ-like spirit of love, patience, and faith in God. Soberness and keenness of spirit vision. Deep humility of heart and meekness of spirit, with lion-like courage against sin, sickness, poverty, disease, discouragement, failure, and everything else causing defeat in the Christian life. Absolute clearness of the mental faculties and intelligent action in carrying out Biblical instructions concerning known duty and personal life as a Christian.

‘Soft answer turns away wrath.’ Five examples of turning away wrath: Aaron (Lev. 10:16-20); Reubenites (Jos. 22:15-34); Gideon (Jdg. 8:1-3; Pro. 15:18); Hannah (1Sam. 1:15-17); and Abigail (1Sam. 25:23).

‘But grievous words stir up anger.’ Five examples of grievous words: The Ephraimites (Jdg. 12:1-4); Men of Israel and Judah (2Sam. 19:41); Saul and Jonathan (1Sam. 20:30-34); Rehoboam (2Chr. 10:13-16); and Eliphaz (Job 22:5).

Righteousness

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Proverbs 14:34-35 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame. 

‘Righteousness exalts a nation.’ This has been true of Israel at different times (Deut. 4:6; Jos. 1:8; 10:42; 23:14).

‘But sin is a reproach to any people.’ Seven examples of sin being a reproach: Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:1-38); Canaanites (Lev. 18:24-30); Egypt (Ex. 12:12; Ezek. 29:1-15); Amalekites (Ex. 17:16; 1Sam. 15:1-35); Babylon (Isa. 14:4-23; 47:6-15); Tyre (Isa. 23:1-9; Ezek. 28:2-8) and Nineveh (Zeph. 2:13-15).

Genesis 13:13 states that the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. God couldn’t tolerate their sin. He judged these sodomite cities as a lesson to others and condemned those who followed their example, rewarding them with eternal hell (Gen. 18:20; 19:5, 13; Isa. 3:9; Rom. 1:18-32; 2Pet. 2:1-22; Jude 1:7-19).

All the nations of Canaan practised abominable customs (Lev. 18:24, 27-30) and for such sins they were destroyed as predicted, and their land was given to Israel (Lev. 18:24-30).

Egypt’s firstborns of man and beast were slaughtered (Ex. 12:12) because of the gods they served. When any idolatrous nation was destroyed, the blame fell on the gods who either abandoned the nation or were overcome by stronger gods (Isa. 37:6-13). Each of the ten plagues was aimed at the gods of Egypt.

In Exodus 17:16, we see that the LORD had sworn that He would have war with Amalek from generation to generation because they chose to be Israel’s enemies, as was the same for all other nations who made the God of Israel their enemies. 

‘The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.’ A wise servant will gain the favour of the king [leaders], but a foolish servant will incur his wrath.

Wisdom

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Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 

‘Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.’ A wise man does not display his wisdom, but a fool parades all he knows.

Blessed and happy are they who keep God’s ways, and whoever finds wisdom obtains favour or grace from the Lord (8:32-35). The one who rejects wisdom and sins does so to the damnation of his own soul (8:36). It is therefore not so much sin and satan, but the man himself who is responsible for his rejection or reception of wisdom, which leads to eternal life. If he receives the teaching of God, sin will not have dominion over him, and if he resists satan, the devil will flee from him (Jas. 4:7; Rom. 6:14-23; 8:12-13).

God will bring to nothing the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent (1Cor. 1:19), and the wisdom of the world will be exposed as foolishness (1Cor. 1:20). God’s least wisdom might be shown to excel man’s greatest (1Cor. 1:25).

Wicked vs Righteous

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Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death. 

‘The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death.’ The wicked have no hope in the harvest of their life of wickedness, but the righteous have hope of reaping life eternal (Gal. 6:7-8).

‘Driven away in his wickedness.’ Seven examples of destruction through sin: Dathan (Num. 16:33); Israel (Ex. 32:28; 1Cor. 10:1-11); Balaam (Num. 31:8-10; Rev. 2:14); Canaanites (Deut. 9:5; Jos. 2:9; 5:1); Hophni and Phinehas (1Sam. 4:11); Baal’s prophets (1Kin. 18:40) and Belshazzar (Dan. 5:2-6, 30).

‘The righteous has hope in his death.’ Six examples of righteous hoping in death: Jacob (Gen. 49:18); Joseph (Gen. 50:24-25; Heb. 11:22); David (2Sam. 23:5; Ps. 17:15); Stephen (Acts 7:55-60); Paul (2Tim. 4:6-8) and Peter (2Pet. 1:14-16; 3:13).

His Maker

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Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honours him has mercy on the poor. 

‘He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honours him has mercy on the poor.’ Don’t oppress anyone who struggles; help them in ways that they can benefit from without trying to fix their circumstances, which is God’s first task for anyone who actually trusts in Him and doesn’t rely on others to fix their consequences.

God has always willed for His people to be free from poverty, weakness, and sickness, and enjoy an abundance of good things. All the patriarchs were healthy, wealthy, and wise. Abundant life for body, soul, and spirit is promised every man today in Christ (Matt. 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 10:10; 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26). It is God’s will that all His children prosper and be in health, even as their souls prosper (3Jn. 1:2; Ps. 1:3; 23:1; 34:9-10; 84:11).

‘Maker’ – An ancient title of God found here (17:5; Job 35:10; Isa. 17:7; 51:13; 54:5). It refers to God as Creator of all, whether weak or strong.

A Sound Heart

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Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 

‘A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.’ A strong heart has good blood circulation, producing health and longevity; but envy, jealousy, and passionate hatred produce corruption. This also leads to various bone diseases and is a cause of many curses in one’s life that entertain envy, jealousy and hatred.  Forgiving others and oneself for sins and wrongdoings is as necessary as breathing is to life. To live with a sound heart IS life to the flesh.

From 3John 1:2 we see the apostle utter a blessing for us to prosper and be in health, as our souls prosper. 

One of the blessings that are God’s will for His children is physical healing and health (3Jn. 1:2; Ex. 15:26; Ps. 91:1-16; 103:3; Isa. 53:4-5; 58:8; Matt. 8:17; 1Pet. 2:24; Jas. 5:14).

Two things the sick are to do (Jas. 5:14-15): Call an elder [an individual who has been saved, tested and tried] to anoint him; and confess sin if it has been committed.

Four things an elder must do for the sick: Pray over them (Jas. 5:14). Anoint the sick with oil. Invoke the name of the Lord. Pray the prayer of faith (Jas. 5:15).

Slow to Wrath

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Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly. 

‘He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalted folly.’ A wise man is slow to wrath, but a fool is hasty of spirit and magnifies folly.

‘But he that is hasty of spirit.’ Four examples of a hasty spirit: Rehoboam (1Kin. 12:1-33). Jehoram (2Kin. 5:7). Jonah (Jon. 4:8-9). Martha (Luke 10:40).

Man is advised to be “slow to wrath” (Jas. 1:19). Anyone slow to anger is “of great understanding” (14:29), “appeaseth strife” (15:18), and “is better than the mighty” (16:32).

There are seven commands to Christians: Be swift to hear (Jas. 1:19). Be slow to speak. Be slow to wrath. Lay aside all filthiness (Jas. 1:21). Lay aside all overflowing of wickedness. Receive the Word with meekness. Be doers of the Word (Jas. 1:22).

The Fear of the Lord

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Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. 

Four blessings of the fear of God: Strong confidence (14:26). A place of refuge – security. Eternal life (14:27). Holiness of life and conduct. To depart from evil through the fear of God is to obtain eternal life.

Seven examples of strong confidence: Abraham (Gen. 22:3-10; Heb. 11:19). David (1Sam. 30:6). Hezekiah (2Chr. 32:7-8, 22). Three Hebrew children (Dan. 3:17-27). Habakkuk (Hab. 3:17-19). Peter (Acts 12:6). Paul (2Tim. 4:6-8).

To fear the LORD thy God is not because of the dread of a vengeful Being ready to punish man for the least infraction of His law. Rather, it has to do with respect and reverence for God as Father and Benefactor. Men must learn to respect God as the Lawgiver and Judge, keeping in mind the justice of God as well as His mercy and longsuffering. No man can walk with Him safely who has lost the fear of God.

Feared God [Hebrew: yare’] to revere; be afraid of; to have deep respect for (Job 1:1; Ex. 9:20; 1Kin. 18:3; 2Kin. 17:32-34, 41). True religion in Scripture is often represented as the fear of God (Pro. 1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 14:26-27; Isa. 11:2; Acts 9:31).

Four things the fear of God is the hatred of: Evil, evil ways, arrogance and pride.