Proverbs 16:23-33
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 The person who labors, labors for himself,
For his hungry mouth drives him on.
27 An ungodly man digs up evil,
And it is on his lips like a burning fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
And a whisperer separates the best of friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor,
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;
He purses his lips and brings about evil.
31 The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the LORD.
Wisdom sits in the light of God’s sovereignty to avoid the shadows and walk in the light. The last verse of this chapter makes it clear that we can seek His divine guidance even according to biblical methods (the casting of lots, Leviticus 16:8, Acts 1:26), but is is He who decides what the answer will be. Therefore, we are to walk in the light of righteousness and holiness because that is where He is (John 8:12, 12:35, Ephesians 5:8, 1 John 1:7). Our hearts will teach us these things if they are renewed in Him by His Spirit because His word is inscribed on our hearts. This gives us the right words of skill in knowledge and understanding for the application in wisdom. Our righteous speech then is sweet to others and a healing balm for spiritual health to both speaker and hearer. The warning is in following a way outside of God’s word and wisdom, a way which only seems good and right yet leads to destruction. Wisdom identifies and compares this with the narrow way as found in the scriptures in order to choose and do right on the way of life. The desire for sustenance alone keeps a man from continuing in hunger and the ungodly look for things against God’s word (evil things), and so that one’s speech destroys like fire (James 3:5-6). These perverse and twisted people stir up discord and cause arguments and gossip to destroy relationships, even driving the best of friends apart with their lies and unwise speech. Their violence entices others with selfish desires leading to sin along a badly broken path instead of that set before us leading heavenward. Yes, the deceitful ones wink their eyes as the good old one of the boys justification to bring about evil and draw others in if they are not awake and aware in wisdom from God’s teaching. Wise people learn for a lifetime to understand the way of righteousness and stay the course along its way. They are slow to anger and rule their own spirit well in self control (Proverbs 14:29, 25:28, James 1:19). This is wisdom’s real strength in skillful application of knowledge and understanding. Yes, we may cast lots as Israel was commanded and as the apostles did to pick a successor to Judas Iscariot, but wisdom gives the credit of honor and glory to our sovereign God in all things, especially for our wisdom.
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