Heart Matters

Proverbs 16:1-11

1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.

4 The LORD has made all for Himself,
Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

5 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

6 In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.

7 When a man's ways please the LORD,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.

9 A man's heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.

10 Divination is on the lips of the king;
His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

11 Honest weights and scales are the LORD's;
All the weights in the bag are His work.

Heart matters show the heart matters to God above all else.  Though we prepare our hearts according to what fills our desires and follow our own reasoning of the mind (Jeremiah 10:23), God gives us the right words from above to speak righteously and well (Jeremiah 1:7, 9, Matthew 10:19).  Yes, we imagine that all the ways we plan and construct are perfect and right to our way of thinking and reasoning, but God tests our spirit to reveal the real intent of the heart and mind in each of us.  He knows us more than we believe and are so convinced that we do.  Our old nature needs new eyes for clear vision of where we stand and the path ahead as we walk with Him.  Therefore, we must hand over all we plan and do to the Lord so that He can establish our hearts right before His sight.  If we yield to His Spirit and word written on our hearts (which Solomon did not have yet because Christ had not come and left His Spirit in His people), then He will lead and guide (Psalm 31:3) us for His name’s sake.  This is because God has created His people for Himself, and even the evil ones according to His word and plan in His sovereignty (Romans 9:22-24).  There are those for destruction and those for mercy according to that eternal plan, a truth which we are most uncomfortable with.  He has made us all accountable and pours our mercy on His chosen people for Himself.  The unchecked pride of men deserves punishment and will certainly receive it if eternal amnesty is not given to atone once and for all for the vessels of mercy, because the wrath of God remains on the proud who deny and reject Him, His word, and His work in the Messiah for us.  Yes, God’s atonement to cover our sin and pay the price of eternal death is according to His mercy and truth according to His word of grace.  That understanding should lead us to repentance though God-given faith to fear that due punishment (Matthew 25:46, 1 John 4:17-18) and stop sinning.  If we then live to please God, even our enemies may be at peace as we show grace and peace to them (Romans 12:18).  In the end we find contentment in godliness is far better than unjust riches and seeking gain at the expense of others (1 Timothy 6:6).  Though we plan and map out our lives along the few years we have on this earth, it is essential that we acknowledge it is God who directs our steps so we can walk confidently by faith and not by our limited mortal vision (2 Corinthians 5:7).  If we are in positions of power to rule as God has placed us, then this should cause us to speak and act righteously and fairly to others as well.  God guides our steps in all walks of life, for this life is walked out accordingly to His plan and with our accountability.  These heart matters do matter, and wisdom leads us to acknowledge, understand, and apply them as we put one foot in front of another by His leading and guidance. 

The Instruction of Wisdom

Proverbs 15:18-33

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger allays contention.

19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,
But the way of the upright is a highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

24 The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below.

25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud,
But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD,
But the words of the pure are pleasant.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.

32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.

We all live under God’s omniscient watch to understand that the fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom.  There are many ways we learn that fear and follow or reject His good counsel of the scriptures in the second half of this chapter.  It begins by controlling our untethered anger so we can slow down contention instead of adding fuel to the fire, a difficult task we all struggle with in many ways.  Again we see the exhortation to then avoid the inaction of laziness and instead get moving down the road to lead the way with the actions and example of good works in response to God’s goodness to us, especially made more clear in the work of Christ to deliver us from God’s wrath.  If we are truly wise, this goodness we live is towards the order God has set, especially for our parents in bringing them joy, not foolishly hating them.  This is as true in grown men and women as it is for the child and adolescent.  If we do not gain understanding for the wisdom to discern things as we find to live according to His word, we find empty joy in our foolishness instead of walking towards holiness and righteousness as He leads us down the narrow road through the wicket gate and along our road of sanctification until that day.  This is difficult without good counsel of godly men who went before and alongside us, who lead the way by explaining the way of righteousness and life more clearly (Acts 18:26).  Our intent may be good, but if left unguided by the continuing discipleship of godly counsel, we can go astray quite easily.  Then as we grow in knowing and understanding, our wisdom develops in speaking good answers at the right times to help others growing as disciples.  This ministry brings us great joy and satisfaction in the counsel we receive and give.  This leads us all together from the former downward path to perdition we all started on, turning us upward to our Lord for His good pleasure, glory, and honor (Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 1:4-5, 2 Timothy 2:21, 1 Peter 1:7).  We also acknowledge that God will blast our pride and help those who humbly acknowledge their need for Him to understand and live wisely, for He loves good words from a pure heart and cannot abide wickedly sinful thinking, nor can He endure our greed for selfish gain (Philippians 3:7-8, 1 Timothy 6:5-6).  Therefore, we study to show ourselves approved to God by studying how to answer righteously (Titus 2:8) and not with corrupt speech, for God hears the righteous but does not answer those pursuing evil.  May our eyes be full of light and not darkness (Luke 1:34) to find joy in our hearts with spiritual healthiness.  To be wise, we listen and heed the rebukes we need.  If we despise good instruction, we only hate ourselves and fail to gain right understanding.  Fearing God is key to this all, learning from Him humbly in the yoke of grace and goodness with humility that leads to true honor.  Amen. 

God’s Omniscient Watch

Proverbs 15:1-17

1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But He loves him who follows righteousness.

10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.

11 Hell and Destruction are before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,
But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.

Here are examples of God’s omniscient watch over the evil and the good, those seeking to do righteousness and those living in opposition to His word.  He tests our hearts to discover which are loyal to Him (Psalm 7:9, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Job 24:23).  Here are ways the righteousness seekers walk in opposition to the disobedient ones, given for our instruction and remembrance.  Soft answers were needed over harsh ones, words wielded wisely are needed instead of spouting foolish and empty words (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 2:8).  God’s eyes are everywhere as He keeps watch over the evil and the good, choosing to intervene according to His plan in His time.  This is why many evil ones seem to have it good until the day of final judgment at Christ’s return to judge the living an dead, the good and wicked.  Therefore we are to be wise and understanding to watch our words to bring life in wholesome (medicinal or healing) speech, not twisted perverse words that only cause further spiritual illness and brokenness.  It is therefore foolish to ignore our godly fathers, natural or spiritual, who teach us the ways of truth according to His word.  It is wise and prudent to listen, learn, and apply the scriptures of wisdom to living instead.  True riches are found in pursuing the righteousness of holiness because God is holy and righteous; the wicked only earn trouble with their headlong defiance of what is good, as we see all around us.  Any temporary gain is soon lost to them as Asaph wrote in Psalm 73:3, 12, 17-19 for our comfort and edification.  Our speech should then spread that knowledge because the foolishness do not and will to do not in rebellious defiance to the Holy One.  God does not accept their abominations called offerings, but desires the living sacrifices of the righteous who follow Him.  God loves those who follow righteousness but the ways of evil persons in their pursuits are despicable to His holiness.  Only hard discipline to correct those wandering off the path of life can bring us back to that path of understanding and wisdom in applying those commands and principles to our lives.  If we despise or ignore His correction we face the end of the road.  Yes, those not following at all face He’ll and destruction, but we face an eternity in righteousness and peace in Christ on the road away from ruin.  It is unfortunate that the ungodly scoff at the saving truth and some despise His correction, for they miss the mark and the prize of the call to God in Christ (Philippians 3:14).  We who accept and love His truth have joy deep in our hearts and are not as those with broken hearts left unmended in sorrow for having denied Him.  If we have understanding then, we seek after the knowledge of God and our state in the scriptures, not feeding on the foolishness of the philosophies and reasoning against His word.  Yes, the evil suffer affliction of the soul while we who seek righteousness in His Word have a merry heart which always celebrates Him and our deliverance from this present evil age.  All the material wealth and passing pleasures of the world cannot ever compare to living in the fear and admonition of the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:11, Ephesians 6:).  It is infinitely better to dine in His love with only bitter herbs than feasting with hatred of God and men.  We consider God’s omniscient watch over us all and live to be God-pleasers instead. 

Confidence in the Fear of the Lord

Proverbs 14:26-35

26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king's honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king's favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Those who fear the LORD have a strong confidence in life and in death which those who love an unrighteous life do not possess.  There is refuge in fear and trust of God and in His mercy and grace for life by believing and acting on His word in the knowledge and understanding of wisdom.  That reverence of worship and submission in willful obedience brings a fountain of life (John 4:14), fully seen in His Spirit living in those who do His work as given in John 6:29.  This life turns us away from pursuing death as the justice and judgment we all deserve.  The more who recognize these truths, the more honor goes to the King of kings.  In the world, the ruler like a prince who has few subjects is their downfall, but with God we know many are called to come to Him, yet only a few are chosen to honor Him, a difficult truth for us to accept.  This is wisdom.  Just as the one quick to anger demonstrates his own foolishness, the one who has great understanding will consider all things before allowing anger to come out and deal with it wisely (James 1:19).  This is realizing that we cannot make God’s righteousness by our force or emotions, but by exercising wisdom in faith.  Having a heart kept pure in this knowledge gives life to these sinful hearts; exercising envy and jealousy against others is like cancer which eats us up inside.  This wisdom then cares for others, especially those suffering or in need.  Showing mercy on the needy honors God, for we are to give the grace, love, acceptance, and forgiveness given to us by Him in return.  The evil person refuses to honor God in these ways, demonstrating a lack of understanding and wisdom, and will be banished eternally in death, but the righteous in God have an eternal refuge in death.  Wisdom therefore is is understanding hearts who know God and His word, while the foolish only let out what bad they take in (Mark 7:20-23), observed in their speech and actions.  The righteousness we hold in Christ is a help to our nation where God put us as salt and light, but if we continue in sin we tarnish that name and witness.  Even the rulers of a land recognize the wisdom we live by and execute wrath in judgment on the shameful who give them a bad name (1 Timothy 2:1-2).  Our confidence is in the fear and trust of the Lord in our obedience of holiness. 

The Wise Shun Evil for Mercy and Truth

Proverbs 14:13-25

13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.

15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

A wise man shuns evil for mercy and truth to save the lives of his neighbor.  Sorrow may have laughter and even gladness can lead to grief afterwards, but wisdom still pursues the knowledge of what is true and shows mercy to the those in need.  The wise is always satisfied by all God gives from above and does not vainly attempt to live according to his own desires as the foolish backsliding heart would lead.  Then he gives that same grace of mercy in understanding that truth from above.  He does not just blindly believe what others tell him or what is popular or political to agree with, but considers carefully and prudently the steps to take in life based on the truth from God according to His word.  When the foolish rages against the world, the governing authorities, and what is good and right, he wallows in self-confidence without purpose or good.  The righteous, however, runs from evil when he encounters it in the fear of God and of His displeasure.  Yes, the quick-tempered fool has evil intent that is actually hated by others, even though he is tolerated; unfortunately, often the evil is even seen as better than what is right and good in this present evil age (Galatians 1:4).  We can rest assured, however, that the simple in understanding only inherit their own folly, while those seeking righteousness are crowned with the knowledge of good, of God.  In the final judgment, if not sooner, those pursuing evil and wickedness will be in subjection to the good and righteous.  Ultimately this means every knee will bow before the Righteous One, Jesus the Christ (Isaiah 45:23, Philippians 2:10-11, Romans 14:11-12).  Though the seekers of evil find riches to buy friends and the poor seem all alone and hated, wisdom leads us away from evil to bow before our Lord in obedience to love our neighbors and have mercy on the poor.  It is sin to hate or despise others, without exception, including leaders we disagree with.  Those making plots and plans without mercy and goodness go astray, but the wise and upright plan good for others in mercy and according to truth.  Therefore, our work should be to profit spiritually as well as materially, not gossiping and slandering others which makes us poor indeed in so many ways.  This crown of riches for the wise is the fruit of good labor and not foolishness leading to true poverty.  The truth in this understanding of wisdom saves lives (Psalm 126:5-6) when lived out against the deceit of liars who lead people astray from God and His gospel of the One wiser than Solomon.  Yes, the wise shun evil for mercy and truth as they have received from heaven. 

Wisdom of Right and Folly of Ignorance

Proverbs 14:1-12

1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

Here is much to do about nothing for the fool who says in his heart there is no God and lives in that ignorance (Psalm 14:1, 53:1).  The wise builds up instead of tearing down their life and livelihood, like the woman here building her house and the fool who pulls it to the ground, leaving nothing to live in anymore.  Wisdom knows the foundation is on God with understanding of that knowledge, while foolishness denies the facts and ruins what comes from His hand to us.  By living according to His word in that knowledge is fearing the LORD and living accordingly; living contrary to that knowledge is foolish perversion of the truth, leading the fool to mock and despise the wise (Jude 1:18).  We observe this in the world all around us, especially when we do what is good and right in God’s sight.  Pride is the fuel driving the fool’s mouth and the rod which beats them, where wisdom would have words which preserve life and godliness instead of pulling our house down.  Wisdom preserves life.  Yes, the fool thinks keeping the trough empty is easier, but there is no gain if it is not able to hold nourishment for the stock to live and multiply in strength.  It takes effort to feed and grow, for showing a clean exterior means there is no life or strength for living without that wisdom to put knowledge into practice.  Also the wise understand that faithfulness means truthfulness, while foolishness lies for temporary gain which ends badly.  The foolish also scoff and mock the wise as they cannot find wisdom in themselves or their lies apart from God’s word of understanding and wisdom.  The philosophy of men is a dead end without God’s truth (Colossians 2:8).  It is not wise in God’s eyes.  Those who are wise will seek out true wisdom and find it as they seek understanding.  Therefore, it is wise to avoid the foolish who continue in their folly of faux knowledge and wisdom in themselves when it is clear that they only desire their own words and ways.  They offer only deceptive ways leading into the barren wilderness, while wisdom seeks to understand God’s ways of righteousness and how to walk down its path towards the Celestial City.  Yes, fools will mock at the wise telling of sin and miss the grace of God in rejecting Him as the word and wisdom (John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30) of God.  Furthermore, the righteous know and understand their own bitterness of their sin which others cannot grasp outside their own, but have the assurance that God knows and forgives with eternal atonement to forgive to know the heart’s joy as well.  In the end when judgment comes on the world, the house of the wicked will fall (Matthew 7:26-27) but that of the righteous in Christ (the wisdom of God) will stand firm and flourish forever (Matthew 7:24-25).  Then we will all know the full wisdom of understanding that the way which seems right to us only ends in death (Romans 6:21, Galatians 6:8), while God’s way of righteousness and truth for life is wisdom indeed!  This is the wisdom of right and the folly of willful ignorance and rejection of God’s instruction. 

Godly Discipline of Disciple-Making

Proverbs 13:18-25

18 Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction,
But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners,
But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
And for lack of justice there is waste.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,
But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

These seemingly small bits of wisdom are each quite large in application; the contrast of the righteous way and the way of the one who chooses to ignore God’s word for understanding is spelled out for us.  If we ignore or even look down with a sneering gaze at godly correction, the discipline of the Lord, it will result in shame and poverty of the soul and in living.  If we choose instead to endure the pain of discipline (Hebrews 12:11), the process will bring us honor before God, as well as honoring Him.  If we are rebuked accordingly to His word it will bring a greater understanding which makes us wise.  Then when we desire something in alignment with His will we find it a sweet accomplishment to our souls instead of the abominations of evil against His word and the consequences of disobedience.  How can we do this?  One way given here is to walk with wise men, to come alongside for discipleship of learning and living.  If we choose to go on living with fools instead, destruction is the only thing learned as a painful lesson.  Yes, those who run after evil which is contrary to the word of the Lord will be themselves chased down by evil, but good from God will be given to those pursuing righteousness.  Though we are saved entirely by grace and have not earned salvation from eternal judgment by doing enough good, we are called to work out our salvation’s sanctification by pursing righteousness in our hearts, minds, and actions lived out.  This knowledge and the discipline required are what we give to our children (natural and spiritual) as an inheritance in Christ.  Even the sinner’s wealth they gather will be given to God’s righteous or holy ones, the saints, in the end.  Some may waste this food which nourishes the soul by not cultivating it, and without justice it is wasted instead of rightly given to those in need, both naturally and spiritually.  This discipline then for natural children is required to set a straight path for their feet to keep them away from harm.  It is also to be applied without long deliberation or hesitation if it is to be effective.  This applies to spiritual children in making disciples as we teach them all things Jesus said (Matthew 28:20, Colossians 1:28, 2 Timothy 2:2), keeping short accounts of sin and directing the lives to follow Him.  We teach to feed the soul and not the natural man’s possessions or accomplishments.  Eating of God’s word (Jeremiah 15:16) is to be nourished as the driving desire of living to be God pleasers.  The alternative of following after the evil of the world is starvation of the soul.  This is the godly discipline of making disciples. 

Proud Messengers or Faithful Ambassadors

Proverbs 13:10-17

10 By pride comes nothing but strife,
But with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,
But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding gains favor,
But the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool lays open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
But a faithful ambassador brings health.

The proud only stir up conflict and reap adversity; the wise seek to be well advised with godly counsel from His word and faithful ambassadors of the truth (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Dishonest gain is the unwise rule of the unfaithful whose pride images they are entitled to everything they can take from others by any means, a most unwise path to take without the knowledge of retribution or accountability.  Those who are wise bring truth and live truthfully, working with their own hands  (1 Thessalonians 4:11) for gain, never at another’s expense or labor.  Yes, the hope which the wise possess can sometimes seem to weight down the heart to the point of feeling sick in anticipation, but hope realizes that the desire will be fulfilled in the prearranged time.  That hope brings life, eternal for the believers as we realize the desire of nations is returning to make that hope an eternal reality at the end of time (Romans 5:1, 5, Hebrews 6:18-19, 1 Peter 1:13).  But those whose pride causes them to despise God’s word will suffer destruction of hope and an eternity of suffering.  In contrast, the righteous who fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13) will be crowned with rewards (1 Corinthians 9:25, James 1:12, 1 Corinthians 3:8) as ones who served their Lord and Master well. His word is the fountain of eternal life which guides us to the path away from the snares of prideful ignorance of the knowledge and wisdom of God’s word and will.  Good understanding therefore gains good favor for our sanctification as God works in us.  If we are wise and understanding, we will act on that knowledge given us and not foolishly as the unwise.  As faithful ambassadors of the truth for understanding and wisdom, we avoid the troubles of the evil and unwise who are messengers of pride.  May we run the race set before us in knowledge and wisdom according to His word.  Amen. 

Learning Wisdom and Righteousness

Proverbs 13:1-9

1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth,
But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,
But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

5 A righteous man hates lying,
But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches,
But the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

Learning wisdom and righteousness begin with being teachable; only scoffers ignore correction and are therefore not understanding or wise due to lack of knowledge which they could have from God’s word.  We eat of our words and the fruit which they bear, either in faithfulness to the truth or in violent resistance of unfaithfulness against what knowledge and understanding that God offers to the humble who are willing to hear and learn.  We must therefore guard our mouth and the words which originate in our hearts by God’s work in us (Psalm 141:3, Matthew 15:16-18) as we learn to become wise.  Guarding our words keeps us, while lack of control in our speech only brings ruin to the speaker and sometimes the hearers.  Diligent oversight is required in our words to find the riches of living, while the lazy are unguarded and gain nothing by letting the corrupt speech come out unfiltered and without the restraint of self control for the sake of righteousness as God-pleasers.  This is why a righteous man or woman hates lying, but why the wicked make it a sport as they make themselves hated and bring shame on themselves and their reputation among all.  If we walk in the direction of righteousness to learn and become wise in living out that knowledge with understanding, we are blameless before God (assuming we keep on repenting as we sin less).  If we instead live without understanding and righteousness, that sin will eventually overthrow us, so why not instead turn and live (Ezekiel 33:11)?  To be truly rich then is in our poverty of material possessions and the heart strings tied to them, knowing that knowledge of God and His word through willing obedience is lasting wealth.  The poor in heart, the humble and God-reliant, these are rich in heavenly treasure (Matthew 5:8); it is His Word which ransoms our souls from death and judgment.  Yes, our light in Christ’s righteousness gives us exceedingly great joy that the unwise and evil person cannot enjoy unless they come to that Light of the world, the one with wisdom greater than Solomon who penned these wise words.  May we all learn wisdom and understanding for righteousness through and in Him! 

Speaking Truth in the Way of Righteousness

Proverbs 12:17-28

17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man's precious possession.

28 In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

These verses speak of truth in the way of righteousness.  Truth tells of righteousness, whereas lies speak deceit as of a forked tongue of the father of lies (John 8:44).  Yes, the truth leads to health even if it initially hurts, but the lies are painful as a deep wound not easily or quickly healed.  Harsh words cut like the sword, but our truth spoken in love is more like skillful surgery for healing (1 Thessalonians 2:5, 11-12, 2 Timothy 4:2).  Righteousness is not found in flattering words, but with truth spoken in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Truth and it’s speakers endure, but lies and liars come to an end, having only momentary audiences, and no lasting good fruit.  We are therefore to be counselors of peace, not planners of evil intent for our own pleasure or supposed gain as the world does under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19).  Righteousness in truth brings real and lasting joy.  While God delivers the righteous from trouble or through it, the evil only appear to avoid it outwardly for a while, but answer for it in eternity, which is a warning and a hope.  God hates lies as abominations, but honors truth we speak and delights in its speakers.  Sometimes therefore wisdom has us hold back some knowledge as pearls unfasten before swine, knowing the adversarial response that would come a Paul warned his beloved son in the faith in 2 Timothy 4:14-15 concerning Alexander.  Foolish men walk over all to make their knowledge known as deceit and as a torrent of foolishness instead of from God’s word of knowledge and real understanding.  More is found here, like pursuing diligence instead laziness and avoiding anxiety by good and comforting words of truth instead.  Yes, the effect of choosing unrighteous friends corrupts the righteous who pursue truth (1 Corinthians 15:33), leading them astray from God’s principles and commands to serve false knowledge, which is not wise or true.  Keep to the path God sets before you and don’t be led off the right and narrow way!  Our diligence in pursuing knowledge and truth for understanding of righteousness is a precious possession.  This way of righteousness is life.  Death is swallowed up in life given by God in the righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 15:54-55), so we run the race towards that prize of His heavenly call in Him along the path of holiness and true righteousness in response, avoiding the influences which pull us away.  Amen. 

Wisdom is Teachable, Fools Reject Counsel

Proverbs 12:1-16 

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
But he who hates correction is stupid.

2 A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.
3 A man is not established by wickedness,
But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

4 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood,"
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

9 Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the righteous will come through trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the recompense of a man's hands will be rendered to him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

To have wisdom is to be teachable by God through His word and ministers of it; it is foolishness to be right only in your own eyes!  If you love His teaching it is because you treasure the knowledge wisdom is founded upon, while those hating godly instruction are brutishly senseless as it says here (בַּעַר ḇa‘ar), senseless in their self-imposed ignorance.  Those seeking understanding to become wise in God’s eyes set done good roots which gains God’s  favor.  Those with evil intentions will not be established, but rather condemned in the end.  John 3:18 makes this more clear by explaining how those who refuse the instruction of God’s Son as the work of righteousness to deliver them will be condemned forever.  Those believing do the work of righteousness to life (John 6:29).  The roles we are given can bring shame when not lived out in wisdom, such as the example of a wife given in verse 4 of this chapter.  This wisdom begins in our thoughts and comes out in such actions with understanding or in ignorance by the ill choice of a corrupted will from the fall.  The deceit of the world who reject wisdom leads to bad counsel to be avoided, but the upright in God give helpful advice to deliver from the harm intended by the wicked who are out for gain at other’s expense.  But we know in the end that the evil ones will be overthrown and the wise righteous one’s house will stand because it is founded on the Rock as a sure foundation.  Christ is God’s living Word, and as God’s wisdom we find no other name to build on which lasts (1 Corinthians 3:11).  Those who only honor themselves and refuse the solid foundation of this wisdom end up constructing a house on shifting sand that will fall in times of trouble.  They show cruelty and disregard for all God’s creatures, and do not plan for the future with wisdom and consideration for others whom God created, but live frivolously and seek evil rewards to show their lack of understanding.  That is not wise.  Their words will judge them in the end as a snare captures the unsuspecting animal, but those with understanding and wisdom are satisfied with God’s provision and providence, and find reward in their words which honor Him and His creations.  Yes, the fool thinks that his own way is right and shows it with extreme anger against God, His word, and His people.  Those with understanding are prudent and teachable, covering shame in grace.  May we always be wise and teachable, not rejecting good and godly counsel to gain understanding. 

Contrast of the Righteous and Wicked Part 3

Proverbs 11:16-31

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.

25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

More contrasts between the righteous and the wicked reveal what pleases God and what is abhorrent to Him.  These aspects of understanding lead to wisdom to help us choose and do what is right in God’s eyes and not man’s distorted vision.  It begins with showing grace to store up honor instead of storing up bigger barns of riches (Luke 12:18, 20-21, 34) as the shortsighted ruthless ones.  Eternal riches in the heavens are the only ones which remain in the end.  Cruel people who walk over others to gain that material wealth only bring trouble on themselves, while the merciful obtain mercy themselves (Psalm 18:25, Matthew 5:7).  What do we sow in life?  The wicked sow through deceit and run after evil works contrary to God’s word and suffer the consequences; the upright in heart aim their lives in the direction of God by sowing the righteousness and mercy shown them, and the reward does not fade away (1 Peter 1:4).  One path leads to eternal death, the other to eternal life.  God looks at the hearts of men and women to test us and see (1 Chronicles 29:17, 2 Chronicles 16:9) if we walk with Him as blamelessly as we can.  Those whose hearts are completely His, men and women after God’s own heart, these are His delight and inheritance.  No matter how many wicked gather together and pass laws to push unrighteousness and perversion of God’s commands, He will punish them in the end if they refuse to repent in their abominations.  God is certainly never mocked by them, but He is honored by those following by the grace and righteousness found in Christ alone.  Discretion then is needed, but is not fitting in those who continue in sin.  Those who desire and live to please God find good, while the wrath of God remains on (John 3:18-19) those who continue to live contrary to God’s word and refuse His work (John 6:29) of grace and mercy for their deliverance from what is due to us all (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  God brings good from our faithfulness to Him, even though we fail, because our hearts are set on following and repenting along the way.  Those not even trying are unable to apart from Him in them, and they only find themselves impoverished as they refuse to serve others.  In contrast, those serving others find increase from God as He waters their lives.  By our generosity we find blessings in that sacrificial love; as we seek out good in this wisdom, we find His love and favor of grace instead of cursing and troubles.  Therefore, we do not trust in crumbling riches but in His righteousness in which we rest and walk out in response.  Yes, those opposed to God’s wisdom and who lack understanding will only inherit the tenuous wind and lose all as leaves falling from trees, while the righteous flourish and increase.  These fruits of righteousness are a tree of life, especially when we share the good news and win souls to God through Christ (Psalm 126:5-6)!  This is wisdom, living and telling the gospel.  Yes, recompense comes to us all, either for good or evil.  Is the reward eternal for is because we are found to be righteous, or does it bring only passing pleasure without a certain hope of the ungodly sinner?  Understanding these things is the foundation of wisdom; scoffing in defiance of them or ignoring them is eternal folly.  May they turn their evil around and live, for the word evil spelled backwards is live. 

Contrast of the Righteous and Wicked Part 2

Proverbs 11:1-15

1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates being surety is secure.

This continues the contrast of the righteous and the wicked.  It begins with honesty in place of deception for personal gain as illustrated by altering weights for measurement to sell others less than it appears when weighed.  It is deceptive sales tactics to gain more money by misrepresenting the true amount, with the effect of leaning on a bathroom scale while someone weighs themselves to make them think they have more than they really do (Deuteronomy 25:13-15).  Pride and humility then are addressed, for the humble alone learn true wisdom in their honesty and in confession when they are dishonest.  The proud have only boasting in what material gains they acquire, and they it dishonesty in stealing from others leads to shame when they are eventually exposed (John 3:20-21, Ephesians 5:13).  The hallmark of the righteous is integrity, doing what is just, right, and fair even when only God sees you.  The smear on the unfaithful is their perverse nature to deal crookedly without any sense of justice or fairness, only personal gain at any expense.  That is the opposite of integrity to believe that darkness hides their deception, for they refuse to acknowledge that God sees all and that we are all accountable to Him according to His word.  Those ill gotten gains are of no eternal value when facing the final judgment, but the righteous acts of humble sincerity are deliverance from judgment when that righteousness is Christ’s as the motivator.  That righteousness guides us along the right path through the narrow gate while the unrighteous and unrepentant stumble and fall in the broad path they run down (Matthew 7:13-14).  This righteousness we live and walk in delivers us, while the misplaced desires of the unrighteous have consequences of their own trap they lay.  In the end when the wicked dies, his expectations of gain perish with his life and the unjust who cheated others loses all hope for eternity.  The judgment falls on the unrighteous while the righteous in Christ are saved from the trouble and anguish of adversity.  The righteous man then pursues knowledge for wisdom to do right in following God, while the hypocrisy of the unrighteous seeks to throw all the blame on others to misdirect his own selfish wrongdoing against them.  Not always, but often the public will cheer on the ones doing right while celebrating when the wicked are taken away, either to prison or death.  Even so, the slander and lies of the wicked can overthrow the blessings which the upright bring in doing good to them.  Lies can shift public opinion against what is good for all at their own expense.  Understanding leads us to hold our peace in conflict (Romans 12:18, Hebrews 12:14) while those without knowledge and wisdom only hate their neighbors.  We are instead called to love our neighbors, even when they are enemies, praying for them to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1, 4).  This means avoiding gossip, not sharing personal or embarrassing truths (or making assumptions which are not true) about others.  If we are faithful to God who does not expose everything we do to everyone, we follow His example of grace and love in return.  All this means we seek godly counsel to hone our knowledge and build wisdom, for we all fail in different ways and need encouragement and rebuke for our good.  This also means safe counsel from more than one source to ensure it is rightly for God, for we all fail in many ways, including those who give that advice and guidance.  The final piece of godly counsel from this half of the chapter speaks of not being surety for another to avoid suffering, that is not taking their responsibility for misdeeds on ourselves (Galatians 6:1-2, 5) as if we are a mortgage on their lives.  Only Christ can stand between man and God as our Mediator.  These are contrasts of the righteous and the wicked to build our knowledge and feed our wisdom. 

Contrast of the Righteous and Wicked Part 1

Proverbs 10:17-32

17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.

18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips,
And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,
And the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy man to those who send him.

27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous will be gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of the LORD is strength for the upright,
But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous will never be removed,
But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

The ways of the righteous and the wicked lead to very different destinations.  Many of them are spelled out in the second half of this chapter of Proverbs to show the contrast of the righteous who seek to do according to His word and the wicked who deny and defy the Lord.  The righteous listen to God’s way to live and follow Him; the wicked refuse to be corrected by God’s word and wander away from Him.  The right path always begins with listening and hearing the scriptures to be moved to follow God’s way.  The wicked pretend not to lie as they slander others, especially the righteous, for they are the true hypocrites who hide behind the mask of sincerity with underlying insincerity.  They accuse the sincere ones who walk the path of righteousness as they excuse their own unrighteousness.  Wisdom teaches us to number our words, but the foolish spew a torrent of crafty speech exposing sin as they pour out what is in their hearts (Matthew 12:34-35, Luke 6:45).  This is why the tongue of the righteous’ heart is pure like silver but the heart of the wicked is of little worth before God.  The good words of righteousness help others as the foolish wickedly harm others and even themselves in their dearth of wisdom.  God’s blessings come to those listening to Him and are rewarded with true riches and not with sorrow as those refusing Him (Psalm 37:22).  The foolish imagine doing evil to others is some kind of sport to amuse themselves at the expense of others, while the righteous with understanding find wisdom in seeking the good of others (1 Corinthians 10:24).  We are called to serve like Jesus and not to seek for others to serve our own desires at their expense (Mark 10:45).  This is godly wisdom.  God will grant us heartfelt desires and supply what we need, but the foolishly wicked will face their own fears, especially when confronted with their own death.  We have an everlasting foundation (Luke 6:48) which the wicked do not understand; the storms come and we alone are left standing in the aftermath (Matthew 7:24-25 vs. Matthew 7:26-27).  In 2 Timothy 2:19 we are reminded that our foundation is the solid rock of Christ on whom we stand, and as such we are to flee from the sin and evil of the foolish.  Let them be our example (1 Corinthians 10:11-13) to avoid those things.  Other warnings here are against laziness because those are irritants to others relying on them, and against the wicked who have no fear of God while the righteous are kept in His hand.  Our hope then is gladness in following the Lord, something those pursuing the path of unrighteousness never find; their only expectation is destruction in the end, if not sooner.  God’s way is our strength, for He Himself is the way we travel (John 14:6).  Yes, we will inhabit the new earth in the Celestial City, and cannot lose or abrogate our position in His mighty hands which keep us forever in the salvation freely given.  We find our righteousness in Christ and follow His words in the understanding of wisdom to depart from sin and live for Him.  When we speak of these things to others (which is the gospel), wisdom is imparted to the hearers whose ears are opened by God.  The lies of the perverse will not stand for long, and only the wicked pay attention to heed and follow that path to destruction (Matthew 7:13).  We know what is acceptable and pleasing to speak in God’s hearing, not the perverse words of the ungodly following the word instead of the word (Ephesians 5:4, 6-7).  This is wisdom in the contrast of the righteous and the wicked. 

The Wisdom of Solomon

Proverbs 10:1-16 

1 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3 The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish,
But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart will receive commands,
But a prating fool will fall.
9 He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,
But a prating fool will fall.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
14 Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,
The wages of the wicked to sin.

The wisdom of Solomon was treasured by all, yet there is one greater than he, Jesus the Christ (Luke 11:31).  The wisdom here is still practical and spiritually nourishing, for it is God’s word as revealed before the Messiah brought the fullness of meaning to all the scriptures.  The wisdom of Solomon then is a foundation from God for His further explanations from the mouth of Christ and His apostles. Here are some things we learn from the first half of this chapter of Proverbs from Solomon then.  The first thing to know is to learn to be wise to bring gladness to our fathers and not let our foolishness grieve our mothers, for our fathers look out for our welfare by their teaching and our mothers care for us deeply with their love and nurture.  If we lay up treasures of wicked endeavors, they bring no lasting profit to our souls (Matthew 6:19-20); righteousness lived out is our deliverance and crown of life (James 1:12).  Of course our only true righteousness for salvation is in Christ, yet we are to choose to live righteously as well because we are called to do so (Ephesians 2:8-10).  The Lord honors those doing righteousness, but takes away even the desires of those pursuing wickedness in opposition to His wisdom found in the scriptures.  Diligence is required in our living for Him, even to the point of working for a living, for “if a man does not work, neither shall he eat,” as it is written.  Gathering in a harvest is part of that work, especially beyond food to eat as the gospel needs to be preached (Luke 10:1-2, Matthew 9:35, 37-38).  We are wise to gather while the harvest is ripe, but foolish if we sleep through it and do not labor for the eternal souls of the lost, just as we will starve if we do not harvest the wheat to eat.  The blessings then are for those working righteousness who are remembered for their impact on others, while the damage done by the wicked is remembered as worthless.  If we are wise and understanding, we will hear and heed God’s commands instead of reasoning it all away to serve ourselves as the fool does.  This means we walk with purpose and integrity to be known for what is good and godly, unlike the world in this present darkness (Galatians 1:4).  The evil ones twist and pervert all the good God intends for us, and they cause trouble by getting others to go along with them in letting “little sins or lies” go.  They get away with much of it until they brag too much and are eventually caught and held accountable here; they do not take into account that every word is accountable in heaven, however.  Our words should be filled with life in God’s righteousness, not violent like the wicked who attack and slander others as is seen by those attacking and defaming politicians and others they disagree with.  These things should not be so among His people!  Such hatred only stirs up discord and violence, while we should instead be covering sin in love by forbearance and forgiveness as Christ does for us.  If we are truly wise we will then live by our God-given understanding and the wisdom we store up to avoid the repercussions of harsh discipline or even punishment.  In the end, righteous labor to gain understanding and wisdom is like a rich man’s wealth protecting him, while remaining poor in righteousness brings destruction in the end if not checked by the wisdom of the gospel.  The wages of the wicked and their sin is death, but that of the righteous are life and peace with God in Christ (Romans 5:1, 6:23).  This is the wisdom of Solomon expanded upon by the further explanations of Jesus Christ and His apostles.  May we learn a deep understanding and lasting wisdom from these things! 

The Folly of Sexual Sin

Proverbs 9:13-18

13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.

14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,

15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:

16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here";
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

17 "Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.

These last verses of the chapter demonstrate the utter folly of sexual sin, of living for physical pleasure over following the wisdom from understanding God’s words of warning for our good.  The woman is used here because then it was almost exclusively they who were selling themselves as sexual favors for a price, though now the debauchery has spread further in our culture as it did in the Roman Empire.  The one who is loud and boisterous uses intimidating speech to belittle and blatantly entice the weak into her bed at a price higher than the money exchanged.  She is simple and has no knowledge, only cunning and brashness to make men overcome good sense and sin with her.  If she or her victims had the knowledge and understanding of God, their wisdom would embolden their hearts and minds to refuse to live contrary to God’s design enforced by command and consequence.  This predator sits in the entrance to the house of ill-repute or strolls the streets where rich people wander without good purpose to lure them into her bed.  She calls out to draw them in, the simple like herself who ignore God’s word and shun wisdom, let alone acknowledge the consequences of denying the commandments of His will for their good.  Those who lack understanding follow her piper’s call and run over the cliff of righteousness into sin’s waiting embrace.  She makes it seem a challenge and allurement to steal sensual pleasure from one who is not the spouse, to eat and drink and be merry, not knowing the end of that temporary sweetness is death (1 Corinthians 15:32-34, Luke 12:19-20) and defiantly or ignorantly choosing the passing and fleeting pleasure of such sin (Hebrews 11:25) to defile God’s temple.  Yes, the victims join the tempter in her bed housed in a death of judgment to come.  The simple reject God’s word and choose the passing pleasure, while the wise know to avoid and flee from such sin (1 Corinthians 6:18), not stopping to think of the pleasure, but of the consequences of living contrary to the understanding from God’s word.  May we all avoid the folly of enticement to sexual sin and think more of pleasing Him!  Amen.