Proverbs
Notes on Proverbs – Chapter 10
Proverbs 10:1
A Wise and a Foolish Son
1a A wise son makes a glad father
1. This is a principle often repeated in the book of Proverbs.
a. 15:20 – same thing
b. 23:15 – if your son’s heart is wise, you can rejoice!
c. 23:16 – when your son speaks right things, your reins (inner most being) shall rejoice.
d. 23:24 – the father of the righteous shall GREATLY rejoice. (if your son is righteous… before God!)
e. 23:25 – both parents will rejoice… this isn’t just a fatherly thing.
f. 27:11 – Here Solomon challenges his son to be wise, so that his heart (the father’s heart) can be glad.
g. 29:17 – a child who is well disciplined will bring rest and delight to the parents… later. (Not during the years of discipline!)
h. Thus, Solomon mentions this at least 8 times!
2. Parents are so attached to their kids, that later on in life (to a certain degree) the parents’ happiness is linked to the spiritual well being of the child.
a. This is true even when the child is a grown man or woman. They will always be your children.
b. For the rest of your life, your happiness (to a certain degree) will be linked to the spiritual well being of your kids.
c. What a joy for parents to see their children grow up and be saved… and to walk with the Lord… and to bring their children up in the things of the Lord. No greater joy!
3. Parents have no guarantee that that will happen… but as parents we have a responsibility to do ALL WE CAN to see that it does.
a. Prov. 22:6 – this verse means what it says…
• But it is a proverb, not a promise.
• This is the norm, but it certainly does not cover all bases.
• But since it is the norm… we should be FAITHFUL in training them in the things of the Lord… early!
b. Prov.19:18 – chasten them while there is hope!
• If we want joy from our kids, then we need to start training them from the cradle…
• If you let them run on auto-pilot until they are teens, they are pretty well already formed.
• If you want a tree to grow up straight and tall, you have to support it when it is young and tender. If you wait until it is grown, it’s too late. You’re never going to straighten out the trunk of a full grown tree. Only God can do that.
• Thus, Solomon sends a message to us as parents and even grandparents: get them while they are young! While there is hope.
• Prov. 29:17 – discipline them when they are young and they will give you rest for the remainder of your life.
1b But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother…
1. This principle (the opposite of the first phrase) is also found often in Proverbs. Foolish children (even if they are 40!) are a grief to godly parents.
a. 17:25 – grief to the father; bitterness to the mother. (That’s a warning to parents too—deal with those feelings in a godly manner!)
b. 17:21 – the one who begets a fool will have sorrow… no joy…
c. 19:13 – a foolish son is the calamity of his father…
d. Gen. 26:34-35; 27:46 – Esau was a grief to both of his parents.
• He was selfish and worldly and cared not for the things of the Lord.
• The choices he made in choosing a spouse was a continual grief to Rebekah.
• But he was reared in the same house as Jacob was! Who can figure?
2. Again, this is a warning to young parents… do what you can NOW to train them in the things of the Lord… they are only young and pliable for a short time…
• Parents whose grown children are not saved will always grieve and pray for their salvation.
• Parents whose grown children are saved but are not walking in the truth will always grieve over their spiritual condition too.
3. I fear for the young parents today who are so busy they don’t have time to spend with their kids…
a. We have a whole generation of kids being brought up in daycare centers—where they are not getting parental training…
b. Many of those parents are going to wish they never did… they will wish that mom had stayed at home… they will wish that they had spent themselves more on their kids than on their careers…
c. Putting the time and effort and sacrifice into your kids today will pay off later.
d. Failing to do so today could result in a lot of sorrow and regret later.
The example of Paul and his spiritual children
1. This principle is true of spiritual “parents” and their children too!
a. I Thess. 3:8 – we live IF ye stand fast! (I feel that here as pastor!)
b. III John 2-4 – no greater joy… you wish the best for them… John agrees with Paul!
c. Unfortunately, not all of those assemblies Paul established DID stand fast. Some fell into immorality… some into doctrinal error… some into petty divisions…
d. That must have broken Paul’s heart… or John’s…
2. In fact, it did… especially Corinth.
a. He was jealous over them! He wanted the best for them (II Cor. 11:2)
• He feared the worst for his spiritual children (v. 3)
• He grieved over those who hurt his children (v. 4)
• He was hurt when his spiritual children misunderstood his concern for them (v. 7)
• He knew how dangerous it was out there for them. (v. 13)
b. Paul felt the joys, fears, and grief over his spiritual children that we feel for our natural children…
c. Even though these churches were established and on their own, Paul never stopped feeling this “parental” concern for them. They will always be his “kids.”
d. So it is with our kids… they can bring us the greatest joy or the greatest heartbreak.
e. With Paul’s spiritual children in Corinth, he:
• Prayed for them (13:7a)
• He kept in touch (13:10)
• He encouraged them to do that which is right (13:11)
• He committed them to the grace of God and left them in God’s hands. (13:14)
f. That’s good advice for us with our children too once they are off on their own.
g. The good news here is that Paul’s spiritual children in Corinth DID turn around… (II Cor. 7:13) The good report from Titus about the Corinthians comforted Paul and brought exceeding joy to him!
• Isn’t that true of our own children? Aren’t they often like the Corinthians?
• Sometimes they stumble about for a while… skating on thin ice… making foolish decisions… stumbling and falling on their faces… breaking their parent’s heart…
• God intervened in Corinth and got a hold of their hearts… and the church got back up on their feet…
• This brought great joy to the heart of their spiritual father.
• If our children are bringing great grief to us…remember that the Lord is able to turn them around and nobody but the Lord can!
• Once you commit them to the Lord, the peace that passes understanding can return to your heart…
• Remember—God loves them more than you do. He is grieved more than we are when our children turn away from Him. He rejoices more than we do when they walk in the truth.
• We can trust a God like that. Entrust your kids to Him.
Proverbs 10:2
Righteousness Delivers from Death
2a Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
1. In fact, any kind of earthly treasure profits very little.
a. Prov. 11:4 – Riches profit not in the day of wrath:
b. Ps. 49:6-11 – riches cannot buy redemption, nor do they last forever.
c. Zeph. 1:18 – silver and gold cannot deliver in the day of God’s wrath.
d. Luke 12:15-21 – what does it profit if a man gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Not much. Compared to eternal things, there is little profit in earthly riches.
e. Ecc. 5:10-11 – riches don’t satisfy; and once we heap together material goods, what good are they but to look at?
f. Ecc. 5:13 – rich men obtain great wealth, but often to their own hurt. (loss of family; loss of living a life; loss of enjoyment of life)
2. But riches gained by wickedness have even LESS profit!
a. Jer. 22:13-19 – God rebukes Jehoiakim
• V. 13-14 – He built a palace for himself… but did not pay the workers…
• V. 15a – shalt thou reign just because you have a nice palace? No! Your wealth, obtained through wickedness, will not enable you to reign. (He didn’t act like a king… he won’t have a royal reign!)
• V. 15b-17 – contrast him with his righteous father Josiah! His father did profit… he will not.
• V. 18-19 – he will die in dishonor.
b. I Kings 21:4 – Ahab obtained wealth through wickedness. Through murder and robbery, he stole the vineyard of Naboth.
• His wife Jezebel wrote a letter and sent it to the elders of the city. They were instructed to lie about Naboth, charge him with blasphemy, and stone him… which they did.
• Ahab then obtained the vineyard he desired.
• But along with the vineyard came a message from God: (v. 17-19)
• I Kings 22:28-29 – Ahab did a lot of building of palaces and accumulating of wealth through wickedness… but with no profit.
c. II Kings 5:20 – Gehazi – Elisha’s servant was upset that his master healed Naaman the Syrian and did not take any payment for it.
• Gehazi went back to Naaman and lied, saying that Elisha sent him to receive the gifts.
• The servant DID receive the treasures by wickedness.
• Ultimately, they did not profit him, for he was smitten with leprosy! (v. 27)
d. Matt. 27:5 – Judas gained some earthly treasure through the worst form of wickedness: he betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.
• This too was to no profit. It brought him nothing but guilt.
• Eventually he threw the money away and hanged himself.
3. The Bible says much about riches obtained through dishonest means.
a. Jer. 17:11 – he shall leave them and not enjoy the benefits of them.
b. Prov. 22:16 – he shall come to want… he will experience unmet needs in his life… of one sort or another.
c. Prov. 21:6-7 – they are playing with fire… flirting with death…
d. This principle is mentioned often, perhaps because it is so common among men.
• Listen to the 6:00 o’clock news. Every night there is a story of someone who on a grand scale, has attempted to obtain treasures by wickedness…
• Bank robbers…museum thefts… white collar crimes… stealing money from the school systems…stock market thieves… e-commerce thieves… price gouging… skimming…
• And perhaps a little closer to home—running our own business in a less than ethical manner… misrepresenting the product or service we are selling…
• There is a lot of money to be made through dishonesty… BUT, ultimately, it “profits nothing.”
4. Even if the wicked SEEM to prosper and profit greatly… their day is coming.
a. Ps. 73:3 – Asaph noticed that wicked men DO seem to prosper.
• v. 5 – they are not in trouble…
• v. 7 – they have more than heart could wish.
• V. 12 – they have great gain in the world. They DO prosper. Their wickedness DOES profit them!
b. Solomon said they profit nothing. Who’s right?
c. They both are.
• The wicked DO prosper in the world, but only for a while.
• V. 17-19 – ultimately Asaph realized that their profit was short lived… their end was bitter… condemnation.
• On the other hand, the godly may work hard, be honest, and NOT profit much in the world.
• BUT—their end is far better! (v. 23-24) Even now, they have God’s presence!
d. The principle in Prov. 10:2 is true ULTIMATELY. When men stand before God, the treasures they obtained through lies, deceit, and unethical behavior will be of no profit.
e. They will discover that instead of heaping up riches, they were heaping up judgment upon their own heads! (Rom. 2:5-6)
1. This section of Proverbs contains many antithetical parallelisms… statements that speak of opposites, often connected by a “but.”
2. In contrast to the wickedness which might produce immediate treasures, but in the long term does not profit… we have RIGHTEOUSNESS… Righteousness delivers from death… it does profit… especially in the long term!
3. Eph. 6:14 – part of our Christian armor: the breastplate of righteousness.
a. Like a breastplate which protects our vital organs, righteousness protects us…
4. Prov. 12:28 – in the way of righteousness is life… there is no death in its pathway!
5. Psalm 25:21 – David expected that his righteousness or uprightness of life would preserve him. It will us too!
6. Ps. 41:12 – God upholds us IN our integrity. If we do things right, God is with us to uphold us. If we DON’T do things right, we are on our own!
7. Dan. 6:22 – My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
a. Daniel did that which was right, and God delivered him from the mouth of lions!
8. In the book of Esther, we have two men who illustrate the truth of Prov. 10:2.
a. Haman obtained treasures and riches through wickedness… but in the end it did not profit him. He was hung on the gallows he designed!
b. Mordecai did that which was right—and was delivered from death.
9. Sometimes martyrs do what is right and God allows them to die. Is this a contradiction? No. It is a proverb.
a. Normally—doing what is right keeps us safe…
b. Do what is right in your car and your chances of an accident are greatly reduced. (But if you want to drink beer, read the paper, talk on the phone and eat a cheeseburger—then your chances of an accident greatly increase.
c. Criminals may face the death penalty… but to avoid it—do what is right!
d. Do what is right and you will be spared the awful consequences of sin… including death.
10. A simple principle here: ill gotten goods God will not allow to profit; but the man who operates in righteousness will be blessed… long life… delivered from death…
Proverbs 10:3
Hunger and Riches
There were a lot of famines mentioned in the Bible:
• In the days of Abraham. Ge 12:10.
• In the days of Isaac. Ge 26:1.
• In the days of Joseph. Ge 41:53-56.
• In the day of the Judges. Ru 1:1.
• In the reign of David. 2 Sa 21:1.
• In the reign of Ahab 1 Ki 17:1; 18:5.
• During the siege of Samaria. 2 Ki 6:25.
• Of seven years foretold by Elisha. 2 Ki 8:1.
• In the time of Jeremiah. Jer 14:1.
• After the captivity. Ne 5:3.
• In the reign of Claudius Caesar. Ac 11:28.
1. Is this statement really true?
a. Does God NEVER allow righteous people to go hungry?
b. What about in times of famine in Ethiopia? Bangla Desh?
c. How about the potato famine in Ireland?
d. What about the Great Depression in this country? What about the aftermath of WWII and the famines and hunger in Europe? Were Christians exempt from all that?
e. What about the martyrs that suffered great hunger in dungeons and in prisons around the world?
f. What about the seige of Jerusalem (Babylonians; Assyrians) when some Jews in the city even turned to canabalism? Were there no believers in Jerusalem during those days?
g. How about the Lord Jesus. The Lord allowed Him to go 40 days without food. That qualifies for being famished, doesn’t it?
h. Is it impossible for a believer to starve to death?
2. There are a lot of Bible verses that seem to support such a notion.
• Job 5:20 – In famine he shall redeem thee from death:
• Ps. 33:18-19 – Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; 19To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
• Ps. 34:9-10 – O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
• Ps. 37:3 – Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
• Ps. 37:17 – The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
• Ps. 37:25 – I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
• It sure SOUNDS like God promises that His people will never lack bread.
Three Things to Consider:
1. The passage is a proverb; not a promise.
a. The passage makes a generalization… in general, the righteous (the godly; wise men) do not starve.
b. The righteous don’t starve because they employ the principles of wisdom in their life.
c. The righteous are diligent workers—not lazy. (v. 4)
• Some ungodly men starve because they are lazy. Laziness is ungodly!
• The one who deals with a slack hand (lazy) becomes poor!
d. The righteous don’t waste their money on gambling… or foolish things.
• The opposite of a righteous man (an unrighteous fool) DOES waste his money on foolish things… gambles… booze… etc.
• That man and his family very well MAY go hungry…
e. Of course, this is a proverb… and there are exceptions to the rule.
• Sometimes the ungodly DO prosper in the world. They seem to be fed quite well!
• Sometimes righteous men work hard and due to circumstances beyond their control DO suffer loss… and experience hunger…
• When war breaks out; or famine; or an economic depression, the godly are not exempt from feeling it!
• It’s good to know this—so that if it should happen to you, you don’t begin to doubt God… or experience a lack of faith… or begin to think that God has failed you…
f. This is written to Jews living during the Old Testament dispensation; Israel’s blessings were primarily physical; ours are spiritual.
• Lev. 26: 21, 26 – famine was sent to the Jews because of sin… with the purpose of driving them back to God.
• Consider the book of Lamentations – written to Jews in Jerusalem concerning the devastation and famine they were experiencing.
• Amos 4: 6-10 – famine the result of Israel’s sin… sent by God.
• When famine strikes a nation, even the godly are affected!
g. The meaning of “soul.”
• Soul = nephesh = soul; life; a creature; a person; a living being
• Famish = languish in hunger; extreme hunger.
• It is possible to take the passage in Proverbs as a reference to the spiritual hunger of the soul… as opposed to the physical hunger of the body. (Although nephesh is often used in the sense of “life.”)
• If understood as soul in contrast to body, then the proverb is stating that God will always nourish the soul of the righteous… even if his outward circumstances include poverty, hunger, or famine.
• Hab. 3:17-19 – Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation…
• God is able to lift the SOUL of the righteous to joy even in the worst of times physically… In such times, believers have experienced a peace that passes understanding…
• Thus, the body may starve, but not the soul… the inner man may prosper and do well! (II Cor. 4:16).
• Of course, the opposite can be true as well. It is possible for the outer man (the physical part of man) may be doing quite well (well fed; well housed; well dressed; etc.) while at the same time the inner man is starving spiritually!
1. Again, this is a proverb. Sometimes wicked men prosper.
2. The wicked in the world don’t often read the book of Proverbs.
3. However, we as believers can behave like the wicked.
a. We can waste our money on gambling… lottery tickets… foolish purchases… luxury items… and experience hunger and poverty as a result!
b. Too often we can dig huge financial holes for ourselves. The Lord lets us fall on those holes too. God lets foolish people “eat of the fruit of their own way… be filled with their own devices…” (Prov. 1:31).
c. If we behave foolishly or wickedly and the consequences of our actions include poverty or hunger, don’t expect the Lord to bail us out. He may; He is gracious;
d. But don’t presume upon it! He may want to teach us a lesson… one we can only learn the hard way, by suffering through the consequences of our actions.
4. This passage is speaking about God Himself “casting away the substance” of the wicked.
a. This is the Lord’s doing.
b. Very often God allows criminals (bank robbers, etc.) to get caught… and lose all their substance!
c. But we believers may have OUR substance cast away by the Lord too… if our actions are displeasing to Him.
d. Haggai 1:7-11 – they looked for “much” but God “blew” upon their riches… and they were gone!
• They were selfish and demonstrated a lack of concern for the house of God.
• God simply “blew” upon the riches they thought were so secure!
• Mal. 2:1-2 – God rebuked the priests and “cursed their blessings.”
e. God can change our financial stability in a moment.
• In fact, the proverb states, that as a general rule, God casts away the substance of the wicked!
• It is especially wicked for a BELIEVER to think that he can live his life apart from God accumulating riches in this life while ignoring spiritual things… and expect God’s blessing! The rule is God CASTS AWAY the substance of the wicked.
• It is kind of silly for us as puny clay pots to think that we can defy God and hold on to our riches…
• God is the SOURCE of all blessing! He has every right to cast away the substance (riches) of the wicked… and believers behaving in a wicked, rebellious manner!
• And even if we seem to “get away with it” our whole life on earth… those riches will be seen as wood, hay, and stubble at the Bema seat!
The main thought for us: God takes care of His own!
1. Even though the passage may have some special dispensational distinctions, there is still a valid principle for us today… God takes care of His own!
2. He takes care of the righteous… the godly… the wise… the obedient… God honors those who seek to honor Him.
3. In difficult times, we can trust our Heavenly Father. He does NOT delight in seeing His children suffer hunger… (Psalm 10:1-2; 8-14)
4. The general rule is: God provides for all our needs… and above and beyond our needs!
a. There may be times when God tests our faith and ALLOWS us to suffer poverty… hunger… or some other kind of need.
b. But the RULE is: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want! The Good Shepherd leads His sheep into green pastures and to the still waters.
• Ps. 34:9 – O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
• Ps. 84:11 – For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
• Matt. 6:25-33 – TAKE NO THOUGHT… don’t worry about such earthly needs. Do what is right… seek God first… and they will all be added to you!
• Don’t seek after the blessings… seek after God. With God comes the fringe benefit of His blessings… but He wants us to seek Him for who He is… not what He will do for us! Nobody likes that kind of a relationship!
5. Phil. 4:19 – But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Context: the Philippians had been selfless and generous. God takes care of folks like that!)
Proverbs 10:6-7
The Just and the Wicked
1. The term for blessing here is a general term, which is translated lots of different ways: blessing, prosperity; praise of God; a gift, present; treaty of peace.
2. God delights in bringing blessings upon the head of the just… the righteous… those who live right before Him.
3. The just are mentioned often in Proverbs.
a. 3:33 – God blesseth the habitation of the just.
b. 4:18 – But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
c. 10:20 – The tongue of the just is as choice silver:
d. 10:31 – The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom:
e. 11:9 – through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
f. 12:13 – The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
g. 20:7 – The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
h. 29:27 – An unjust man is an abomination to the just
4. The “just” here is an Old Testament expression of salvation.
a. It speaks of those who are justified by faith… like Abraham.
b. It speaks of those who are just before God and demonstrate it by righteous living.
c. A similar term translated “the righteous” also refers to the saved… and it appears 47 times in Proverbs.
d. Without all the technical revelation on the subject of salvation that we possess today, the Old Testament did say much about the “just”… those justified.
e. The Old Testament (like the New Testament) also makes it clear that the just lead righteous lives!
f. Paul puts it this way: II Cor. 5:17 – if you are in Christ, you are a new creature… the old has passed away.
g. We are not saved BY good works, but we are saved UNTO good works. (Eph. 2:10)
h. Once saved, God EXPECTS a righteous lifestyle… God expects to see fruit in our lives… holiness… godliness…
5. Those who are just… and live like it can expect God’s blessing in their life.
a. A simple principle: God honors those who honor Him.
1. The wicked – another Old Testament term for the unsaved.
2. Proverbs has lots to say about the wicked too… (Occurs 73 times in the book!)
3. The just can expect blessing… the wicked who live wickedly can expect violence… cruelty… injustice…
4. Remember this is a proverb… not a guarantee.
a. Sometimes innocent folks do suffer violence… and are shot… murdered.
b. But most often, those who suffer violence are those who live and walk with the wicked.
c. The mob kills members of the mob… one violent gang kills members in another violent gang… the Hell’s Angels have no reason to attack you or me, but they do attack other biker gangs… where there is much adultery there are love triangle murders… often the violence is associated with drugs…
d. In other words, wicked people associate with the wicked… and thus place themselves in harm’s way.
e. A simple way to avoid violence is to obey Psalm 1 – walk not in the counsel of the ungodly… nor stand in the way of sinners… nor sit in the seat of the scornful!
5. The New American Standard translates this: “the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (If so, the meaning is that you just can’t trust wicked men. They say one thing, but violence and trouble is what they are really up to!
a. Either way, Solomon is linking together the wicked with violence.
b. The wicked and violence are associated. To avoid one—avoid the other!
1. In this verse, Solomon switches from the lives of the just and the wicked to their death.
2. During the life of a just man, he can expect God’s blessings.
3. After his death, his memory will also be blessed… in the eyes of those he leaves behind.
4. This has reference to a person’s legacy. How will people remember you when you’re gone?
a. Will they remember your temper or a tender heart?
b. Will they remember you as a tightwad or generous?
c. Will they remember you as caustic and abrasive or gracious?
d. Will they remember you as one who stands or who waffles?
e. Will they remember you as one who is honest or one who stretches the truth?
f. Will they remember you as one who builds up or tears down?
g. Will they remember you as a troublemaker or a peacemaker?
h. Will they remember you as a murmurer or an encourager?
5. Solomon states that those who are just (justified by faith and demonstrate it by living a righteous life) will leave behind a fragrant odor from their life.
6. Matt. 26:6-13 – the Lord made sure that the memory of this woman was blessed!
a. She gave sacrificially to the Lord. She gave her all for the Lord.
b. At first the disciples had evil thoughts of her. They saw it as a foolish act. The Lord made sure that her memory was blessed!
7. Prov. 31:28 – Children will have blessed memories of a godly mother. So will her husband.
a. Be sure you are leaving good memories for your children… to remember you by!
b. Be careful about TODAY… don’t be snappy… irritable… grouchy… moody… That’s how they will remember you! Leave them good memories.
c. Before you know it, those kids will be off on their own… and you can’t go back and erase their memory of growing up.
d. Live godly and justly before them and you will leave them with blessed memories.
8. Heb. 13:7 –blessed memories of godly leaders!
a. I have some wonderful memories of godly leaders in my life.
b. I will be eternally grateful for their godly influence.
c. Pastors, missionaries, Bible speakers, and Sunday school teachers…
9. Psalm 112:5-6 – the memory of good men—an everlasting remembrance.
10. Barrow: “No spices can so embalm a man; no monument can so preserve his name and memory, as a pious conversation, whereby God hath been honored, and man benefited. The fame of such a person is, in the best judgments, far more precious and truly glorious, than is the fame of those who have excelled in any other deeds or qualities.”
11. Consider these good memories:
a. Jehoida: 2 Chronicles 24:15
b. David – II Kings 19:34 – For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
c. Mary – Luke 1:48 – from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed
1. The godly leave blessed memories behind. The name of the wicked shall rot!
2. Name: Strong’s = name; reputation, fame, glory
3. The godly leave behind a reputation. So do the wicked.
4. The reputation of the wicked shall ROT!
a. What graphic language… the odor of their reputation is like a smelly, rotting corpse…
b. As the body rots in the grave, so their name shall rot… perish…
c. They lived in corruption… their name continues in corruption.
5. Psalm 9:5-6 – “thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.” (their name is put out)
a. No one wants to remember the wicked.
b. Consider how many men name their sons Paul… and how few name them Judas.
c. Consider how many women name their daughters Mary… and how few Jezebel!
6. Ecc. 8:10 – the wicked are buried and are then forgotten. (what a sad ending!)
7. Presidents are concerned about their legacy in their last days in office.
a. The point of this passage is that they should be concerned about their legacy their first day in office!
b. We too should be concerned about our lifestyle and behavior NOW… that we might leave behind pleasant memories.
c. Our emphasis is NOT on building a reputation, but rather building character… which will of itself leave a godly reputation.
d. The godly… the just who lead righteous lives will leave behind blessed memories. The reputation of the ungodly shall rot.
e. Consider it in terms of odors:
• The woman who anointed the Lord with a fragrant ointment will be remembered by that fragrant odor.
• The ungodly will leave behind a rotting odor.
• What kind of odor will you leave behind? How WILL people remember you?
• They will remember what you were… mean or kind; stingy or generous; lazy or hard working; self-centered or Christ-centered; a sharp tongue or a soft tongue; a servant or one who expects to be served?
• How will you be remembered?
Proverbs 10:8
Responsibility and Consequences
8a The wise in heart shall receive commandments…
1. Wise men are able to take orders… commandments;
a. Obviously, “receiving” the commandments implies obeying the command too!
b. The ability to receive instruction and commandments speaks of a teachable spirit… one who is willing to learn… to be corrected… instructed.
c. Samuel: “speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” (I Sam. 3:10)
d. The kind of wisdom spoken of here is the wisdom that causes a man (or woman!) to be ready to respond to commands immediately…
e. Can you take orders? Do you have a teachable spirit?
f. Soldiers need to receive orders and carry them out.
g. Workers need to be able to take orders from their boss.
h. Children need to be able to receive orders from their parents… teachers.
i. Wives need to be able to receive orders (??) from their husband.
• With soldiers, there is no such thing as arguing or debating the order.
• Teachers give orders to students every day… homework… essay assignments…
• Soldiers that are wise will take the orders and obey without debate.
• Students that are wise will take the orders and obey without debate.
• Workers that are wise will receive orders from their boss without murmuring and complaining.
j. Wisdom demands that we hear instruction… receive commandments and respond in obedience to authority.
• Prov.1:5 – the wise man will “hear”
• Ps.119:34 – wholehearted desire to obey
• Ps.119:4-5 – pray for a heart to obey… more inclination…
• Ps.119:33-34 – a desire to obey and a resolve to obey!
k. By implication, foolish men are not able to take orders and commandments.
• Prov.1:7 – fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Prov.19:20 – ‘Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ‘
• Prov.13:18 – Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
2. The wise man is able to submit to authority;
a. Receiving commandments = submitting to authority.
• Wisdom recognizes authority and responds properly to it.
• Folly bucks against authority…
b. Life is full of situations where we need to take orders from others.
• Home, school, work, local church, government, etc…
• All of these are expressions of receiving commandments from God—who is the ultimate Authority.
c. Gen.18:19 – Fathers are to give commandments to their children; children are expected to submit and receive those commandments.
• The foolish son does not submit.
• The wise son will.
d. Ps.119:15 – “respect unto thy ways.” We may not always agree with the commandments set by those in authority… but we should respect them… because it is a reflection of our respect for God—the ultimate Author of all authority.
3. Not stated, though certainly true, the wise man shall receive the BLESSING from obedience; the fool does not.
a. Ps. 25:10 – All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
b. God’s blessing is in the life of the obedient child. God chastens the disobedient child.
c. The son who receives commandments and obeys will be blessed. The one who bucks against authority and does not submit will LACK God’s blessing in their life.
4. We are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Good soldiers take orders from their commander in chief… no questions asked.
a. Poor soldiers rebel against their orders… their commander… authority…
b. For the military to function properly, soldiers receiving orders is an absolute essential.
• If that breaks down, the military is paralyzed!
• If submission to authority breaks down… chaos results.
c. The same thing is true of the home… submission to authority is essential.
d. The same things is true in school—if you young people want to do well, you will be required to take some orders and assignments that you may not like… you may think it is a waste of time… even foolish. But to learn to take orders well is WISDOM.
e. It will prove beneficial to you in the long run! It will prove beneficial to a school… a home… a country… a church.
1. Prating = lip; language; speech (lit. = a fool of lips) (perhaps a big mouth)
a. This big mouth is not into hearing. He is more interested in talking.
b. He isn’t interested in receiving commandments. He thinks he’s too important.
c. Prov. 15:32 – He refuses instruction… to the detriment of his own soul.
• He won’t take advice; won’t listen to counsel; will not be governed; or taught.
2. Prov. 26:12 – a man wise in his own conceit… this is a big mouth, conceited fool who thinks he is above instruction… he thinks he is too important, too smart to humble himself and take orders from someone else. (Who do they think they are anyway?!)
a. A solider with this kind of attitude will receive a dishonorable discharge from the military.
b. A church member with this attitude will cause endless trouble for the local church.
c. A child who refuses to hear instruction but learns to shoot off his/her mouth will find himself in endless trouble… at home… at school… and if not corrected, with the law!
3. The prating fool shall FALL…
a. Fall = come to ruin; thrown down; cast down;
b. The fool who refuses to submit to authority and shoots off his mouth will come to ruin…
• The man who is all tongue usually pays little attention to his feet… his walk… and thus stumbles and falls.
• The student who demonstrates this kind of folly will come to ruin… his studies will suffer.
• The church which has members who demonstrate this kind of folly will come to ruin… unless the insubordination and rebellion is dealt with.
• The army with soldiers who do not take orders will come to ruin…
• The home where the wife refuses to submit… where the children are not made to obey… will come to ruin…
c. Prov.1:29-31 – there are consequences for rejecting counsel… for refusing to hear instruction… to refusing to receive commandments.
d. Don’t you be a prating fool—a fool of lips. Rather be wise and be willing to receive instruction.
• Jas. 1:19 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
• Ecc. 5:1-2 – be more ready to hear… be not rash with thy mouth…
Proverbs 10:9
Walking Uprightly
1. Walketh = one’s whole manner of life.
a. Our life consists of all the steps we take.
b. Each step is important… one step in the wrong direction can take us WAY out of the way over time.
c. Every decision we make in life is like another step we take in our walk along the road of life.
d. Every step we take sets the direction for the next step…
e. The steps taken together constitute our walk… and our walk overall constitutes our life.
f. The concept of our life as a WALK is interesting because it weaves together:
• The individual steps with the whole walk…
• The present (each step) with our life as a whole… (all the steps taken thus far… and all the steps not yet taken)
• The direction of one step (decision) and its relationship to the direction of one’s life as a whole…
2. Uprightly = integrity, completeness, innocence, simplicity
a. An upright person speaks of that which is honest, innocent, simplicity or sincerity, nothing to hide, open, and full of integrity.
b. Job 1:8 – Job walked uprightly. He was not perfect, but his walk was upright… honest with God.
c. Gen.17:1 – Abraham was commanded to be “perfect” – same root word as upright. (see margin note)
d. An upright walk (perfect walk) is not one of sinless perfection. Rather it is a life characterized by obedience…
3. An upright walk in the book of Proverbs.
a. Prov.14:2 – An upright walk is one that is conducted in the fear of the LORD.
• A man who walks in uprightness is one who fears God.
• But the fear of the Lord will also CAUSE a man to walk uprightly.
• If you fear God, you will be afraid to step out of line!
• The fear of God and a godly, upright walk go hand in hand.
• You want to learn to fear God more? Spend more time in His Word! This whole book is designed to instill the fear of God in us!
• Reading of how God dealt with men who strayed away from the upright walk should motivate us to walk uprightly… read about the flood… the Babylonian invasion… the Tribulation Period!
• Even those chapters in the Minor Prophets that you don’t seem to get much out of — it should instill the fear of God into us. That is precious!
b. Prov. 16:17 – the way of the upright departs from evil.
• The highway of the upright is to depart from evil.
• Why? Because the highway is characterized by the fear of God… which causes us to depart from evil!
c. Prov. 15:21 – An upright walk is one that is walked in the light… with understanding of spiritual things.
• An upright walk is characterized by spiritual understanding… discernment…
• I have driven down Ermer Road enough to know to look for potholes… I know where they are so I can avoid them.
• An understanding of spiritual truth will keep us safe as we walk down the pathway of life too.
• The upright walk is not constantly falling into the potholes… or stumbling over the stumblingblocks. Understanding enables him to avoid those troubles.
• 2:13 – the path of the upright is light
• Note the two pathways: the way of darkness; the other is the way of the upright… light!
• Col. 1:9-10 – pray for light… spiritual discernment that we might WALK WORTHY!
d. Prov. 2:20 – the upright walk is one that is traveled not alone, but with other good men.
• The one who desires to walk uprightly will not walk alone, but will choose good men to walk with!
• That is one of the reasons for the local church… that we might walk together… and encourage one another to keep on walking uprightly… and to admonish one another when we begin to stray…
• We NEED fellowship. If you know a believer who is trying to walk with the world and has precious little fellowship with believers… drag them away… drag them back to the path of the upright.
• Good men who walk uprightly enjoy the fellowship of other good men who walk uprightly.
e. Prov. 29:27 – the upright man is hated by the world.
• Not surprisingly, good men who walk uprightly are hated by wicked men.
• The upright are hated by the world… they hate the narrow way.
• The upright are also hated by believers who have the world in their heart… they too are not too fond of the straight and narrow way. They prefer to find a group of likeminded worldly believers… birds of a feather flock together.
f. Prov. 11:20 – the upright in the way are a delight to God.
• While the world will hate us for our upright walk… and even some believers will not appreciate the upright walk… the good news is that it is a delight to the One who counts! God!
• If you are walking uprightly in the way, you bring delight to God’s heart! Isn’t that awesome?!
Walking uprightly summarized:
Walking in innocence and obedience
Walking in the light…
Walking in the fear of God… departing from evil…
Walking in fellowship with good men who also walk uprightly…
Walking in such a way as to arouse the hatred of the world, but the delight of God!
1.) Walketh: two different Hebrew words
a. First = walk; manner of life
b. Second = to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away
2.) Surely = safely 17, safety 9, carelessly 3, securely 2, assurance 1, boldly 1, care 1, confidence 1, hope 1, secure 1, surely 1;
3.) The one who walks uprightly is SAFE!
a. Prov. 2:7 – he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
• Buckler – a small shield… for protection.
• God protects those who walk uprightly… they are safe…
• As soon as we decide to step OUT of the way… and no longer walk uprightly… we are not longer safe!
• It is like taking off a shield in the midst of a battle. You could be slain!
• The enemy is hurling fiery darts at us… poison arrows. It doesn’t make any sense to remove our God-given protective shield, does it?
• Would you want to be goalie in hockey without any protective equipment? Sooner or later you’re going to get seriously hurt.
• If we walk uprightly, we have GOD as our shield and buckler. Stepping OUT OF the way of uprightness is like stepping out of our buckler… out of our layer of protection.
• Such a move can have disastrous results!
b. Prov. 3:23 – Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
• Solomon tells his son in this section that if he holds on to wisdom and discretion, then his walk will be safe.
• An upright walk is one that is conducted according to the principles of spiritual wisdom and discernment.
• Such a walk is also SAFE! No tripping up… no stumbling…
c. Prov. 28:18 – deliverance for those who walk uprightly.
• This isn’t talking about salvation from hell… otherwise, he is saying that a good life results in salvation.
• Salvation here means (as it often does in the Old Testament) deliverance from earthly troubles…
• People who drink and drive have to worry about wrapping their car around a telephone pole. The one who walks uprightly doesn’t have to worry about that. He has been delivered from that.
• This man is saved… safe… he proceeds upon sure ground.
• An upright walk is a safe walk.
• The upright man is concerned about safety… he doesn’t skate on thin ice… he doesn’t stand on the edge of cliff… he takes the safe route.
• We too should be concerned about our spiritual safety too…
• There are lots of things that might be dangerous for us spiritually… stay away!
• There may be a crowd of kids at school who are known for trouble… or who flirt with trouble…stay away…
• Your teacher gives you an important homework assignment, but you can’t remember whether she said to do 1 and 5 or 1-5. Do the safest thing… do 1-5! Better safe than sorry.
• Your parents aren’t home and you’re not sure if a certain TV show is OK or not. Take the safe route—if you’re not sure, then don’t watch it!
• The upright path will save us from getting into trouble! Always!
• Sometimes we ask the Lord to send us down an easy path. We should be asking Him to send us down a SURE path… a safe road!
d. Prov. 11:3 – the integrity of the upright will guide them…
• Not only is the way of the upright safe, it is guided in the right direction… it stays on track.
• Integrity can guide… honesty… sincerity… purity…
• How much better is it to be guided in the right direction than to wander in the wrong direction!
• When you are walking in the pathway of the upright and you come to a fork in the road, always choose the BEST way to travel… the safest… the right way…
• It may be a difficult way, but it is the safest… the best.
e. Prov. 11:6 – their righteousness will deliver them…
• Righteousness also keeps the upright safe… and delivers him from many troubles and heartaches.
• Do things right… and you will be delivered from all the troubles that come from NOT doing it right!
• Put the roof on your house right, and it will keep you warm, dry, and secure for many years to come. Put it on wrong… and it will be a headache for many years to come.
• Life is like that. Do things the right way and you will delivered from horrors of wrong decisions… wrong actions.
• Do your taxes wrong (cheating!) and you may pay a steep price. But do your taxes right… and you are safe. Righteousness in doing taxes delivers you from the IRS… and perhaps jail!
• Many believers do not enter into marriage right. They may marry an unbeliever… and may suffer for it later. The one who approaches marriage properly, will be delivered from many heartaches.
• A man who runs a business and doesn’t do his jobs right (cutting corners; etc.) will suffer… he will lose customers… earn a bad reputation.
• The same thing holds true in running a church. If we do things right (God’s way) then we will be delivered from all kinds of trouble.
• Train your children the right way… according to the priorities found in the Word… and that will deliver you from years of regret and heartaches.
• The righteousness of the upright WILL deliver them!
f. Prov. 12:6 – the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
• Once again, uprightness delivers… keeps us safe.
• Here Solomon is speaking about the safety that comes as a result of a mouth that is characterized by uprightness… honesty… sincerity… openness.
• The opposite is true too. If our mouth is NOT characterized by uprightness… it will get us into a lot of trouble! (lose friends; job; earn a poor reputation; etc…)
• Watching our mouth will keep us safe… it might prevent you from getting into a fight… from causing division…
g. Prov. 14:11 – the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
• You want your life… your household to flourish? Then walk uprightly… do things right… God’s Way…
• Flourish = blossom.
• This speaks of being fruitful… having God’s blessing upon your household.
• The alternative is not too encouraging… overthrown!
• Psalm 84:11 – the way of the upright is the way of blessing from God.
The safety of the one who is upright:
God is our buckler… shield…
We won’t stumble… safe…
Delivered from trouble…
Guided through life…
Flourishing… blessed of God
Proverbs 10:10
He that Winketh with the Eye
Winking with the eye:
1. Prov. 6:13-14 – The one who winks with his eye is called a naughty person.
a. He uses his eyes to communicate… in context, an evil message! He uses the rest of his body to communicate too!
2. The eyes are in a sense the windows to the soul… (In fact, Solomon speaks of our eyes as windows in Ecc. 12:3 – windows be darkened = losing vision)
3. You can say a lot with your eyes…
a. Lots of messages can be communicated with our eyes…
b. We can communicate suspicion… surprise… disgust… disbelief… mocking…
c. Have you ever noticed in a group of people talking that there are several silent conversations taking place in the background through body language? (While the teacher is teaching a class—the kids can be silently saying with their eyes “This is boring!” or “This is awesome!!”
d. We can smile approvingly with our eyes…
e. But eyes can also scowl… glare… and say “I hate you!”
f. Today a wink can mean several things:
• It can express flirtation… making a pass…
• It can also mean, “I’m not telling the truth…”
• It can be a grandfatherly way of saying “Hi” or showing attention.
• It is often used in pulling pranks or jokes on people—but even there it has the same meaning—deception… although not malicious.
4. In different cultures and in different time periods, there were no doubt different kinds of signals sent…
a. Ex: a signal in one culture might be a sign of friendliness, but a huge insult in another culture!
b. It is hard to know for sure the exact meaning of winking with the eyes in the mind of the ancient Jews.
5. Context: There are several things we DO know from Scripture about “winking”
a. Prov. 10:10 – the one who winks causes sorrow… to others. It is hurtful…
b. Prov. 6:13 – it had an evil connotation—naughty persons winked.
c. Ps. 35:19 – the psalmist was afraid that his enemy would “wink” at him.
d. Job 15:12 – Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at… (Here it was used in an evil connotation—with one whose heart carried him away… and he turned away from God.)
e. Acts 17:30 – And the times of this ignorance God winked at; God “overlooked” something.
f. Summary: winking was used of:
• Enemies; naughty persons
• Men feared being winked at
• It results in sorrow or hurt
• Usually appears in an evil context. (nothing cheerful)
6. But regardless of the exact meaning of a wink in Bible times, it was a means of communicating a message…
a. The naughty person used a wink of his eye for evil purposes…
b. With the wink of an eye he might be communicating that what he is saying is not true… or “don’t believe what so and so is saying.”
c. We can say a lot without opening our mouth.
7. The one who winks “causes sorrow.”
a. Sorrow: pain, hurt, injury, wound
b. Winking causes sorrow to others, while bringing a kind of selfish gratification to the one winking.
c. Winking involves two or more people. One person winks AT another person… or perhaps at a group of people.
• It is done behind the back of someone else… to deceive them…
• It is a way of making division… us against him or against them.
• It involves some folks who are “in” on the deception, and others who are left in the dark.
• There is the one who winks and his accomplices AND the one who is being deceived.
d. Thus, a lot of damage can be done by “winking.”
• It can be funny if it is a well-intentioned joke.
• But, if the intentions are not so good, it can hurt.
• It would be hurtful to discover that a group of your friends are all privy to something, and they left you out. It makes you feel like an outsider… that they are against you… left out…
• It can be even more sinister—a wink can be a sign to one’s accomplices when to come in to assist him in executing his wicked plot…
e. Actually, this kind of divisiveness is hurtful no matter HOW it is conducted! (Wink or no wink!)
• The SPIRIT of what Solomon is saying here certainly extends beyond the mechanics of it—winking.
• The spirit of the proverbs has to do with deceiving others unto their hurt.
• Matt. 26:48 – Judas used a different mechanism to accomplish the same thing: a kiss! All the soldiers knew what the kiss meant… and Judas assumed Jesus did not.
8. Wise parents will deal with the messages sent by body language from their child as if it were vocalized—it is the same thing.
a. The child is communicating a message…
b. The glare… the rolling of the eyes…
c. He doesn’t have to say “I hate you” or “You’re stupid”—but the eyes may say it.
d. That is rebellion just as much as if it were vocalized.
e. They are practicing deception or inflicting hurt… through winking!
f. If learned that he can communicate that message silently… it will only be a matter of time before he communicates it vocally.
g. And actually, both are equally wrong. The rebellion is in his heart… and WILL come out one way or another.
1. Prating = lip; language; speech (lit. = a fool of lips)
a. In this context, it describes someone who is “lippy”… “mouthy”… one who is a big mouth.
b. III John 10 – prating against us with malicious words.
c. However, this big mouth doesn’t communicate with his mouth, but rather with his eyes… he speaks with his eyes…
d. The same expression is found in 10:8.
• In this verse, the prating fool is contrasted to one who receives commandments.
• The wise man receives commandments…
• The mouthy fool will not listen or receive… he is a big mouth!
e. In both contexts, the fool is one who communicates a lot… more than he should.
f. Vs. 10 – this prating fool communicated with his eyes… he should have kept his eyes open… or his mouth shut… same thing!
g. In Prov. 10:10, the prating fool is the one who winks with his eye…
• He is deceptive…
• His communications are not honest…
• He has set himself up for a fall.
2. The prating fool shall FALL…
a. Fall = come to ruin; thrown down; cast down;
b. Whether he speaks with his mouth or his eyes… his malicious intent will catch up to him. He is in for a fall!
c. The fool who deceives others for his own selfish gratification will come to ruin…
d. Eventually, his deception will be discovered…
3. The fool FALLS a lot in the book of Proverbs!
a. 11:5b – the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
b. 11:28 – He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:
c. 16:18 – Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
d. 26:27 – Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
e. 28:10 – Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit…
4. Judas gave a secret sign to his accomplices…
a. At first, Judas thought that he won. He gained 30 pieces of silver.
b. But in the end, his secret sign was discovered. His wicked intentions were made public. His name is now infamous.
c. Judas was discovered. He ultimately threw away the 30 pieces of silver… and “fell down headlong” after committing suicide… out of pure guilt and shame… (Acts 1:18-19)
d. When we give secret signs… and use deception, we find ourselves in some unsavory company!
5. How much better to use wisdom—and avoid this kind of winking deception—or deception of any stripe!
a. Speak the truth in love…
b. Let your body language also speak the truth in love…
c. Prov. 4:23 – Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
• Instead of winking with the eyes, let your eyes look straight ahead… honest… open…
• Be honest with your tongue… AND your eyes… Honesty applies to body language too!
d. II Cor. 8:21 – Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
e. Prov. 3:3 – Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
• Is honesty written upon the table of your heart? Is honesty bound around your neck?
• It should characterize us as believers. Truth and honesty and integrity!
Proverbs 10:11
The Mouth of the Righteous Man
Introduction:
1. This is an important topic in Proverbs.
2. Consider how often the subject appears:
a. Mouth – 52 times
b. Lips – 42 times
c. Words – 40 times
d. Tongue – 19 times
e. About 150 times in 31 chapters (5 times per chapter!)
f. That does not even include the many other times the topic appears using different wording…
3. This is a huge subject in the book of Proverbs. Can you guess why?
a. James says, “in many things, we all offend” (3:2)
b. The tongue is a fire; a world of iniquity! (3:6)
c. The tongue can no man tame! (3:7-8)
4. Our tongue is flapping all day long…
a. It constantly expresses what is going on in our heart at the moment.
b. What it expresses is not always in harmony with the holiness of God.
c. This is a spiritual problem we all face… some more than others… but let’s face it—we ALL have problems with our mouths.
1. Most of the passages in Proverbs deal with a froward mouth… warnings about the evil that comes out of our mouths.
a. Most of the passages are warnings about the evil use of our mouth.
b. However, this verse is very positive about the mouth.
c. This verse speaks of the GOOD that can and should come from our mouths.
2. Here Solomon speaks about the mouth of a righteous man… a godly man.
a. A righteous man will speak of righteous things.
b. This is the RULE. Obviously there are exceptions.
• Sometimes righteous men speak evil things… they murmur… complain… gossip… slander… tear down…
• But as a rule, righteous men speak of righteous things.
c. Ps. 37:30 – The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
• Why does the righteous man speak wisely? Why is he discerning?
• Because the Law of God is in his heart. He is a man of the Scriptures!
• His mouth speaks of wisdom because wisdom is in his heart.
• This is good old-fashioned common sense: if you want to hear someone speak of righteousness, then go to a righteous man!
• If you want to hear Chinese spoken, go to a Chinaman. If you want to hear Russian spoken, go to a Russian. If you want to hear French spoken, go to a Frenchman. And if you want to hear righteousness spoken, go to a righteous man! It only makes sense.
• You won’t hear righteousness spoken by the ungodly. They don’t speak that language. It is foreign to them.
• Rom. 3:13-14 – the mouth of the ungodly.
d. 10:31 – The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom:
• The word for “just” here is the same Hebrew word as is translated righteous in 10:11. (Hence, this is the mouth of the righteous…)
• Here Solomon states that the mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.
• If you want wisdom, go to a righteous man.
• The Bible speaks often about our need for counsel.
• One of the most important pieces of counsel we will ever receive is when we are counselled as to where to find good counsel!
• Walk NOT in the counsel of the ungodly. (Ps. 1:1)
• But if you want good counsel… if you want wisdom… then go to a place where you can get it! Go to a wise man… a godly man… a righteous man.
• Not every believer qualifies. Sometimes well meaning, but ill taught Christians give poor counsel… worldly counsel… spiritually damaging counsel.
• But the mouth of the just is a source for WISDOM.
e. 10:32 – The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.
• The righteous man also knows what is acceptable. (fitting; good; appropriate)
• Righteous men have discernment… and not only know what is good and right, but they also know what is an appropriate way to communicate it… they seem to have discernment in knowing the appropriate timing… a fitting way to present it…
• Col. 4:5 – Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
• Prov. 25:15 – a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
• I have heard some believers speak truth… but in a loud, boisterous, obnoxious way.
• They don’t seem to know an appropriate manner and tone to say it… a fitting context in which to speak… or the proper timing…
• The lips of the righteous man know what is acceptable… fitting.
• Pray for that kind of discernment. It is priceless beyond rubies!
1. A well of life—figurative language
a. A well is a SOURCE of water… a source of something to refresh the soul.
• Those who live in a desert area go to the well weary, and expect to be refreshed.
• The well is FULL of water… cool, refreshing water.
• Nothing is better than water when you are hot and thirsty.
• A thirsty soul needs water… and a well is a deep source that meets that need.
b. The mouth of man is a SOURCE too.
• The mouth of the wicked is a source of evil… because the man is evil… his heart is evil. (Matt. 15:18-19)
» The mouth of the wicked is a well of sin and death…
» When you talk to an evil man you can expect evil to pour forth from his mouth.
» A contaminated well brings forth contaminated water.
• The mouth of the righteous is a well of life.
» If the man’s heart is right with God… a pure heart… a regenerated and Spirit filled heart… then that which comes out of the mouth is going to be good…
» Out of that man’s heart come righteousness and life…
• Examples of the mouth of the righteous in Proverbs.
» Prov. 10:20-21 -T he tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
» 12:14 – A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: (see 13:2)
» Just as a well is a place where the body is satisfied… thirst is quenched… the lips are “fed” what they need… so too the mouth of the righteous brings satisfaction… and quenches thirst.
» Is your mouth like that? Does it satisfy or does it murmur and spew out dissatisfaction?
» It is difficult to even be around folks who are constantly complaining… about their health… the weather… politicians…
» Sure, there are a lot of things to complain about.
» But the righteous man uses his mouth more positively. His mouth is a well of life… a source of good…
» There may be times when it is necessary to be negative… but over all, his mouth is full of good.
2. A well is an unending source… the water just keeps coming and coming.
a. So too with the things that tend toward life… that aid the abundant life…
b. In a righteous man, the mouth will be an unending source of life and good.
c. One expects water every time he goes to the well.
d. One should expect to hear GOOD every time a righteous man opens his mouth.
e. You don’t have to cringe wondering what he’s going to say… (Will his language be off color? Will his joke be irreverent? Will his language be offensive?)
f. A righteous man will speak righteously! Good things continually come from his mouth. There is no need to be constantly on guard around him. You can trust him.
3. Of course, the problem not mentioned by Solomon is the problem of inconsistency. James brings up that problem.
a. Jas. 3:10 – out of the same mouth proceeds blessing (at times) and cursings (at times.)
b. Vs. 9 – We go to church and bless God’s holy name… and then ride home from church and get in an argument with our wife or yell at the kids!
c. Vs. 11-12 – Nature tells us that this kind of behavior is not right…
d. The problem: we have two natures! (sin and new nature)
• A righteous man still has two natures… and still has the potential to use his tongue for good or evil.
• If evil is coming out of our mouth, our old nature is in control.
• If good is coming out of our mouth, the new nature is in control.
e. The discouraging news is that NO MAN has ever tamed the tongue… completely. (Jas. 3:8)
f. The encouraging news is that our sin nature was nailed to the tree… crucified with Christ… and by faith we can walk in newness of life.
• For the believer today, the answer is the Holy Spirit.
• The Spirit in us is also like a well of water springing up… living water! (John 7:38)
• The mouth of the believer, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, will also be a well of life… a source of good for others…
g. We don’t HAVE to allow our tongue to sin. It is our choice.
h. But, it is a choice we need to be on guard against at all times… vigilance.
4. The mouth of the righteous is a well of life… meant for the good of those who come to the well.
a. Eph. 4:29 – Use your tongue to minister grace to the hearers!
b. Col. 3:16-17 – You want to be used of the Lord? Do you want your tongue to be a source of good… a well of life? Then let the Word of God dwell richly in your heart! If it’s in your heart, it will come out of your mouth.
Proverbs 10:12a
What Kind of People Stir Up Strife?
Introduction:
1. Solomon studied many aspects of life and recorded many of his findings in Proverbs.
2. He studied ants, spiders, birds… and wrote down his observations.
3. He also studied human beings… and recorded his observations as well…
a. Thus, in Proverbs, we have a divinely inspired book on human psychology.
b. There is nothing wrong with psychology… the study of man.
c. While Proverbs is not a book on psychology per se, it does contain a lot of information about the human psyche…
d. What we learn about the human psyche in this book is true.
e. What men write about psychology is to be questioned… realizing that mere men who write on human nature are not writing objectively—but from a fallen, twisted perspective.
4. Let’s look at God’s analysis of the troublemaker… one who stirs up strife. What is he or she like?
Description of the Troublemaker
1. He is characterized by hatred.
a. 10:12 – hatred stirs up strife.
• The troublemaker is often angry and full of hate for one reason or another.
• He may be bitter over some low blow he perceives having been done to him.
• He may have a chip on his shoulder over being slighted… overlooked…
• This hatred could have been brought on by envy, jealousy, slander, insult… any number of events in life.
• When someone has hatred in their heart, look out! They are a time bomb ticking away… ready to explode into trouble.
• There are lots of examples in the Bible of men who hated others… and the trouble that resulted from it: Cain; Esau; Joseph’s brothers; Haman hated Mordecai; Saul hated David; the other presidents hated Daniel…
b. 10:18 – hatred is sometimes hidden under a nice exterior—lying lips.
• Some folks may stir up trouble… and others may have no idea of the hatred that is in their heart… because lying lips cover up the hatred.
• Hatred is a vicious sin. Get rid of it. Confess it. Forsake it. It can be the source of all kinds of trouble being stirred up.
• Don’t let hatred boil up in your heart.
c. 26:24-26 – hatred is sometimes hidden by deceit.
• A hateful man or woman will often have hatred laid up within…
• BUT—his or her words are sweet. You would never know that there are 7 abominations in his heart.
• The only good news is that that deceptive hatred is often discovered.
• But until it is exposed = a LOT of trouble and hurt can be inflicted on many people!
2. He has a big mouth.
a. Prov. 18:6 – fools lips engage in contention.
• This implies that the one who enters into contentions may have a big mouth… his LIPS enter into contention.
• His folly lies in his lips… his big mouth…
b. Prov. 16:27-28 – the lips of this man is like a burning fire…
• One little word from his mouth can set a whole house on fire… a church on fire…
• He uses his mouth to sow strife… (Sowing = spreading the seeds of strife everywhere he goes.)
• He is like Johnny Appleseed—only he is planting trouble wherever he goes.
• We have all come in contact with this kind of person.
• They separate chief friends. By their words… gossip… innuendoes… they drive wedges between people… friends, church members, parents and children, even between spouses!
• The results of their strife can be disastrous for relationships.
3. He is contentious by nature…
a. He digs up evil… (16:27)
• Even after an issue has been laid to rest… buried… he digs it up again…
• He just won’t let an issue die and be buried. He insists on digging up the rotting corpse… and exposing everyone to its stench.
• You want strife to end? Don’t dig it up. Keep it buried… even if you have to eat a little humble pie to do so… even if the big mouth gets the last word… suffer yourself to be defrauded if necessary… just keep it buried.
• Once you dig it up—you start the controversy all over again.
b. 26:20-21 – a contentious man stirs up strife—it is his nature; he loves it.
• A contentious man loves to keep the flames of the fire burning… he just loves a good fight…
• Solomon analyzed the population sample he came in contact with and noted that a certain percentage of men just love to argue… they are contentious by nature… and will do whatever it takes to keep the controversy alive.
• Just like a fire—most controversies among men will die out on their own if no more fuel is added to the flames. But some men—like pyromaniacs—are intent on stoking the fire with more fuel.
4. He loves sin.
a. 17:19 – he who loves transgression loves strife.
b. These two character traits go hand in hand.
c. Over the years, Solomon observed that men who caused trouble and strife seemed to love transgression… they love crossing the line…
d. You have to love sin to love strife—for when you cause strife, you are multiplying sin: your sin… and you drag many others into sin… strife… anger… cursing… slander… division…
e. It is like saying, the one who loves throwing rocks in a lake loves watching the ripple effect of his actions.
5. He is full of anger.
a. 29:22 – an angry man stirs up strife.
• An angry man is one who has no self-control.
• He is not filled with the Spirit—but is filled with anger.
• A furious man ABOUNDS in sin… and trouble.
• 15:18 – a wrathful man stirs up strife.
• The man or woman who cannot or does not control his anger is the source of unlimited trouble…
• You want to rid your home of strife? Keep strife out of the church? The workplace? Keep your heart with all diligence! Be filled with the Spirit… do not let the sun go down upon your wrath!
6. He is proud.
a. 28:25 – he that is of a proud heart stirs up strife.
• If there is pride in the heart… it often manifests itself in strife.
• Pride says, “I want my way.” “I’m right; you’re wrong.”
• Pride says, “Me first.”
• I am not getting the respect I deserve; the position I deserve
• I demand the last word. No one is going to speak to me like that! No one is going to insult me.
• Pride refuses to be humbled… and humility is NEEDED to end strife… to prevent strife…
b. 13:10 – only by pride comes contention
• Every single controversy among men comes about as a result of pride—on one party or both.
• If people are fighting… if there is a controversy… if there is strife… rest assured, somewhere beneath the surface is human pride!
c. Solomon observed troublemakers and noticed that in every single case—they were proud men.
7. Sometimes, troublemakers are drunks… or druggies.
a. 23:29-30 – a drunk causes much contention… they are in a fighting mode.
b. A person who is drunk has no self-control… the evil in his heart is going to come out…
8. The New Testament also describes the troublemaker… the one who sows strife and breeds contention:
a. Jas.4:1 – worldly lusts in men are the cause of strife and contention in the church.
• James asks the question, “Where do wars and controversies come from?”
• His answer: from your lusts… desires.
• What kind of lust? It is not sexual lust.
• Rather, he is speaking of worldly lusts (4:4)
• This is a source of MUCH strife in the local church.
» It was the case in the Exodus—it was a mixed multitude that caused so much strife… not the godly remnant.
» There will always be those who seek to tear down our standards… who seek to introduce worldly music… water down the message… make things lighter… less convicting… more fun… like the world.
» That will always be a source of strife and controversy between them and the godly remnant.
» They will murmur and complain—just like the mixed multitude did in the wilderness.
» The worldly professors constantly cause strife and anguish for the godly remnant.
b. I Cor. 3:3 – carnal men produce strife…
• All of the above indicate that it is the carnal believer who causes strife… one who is not under the control of the Spirit of God, but is under the control of the flesh.
• It is not immaturity, but carnality that results in strife.
• The carnal believer walks like “men”… unsaved men. He behaves no differently.
• Strife is ALWAYS the result of carnality among believers.
c. Jas. 3:14-16 – one influenced by demons stirs up strife.
• James lets us know something else about the troublemakers in the local church—they are influenced by demons!
• Strife in the local church (in God’s program for this age) is often rooted in demonic influence. (not possession—but influence)
• The devil would like nothing more than to ruin God’s work from within.
• Unfortunately, he finds no shortage of volunteers in his service.
• A true believer would not willingly be used of the devil… but they can be… unawares… vessels for the evil master’s use!
• What an awful thought… but one we should be apprised of.
• If God’s goal is peace and unity in the Body of Christ, rest assured that the devil’s plan is disunity and unrest… schism…
Conclusion: The Bible gives us a pretty good insight into the character… the heart and mind of a troublemaker:
1. He is characterized by:
• Hatred
• Deceit
• A big mouth
• Contentious
• Loves sin
• An angry man
• Proud
• Worldly lusts
• Carnal
• Demonically influenced
Proverbs 10:12b
Love Covereth All Sins
Introduction:
1. This verse is a parallelism of opposites: love and hate; cover and stirring up;
2. The last time in Proverbs we looked at the first half: hatred that stirs up strife. We noted that Proverbs has a lot to say about troublemakers!
3. The opposite of stirring up strife through hatred is now discussed: exercising LOVE to cover up sins.
4. This passage is quoted or alluded to by both Peter (4;8) and James (5:20)
WHAT does this NOT mean?
• Liberals have interpreted the verse to mean that kindness and love will cover our sins in the sense of atoning for sin. (good works will make up for our sins)
• It does not mean a spiritually insensitive indifference to sin.
• Jesus certainly did not cover up all the sins of the Pharisees.
• John the Baptist didn’t cover up the sin of Herod.
• It does not mean covering up a crime from the authorities.
• It does not mean covering up our own sins.
HOW does love cover sin?
1. Sometimes love covers sin by going to a brother and POINTING OUT HIS SIN… in love… and meekness.
a. Matt. 18:15-18 – When a fault between believers is settled on a one to one basis, the sin can be covered up permanently. It need not be repeated.
• We are to seek his restoration… confession to God and forgiveness from God.
• THEN his sin is truly covered—covered by the blood of Christ and forgiven. (I John 1:9)
• But if the brother doesn’t respond, the sin may not be covered.
b. James 5:19-20 – James quotes Proverbs 10:12 and applies it to restoration of a brother.
• It is a brother (one of YOU)
• A brother errs (wanders) from the truth—involved in false doctrine or wrong practice.
• If a brother coverts him (causes him to turn around and come home), he has saved a soul from death (God may have taken his life!)
• And he covered a multitude of sins—restored a brother from a life of sin… now that brother walks with God.
• Anyone who is willing to restore a brother like that is demonstrating Christlike LOVE!
2. Sometimes love covers up sin by OVERLOOKING it.
a. When a believer loses their temper… when a brother says an unkind word… an indiscretion… when a brother speaks a word of slander in passing… (a little dig)…
b. There is a time to rebuke; there is a time to remain silent too. Pray for discernment to know the difference. (Ecc. 3:7)
• Matt. 23 – Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees.
• John 8:3-11 – Jesus attempted to cover up the sin of the woman caught in adultery. He did not ignore her sin, but forgave her… and did what He could to take it OUT of the limelight.
c. One who walks worthily will “forbear one another in love.” (Eph. 4:2)
• We are to forbear one another… bear with one another’s shortcomings… faults…
• Note that this is done in love. Love forbears and covers the faults of others. Hatred digs them up and exposes to the public eye.
d. I Cor. 13:7 – love bears all things… even our faults and indiscretions…
e. Love seeks to cover it up… by not repeating it. (Prov. 17:9)
• This is a more aggressive wording. It involves actively SEEKING to do deeds of love by covering up sin.
• This implies more than passively overlooking a sin. This implies actively seeking to cover it up.
f. Ex: Joseph to his brothers (Gen. 45:5-8)
• What a perfect opportunity to expose their sin and rub it in their face.
• He could have made them pay dearly.
• Instead, Joseph chose to bury it. It was history.
• It must have been tempting for Joseph to seek revenge… he certainly would have been justified in the eyes of men after what his brothers did to him!
• Love covers sin; hatred stirs up strife and drags out the controversy.
• Have you ever been in a position to rub someone’s sin in their face? It feels good to get even… but it’s sin.
• Love covers it up… hatred stirs it up.
g. Overlooking the faults and sins of others often involves forgiveness—if the offence is against you.
• Wicked men and righteous men both overlook sin—but for different reasons.
• The wicked hide their own sin: deceit.
• The righteous hides the sins of others: forgiveness.
• The word for “cover” is translated “forgiven” in Ps.32:1
• When someone sins against you, are you able to cover it up? Forgive them without making a big deal of it?
• Some sins against you may require going to the brother (if it is eating away at you…)
• On other occasions it is best to simply bury it… cover it up… and not spread it.
3. Sometimes love covers up sin by NOT EXPOSING IT.
a. Shem and Japheth (Gen. 9:23)
b. It was a shameful thing that did not need to be looked at, exposed, or discussed. (Eph. 5:12)
c. The Bible describes much sinful behavior (adultery; homosexuality; murder; incest) — but (unlike Hollywood) it does so without the gory and grisly details! It covers them up.
d. Even if a sin has been exposed, love covers up the shameful details.
4. I have known believers who have gone overboard in one direction or the other with this issue.
a. Some make a big deal out of every sin and infraction and insist that discipline be executed each and every time.
b. Others seem to overlook every sin as if it were nothing… taking a light view of sin.
c. There needs to be discernment exercised in knowing what to do in different situations.
d. These two concepts also seem to describe two different parenting types: the military drill sergeant vs. the lenient parent who is indifferent towards sin.
e. As in everything, there needs to be a discerning balance. Going overboard in any direction is never a good idea.
5. Love will not only overlook the sin—but it will overlook the offence.
a. It will not hold grudges… ill feelings toward the offender…
b. It will be ready to bury the offence… not bring it up again…
6. By this kind of love, strife is avoided. (work; home; church)
a. When someone does or says something against you, are you able to say, “It was an oversight; it was done through forgetfulness; it was an oversight”… in some way to put the best construction on it.
b. Or do you have to dig up every word said about you? Every deed?
c. I have dealt with some folks who seem to have been on a rampage in what they called “a quest for truth.” “I just want to know the truth.” When in reality, they are bent on digging up dirt…
d. How much better to be able to bury dirt… to overlook indiscretions of others… to cover a multitude of sins… that’s love.
Proverbs 10:13-14
Wisdom and Folly Contrasted Again
The Wise Man
1. He has understanding.
a. “Him that hath understanding…”—the first description of the wise man in this context.
b. He HAS it… he possesses it… it belongs to him.
c. How did this man obtain his wisdom and understanding? He listened… he paid attention…(Prov. 1:5)
• O, if only we would listen better!
• I know it’s hard to pay attention during a long class… or a long sermon… it’s easy to tune the teacher out.
• But what increase would be ours if we would try.
• Try this sometime: listen to a sermon or Sunday school class in person… and then play a tape of it later and see if you hear something new!
• A wise husband will hear his wife—really listen! A Wise wife will do the same… and wise children will pay attention when their parents speak…
• Prov. 9:9 – he takes instruction and increases in wisdom.
• When Solomon speaks of the wisdom of man who has understanding, he doesn’t mean that the wise man was BORN with this wisdom. He got it the old fashioned way!
2. He speaks Wisdom.
a. He IS wise, and since he has wisdom in his heart, it comes out of his mouth.
b. Wise lips are the fruit of an understanding heart.
c. Matt. 12:34-35 – What’s in his heart will eventually come out. Hypocrites are good at covering it up for a while…
d. Prov. 17:28 – that’s why a fool can appear to be wise if he keeps his mouth shut… but as soon as he opens it, he exposes himself to be a fool.
e. But when a wise man speaks, wisdom comes out!
• If wisdom is found in the lips of wise men, then seek out wise men! Listen when they speak!
• If you want wisdom, go to a wise man for counsel!
3. He lays up knowledge.
a. Lays up = to hide, treasure, treasure or store up
b. The wise person VALUES knowledge. He stores it up like a greedy man would store up treasure. This IS his treasure!
c. The truly wise man realizes his limitations.
• He realizes how much he doesn’t know… and seeks to gain ground.
• The fool thinks he knows it all already!
d. This is a good proof text to promote continuing education.
• When your child asks, “Why do I have to go to school?” Why should I go to college?
» The Biblical answer is found here! Wise men lay up knowledge.
» Not just so you can make more money!
» But it is not just GOING to school. One could go to school and not treasure knowledge… not give much attention to laying it up!
e. The same thing is true of spiritual knowledge.
• It is good to lay up spiritual knowledge.
• It is also possible to come to church faithfully, and not TREASURE spiritual knowledge… not store it up… to allow it to go in one ear and out the other. That happens all too often.
f. It is God’s will that we all lay up knowledge.
• We are COMMANDED to grow in the knowledge of Christ. (II Pet. 3:18)
• Paul prayed that believers would increase in the knowledge of God… (Col. 1:10)
• What we learn from God’s Word should not simply be laid up in the sense of being stored away in a dusty old attic. It implies treasuring it away… keeping it… valuing it… making sure it is not lost!
g. Ecc. 12:9-10 – Solomon says of himself, “BECAUSE the preacher was wise, he SOUGHT OUT and set in order many proverbs.
• Because he had wisdom, he sought for more…
• He sought to lay up many proverbs for future use… his and ours. Aren’t you glad he did?!
• The wise man lays up wisdom so he will have it when he needs it!
• He also lays it up and sometimes records it in print so that others can benefit from his wisdom too!
• Parents: read books on childrearing… you never know when some of that material might come in handy!
• Church members: read books on church history—
• Musicians: keep on studying your instrument…
• Students: keep on learning your algebra—even though you may see no need for it today.
• Christian: keep on reading the WHOLE counsel of God—even those portions you feel are not so relevant to your life today… it may be tomorrow!
The Fool
1. He is void of understanding. (vs. 13c)
a. What the wise man has, the fool lacks: understanding.
b. The fool can’t cry, “Unfair.” How did the wise man obtain his wisdom? A wise man will hear. A fool refuses to hear… to learn… to pay attention.
2. A rod is for his back. (vs. 13)
a. God says this is what the fool deserves: corporal punishment.
• Our culture and society balks at such a thought.
• Remember the bad press given to Korea for “caning” the American caught selling drugs?!
b. Prov. 26:3 – Just as you would use an instrument to force a stubborn animal into submission, a fool needs a rod… you’ve got to whip a donkey to get him to move in the right direction!
c. Ps. 32:9 – don’t be like a mule! Like the fool, the mule has no understanding either!
d. Prov. 22:15 – The rod needs to be applied to children to drive out their folly before it becomes too deeply ingrained.
• Young people: thank God for parents who discipline you… you may not like it now, but it will drive folly from you… and benefit you the rest of your life!
• But the one who does not have his folly driven from him will suffer the rest of his life… one way or another.
e. Matthew Henry: “He exposes himself to the lashes of his own conscience, to the scourges of the tongue, to the censures of the magistrate, and to the righteous judgments of God.”
3. His mouth is his destruction.
a. Prov. 13:3 – He opens his mouth wide and suffers for it!
b. Prov. 18:7 – Solomon repeats this theme! A fool’s mouth is his destruction… his undoing!
c. His mouth may well be the undoing and destruction of others too.
• Foolish persons have ruined families with their mouths… spreading slander and lies.
• Foolish persons have ruined churches… brought destruction upon the work of God because of their vicious gossip…
Proverbs 10:16
The Labor of the Righteous
Introduction:
1. This verse is another version of that familiar principle: you reap what you sow.
2. It looks at it from both the positive and negative angles.
3. It also speaks about the results of each.
16a The labor of the righteous tendeth to life… (positive)
1. The labor of the righteous.
a. This speaks of that for which a righteous man WORKS…
b. Everybody works for something… righteous men and evil men…
c. But there is a difference between that for which righteous and unrighteous men work… even though they may work side by side in the same plant.
2. What a righteous man labors for:
a. He labors for his family.
· It’s a lot of work to bring up a Christian family nowadays.
· The righteous man labors to earn his living… and provide for the needs of his family.
· If a man provides not for his own, he is worse than an infidel… an unbeliever! (I Tim. 5:8)
b. He also labors in the word of God. (I Tim. 5:17)
· It is work to labor in the Word…
· While this is speaking about elders, it is also true that ANY godly man will labor in the Word… to one degree or another.
· A righteous man will lead his family in devotions. That’s labor… a labor of love.
c. He labors in teaching and training his children… (Eph. 6:4)
· That too is a lot of work.
· It is a labor of love for the Lord AND your children.
· It’s easy to slack off in this department… but just remember the principle of the passage: “you reap what you sow.”
· It is labor that pays off.
d. He labors for his local church. (I Cor. 15:58)
· God saved us that we might serve Him.
· A righteous man labors for the Lord in the local church.
· We are to be always ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord. It is not in vain. (Other pursuits in life might prove to be vain at the Bema…)
· It may be in teaching, singing, cleaning… or a 1001 other ways.
· Boy have we seen a lot of righteous men laboring on this building project!
· But all service for God IS work… labor… whatever your ministry might be.
· Solomon describes it as the labor of the righteous.
e. He labors that he might have to give to others. (Eph. 4:28)
· A righteous man labors not just for himself.
· The labors of a righteous man are also to help a brother in need…
f. He labors bringing the gospel to the lost in his community.
· The disciples were called to leave their labors in the fishing industry and labor in another field… bringing the gospel around the world.
· In a sense, we have all been called to that kind of labor.
· A righteous man will labor in bringing others to Christ.
3. The labors of the righteous tendeth to life. (meaning)
a. Gal. 6:8 – sow to the flesh and you will reap corruption. Sow to the Spirit, and you will reap life everlasting.
· This does not mean that you EARN everlasting life by sowing to the Spirit.
· Only a believer can sow to the Spirit. He is writing to folks who already have everlasting life.
· In context, Paul is speaking about money… support for those who teach the Word. (vs. 6)
· His point is that we can use money to satisfy the flesh OR we can use money to support spiritual endeavors.
· We can choose how to spend our money, but once spent, we cannot choose the harvest. That is settled in the original decision.
· The principle is much broader than the immediate context. You reap what you sow. Once you sow your seed, your harvest is determined.
b. The labors of the righteous bring forth fruit that is determined by the sort of labor!
· A righteous man labors in righteous things… his harvest will be good…
· His harvest will tend towards life… and that which aids or supports a good life.
· To be spiritually minded is life and peace. It doesn’t produce life, but it aids our new life… tends towards life… bolsters life…
4. The labors of the righteous tendeth to life.
a. His labors in the home tend to life…
· His labors with his children tend to bring about the salvation of their souls!
· His labors in the home tend to produce an atmosphere where new life can flourish…
b. His labors in the Word tend to life…
· His labors in the Word strengthen his own personal spiritual life…
· His labors in the Word strengthen the spiritual lives of his family…
c. His labors in the local church tend to life…
· His labor in the local church tends to strengthen the spiritual life and vitality of the church.
· His labors for the Lord in the local church tend to build up the spiritual lives of other believers… (Sunday school class; youth group worker; music)
· He may labor with his hands to give to others… give money… give a helping hand…
· A righteous man is generous with his labors… this tends to life—to aid or enhance the lives of others.
d. His labors for the lost tend to life…
· His labors in his own private mission field result in others coming to know Christ and receiving eternal life.
· In every way, the labors of the righteous tend to life.
4. Prov. 11:30 – the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
a. The labor of the righteous = the fruit of the righteous.
b. Both tend to life… or another way of saying it—is a tree of life… an ongoing source of good fruit…
c. The life of a righteous man is like a tree of life… he keeps on producing works that tend to life… an unending source of spiritual strength, vitality, nourishment, health… that which sustains and the abundant life.
5. Hebrews 6:10 – God remembers your labors for Him.
a. God remembers those who labor in prayer for the saints… though none see.
b. God remembers those who clean the church… season after season…
c. God remembers those who share the gospel with the lost… and don’t blow their own trumpet about it…
d. God remembers those who labor putting up the building…
e. God remembers those who give… those who work with the children…
f. God remembers those who are friendly to visitors… those who encourage and counsel other believers… those who teach the Word… those who practice special music… those who work with the youth…
g. God remembers and rewards the labor of the righteous man. You reap what you sow… in God’s time.
6. John 6:27 – labor not for that meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to eternal life!
a. Everybody is laboring for something. Labor for something worthwhile… that which will endure…
b. The labors of a righteous man tends to life…
16b The fruit of the wicked to sin…
1. Now Solomon speaks of the negative side of the principle—
a. The righteous man is contrasted to the wicked.
b. His labor is contrasted to the wicked man’s sin.
c. Just as the verb was added (note italics) in the first phrase, it needs to be added here to. “The fruit of the wicked tendeth to sin.”
d. “Fruit” = produce or product (not the word for fruit…)
· Solomon is speaking about that which the wicked man produces through his labors: sin!
· The labors of the righteous man result in aiding the abundant life… newness of life…
· The labors of the wicked results in the opposite: sin!
· A corrupt tree produces corrupt fruit; a contaminated well does not produce clean water…
e. The labors of a righteous man produce much good. The labors of a wicked man result in evil… sin…
· Take warning young people—choose your friends carefully.
· Choose righteous friends. That will HELP your spiritual life.
· Choose “unrighteous” friends and that will HURT your spiritual life.
· You reap what you sow.
· Matt. 7:17-18 – Jesus put it this way: good trees produce good fruit. Corrupt trees cannot produce good fruit. Therefore, don’t pick off a corrupt tree!
2. Isaiah 3:10 – Isaiah put it this way: the righteous shall eat the fruit of his own doing… but woe to the wicked. He too shall eat of the fruit of his own doings.
a. Each tendeth to his own end… the righteous to life… and the wicked to sin and death.
b. This principle is inescapable… and has been proven over and over again.
c. And it doesn’t matter how MUCH the labor of the righteous man produces. His “little” is better than the wicked man’s “much.” (Psalm 37:16)
d. Every man will EAT of his own fruit… he will reap what he has sown.
e. Be careful what you sow… use your labors for good…
Proverbs 10:17
Keeping or Refusing Instruction
17a He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction.
1. Keeping instruction:
a. Keep = to keep, guard, observe, give heed; keep watch and ward, protect.
b. Instruction: discipline, chastening, correction
c. The one who keeps instruction is one who:
• Pays attention to and takes heed to any correction he recieves.
• The child who responds well to being corrected… disciplined…
• The church member who is rebuked by the elders or even disciplined… and who responds in repentance…
• The employee who is able to be told he is doing something wrong and it needs to change… and he changes!
• The student who is chastised for laziness and then put more effort into their schoolwork…
2. These folks are in the way of life.
a. The way of life = the way life OUGHT to be lived.
b. Correction directs us to the RIGHT way to live…
c. Instruction sets that right way before us to follow…
d. The whole purpose of instruction is to correct us from a wrong way, and set us headed down the right way.
e. The one who receives correction is headed down the right way… and will REMAIN on the right way… because he is humble enough to receive correction and change when he makes a mistake!
f. Are you humble enough to take correction?
• From your boss? From your wife? Your kids? The elders? The Pastor? A brother in the Lord? An unsaved friend?
• If we have enough humility to receive correction, and respond properly to that correction, we are on the way of life and will stay there!
g. Prov. 8:32-35 – those who hear instruction find life… the good life… the life worth living… they are blessed of God and discover God’s favor in their life.
• Do you have God’s favor in your life? You can’t fight against Him!
• There isn’t much sense in seeking to provide our own blessings in life. God can simply blow upon all that we gather together on our own.
h. It is also possible to understand this phrase as “he IS a way of life.” (no “in”)
• If this is the case, then the author is saying that the life of such a person becomes a GUIDE for others…
• Watch that person’s life—that’s the way to live. He takes correction.
3. Instruction, correction, chastening, and discipline are good for us.
a. It is often humiliating, hard to take, ego crushing, and embarrassing, but it is how we learn!
b. Prov. 27:6 – “A friend means well, even when he hurts you.”
• A friend is willing to wound you or me… not because they like to wound, but because they don’t want their friends headed down the wrong road.
• Count your critics as friends. (That’s hard to do… but true!)
• A friend is willing to wound because they want us on the way of life… not death.
• You’ve seen the bumper sticker, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk”… which is good as far as it goes.
• Sometimes God has to “hurt” us to help us. Faithful are His wounds too! Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth… even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
c. Prov. 27:9 – VALUE the counsel from a friend! It rejoices the heart.
• Prov. 20:15 – the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
• Cf. Psalm 141:5 – it is like a precious ointment.
d. God corrects and chastens us to keep us in the way of life too.
• Heb.12: – no chastening for the present seemeth to be good, but grievious, nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
• Every time we open God’s Word to read (daily!) we are being chastened… trained… disciplined by the Lord, IF we receive His instruction.
• There is ALWAYS something God wants to teach us in His Word.
• We should pray like the psalmist, “open mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things from thy law.”
• The Bible is God’s complete manual, full of instruction!
e. Even when the instruction comes from another source (as opposed to reading the instruction in the Word)… consider it a message from the Lord.
• It may be the pastor needs to approach about an obvious trend in your life…
• It may be that your spouse has to point something out to you…
• It may even be your boss…a brother in the Lord.
• Consider this instruction ultimately from God. God uses people in our lives.
• THIS is the way of life.
f. Prov. 19:20 – no one LIKES to be reproved, but keep in mind that it is good for you in the long run… in the end.
• It may mean making some tough decisions today, but in the end, it will be worth it.
• Sometimes when men give us counsel in means backtracking… doing something over… changing direction… maybe eating some humble pie.
g. Give counsel and instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser! (Prov. 9:9)
17b But he that refuseth reproof erreth
1. Now Solomon speaks about the opposite of a man who hears instruction… the one who REFUSES reproof.
2. Reproof: rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment
3. Refuseth: to leave, abandon, forsake, neglect
a. This is the man who hears reproof… but walks away from it… neglects it… ignores it… forsakes it.
b. There is no excuse for this kind of behavior. It is not a matter of ignorance. This man heard, but refused to heed.
4. To turn a deaf ear to the voice that is trying to help us… and to save us from ruin is a most fearful error!
a. Prov. 12:1-2 – this kind of behavior is “brutish” (stupid!)
b. This folly is the result of a heart that is not humbled.
c. Resistance to correction as a child leads to uncontrollable arrogance and pride later in life.
d. Parents need to nip this behavior in the bud… lest it develops into a habit, and then into character…
e. It is the responsibility of parents to MAKE their children obey. Dad, you’re bigger and stronger than that 4-year-old. You CAN make him obey. When he’s 18 and weighs 200 pounds it might be too late!
5. Refusing correction is the forerunner to destruction.
a. Prov. 1:25-31 – they refused my counsel… they will eat of the fruit of their own ways.
b. Prov. 29:1 – some men are reproved often, and seem to get away with it…
• There may be no immediate consequences, and hence they ridicule the advice and reproof… and continue in their foolish ways…
• Then suddenly they find the roof caving in…
c. Prov. 13:18 – when reproof is NOT heeded, it can bring a man to poverty or shame.
• Doesn’t it make sense to LISTEN to counsel and avoid the shame and poverty?
• Warn a man who drinks about the danger of drinking and you may be laughed at by him… yet he may discover later in life that alcohol ruined his life and brought him to poverty and shame!
• Warn a man who is unfaithful to his wife… that too could bring him to poverty and shame…
d. II Chron. 16:7 – end of chapter. The pride of Asa led him to refuse instruction from one of God’s prophets. He paid a dear price. (life filled with wars; died a diseased man)
• Life is NOT easier when one forsakes the way of life… when one forsakes good counsel and instruction.
• The way of the transgressor is hard. Asa is proof.
• God gives us instruction for our GOOD… not to make life more difficult.
» Vs. 7 – Asa was rebuked… a rebuke which should have been taken as instruction on what NOT to do.
» Vs. 8 – a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the past was given.
» Vs. 9 – A warning of the consequences was given: ye shall have wars!
» Vs. 10 – Asa’s response? He became angry at the messenger! He oppressed some of the people too.
» Vs. 12 – God sent him a disease to his feet… since he didn’t want to walk with God— don’t walk at all!
» How foolish to ignore good counsel… it is the result of arrogance and pride… and we will pay for it in the end.
» A good reminder to KEEP instruction… and hence remain in the way of life… and blessing.
Proverbs 10:19
A Multitude of Words
Introduction:
1. Vs.18-21 – all center on the subject of speech—good and bad.
2. In vs.18 Solomon spoke about lying lips and slandering lips.
3. In vs.19 he speaks about a different kind of lips: non-stop lips…
A multitude of words…
1. Solomon first mentions a man who is verbose… a big mouth… motor mouth… one who never stops talking… the multitude of words… flow like a raging river that knows no end.
a. Have you ever met a person who never stops talking?
b. One who has no interest in listening to others…
c. His only interest is in taking and keeping the floor to him or herself.
d. This is not a girl thing either. Men are just as guilty of a “multitude of words.”
e. It is a selfish trait.
• I’m worth listening to… not you or anyone else!
• My stories are the best…
• I have something to say and worth listening to…
• Very often their stories are about themselves
f. There is no conversation… because conversations flow back and forth. This just flows forth from his mouth in a multitude of words that doesn’t allow anyone else opportunity to pipe in.
g. Some folks are ingenious at it too.
• They don’t even come up for air in between sentences.
• They seamlessly weave from one subject to the next… without missing a beat.
• They never have a closing remark… their last sentence becomes a natural segue into their next topic…
• One story reminds them of another story, which reminds them of another story…
h. All one has to do to turn on that endless spigot is to say, “How are you?”
i. This is the man Solomon is describing—one out of whose mouth flows a multitude of words.
j. Prov. 29:11 – the fool utters all his mind (and is proud of it!)
2. Ecc. 5:3 – a fool is characterized by an abundance of words.
a. He has an opinion on every subject—whether he has done his homework on the subject or not.
b. He has something to say about every issue—whether he knows anything about it or not.
c. The Bible does not speak highly of one with an abundance of words. Next Solomon explains why…
1. Ecc. 10:13 – his words begin in folly and end in mischievous madness… but they keep on flowing…
a. In other words, the fool begins to speak folly… but it grows into more and more evil.
b. Like a fire that starts off as a little spark… and increases in heat and intensity and destruction. So too is the speech of the fool.
2. Sins which result from a multitude of words:
a. OFFENCE: Jas. 3:2 –
• In many things we offend all (we all offend—because we all speak… too much!)
• The more we speak, the more chance there is of offending someone—intentionally or unintentionally.
• Talk enough and eventually you are going to step on somebody’s toes.
• Try preaching in the same place for a number of years. Eventually you are going to offend everyone. (No wonder preachers often move every few years!)
b. SELF PRAISE: Prov. 27:2 –
• It is natural for us as proud men to praise ourselves.
• When we tell OUR side of the story, we always come out smelling like roses… while the other guy doesn’t look so good.
• It is sin to praise self… to put self on a pedestal.
c. CONTENTION – Prov. 18:6
• The one who never stops talking is eventually going to stir up some sort of trouble… contention…
• Sooner or later, the one who speaks endlessly and mindlessly, will hurt someone’s feelings… offend someone… get someone angry…
d. LIES – Prov. 6:16 – God hates a lying tongue.
• The one who continually speaks without thinking is eventually going to say something that is not true.
• Perhaps he will exaggerate the truth… stretch it a bit… color it a bit… embellish a story…
• These are all lies before God… and the Lord hates them.
3. The real issue is one of self-control…
a. Have you ever said something (out of a LACK of self-control) that haunted you later on in life? But it’s too late to take it back once the damage has been done.
b. The answer is to be yielded to God and to be filled with the Spirit—self-control… there is no other way to control the tongue.
4. The mouth of the fool is near destruction. (Prov. 10:14)
a. A multitude of words flowing from our mouth WILL result in sin.
b. Sin results in destruction—eventually it will catch up to you.
1. Refrain: to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check
2. The term does not imply SILENCE, but CONTROL…
a. Some might see the dangers of speech and be inclined not to say anything… that is not the point.
b. Wisdom demands that we control our speech… refrain it, restrain it, keep it in check… use caution…but not to stop it altogether.
c. In the next verse (20) he speaks of the virtue of good speech.
d. Speech is not bad—but a relentless flow of speech is… because sooner or later something will be said that you regret later.
3. Solomon lets us know that the wise man speaks, but also knows how to STOP speaking… and when to stop speaking…
a. That too is an art.
b. There is an art of conversation. (A valuable tool which can be used for God’s glory).
c. There is also the art of knowing when NOT to speak. (Ecc. 3:7) There is an appropriate time for speech… and an appropriate time for silence. The wise man knows the difference.
4. Prov. 17:27– he that has knowledge spares his words.
a. The wise man not only can discern when to speak and when to keep silent. He also has the discernment to “spare” words.
b. Spare: refrain; hold back. (same word as refrain in 10:19)
c. There are times perhaps when we would LOVE to unload all that is on our mind on someone else.
d. The wise man knows enough to restrain himself… and his words. That is self-control.
e. There are times when just a few words—carefully and tactfully chosen—will suffice.
f. Sometimes a soft answer—with just a few soft words will suffice to turn away anger… and prevent a war of words. Wise men know how to spare their words.
g. Ecc. 5:2 – be not rash (hasty) with your mouth; let your words be few.
h. James 1:19 – The wise man is slow to speak.
5. The wise man uses words carefully… cautiously… sparingly…
a. It is not that he is afraid to speak up.
b. Rather, it is that he doesn’t speak unless he has something to say… something worth saying…
c. He speaks at the proper time… using the right words… sparing his words… he weighs his words before speaking them… they are well thought out… not just blurting out the first thing that pops into his undisciplined mind…
d. Prov. 15:28 – he studies to answer… (As opposed to just “pouring out” whatever comes out!)
• Studieth: muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot,
• He muses… meditates… thinks before he speaks!
• Thus, he will not speak continually. It takes time to speak… to think of an answer.
• The fool just pours out his speech without thinking… impulsive speech…
6. Prov. 17:28 – even a fool with his mouth shut looks wise. But once he opens his mouth, his cover is blown!
a. Keep your mouth closed once in a while, and even if you aren’t wise, you’ll look wise!
b. We should pray like the psalmist, “Set a watch O Lord, before my mouth and keep the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)
• We ALL offend with our mouths…
• We ALL say things we regret later…
• Why not pray for the Lord’s strength?
7. Psalm 39:1 – David determined NOT to sin with his mouth. We all should be so determined.
a. But don’t just pray about… DO something about it!
b. You don’t just pray for your daily bread. You go to work too!
c. Pray for the Lord’s strength… AND be determined not to sin.
d. And if we DO sin with our mouth, confess it… and forsake it.
e. This is a sin that we will have to deal with in our lives till the Lord comes…
8. And since it is such a part of human nature to sin with our tongues, be gracious with others! (Ecc. 7:21-22) Haven’t you done the same? We all have, James says!
Proverbs 10:20-21
The Tongue of the Just
20a The tongue of the just is as choice silver
1. The just
a. This speaks of a righteous man… one justified by faith.
b. This man stands in stark contrast to the wicked (vs.20b)
2. This passage illustrates the fact that there is a difference between the just and the unjust… between a believer and an unbeliever.
a. The difference is a changed heart… a new nature.
b. The fruit of a just man’s heart will eventually be manifested in his mouth… through his speech… what’s in a man’s heart will come out of his mouth.
c. The believer has two natures and has a capacity to produce good fruit or evil fruit.
d. The believer has a capacity to use his mouth for good or for evil.
• When we use our tongue for good, it is godly; Christlike; pleasing to God.
• When we use our tongue for evil, we sound no different than the unbeliever! Flesh is flesh!
e. Solomon describes the difference between the kind of speech that characterizes the just man and that which characterizes the wicked in this passage.
3. The tongue of the just is as choice silver.
a. This is a simile—a figure of speech using like or as—“as” choice silver.
• Just men don’t literally have a silver tongue.
• But they are in a figurative sense “silver tongued.”
• A simile compares two things which are NOT literally similar, but there is a sense in which they are similar.
b. In what sense is the tongue of a godly man like choice silver?
» Choice silver is silver that has been refined and has had all the impurities removed.
» Choice silver is therefore much more valuable than ordinary silver.
» Choice silver is also much shinier and more beautiful.
» Choice silver is also relatively rare.
4. The tongue of the just has had impurities removed.
a. Ps. 12:6 – God’s words are like choice silver too—purified in a furnace seven times! (7 = perfectly purified!)
b. Eph. 5:4 – “There is no filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient” in his mouth.
c. When a godly man speaks, godly people can relax. You don’t have to worry about impurities flying out at you!
d. When a godly man or woman tells a joke, you don’t have to wonder whether it is clean or not.
e. As believers we need to carefully weigh what we say.
• We need to consciously remove any dross from our speech.
• Godly speech is pure speech.
• There can be no mixture of purity and impurity either… just as there is no communion between light and darkness.
• Not only is it sin to say blatantly evil things… it is just as sinful to say things that are “shady”… leaving doubtful innuendoes in the minds of others… purposely using ambiguous terms that can be understood in a dirty sense…
• That is not choice silver. That is tarnished silver… full of dross.
• Col. 3:8 – we are to put off “filthy communication out of our mouth.”
f. It is not necessary that as believers our speech is interesting… or erudite… or scholarly… but it is necessary that our speech be pure… with all the impurities removed… like choice silver.
• Our speech should be pure…
• Free from the impurity of ulterior motives… manipulation by flattery… impure designs… selfish intentions… free from the dross of guile and slander…
• Our speech is to be pure and free and cleansed from all that.
5. Choice silver is therefore much more valuable than ordinary silver. The tongue of the just is also valuable.
a. The one who owns much choice silver has a valuable treasure that can be used for much good.
b. Speech is like that. It is valuable and can be used for good.
c. Prov. 15:4 – the speech of the righteous is a tree of life—a source of health, fruit, life, nourishment…
d. It can edify believers and minister grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29).
e. Ps. 37:30-31 – the law of God is in his heart… and it comes out!
f. Ps. 71:24 – my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long! That is choice silver!
g. Our tongues are valuable when they are used to praise God… valuable to God. (Heb. 13:15)
h. The apostles did not have much “silver” in this life.
• Peter said, “Silver and gold have I none.”
• Paul said of himself and other apostles, “as poor, yet making many rich.”
• How did the poor apostles make many rich? Spiritually!
• With their tongues they spread choice silver generously wherever they went!
• They used their speech to teach God’s Word… to exhort and encourage the saints… to build up the body of Christ.
• They had no physical silver or gold, but choice silver poured out of their lips for many, many years!
i. Do you use your tongue for things that are truly valuable in light of eternity?
j. Are others ENRICHED by our speech?
k. How we use our tongues today will be judged and rewarded accordingly at the Bema. Only THEN will we recognize the true value of our speech.
6. Choice silver is also much shinier and more beautiful. The tongue of the just is producing beautiful speech.
a. Choice silver is clean and pure… shiny… and able to be used in fine jewelry. Silver, with chunks of dross and streaks of stone mixed in, is not quite as beautiful… and is not able to be used in fine jewelry.
b. When our speech is like choice silver—it too has a beauty all its own.
c. Prov. 25:11-12 – like apples of gold in pictures of silver—beautiful!
• Such words can be also like earrings of gold—beautiful!
• As beautiful artwork and jewelry are to the eyes, so are beautiful words to the heart… the inner man.
d. There is nothing quite like words fitly spoken… properly timed… tactfully phrased… and delivered in kindness. There is nothing quite as valuable as that to a thirsty soul. That is choice silver! Beautiful!
7. Choice silver is silver that is carefully selected.
a. Choice = to choose; to elect
b. Choice silver is silver that is chosen… on a counter of silver, stones, and silver ore, the choice silver is the one that would naturally be chosen…
8. Choice silver is also relatively rare. The tongue of the just… wise, well thought out, controlled, edifying speech is relatively rare…. And thus more appreciated.
a. The contrast seems to be with vs.18 – a “multitude of words.”
• This speech is not rare. These words are ceaselessly flowing… endlessly rambling on and on and on…
• In contrast to the endless flow of words from the fool—who speaks without thinking, there are the fewer… more rare… and much more valuable words of the just!
b. In heaven speech that is like choice silver will not be rare… but it is today.
9. Just as our tongue can be our shame… it can also be our glory!
20b The heart of the wicked is little worth.
1. Note the contrasts in this verse:
a. The just and the wicked—two kinds of men
b. The tongue and the heart—two sources of words
c. Choice silver and “little worth”—two measures of value.
2. The tongue and heart run parallel in this verse.
a. What the tongue says originated in the heart. The heart is the source of all of our words.
b. Matt. 15:18 – “but those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart…”
c. Matt. 12:35 – this is true of the just and the wicked… two kinds of men will produce two kinds of speech, over all.
3. That which proceeds out of the heart of the wicked…
a. In context, he is speaking about WORDS… flowing from the heart and then through the mouth…
b. These words are of “little worth.”
c. What a contrast between choice silver (worth a lot!) and “little worth.”
d. The wicked might produce a multitude of words (vs.18) but there is little worth or value in any of it.
e. The just may say few words… but they are valuable, choice words!
f. If words continually flow out of our mouth without thought… (speaking before we think), those words will not be very valuable (certainly not rare!)… and they will be of little value to edify another.
4. What comes out of our mouth is our choice.
a. We can decide to use our mouth for valuable purposes… or for worthless purposes.
b. Our words can be pure or impure.
c. Our words can be well chosen… or thoughtless.
d. The choice is ours.
e. And eventually, every word we have spoken will be evaluated by the Lord… and either rewarded or burned up.
f. Let’s use our tongues as instruments by which others are enriched… with choice silver… something valuable they can keep with them…
Proverbs 10:21
The Lips of the Righteous Feed Many
Introduction:
1. Vs. 18-21 deal with the subject of communication and the use of the tongue.
2. Solomon states the reason God gave for our mouth… to feed others! We often think of the lips or our mouth in relation to BEING FED, not feeding others.
3. He uses an ear-catching phrase to grab our attention… and thus make his point.
A.) There is an Expectation from the Lips of the Righteous
1. There are different expectations from the lips of different people.
2. There is an expectation for the lips of a drunk… for a fool… or a young punk…
3. There is another expectation from the lips of a king… or a statesman… or a university professor… a philosopher…
4. There is also a certain expectation from the lips of a righteous man.
B.) The Lips of Righteous People
1. Prov. 10:11 – the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.
2. Prov. 10:20 – the tongue of the just is as choice silver.
3. Prov. 10:21 – the lips of the righteous feed many.
4. Prov. 10:32 – the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.
5. Prov. 15:7 – the lips of the wise disperse knowledge
6. Hence, David and Solomon both outline for us what we ought to EXPECT from the lips of righteous people…
a. If a person is righteous, his speech ought to be righteous.
b. If a person has been sanctified, his lips ought to be sanctified.
c. What God did on the inside in saving us ought to have a very practical effect on the outside… externally — what we do and say.
d. If you have been justified by faith (a righteous person) then your lips ought to show it! There is such a thing as the lips of the righteous!
7. Perhaps you have experienced this: you begin talking to a complete stranger and you begin to think that this person is a believer—even though you have said nothing about being saved or the Bible.
a. Perhaps you discerned a sense of respect and reverence in his speech.
b. Perhaps some term or expression he used (KJV English would be a hint!)
c. Perhaps you noticed that he chose not to be led in a certain direction in the conversation by someone else present.
d. Perhaps the choice of subjects he raises leads you to think he is a righteous man.
e. There really IS an expectation of a particular kind of speech among the righteous.
8. We CAN be fooled.
a. Sometimes an unbeliever may SOUND like a believer—just a moral man with a clean mouth. (Apostate radio preachers often sound good for a while…)
b. Sometimes a believer can have a mouth that does not at all appear to be what Solomon refers to as “the lips of the righteous.”
c. Truck drivers and sailors have bad reputations with respect to their speech. (I think it is a bad rap—I think some of the soccer moms are just as vile!)
• There are truck drivers who have sanctified tongues…
• There are sweet little old ladies with filthy mouths…
• There are some unbelievers who are quite careful about what they say.
• There are some Christians whose speech is a disgrace to the name of Christ.
• We can be fooled. This proverb is a proverb… a general principle.
• Overall, righteous people have righteous lips.
• Sometimes we slip… but overall, the principle stands.
• There is such a thing as the “lips of the righteous.”
21b Feed many…
1. Why did God give you lips (tongue; mouth; speech)?
a. Most of us would say to “talk” or “communicate.”
b. That is partially right.
c. But why did God give us the ability to talk?
d. So that we could use our lips to FEED others.
2. You mouth (lips) is an instrument designed by God to help others.
a. We often think of our tongue in a selfish way… it is for me… to help me… for my enjoyment… to sit around and gab for the mere pleasure of gabbing.
b. Certainly God DID give us our tongue for our own use.
c. But here it is emphasized that there is a greater purpose for our lips… to feed others!
3. The Term “Feed”
a. Feed = pasture; pasturage; pasturing; bring to pasture—the work of a shepherd.
• It is a shepherding term, similar to the Greek word for “shepherding” which is sometimes also translated “Feed.”
• It is primarily used of feeding domestic animals
• The root is used of Jacob “feeding” Laban’s flocks. (Gen. 30:36)
b. The most common occupation in Bible times was shepherding, so this concept would be quite familiar to Solomon and his readers.
c. Shepherds fed their sheep… they led them to still waters… green pastures.
d. The term for feed is broader than just feed… to take to pasture…
e. The term was used in a figurative sense too.
• Jer. 3:15 – pastors feed the people with knowledge and truth.
• Pastor and feed = the same term—noun and verb…
• The term involves that which a shepherd does for his sheep—especially feeding, but other duties are involved as well… caring, leading, guiding, etc…
4. In the Old Testament, God was the one who fed His people.
a. Gen. 48:15 – the God who fed me my whole life!
b. Ps. 23:1 – the Lord is my shepherd…
c. Isa. 40:10-11 – the Lord shall come… and will feed His flock like a Shepherd… gather the lambs… gently lead…
d. In the Theocracy, God “shepherded” His people by means of the king. The kings of Israel were to be good shepherds under God. (II Sam. 5:2 – David)
e. God used men (like the kings) to shepherd or feed His people.
5. Solomon states that ALL righteous men should use their lips to feed others. In fact, God uses all believers to “feed” His sheep… not just the pastor and elders.
a. That’s what our lips are for according to Prov. 10:21!
b. Do you use your lips to feed others?
c. The Bible has a lot to say about using our lips for the benefit of others.
6. HOW can you use your lips/mouth to feed others?
a. Teaching…
• Prov. 15:7 – the lips of the righteous disperse knowledge.
• Col. 3:16 – we are to use our mouths to teach and admonish one another… but FIRST, we must let the Word dwell in us richly! Is it dwelling in you richly? If so, then you can feed many with your lips!
• Prov. 15:28 – a righteous man studies to answer. This well thought out answer will be of great help to others… you are feeding them!
• Ps. 89:1 – with my mouth will I make known His faithfulness.
• Ps. 71:15 – my mouth will show forth His righteousness all day—I know not the numbers of them all!
• Ps. 119:27 – each of us can share what God has taught us in His word.
b. Comforting…
• Job 16:1-5 – Job could have torn his so-called friends to pieces. Instead he would use his tongue to strengthen them and comfort them. A good use for our tongues too!
• That’s what our tongues are for—when we see someone suffering!
• II Cor. 1:3-4 – God uses us to comfort others… by the WORDS we say to them… to lift up… encourage… strengthen…
• We all need comforting from the Word—not just the women and children either.
• We get weary, tired, worn, stressed, worried, fearful, anxious — and there is nothing as comforting as a believer sharing an appropriate verse of Scripture—especially if they have gone through a similar trial!
c. Exhorting… we can exhort one another… to love and good works… to faithfulness… to serve God… there is no end to the ways in which we can use our lips to exhort others…
d. Admonish… (mild rebuke; warn) (Rom. 15:14)
• Note the prerequisite! FILLED with goodness…
• What great benefit can spring from the mouth of the believer who uses his/her lips to admonish another and keep him on the straight and narrow.
e. Counsel… Prov. 11:14 – in many counselors there is safety.
• You don’t need to be a professional counselor to counsel the brethren.
• You just have to have some pertinent Scripture to share!
• It may not even be scripture—just wise observations from life!
• That’s what Pastor Stringer is doing—
• Titus 2:3-4 – older women giving counsel to younger women… older men giving advice and counsel to younger men… this is God’s plan.
f. Minister grace… (Eph. 4:29)
• Grace here seems to be used in a broad sense… something good… a good gift… undeserved, but freely given… the gift of our tongue.
• Unwholesome speech grieves the Holy Spirit. (vs. 30) Good speech pleases the Spirit of God. It is the fruit of the Spirit in us!
• The goal of our speech ought to be to “the use of edifying”… building one another up… strengthening one another…
• Try it sometime!
g. Getting results…. (Ecc. 9:17) The words of a wise man are often HEARD!
• If you have earned the right to counsel a brother… and have demonstrated spiritual discernment and wisdom THEN he might be willing to listen and respond!
• Your quiet words… words spoken one on one… are more valuable than the loud shouts of fools!
h.) Spreading the gospel… (Eph. 6:19 – pray for boldness to open our mouths!)
• This of course is a way in which we can feed to others the bread of life!
• How rewarding when people respond in faith and are saved!
21c Fools die for want of wisdom…
1. The lips of the righteous feed others.
2. The fool uses his mouth to feed himself—but he does not have good taste in food!
a. The fool feeds on folly (Prov. 15:14)
b. The fool feeds on ashes (Isa. 44:20)
c. The fool feeds the flames of gossip. (Prov. 26:20-21)
3. Solomon has not much use for the fool…
4. The righteous man builds up the spiritual lives of others. The fool dies… destroys his own life… and perhaps drags a few down with him!
a. He lacks wisdom for his own life.
b. He has none to share with others… no wise counsel… nothing worth teaching… no good exhortation… no edification… no grace…
Proverbs 10:22
The Blessing of the Lord Maketh Rich
22a The blessing of the Lord…
1. The psalmist seems to have in mind primarily, earthly, physical blessings from God.
a. Blessing: blessing; prosperity; gift;
b. It makes rich – (rich = wealthy; gain riches)
c. The nature of the book of Proverbs: practical wisdom for life in this world.
2. Of course each of these terms (blessing; rich) could also have a spiritual connotation.
a. Our blessings as Christians are mainly spiritual in nature. (Eph. 1:3) (Predestined; chosen; accepted; redeemed; forgiven; indwelt; etc…)
b. Of course the Jews had many spiritual blessings too.
c. But most often—especially in Proverbs—the emphasis on blessings from God was earthly in nature… physical blessings.
22b It maketh rich…
1. In this verse, Solomon traces the source of blessing and prosperity to the Lord… Jehovah.
2. This is a truth that is often repeated in Scripture—and a principle that we would do well to be mindful of.
a. Gen. 12:2 – early in the Bible God made it clear that HE was the Source of prosperity for an individual or a nation.
b. Gen. 14:23 – Abraham was very careful NOT to give anyone the impression that the source of his riches was polluted. He did not want his wealth to be tainted by the king of Sodom!
c. Gen. 24:35 – it was the Lord who made Abraham rich…
d. Gen. 26:12-14 – Isaac’s wealth also came from the Lord.
e. I Sam. 2:7 – the Lord maketh poor and the Lord maketh rich.
f. Psalm 107:38 – God blessed them SO THAT they multiplied greatly.
g. Prov. 2:6 – even wisdom comes from God.
h. James 1:17 – Every good gift we ever receive comes from God the Father!
i. I Cor. 4:7 – “What hast thou that thou hast not received?” If so, how dare we glory in it, as if it were our own doing?
3. If anyone has been blessed physically… has been enriched financially… blessed materially… GOD is the Source of it all.
a. Thus, He should be praised for it!
b. The danger arises when we begin to think of these blessings as arising from SELF… (Deut.8:11-18)
• Always recognize that GOD is the source of our blessings.
• Always be thankful to God for them.
• Never boast of our own wisdom, strength, or might… God hates pride. He could take it all away to teach us a lesson (vs. 19).
4. However, there is another line of truth found in the Bible that attributes wealth to diligence and hard work! (Prov.10:4)
a. Consider also Prov. 13:4; 21:5;
b. Notice the identical language in vs. 4 and vs. 22. They seem to be saying the opposite!
• Which is true? Should we trace the source of riches back to God OR to diligence on our part?
• Is this a contradiction?
c. The answer is that these are Proverbs. Each one is a small kernel of truth. No one proverb is the final word on any subject… just a nugget of truth that looks at a situation from one angle or another.
d. Actually BOTH are true—and they do not contradict, but complement one another.
e. Each type of proverb looks at the subject from a different angle: from God’s perspective, and from man’s.
5. When it comes to the gaining of wealth and prosperity… success… any kind of earthly blessing… there are two distinct lines of truth running parallel…
a. The will of man and the sovereignty of God.
b. Both are involved in salvation… and in the ordinary and mundane events of life too…
c. Just a few verses apart from each other, Solomon writes that that true source of riches is BOTH diligence (man’s will) and the Lord (sovereignty).
d. BOTH work together… to make rich. Neither one will be effective without the other.
6. Some men seek for riches without diligence…
a. Gambling and casino betting is all based on this aspect of human nature—get rich quick!
b. Gambling actually FOSTERS and encourages that kind of twisted thinking… just the opposite of what is called the “Protestant work ethic.”
c. The general rule is: it doesn’t work!
• Prov. 10:4 – poverty…
• Prov. 19:15 – hunger…
• Prov. 20:4 – he shall beg…
• This is the general rule… crystallized into proverbs.
d. If you want to prosper—work at it! Kids—study hard in school… do your best… be diligent. Workers: do the best you can at your job… be diligent… a good worker…
• Why? Prov. 10:4 – because the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
• If you seek for blessing without diligence, you will likely be sadly disappointed in life.
7. Others seek riches by diligence… and ignore GOD as the source of blessing.
a. They too are often sadly disappointed… especially believers—for unbelievers leave God out their lives almost entirely.
b. James 4:13-16 – diligence all by itself…
• Vs. 13 – Their goal was to make gain… prosper… a good goal.
• Vs. 14 – they made a lot of “assumptions”—assuming that they would even be alive on the morrow is an assumption…
• Vs. 15 – but the biggest assumption was that by their diligence efforts and good planning they would succeed.
• They SHOULD have said, “If the Lord will…” They left God out of their plans!
• Vs. 16 – they boasted that they would succeed—after all, they would work harder than any other business man… they would make the best of plans… they would use wisdom and the latest technology to their advantage. How could they NOT succeed?
• God said such boasting in human wisdom and efforts is EVIL!
• How could they not succeed? They failed to recognize the sovereignty of God in ALL of man’s endeavors!
c. Ecc. 9:10 – Work your hardest and do your best! (man’s responsibility)
• vs.11 – but don’t ever ignore the sovereignty of God!
• The race is not always to the fastest runner! (He could have a cold that day; trip over his shoestrings; the sole of his sneaker could come apart;
• A ski racer—he could be the best—but he could always hit a patch of ice…
• The battle isn’t always to the biggest, best equipped and best trained soldiers either! Consider Israel against Egypt! How could the Egyptians ever have imagined that they would be defeated? Who could have imagined the Red Sea opening!?
• Bread is not always to the wise! You may make the wisest investments humanly possible on Wall Street—and the unthinkable could occur… war could break out… a new technology could render your investment obsolete…
• A farmer could work his hardest planting his crops—and the Lord may hold back on the rain…
• Robert Burns put it this way: The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley (often go astray)!
d. Psalm 127:1 – Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it!
• What a principle for us to dwell upon as we work on building the house of the Lord here…
• Note the two elements combined in this verse: man’s responsibility (doing the work of building) AND God’s sovereignty (if He’s not in it—we are spinning our wheels in the mud!)
• BOTH are needed and necessary.
• Who built this house? The Lord… He is the source of it all.
• Who is it who gave each of the workers health, strength, wisdom, ability, tools, finances, motivation? The Lord! He built the house.
• But from a human perspective, who built the house? Those who showed up for work days… those who gave sacrificially of their finances… those who labored behind the scenes—THEY built the house.
• If we want our efforts to be blessed… if we want this project to continue… then we need BOTH elements
» We need to show up and do the work… put money in the offering plate… that’s our responsibility.
» And we need an attitude of dependence upon God… and joy in serving the Lord.
• Neither will be effective without the other.
» Beware lest we trust in ourselves—our labor; effort; talents; power…
» Beware lest we sit back as the sluggard and not put forth diligence into the project…
» Either one is a road to disaster.
» But when BOTH are employed joyously depending upon God AND diligent labor… then we can expect the Lord’s blessing.
22c He addeth no sorrow with it…
1. The blessings that come from the Lord are truly BLESSINGS… occasions for joy…
2. When we do our best… put in diligent effort… work in dependence upon the Lord… and do so gladly and cheerfully… THEN, when God blesses the finished product (building a church; building a business; or building a family)… there is no sorrow in it!
3. There is no sorrow with the outcome when we do our part, joyfully dependent upon the Lord.
4. When we leave God out and seek riches on our own, it may be accompanied by much sorrow and grief!
a. I Tim. 6:9-10 – we may or may not obtain the wealth—but the end is that we are pierced with many sorrows… regrets…
b. When we prosper in the same way as the wicked prosper—leaving God out, that will always be accompanied by grief and sorrow… regrets…
c. George McGovern—out of selfish ambition devoted his life to becoming president and lost his daughter to drugs and alcohol. His success politically came with many regrets and sorrows.
d. Gen. 13:10 – Lot lifted up his eyes—and made his decision based upon his eyes… what LOOKED good physically to him.
• vs.14 – note that Abraham waited until the Lord told him to lift up his eyes.
• Lot’s choice was materially prosperous for him… but spiritually, poverty stricken!
• Peter tells us that Lot’s righteous soul was vexed daily because of the deeds of the men of Sodom.
• He became rich… but it was accompanied by much sorrow.
5. When God blesses, there is no sorrow with it. It is a TRUE blessing.
a. There is no regret… no second thoughts… no grief.
b. God’s blessings are to be enjoyed!
c. And God blesses us with poverty. He is able to make our little cabin a palace… (Prov. 17:1)
d. I Tim. 6:17 – when God blesses, there is no sorrow with it. He intends for us to ENJOY His blessings… and to use them wisely for His glory. (vs. 18-19)
Proverbs 10:22b
Blessings without Sorrow
Introduction:
1. God’s blessings make “rich”…
2. All the blessing we have in life have GOD as their ultimate source.
3. Of course, vs. 4 indicates that the hand of the diligent makes rich. BOTH are true… Solomon writes of the human and the divine side of prospering financially…
4. Oftentimes, God in His sovereignty allows the wicked to prosper.
5. God also allows diligent workers to fail at times. (The race is not always to the swift; the battle not always to the strong…)
6. But the rule is… the proverb states that diligence results in riches… AND God’s blessing results in riches… two sides of one coin.
7. Now Solomon states that when God blesses with riches… there is no sorrow added to it!
Sorrow often Accomplishes Riches…
1. There is a right way to obtain riches and material goods and there are MANY wrong ways. (lying; cheating; stealing; bribing; extortion; begging; misrepresentation; taking advantage of the weak; pyramid schemes; gambling; fraud; selling drugs; selling your body; etc…)
2. However, riches obtained by these means are often accompanied by sorrow…
3. When we leave God out and seek riches on our own, it may be accompanied by much sorrow and grief!
4. I Tim. 6:9-10 – we may or may not obtain the wealth—but the end is that we are pierced with many sorrows… regrets…
a. When we prosper in the same way as the wicked prosper—leaving God out, that will always be accompanied by grief and sorrow… regrets…
b. Those who WILL be rich…
• This is not talking about rich people necessarily. Poor people could fall into this category… and DO quite often!
• Will be rich = desire or intend to be rich… those who long to be rich…
• Rich people long to be rich. So do many poor people… perhaps more poor than rich!
• What Paul is about to say concerning wealth is not a criticism about the wealthy, but rather a criticism about the WANNA Bes
• He is speaking against the LOVE of money… the LUST for riches… not the possession of them.
c. Hurtful lusts:
• Lusts: desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust
• Hurtful = injurious; painful
• Paul states that people who long to be rich, lust after riches to their own detriment…
• Eventually it will cause them hurtful lusts…
• A hurtful lust is a lust that goes unsatisfied.
• Prov. 13:4 – the sluggard has strong desires for riches, but does not work… and thus never satisfies those longings. Those lusts are the source of much hurt to him!
• Prov. 10:4 – he becomes poor… and if on the inside you desperately LONG for riches… that is a painful position to be in!
• The stronger your WILL to be rich… the more painful your poverty will be!
• I Kings 21:1-4 – consider the hurtful lusts of King Ahab! He had the whole kingdom except for this little garden plot… and he could not be happy until he had it. His lust wasn’t satisfied, and he went into depression! What folly!
• The stronger our lust for things… the more hurtful it becomes when not satisfied!
• Even when riches are obtained, rich men STILL lust to KEEP their riches. They are painfully aware that riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Prov. 23:4)
• They worry that their riches will be stolen… rust… corrupt…
d. Fall into many temptations…
• Those who long to be rich will find themselves tempted in ways others are not…
• Tempted to steal… to lie… to cheat… to misrepresent… to get ahead! The desire to get rich is behind many of those temptations!
• There is the added temptation to forget about the Lord… for when one is faithful in serving the Lord and faithful to His house, you are losing overtime! Your co-worker and not you might get that promotion and raise!
• There is the temptation to cut corners spiritually…
e. Drown men in destruction and perdition…
• Men who LONG to be rich often find themselves drowning… overwhelmed in destruction…(drown: to plunge into the deep, to sink)
• They sacrifice their marriage in order to make it in the world… they risk losing their kids in order to advance at work… they may even risk their health or their lives in order to make it…
• Destruction: destruction or ruin…
• Perdition: a perishing, ruin, utter destruction; (more intense—this term sometimes speaks of eternal ruin in hell… but not always!)
• Many men and women have RUINED their families and utterly destroyed their lives in order to make it rich.
• Read some of the accounts of hardships that men put themselves through in the days of the gold rush—especially the Alaskan gold rush! Men tortured themselves… and most did not make it rich.
• The desire to make it rich has resulted in many men plunging into the deep… and brought destruction and ruin to their lives.
• Most never make it rich… but even those who do, do so at a great price… to themselves and/or their families.
• Prov. 20:28 – A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
» Many men will resort to unlawful means in order to make money… and make it fast…
» Rather than earn it the old fashioned way, they resort to all kinds of evil… but in the end, it catches up to them… destruction and ruin… to their home… their name… their business…
f. Pierced themselves through with many sorrows…
• More strong language about those who long to be rich…
• Here they are described as those who LOVE MONEY…$
• One often thinks of love as something warm and wonderful.
• This love pierces with sorrows… many sorrows…
• Pierce: to pierce through; metaph. to torture one’s soul with sorrows
• Sorrows: consuming grief, pain, sorrow
• Paul uses extremely strong language to describe the pain brought to one’s soul because of a love of money…
g. George McGovern – out of selfish ambition devoted his life to becoming president and lost his daughter to drugs and alcohol.
• His success politically came with many regrets and sorrows.
• He wishes he could do it over… but you don’t get a second chance.
• He was out seeking to advance himself… but his kids paid the price.
• Countless times that scenario has been repeated… a longing to “make it” can bring ruin and destruction and many sorrows to one’s life.
• What irony—the very thing we THINK will bring us joy and happiness turns out to be the source of our most painful hurts and sorrows instead!!
5. Gen. 13:10 – Lot lifted up his eyes—and made his decision based upon his eyes… what LOOKED good physically to him.
a. vs. 14 – note that Abraham waited until the Lord told him to lift up his eyes.
b. Lot’s choice was materially prosperous for him… but spiritually, poverty stricken!
c. II Peter 2:8 – Peter tells us that Lot’s righteous soul was vexed daily because of the deeds of the men of Sodom. It was his longing to prosper that brought him to that place.
d. He became rich and successful… he sat at the gate of the city… but it was accompanied by much sorrow.
e. He too lost his wife and his family in the process.
f. He was pierced with many sorrows… vexed daily… because of his longing for riches…
But when God blesses with riches, there is no sorrow with it!
1. The blessings that come from the Lord are truly BLESSINGS… occasions for joy…
a. When we obtain riches the wrong way… or when we lust after riches the wrong way, we will experience sorrow.
b. But when we obtain blessings the right way… there IS no sorrow attached!
c. Prov. 10:4 – When we do our best… put in diligent effort… work in dependence upon the Lord… and do so gladly and cheerfully… THEN, when God blesses the finished product (building a church; building a business; or building a family)… there is no sorrow with it!
d. There is no sorrow with the outcome when we do our part, joyfully dependent upon the Lord.
2. When God blesses, there is no sorrow with it. It is a TRUE blessing.
a. There is no regret… no second thoughts… no grief… no guilt…
b. God’s blessings are to be enjoyed!
c. And God blesses us with poverty, He is able to make our little cabin a palace… (Prov. 17:1)
d. I Tim. 6:17 – when God blesses, there is no sorrow with it.
• He intends for us to ENJOY His blessings…
• And to use them wisely for His glory. (vs.18-19)
3. The reason the Lord’s blessings and riches add no sorrow with them is because the experience of the joy of the Lord is not sourced in the blessings… but in the One who blesses!
a. Hab. 3:17-19 – Even when we are diligent and faithful and never obtain physical blessings or riches… we can STILL rejoice…
b. Our rejoicing is not in the Blessings, but in the Lord who gave them.
c. That no one can take from us… the Lord never changes…
d. The real blessing is that we know God… and can walk with Him and trust in Him… regardless of the economy… or our wallet… Wall Street… or a bountiful harvest time…
e. Whether rich or poor, the believer can rejoice in the Lord.
f. We can learn to abound and to suffer want… and still have the joy of the Lord in it…
g. If God blesses us with poverty or if God blesses us with riches… He adds no sorrow with it.
h. If we work hard and do our best and we are still poor, then you can sleep at night and enjoy the Lord.
i. If we work hard and do our best and become rich… then we can enjoy those riches and use them for God’s glory. There need be no guilt… no sorrow… it is all the Lord’s doing… blessed be the name of the Lord.
Proverbs 10:23
Evil as a Sport
Introduction:
1.) This passage stands as a single nugget—not part of any greater context.
2.) Like vs. 15, Solomon is not endorsing or promoting in any way the topic at hand, but rather is stating it as it is. This is a fact—this is what is often true in life.
3.) This is an observable part of fallen human nature: there are many folks out there, for whom mischief is a game… evil is their sport.
4.) Human nature hasn’t changed a bit.
It is as sport…
1.) Sport – laughter, laughing stock, mocking, derision
a.) The term does not mean sport in the sense we use it today.
b.) It means that which is laughed at… in derision… mocked…
c.) Job 12:4—used twice here—Job lamented that he had become the laughingstock in town… a JOKE…
d.) The term means something to laugh at… a joke… but usually with an evil connotation.
e.) Laughter is not always found in an evil connotation however. Job 8:21 speaks of laughter as a gift from God. HE put laughter in his mouth!
f.) But just as is the case in laughter and humor today, in Solomon’s day, there was good clean humor (a gift from God) or an evil or even sick kind of humor.
g.) It is the latter sense that Solomon uses the term in Prov. 10:23.
2.) Mischief: plan, device, (used of God’s plan to judge men)… and when used of men it speaks of wickedness, evil plans
a.) We often use the term to describe innocent, childish behavior… sometimes even cute.
b.) That is the not the connotation the term has in the Bible. It is a much more sinister term.
c.) It refers not to little boys playing their cute little pranks, but evil plans or devices concocted by evil men.
d.) Used in Gen. 6:11 – of the men who devised the plan to build a tower unto God… and form a one world empire without God! (which they “imagined to do”)
3.) Solomon is stating here that some twisted and perverted men (or women) somehow derive a morbid pleasure from making and carrying out evil plans… a sick sense of humor.
4.) Prov.15:21 – folly is his joy… his delight…
a.) Folly is his joy in life… (folly also has a sinister connotation in Proverbs)
b.) This person derives his JOY (fun; pleasure; satisfaction) from what the Bible calls “folly.” Evil things…
c.) Serial killers often derive a sick pleasure from killing and torturing people. It has become their greatest thrill in life…
d.) That is perhaps the bottom of the barrel… but this principle operates much more often than just in serial killers.
e.) Young gangs of teenagers go out on Friday night for some fun—which to them means getting into trouble…
• Perhaps they get their thrill from shoplifting… beating up a smaller kid in the neighborhood… shooting out the street lights…going through parking lots and scratching their keys against cars… slashing tires… writing graffiti on old buildings…
• Seeing how much they can get away with becomes a game… trying to outsmart the police becomes a game…
f.) And it is not just young teenagers who operate this way either.
• What about the man who has made a game of stealing electronic equipment from his company… piece by piece… just to be able to say he did it?
• What about the housewife who is leading a double life… one with her family and having an affair on the side… for the thrill of getting away with it…
• What about the modern day snake oil salesmen… peddling products they know don’t work… and laughing at all the suckers who bought it?
• What about the extreme sports of our day… trying some foolish stunts for the thrill of it?
• What about the sick people who set up hidden cameras to watch people undress?
• What about the guy in the office who gets a big laugh out of passing smutty jokes around?
• What about the thousands who get drunk or take drugs just for the FUN of it… and put your life at risk on the highway?
• What about the computer hacks who delight in getting into company or government files and creating as much havoc as they can?
• What about the arsonist who takes pleasure in burning buildings down… without any concern about the cost or pain to others.
• What about the twisted geniuses who invent these bizarre Internet diseases… just for the fun of it! It is their JOY in life.
• Human nature certainly has not changed since Solomon’s day.
5.) Prov. 26:18-19 – a sport at deceiving his neighbor.
a.) Here Solomon describes such a person as a “mad man.”
b.) And not just any old mad man. Some mad men are harmless… this one is not.
c.) This mad man is casting about flaming arrows… resulting in death! He is dangerous!
d.) He runs about like a violent terrorist, inflicts harm on his neighbors and excuses it as a “game”… a sport…
e.) Here is a man who has made harming and hurting others a sport!
f.) However, this twisted sport is fun only to him.
• What about those who get some sort of twisted pleasure by standing on the overpasses and throwing rocks at cars?
• No doubt when those kids are caught their excuse is that they thought it was a game… they didn’t really want to hurt anyone.
g.) Solomon warns us often about this kind of person.
6.) Why do you suppose that Solomon wrote about the twisted thinking of the fool who delights in creating mischief?
7.) I would suggest three reasons:
a.) So we won’t behave like a fool… but rather like the wise man.
b.) As a warning… these proverbs are to give subtlety to the simple (1:4-5 & 2:11-14)
• Young people—be aware that there are evil men out there with evil intentions… who love nothing better than to prey on the unsuspecting and the naive…
• Be careful in choosing your friends… there are many young people out there who are in the process of developing this evil character themselves… learning to get pleasure or make sport out of mischief and wickedness… (Prov. 1:10-15)
• Be careful about the kinds of GAMES you choose… be careful about the kinds of amusements that you choose…
• Delight yourself in GOOD things and avoid anything that might be evil or lead to evil… Prove all things… hold fast and abstain…
c.) As an aid to parents…
• Solomon describes an evil element in human nature that parents should look out for—a child who seems to gain pleasure out of mischief…
• This is a character flaw (sin) that may develop quite innocently… even unnoticed at first.
• Video games and Hollywood capitalize on this twisted part of human nature. (How many video games are popular because the kids get to blow up bridges or cut people’s heads off?)
• Yes it is just a game… make believe, but isn’t it also possible that it is nurturing this twisted kind of thinking that Solomon warns us against?
• Some kids might begin to make a game out of hurting animals… cutting the tails off cats…
• Be careful about a child who goes overboard on reading horror stories…
• Don’t let practical jokes get out of hand…
• Things that might seem so innocent at first may be quietly and inwardly feeding an inner lust for mischief… it may be nurturing a sick pleasure derived from evil…
• If you think you see that developing, cut it off… and redirect your child’s heart to GOOD things… get them involved in another kind of “sport” or activity that they can delight in… with no mischief involved.
• Vines will often grow in the wrong direction. Don’t freak out over it… gently but firmly redirect the vine… redirect your child’s interests to that which is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; virtuous…
• Pay attention to your child’s heart… what they love… what excites them… where their interests lie… what they delight in… for out of the heart are all the issues of life.
But a man of understanding hath wisdom…
1.) In stark contrast to the fool who loves mischief is the man of understanding who loves wisdom.
2.) What a person delights in determines his character.
a.) Foolish men delight in folly. Evil men delight in evil. Sick, perverted men derive their happiness from twisted plans.
b.) Wise men delight in wisdom and understanding.
3.) Be careful what you delight in.
a.) Keep your heart with all diligence…
b.) Delight in the Word of God.
c.) Delight in God Himself.
• “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Ps. 37:4)
• People usually seek out that which they have grown accustomed to delighting in…
• “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:7) What’s in your child’s heart? (TV shows and rock stars?)
d.) Be careful what you delight in!
Proverbs 10:24
The Fear of the Wicked; The Desire of the Righteous
Introduction:
1. This proverb, like so many others contrasts the wicked and the righteous.
2. Once again, it should be pointed out that this is a proverb—and does not cover every base… it is a general truth, but not one that is true in each and every case.
The fear of the wicked
1. Wickedness takes on many shapes and forms. (laziness; adultery; stealing; gossip; etc.)
2. The wicked have many fears.
a. Lazy people fear having to go to work! (Prov. 26:13)
b. (Prov. 7:18-21) Adulterers fear getting caught by her husband. They fear their own spouse finding out. They fear getting aids.
c. Drug users fear the police. They become paranoid that they are being watched. They fear being sold contaminated drugs. They fear dirty needles. They fear overdosing. They fear not being able to get any drugs.
d. Thieves fear being caught… having to pay back… jail… (Prov. 6:30-31)
e. Gossips fear being discovered as the source of gossip. They fear losing their friends as a result. (Ecc. 10:20)
f. Sinners in general fear being discovered… exposed…
• Sinners fear and dread having to pay the consequences of their sin.
• They may fear being exposed and losing their reputation.
• They may fear going to jail.
• They may fear being kicked out of school…
• They may fear having to face their parents… their teacher… or their boss… or the judge…
• They fear losing their job… their family…
g. Ultimately, sinners fear facing God and giving account to Him!
• While sinners may talk like macho men who aren’t afraid of dying, for the most part, it is just talk. Men DO fear dying.
• The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Men FEAR having to answer for their sin, for their lack of righteousness, and the judgment to follow.
• Heb.10:27 – The ultimate fear of the wicked is death… and the judgment to come.
3. Because of these fears and worries, the wicked can never experience the REST that a cleansed conscience can bring.
a. Instead of rest, they experience fear and anxiety.
b. They are always looking over their shoulder to see if they are being followed… or have been discovered…
c. Isa. 57:20-21 – there is no rest for the wicked… no peace… just fears and worries.
d. Think of that principal in Newton who was caught and exposed to be a heroin addict. Her picture splashed on the front page… her reputation was destroyed… her job lost… her family shamed… her career gone… sent to prison… She must have feared that day. No doubt she knew that the day would eventually come… and she could have no rest… no peace.
e. Prov. 13: 15 – the way of the transgressor is HARD.
It shall come upon him
1. Solomon’s point here is this: that which the wicked fear, they must ultimately face.
2. They fear getting caught. It SHALL come upon them. (Num. 32:23)
3. The wicked might seem to be doing quite well… but that which they fear will overtake them… fear; anxiety; being caught; exposed; shamed; paying consequences.
4. For a living lesson on this proverb, just take a visit to the local prison.
a. There you will find row after row of men and women who lived out their wickedness in one of its many ugly forms…
b. There you will find living examples of men and women for whom that which they feared came upon them—they were caught and penalized! That’s what they feared—and that’s what came upon them.
c. Sure there are some who never get caught in this life… and on that basis, the majority of criminals who DO get caught carry out their crimes with the hope that they will be the exception to this proverb… they hope that they will be the one who lives out wickedness and his fear does NOT come upon him.
d. Heb. 4:13 – But this proverb is true even for those who do NOT get caught or exposed in this life. A few get away with their crimes in this life… and their fears never materialize in this life… but they WILL when they face God.
The desire of the righteous
1. In contrast to the wicked who get what they DON’T want, the righteous get what they DO want!
a. This is a proverb… and a promise.
b. It is in effect like saying, “It shall go well for the righteous; but it shall not go well for the wicked—woe to the wicked!”
c. Ecc. 8:12-13 states the same principle.
2. This proverb states that the righteous get their desires (what they want), but the wicked get what they fear and dread!
3. Psalm 37:4 – God promises to grant the desires of our hearts to the righteous.
a. This is not a blank check promise.
b. It is for those who TRULY delight themselves in the Lord! God is their joy and delight. Pleasing and glorifying Him brings joy to their hearts.
c. We sometimes lament that this verse doesn’t seem true. (I love the Lord. How come He didn’t give me that new Cadillac I wanted so much?)
• Why? Because that desire arose from a love of self… delighting in pleasing self.
• When we delight in the LORD, our desires will be quite different.
• We will then say, Not my will but THINE be done! Doing His will be our true joy and pleasure!
• If the desire of our heart is to please and glorify God, then we will delight in doing HIS will—even if it means bearing a cross… facing a trial… or experiencing tragedy…
• If God can be glorified and magnified through it, then that becomes the desire of our heart.
• “I delight to do thy will O God”—the words of Jesus Christ as He took on a body—that He might die for the sins of the world! The desire of Christ’s heart was to do His Father’s will and glorify His Father’s name.
4. What is the desire of your heart?
a. If it centers around making life pleasant, comfortable, healthy, wealthy, successful for SELF… then it is fair to say we are delighting in SELF, not the Lord.
b. But if the true desire of our heart is to please and glorify God—then we will desire to do His will whatever it may include!
Shall be granted
1. Righteous people shall be granted the desires of their hearts.
2. God WILL give us all opportunity to serve Him, to suffer for His name, to manifest His life, to witness of Him, and to glorify Him.
3. On a more practical level, this principle can be applied to everyday life.
a. Lazy people fear having to work. Diligent people desire to prosper and shall be granted the rewards of their labors! (Prov. 10:4 – he becomes rich… blessed richly)
b. Adulterers fear getting caught. But those who are faithful in marriage desire a happy home and shall be granted a happy relationship.
c. Gossips fear being exposed. But those who use their tongues righteously shall be granted the blessing of being a tree of life! (Prov. 15:4)
4. Ultimately, the righteous desire to be with the Lord in glory. That too shall be granted!
a. Our desire, our blessed hope is to be with the Lord at the Rapture. That will be granted to each of us!
b. Our desire is to shed this body of sin and replace it with a glorified, sinless body. That desire shall be granted!
c. Our desire is to see our Savior face to face—and that shall be granted to us!
d. Our desire is to dwell forever in that heavenly Jerusalem—and that shall be granted to us!
e. Our desire is to serve and worship God forever—and that shall be granted to us!
5. Ultimately:
a. That which the wicked fears shall come upon him: he shall face God the Judge and be cast into the Lake of Fire.
b. The desire the righteous shall be granted: to dwell in the heavenly house of the Lord forever!
c. Sometimes from our earthly perspective, we SEE the opposite. (The wicked seem to prosper and have whatever they want; the righteous seem to go without).
d. From eternity’s perspective this Proverb will be completely and eternally true—no exceptions.
Proverbs 10:25
An Everlasting Foundation
Introduction:
1. This is another contrast between the wicked and the righteous.
2. It is closely related to the previous proverb.
3. Prov. 10:24 – The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him…
a. The wicked have many fears.
b. Ultimately, sinners fear facing God and giving account to Him!
c. Isa. 57:20-21 – there is no rest for the wicked… no peace… just fears and worries.
d. Solomon’s point here is this: that which the wicked fear, they must ultimately face.
e. They fear getting caught. It SHALL come upon them. (Num. 32:23)
4. Verse 24 had to do with the temporal and ultimate consequences that the wicked and the righteous will face…
5. Verse 25 deals with the kind of security each can have in the meantime.
a. The wicked will be swept away like a tornado.
b. The righteous will be found on a solid, everlasting foundation.
6. Contrast: the destruction of the wicked vs. the everlasting security of the righteous.
As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more…
1. Whirlwind: a storm of wind; tornado; great gusts of wind; hurricane
2. The point: a whirlwind leaves devastation in its wake.
a. It blows everything all away—especially if you lived in the Bible days in a tent in the wilderness.
b. A tornado can pick up a house and leave just the foundation.
c. It can pick up a car and drop it down the road a ways.
3. So is the wicked no more…
a. His point is that just as a whirlwind can take something away in an instant—so that it is gone… so, too, the wicked will be taken away in an instant… gone!
b. There is no safety or security for the wicked. None whatsoever.
c. Vs. 24 – that which they fear (being blown away!) SHALL COME upon them.
• For some it comes in this life.
• For all it comes as they stand before God to give account for their lives.
4. This is a partial answer from God to ongoing question in the minds of godly people: Why do the wicked prosper? Why do the ungodly seem to be so successful? Why do evil men seem to get away with murder?
a. God’s answer: They don’t!
b. Vs. 24 – that which they fear shall come upon them…
c. Vs. 25 – like a whirlwind they will be no more… blown away forever.
d. From our limited perspective in time, it APPEARS that the wicked prosper and get away with murder, but not from God’s perspective.
e. In fact, God is even USING their wickedness to bring His perfect plan to pass.
f. As awful as the tragedies of last week were, there was one tragedy that causes all others to pale in comparison: the crucifixion of Jesus Christ!
• Acts 2:23 – wicked men with wicked hearts performed the most wicked deed in all of history.
• YET—it was all according to God’s foreknowledge and determinate counsel.
• God used that deed for good.
• The wicked men will be judged for their wickedness… and will be taken away as a whirlwind one day.
g. But wicked men are not prospering from God’s perspective!
• At the cross, the devil seemed to triumph—he succeeded in putting Messiah to death.
• He bruised the heel of Messiah—and for a moment thought himself to be the victor.
• But in the very process, Christ arose from that mortal wound to crush the head of the serpent!
• Even the devil will be taken away like a whirlwind one day and cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
• Evil will NOT continue forever.
• The same is true for all evil men.
h. From our limited perspective in time, it may appear that the wicked prosper… but Solomon assures us that one day they will be no more…
• No more a threat to the righteous…
• No more able to propagate their evil plans…
• No more able to oppose God or God’s people…
• We should take heart from this passage: in the end, evil men are the losers and will be no more!
• All of his hopes, pleasures, opportunities for God’s grace will be swept away in a moment of time for every wicked man.
5. Many wicked men with their wicked plans have been carried away like a whirlwind.
a. In the days of Noah, wicked men were carried away like a whirlwind… in the flood.
b. In the days of Abraham, wicked men in Sodom and Gomorrah were taken away like a whirlwind—in a storm of fire from heaven.
c. In the days of Esther, the wicked Haman, who almost succeeded in a plan for worldwide genocide of the Jews was taken away in an instant—hung on the very gallows he had built for his enemy.
d. In the days of Daniel, wicked men devised a plan that landed Daniel in the lions den. However, the calamity suddenly fell upon the wicked and they and their families were torn to shreds by the lions!
6. Proverbs speaks of this principle often: sudden calamity that befalls the wicked.
a. 6:12-15 – he causes great calamity in the lives of others with his tongue… but his calamity shall come upon him suddenly.
b. 24:21-22 – those who seek to meddle with governments (rebels; traitors; those who seek to overthrow governments; terrorists; etc.) Their calamity shall come suddenly… and their ruin will be indescribable!
c. Don’t fret over evil men who seem to get away with their evil plans. Not one of them will get away with anything before God.
d. Perhaps their plans will blow up in their faces in this life. Perhaps it will not be exposed until they face God—but wicked men and their evil devices will all be carried away like a whirlwind one day.
7. I Thess. 5:2 – The coming of the Lord will bring sudden calamity upon the wicked—like a whirlwind… suddenly… unexpectedly…
a. Vs. 3 – they FEEL safe, but are not.
b. Wicked men often attempt to build for themselves a false sense of security.
c. The godly see the wicked who seem to prosper, seem to have not a worry in the world—yet the whirlwind is coming. It is a false sense of security derived from their wealth, power, and worldly mindset.
d. There is no escape when this whirlwind comes.
8. Matt. 7:26-27 – great was the fall of it…
a. Here the Lord Jesus describes the fall of the wicked.
b. The wicked fool built his house on sand…
c. It may be a beautiful house… well designed… well laid out… well furnished…an elaborate structure… with steel girders… fire extinguishers… an expensive house… that took years to build… the latest in safety features which give its builders a sense of great security…
d. But if it was built on sand, (by folly and wickedness) then that house will be swept away when the storm comes!
e. Its fall will be GREAT.
f. Here the Lord has in mind the ultimate coming to justice: standing before God at the Great White Throne Judgment.
g. What if we never find the evil men who have bombed our cities? Will they get away with murder?
• Maybe in this life, but not forever.
• As a whirlwind, they will be no more!
• No more around to carry out their evil deeds. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
But the righteous is an everlasting foundation…
1. In contrast to the insecurity of the wicked—who could be carried away in a storm at any moment… to their ruin and destruction is the RIGHTEOUS… and the everlasting security that belongs to them.
2. Matt. 7:24-25 – the Lord states that the righteous man (believer who builds on a solid foundation—Christ) is TRULY safe and secure.
a. The storm came, but this house stood tall. It was not swept away.
b. This house may not LOOK as secure as the fool’s house…
c. It may not be as big, expensive, impressive from the outside…
d. BUT it is secure because of its foundation.
e. As Solomon puts it, the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
• The KJV adds the verb “is”. It might be better understood if the verb “has” was added.
• The righteous man HAS an everlasting foundation. Unshakable.
3. I John 2:17 – The world and its wickedness will pass away, but he who does the will of God abides forever. Safe and secure forever.
4. Psalm 112:5-7 – The righteous man need not fear evil tidings… dreadful news. (and there is no shortage of evil tidings)… Why does he not need to fear?
a. Vs. 6 – he will not be moved!
b. Vs. 7 – His heart is fixed.
c. He trusts in the Lord and is thus attached to a solid rock… an unmovable foundation… an everlasting foundation.
d. Evil men CANNOT:
• Undo our salvation…
• Separate us from the love of God…
• Take us out of the hands of our heavenly Father…
• Touch our heavenly inheritance and treasures…
• Take away our joy in the Lord…
• The things that are really important to the righteous man are untouchable…
• They can harm our body or take our earthly goods, but they cannot touch our soul.
• Jesus said, “Fear not them who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul: but rather, fear HIM… God…” (Matt. 7:28)
5. Psalm 37:10-11 – Wait on the Lord. In a little while, the wicked will not be! But the meek shall inherit the earth.
a. Again the psalmist encourages his readers: (vs. 32-36)
b. The wicked often appear to have great power…
c. But wait… it will pass away, and he will be found no more.
d. Evil men have ALWAYS attempted to wreak havoc on the lives of others.
e. God’s message has been the same throughout the ages: wait on the Lord and keep His way.
f. Vengeance belongs to Him. In His time and in His way, the godly shall be exalted and the wicked shall be no more!
Proverbs 10:26
The Sluggard
Introduction:
1. This proverb speaks about a single issue: the sluggard.
2. The book of Proverbs has much to say about the sluggard, but this passage looks at him from only one dimension… what he is to others.
As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes…
1. Vinegar, or something similar that is strongly acidic causes the teeth to stand on edge…
a. It is an uncomfortable feeling.
b. Every little grinding action of the teeth seems accentuated.
2. Smoke to the eyes…
a. At the very least is irritating… even painful.
b. Smoke in your eyes hinders you from seeing…
c. When there is smoke in your eyes, you have to stop what you are doing to rub your eyes and take care of the irritation.
d. It is crippling.
e. It brings tears.
So is the sluggard to them that send him…
A. Sending a Sluggard
1. The sluggard mentioned here has obviously been “sent” on a mission.
a. He has been given a job to do… a mission to carry out… a ministry or service to perform…
b. Whoever sent him put confidence in him… trusted him to do the job… is counting on him… relying upon him… perhaps MANY people are relying upon him.
2. Sluggard: a sluggard is a lazy, slothful person.
a. A sluggard does not take his job seriously.
b. He doesn’t really care about the success or failure of his role. He’s just putting in time.
c. Sluggards are to be found everywhere.
d. Schools: some students are lazy and sluggish in doing their work. Some teachers are lazy and sluggish in preparing to teach.
e. Workplace: Does anyone here know someone in your workplace who fits this bill? Have you ever worked with a lazy person?
f. Government: Some people get a government job and think they are now entitled to loaf the rest of their lives.
• Have you ever seen a sign on the road that says, “Men working”? You rarely do!
g. Pastors: some pastors are sluggish in their duties too! “Much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecc. 12:12)
• Some pastors are not willing to weary themselves in the study of the Word. (ex: “I am not a student; I can’t teach the Bible…)
• Just because someone holds that position, doesn’t mean he is faithfully carrying out his duties.
• Some men assume that once they graduate from seminary, their studies are over!
h. Sunday school teachers: Some Sunday school teachers wait until the last minute to look over their lesson. No preparation… little prayer… little study… slothful.
i. Parents: Almost anyone can bring children into the world. That’s no great feat.
• However, it takes a lot of effort, time, energy, money, sacrifice, and hard work to see that they turn out right.
• Some parents are sluggish in their responsibilities as parents…
• They may be fantastic breadwinners, but sluggish in their real parental duties.
• Some kids are left to themselves. (Prov.2 9:15 – a slothful parent will pay for it one day.)
j. Children: Some kids are slothful… in doing their chores at home… in doing their schoolwork… picking up their room… have their own personal devotion time… serving in the local church…
k. Let’s face it: sluggards are found everywhere… in every walk of life… sluggards are found in every culture… in every company… in every church… in every country…their battle cry is “manyana.”
• Obviously, Solomon observed this often… and wrote about it often.
• Human nature is the same today.
• This is a subject we need to consider too.
B. The Sluggard Irritates Those Who Sent Him
1. The sluggard is irritating to those who sent him… and to the MANY who were counting on him to do his job… like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
2. This is the main point of the proverb. There are lots of sluggards out there… and every one of them is an irritation to others.
3. Prov. 25:19 – He is like a broken tooth or a foot out of joint.
a. Here Solomon speaks about the very same issue: confidence in an unfaithful man.
b. You give someone a job to do, but they are unfaithful.
c. You place confidence in that person… expecting the job to be taken care of… and it isn’t!
d. Like a broken tooth.
• You are unaware that your tooth is broken… or perhaps you forget, and you bite down on something.
• You have confidence your tooth will function, but it doesn’t! It causes you great pain instead!
• Those in charge give people jobs to do and SHOULD be able to get busy on other issues and not give that chore another thought. Just like our teeth should work. When they work faithfully we don’t give another thought to biting down on a piece of food.
• A servant is like a tooth. When it works faithfully you don’t give it another thought. When it doesn’t do it’s job—OUCH! It hurts.
• We have a lot of servants here who are faithful! I never have to worry whether they are going to show up and do their job… reliable… trustworthy… faithful. Praise God!
e. Like a foot out of joint.
• This is another illustration teaching the exact same truth.
• When your foot works well, you don’t think about it. (How much thought did you give your foot today?)
• When a person walks he just expects that his foot will hold him up… that it will bend… and he can walk smoothly.
• But if your foot gives out on you (when you were counting on it to hold you up)—it can cause great trouble to you!
• If a mountain climber’s foot gives out on him, he could fall to his death! If a skier’s foot refuses to cut his edge into the snow, it could spell disaster for him! Or something as simple as climbing the stairs—if your foot proves to be unreliable, it can cause great harm!
• So is the unfaithful servant. If people are counting on you to do your job and you are not reliable—it can cause great harm… hurt… and trouble to others.
f. Solomon wrote about this often because it is quite likely that as KING he experienced this trouble and pain often!
• As a king, he would have appointed many people to many different tasks in the kingdom.
• Some would be faithful workers and he wouldn’t have to give that department a second thought. Those are the kind of workers the king would want! Anyone would want!
• Others would prove to be unreliable… and would become the source of much grief to him… a thorn in the flesh… and trouble to the nation.
4. This principle holds true in countless different scenarios.
a. The President appoints men to various panels—and relies upon them to do their job.
• President Bush has just appointed the former governor of PA to head up anti-terrorism task force. Pray that this man would be reliable!
• If HE loafs on the job, it could harm many others… beyond irritating to deadly! Pray for him.
• The way we do our job will have an effect on others.
• If someone’s job is to protect our country from terrorists, it is obvious that it is important for him not to be a sluggard. (Get ‘em!)
b. You wouldn’t want a firefighter to be lazy when the bell rings! When you need emergency medical attention you don’t want someone who is lazy… and will get around to it when they feel like it!
c. Perhaps some folks here have been irritated because of a sluggard in the office—who never does his job… or never finishes his job… or does a poor job because he is lazy… and YOU have to pick up the slack! Irritating!
d. Perhaps you have been irritated by a check out clerk who was slow as molasses…
e. Perhaps you have been irritated by the lackadaisical attitude of workers in a store… a garage… or at the registry. They don’t seem to care if you dropped dead before them. They seem to be bothered no end if you have the audacity to ask them a question.
f. They irritate you. But eventually they will irritate the one who sent them… the one who hired them for that position.
g. This is the sluggard. He is like smoke in the eyes… vinegar on the teeth… a broken tooth… or a sprained ankle…
5. DON’T put confidence in them!
a. That’s the lesson to learn from this.
b. If you are a leader in a ministry… don’t accept workers unless you can count on them… they must be reliable… faithful…
c. Some Christians are not reliable… but are sluggards. I have met believers I would never hire if I were working in the personnel department for a corporation.
d. This quality has nothing to do with talent or ability. There are some extremely talented people who are not reliable. They possess much ability but not much reliability.
e. Don’t put confidence in that which is unreliable… like a broken tooth or a sprained ankle… because it will be painful and irritating… like smoke in your eyes or vinegar on your teeth.
6. The sluggard is that irritating to those who send him. So DON’T be one!
a. If we know how much trouble it can cause… how much pain it might involve… how irritating it is to others, then DON’T DO IT!
b. Rom.12:11 – not slothful in business; but fervent in spirit!
c. Ecc. 9:10 – do your job… perform your ministry… with all your might!
7. In the church:
• Church dinners – if you sign up to bring the mashed potatoes and don’t bring them… then that can irritate those who were counting on you! If you sign up to go and someone buys and prepares food for you and you don’t show up… that can be like smoke in the eyes!
• Sunday school teachers – Who would want a Sunday school teacher whom you couldn’t rely upon to be there! You may be an extremely gifted teacher, but if we can’t count on you to be there… what good is your gift? It is wasted.
• Building project – decisions were made based upon the amount of man-hours signed up for. If you volunteer to do a job, then do it! Be faithful.
• Choir – You may have a fantastic voice and be gifted in music, but if you’re missing half the time, then it becomes an irritant to the choir director—who “sent” you there to do a job. It can hold up the rest of the choir from learning the song…
• Clean up crew – if you volunteer to do church clean up and you don’t show up, then the church members sit in a dirty building that Sunday. It is like stepping on a sore ankle… you expect it to work, but it doesn’t.
8. In the world workers who cannot be relied upon are fired…or they don’t get a pay raise or a promotion. That motivates them to do a good job.
• In the Lord’s work, our payday doesn’t come in this life. But that is no excuse for sloppy work. God wants our best.
• In fact, we should be even MORE motivated than workers in the world. We will be rewarded with that which is eternal!
• Col.2:22-24 – not with eyeservice… but from the heart…we receive a reward from the Lord. This goes for how we perform our ministries at church AND how we do our duties at work… AND how we do our duties at home!
9. The opposite is true also. When folks do their jobs faithfully, it is a delight! (Prov. 25:13)
a. Just as the unfaithful worker irritates the one who sent him, the faithful worker is refreshing to the one sent him! (master)
b. In the local church, when each member is FAITHFUL in performing their ministry, the Body functions smoothly… to the glory of God.
c. I Cor. 12:22 – even those members that seem feeble… insignificant are necessary. It is necessary for them to be faithful too… or the body will not function properly. (Just like our physical body requires faithfulness on all the tiny, seemingly insignificant, and unnoticed organs… or there could be a SERIOUS IRRITATION to your health and well being!
d. Don’t be unreliable. That quality irritates people. Don’t be a pain!
e. Be faithful… reliable… trustworthy… dependable… that quality is a delight.
Proverbs 10:27-28
The Fear of the Lord
Introduction:
Introduction:
1. Once again, Solomon contrasts the righteous and the wicked.
2. Once again he speaks in terms of a proverb… truths that are not true in each and every case. They are generalities about life.
3. In general, he states that the righteous will live long happy lives, and the wicked will live a short life and their hopes for their future will not be fulfilled.
27a The fear of the LORD prolongeth days…
1. This truth has been mentioned several times already in the book.
2. There are several MEANS of prolonging one’s days in the book of Proverbs:
a. 10:27 – fearing God will lengthen one’s days…
• David feared God when he stood before Goliath.
• Had he feared Goliath more he may never have written a psalm!
b. 3:1-2 – obeying one’s parents will lengthen one’s days…
• How many teenagers have been told by their parents to drive under control… no drinking… no speeding…
• How many would be alive today had they obeyed their parents when they got behind the wheel?
c. 3:13, 16 – holding on to wisdom will lengthen one’s days…
d. 9:10-11 – by fearing God and taking heed to wisdom…
• Remember Lot’s wife?
• Wisdom demanded that she flee the city and not turn back.
• Wisdom calls to us and makes demands of us. However, we have the freedom to choose to take heed or to ignore wisdom.
• When we take heed, we prolong our days…
e. Ps.91:9, 15-16 – by making God one’s refuge; calling upon Him…
• The soldiers at Jericho made God their refuge. They trusted in Him and their lives were preserved.
• The soldiers at Ai did not trust in the Lord. They trusted in themselves… and some lost their lives.
• When we stay close to the Lord, we are safe… and who knows how often our life has been preserved as a result?
3. It is good to fear the Lord for many reasons… one of which is “length of days.”
1. This is the flip side of the same truth. It too is mentioned often in Scripture.
2. Reasons for a shortened life:
a. Divine chastisement (Ps. 55:23 – they won’t live out half their days!)
• Some of the Corinthian believers lost their lives because of their sin… God’s ultimate form of chastening… death!
• Ananias and Saphira too lost their lives…
b. Giving oneself to folly and wickedness (Ecc. 7:17)
• Many men have had their days cut short because of their foolish lifestyle…
• Drinking… drugs… STD’s…
c. God calls fools out of this world in a time when they are not prepared to leave. (Luke 12:20)
28a The hope of the righteous shall be gladness…
1. Terms:
a. Gladness: joy, mirth, gladness
b. Hope: confident expectation
2. Righteous people can have a confident expectation of gladness and joy in their lives. This is the general rule.
a. True, many righteous men have suffered greatly.
b. True, many ungodly men SEEM to live the life of Riley… but things are not always as they seem.
3. Yet even if we suffer greatly in this life… (and some saints DO suffer much in this life) our whole life long — we can still have that HOPE (confident expectation of good for the future)… for the life to come.
a. THAT is the source of our true joy and gladness.
b. Hab. 3:17-18 – we can still have gladness or joy in the Lord. No one can take that from us.
4. The Lord has promised us JOY in this life. (John 15:11)
a. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
b. It is our every moment that we are yielded and thus filled with the Spirit… whether we are happy or not. Joy is not happiness.
c. Happiness is based upon pleasant circumstances.
d. Joy is much deeper. It exists entirely apart from circumstances.
e. Believers who are not happy with their circumstances can still have the joy of the Lord… true gladness…
f. Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS—and again I say rejoice! (Paul wrote from prison!)
g. The hope of the righteous is gladness and joy.
• Solomon makes a direct connection between righteousness and joy.
• The righteous shall have joy. The ungodly will never know true joy.
• Ps.32: 10-11 – the righteous shall experience joy. They have every reason to shout for joy and to rejoice!
h. John 16:22 – our hope for the future is the coming of Christ. We will have a joy that will never be interrupted!!
5. Ps. 16:9-11 David’s bright hope for the future enabled him to experience joy and gladness in the present.
a. His hope for the future involved passing through death victoriously and being in the presence of God!
b. Thus, he could say, “my heart IS glad”… (not shall be!)
c. If we believe that which we hope for, if our hope is genuine confident expectation of good—then we can experience gladness today… regardless of today’s circumstances.
6. Prov. 14:32 –The righteous have HOPE in death.
a. Death is the ultimate bad experience in life… the worst circumstance we face.
b. Yet in death, we have a hope that no man can take from us.
c. Not happiness, but JOY as we face death…
7. We have a fabulous HOPE as Christians:
a. Being used of the Lord here on earth… to represent Christ and lead others to a saving knowledge of Him…
b. Being rewarded for our present labors some day…
c. Resurrection of the body…
d. Eternally separated from our sin nature…
e. An eternal inheritance in glory…
f. A heavenly dwelling place being prepared for us…
g. The new heaven and new earth… new Jerusalem…
h. Living in the presence of God…
i. Our blessed hope, the coming of Christ…
j. So let others be miserable if they so choose. Not me. I refuse to be miserable.
k. I Cor. 15:19 – if this life is all there is then we have reason to be miserable here. But this is NOT the case.
l. We have every reason to rejoice in the Lord… to serve the Lord with gladness!
m. This too is a matter of personal choice.
• You can CHOOSE to be miserable by CHOSING to focus on the earthly and temporal circumstances.
• Or you can CHOOSE to experience the joy of the Lord by keeping your focus on Him and His wonderful promises that fill us with hope…
• We need to CHOOSE to set our affection on things above, not the things of this earth.
28b But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
1. All men have hope and expectation concerning their future.
2. Even the wicked hope for GOOD days ahead… for gladness… happiness… favorable circumstances… good health… prosperity… good friends…
3. Wickedness FRUSTRATES any hope of good…
a. Think of the thousands of people in prison right now because of their wickedness… for their crimes…
• They had hopes of going on to college and building a successful career…
• They had hopes for a family…
• Every one of them had hopes for a good life… the little house with a white picket fence…
• Now all their hopes are dashed… some put on hold for 10 years… some dashed forever.
• They chose to commit a crime… to sin… and their wickedness dashed all their hopes for the future.
• Many are left with no hope whatsoever…
• Job 11:20 – Job spoke of this hopeless condition…
b. Solomon is warning us about this very real possibility. Don’t do it! Avoid wickedness. It is a hope-killer!
c. Ps.112:9-10 – the wicked shall see the exaltation of the righteous… his hopes coming to fruition, and it shall cause the wicked to gnash his teeth… frustration…
4. What a good challenge to us all—to lead a life of “Righteousness”… do things RIGHT before the Lord.
a. That is the way of gladness… peace of mind…
b. This is all a matter of choice. We can have either:
• A long happy life by living righteously
• OR a short frustrated life by living wickedly.
• The way of the transgressor is hard. The way of the backslider is hard.
• The choices we make in life will determine the QUALITY of our life… joy or frustration… gladness or a life of dashed hopes.
Proverbs 10:29-30
Strong and Unmovable
Introduction:
1. These two passages make yet another contrast between the righteous and the wicked.
2. The righteous are strong and unmovable. The wicked will be destroyed and removed from the land.
1. The way of the Lord.
a. Way: road, distance, journey, manner; course of life; path
b. It speaks of a way of life…
c. It is the way of the Lord… the right way to live… with the Lord as LORD of your life…
d. Those who have set their affections on things above and have given the Lord the place He deserves in our hearts are on the way of the Lord.
e. Ps. 119:1 – those who are in the way of the Lord are those who walk in obedience to His Word. If we are disobedient, then we are out of the way… off course… The word of God is designed to get us back on course when we wander.
f. This is the straight and narrow way… the way that refuses to walk with the ungodly… or stand in the way of sinners. It is a holy, separate way…
2. The way of the Lord is strength… power…
a. Strength: place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold; fortress…
b. Isa. 25:4 – Speaking of the Lord, Isaiah describes Him as a place of strength and safety… for the poor… for those in distress…
• Those who walk in the way of the Lord find that they are in the way of this kind of strength and safety.
• God Himself is our strength… (Ps. 6:1)
c. Ps. 32:8-9 – if we are walking in the way of the Lord, the Lord promises to lead and guide us in that way.
• We are challenged not to be stubborn…when God leads, follow!
• Don’t make God FORCE us to follow in the way…
• The way of strength is the way of being yielded…led… surrendered…
• When that is the case, we are in a stronghold… safe in the will of God. THEN God can strengthen us with might in the inner man. And we NEED a strong inner man or we could crumble!
d. Prov. 2:7-9 – God preserves the way of His saints, and He gives them wisdom and discernment enough to stay ON that right way… that good path.
3. Being strong is a choice.
a. Everyone wants to be strong… especially in those days when we really NEED to be strong.
b. BUT, not all people are strong. Not all believers are strong… but that need not be the case with you.
c. Neh. 8:10 – the joy of the Lord is our strength.
• Cf. Prov.10:28 – gladness is their hope. Joy is their strength!
• Strong people have hope and joy.
• When sorrow and grief seem to overwhelm, there is something even MORE overwhelming—the joy of the Lord.
• If the spirit is broken… through grief or discouragement or depression, then we are weak.
• Prov. 17:22 – a broken spirit dries the bones.
• Prov. 18:14 – a wounded spirit, who can bear? It will crush you… it will defeat you… feelings take over…
• Ps. 32:3-4 – we are weak in the inner man when sin is tolerated… not confessed and forsaken.
• Sin will take away all our joy in the Lord… and our confidence in Him. That makes us an easy target for the adversary.
• Ps. 38:2-10 – a picture of spiritual weakness as a result of sin. That is the condition of the soul when sin is not dealt with… like a body with a disease…
• I John 1:4 – these things were written that our JOY might be full.
» What did he write about? The WAY of the Lord!
» Walking in the light… (vs. 7)
» maintaining fellowship (vs. 9)
» When we walk in the light; maintain fellowship with God, we have the joy of the Lord and we are strong in the Lord.
» We walk by faith and we are safe from all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
» If the Lord be for us, who can be against us?
• BUT if we forsake the way of the Lord, it is presumptuous to think that we can still experience the power of the Lord in our life.
» If we forsake the way of the Lord, we have NO strength.
» We are left to ourselves… to the power of the flesh… and the arm of flesh will fail us!
» As believers, our strength lies “in the Lord.” (Eph. 6:10)
» That strength is ours as we walk in the way of the Lord…
» The way of the Lord is strength to the upright…
» Isa. 41:29-31 – The Lord gives power and strength to those who are faint…strength comes from the Lord.
» If we step out of the way, we have stepped out of the way of safety, protection, and strength.
29b But destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
1. There is another way… the way of the enemy of the Lord. (Eph. 2:2-3) This is the course of the world.
a. The way of the world is a course of life… the general direction of one’s life.
b. It has nothing to do with where you live, or what one’s occupation is. It is a matter of the affections of the heart.
c. Our heart sets the whole direction of our life… it directs the feet down this pathway or that…
d. Those whose hearts are full of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life and on the course of this world.
2. Those believers who walk in that other way… (The way of iniquity) will find themselves without strength.
a. A worker of iniquity doesn’t necessarily mean a murderer, adulterer, or bank robber.
b. Iniquity is simply any step OUT OF THE WAY of the Lord!
c. We may still be coming to church regularly… even reading our Bible and teaching Sunday school. But if there is unconfessed sin in the heart, we have lost our strength… like Samson after his hair was cut.
3. Destruction: destruction, ruin, terror, a breaking…
a. Those who chose not to walk in the way of the Lord have wandered away from the place of safety and refuge.
b. They have wandered into a way that leads to destruction and ruin.
c. The believer who departs from the way of the Lord opens the door for ruin and destruction to enter his life.
d. Those who chose the life of sin will soon find themselves in a mess… a mess of their own making.
e. When believers walk away from the Lord and make a mess of their lives, they sometimes discover that the grass is NOT any greener on the other side… the way of the transgressor is hard…
• Then they come to the pastor and want him to recite a Bible verse and make the mess go away.
• It doesn’t work that way.
• Prov. 1:31 – here is a principle that applies: “you make a mess, and you have to eat it!”
• There are consequences to walking away from the Lord… and while God will forgive our sins, there are often many consequences that just don’t go away.
• It’s like pouring salt on your field. You may repent later… but it’s going to be a long time before that field grows any fruit…
• Prov. 14:14 – the backslider is filled with his own ways…
• Prov. 22:8 – he that sows iniquity will reap vanity.
30a The righteous shall never be removed:
1. This verse is quite similar to verse 29.
2. Removed = slip — it speaks of insecurity. The righteous shall NEVER be insecure.
3. Vs. 29 states that the righteous will be strong. Vs. 30 states that the righteous will be immovable.
4. Prov. 10:25 – the wicked are tossed about like a whirlwind. But the righteous are an everlasting foundation… solid… secure… not about to be blown away!
5. Eph. 4:14 – the righteous will grow in the Lord… as he keeps on walking in the way of the Lord.
a. In that pathway, he will mature and become discerning.
b. He will NOT be tossed to and fro…
c. He will be on a solid foundation.
6. Ps. 16:8 – the one who sets the Lord before him always shall not be moved!
a. Other people may be shaken from their footings… but not the one who sets the Lord before him.
7. Ps. 112:5-8 – the good man… the righteous man…
a. Vs. 5 – He is gracious and guides his affairs with discretion.
b. Vs. 6 – He will not be moved! He is solid!
c. Vs. 8 – He is not full of fear because he is FIXED on the Lord.
d. This ought to be a goal for all of us… and for our children — that we would be gracious, discerning, and stable… steadfast… like a rock!
e. That’s not impossible. We have rock solid believers in this church… praise the Lord… stable and steadfast in the faith for many, many years! Discerning and gracious too!
f. Not all believers are that way. Others are not so stable and solid.
g. BUT—they could be… if they walk in the way of the Lord and keep their heart with all diligence.
1. Some choose to walk in the way of the world… in the way of the wicked.
2. They shall not inherit the earth… they shall be cast out.
3. Prov. 2:22 – eventually, wicked men will be rooted out of the earth… even if it does take the Great Tribulation Period and the Second Coming of Christ to accomplish this.
4. Solomon wants his sons (and us) to follow his wisdom… and to follow the way of the Lord. If so: we will live long (vs. 27), be glad (vs. 28), strong (vs. 30), and stable and steadfast!
Proverbs 10:31-32
Wise and Discerning Speech
31a The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom
1. The mouth of the just has been mentioned already in this chapter.
a. Vs. 11 – a well of life…
b. vs. 13 – wisdom is found
c. vs. 20 – as choice silver… valuable
d. Vs. 21 – feed many… a source of spiritual edification for others.
2. Brings forth wisdom…
a. The righteous man is a source of wisdom.
b. He learns wisdom. He seeks wisdom. He stores up wisdom.
c. He is a well of life… a fountain of information on living life…
3. The emphasis in vs. 31 seems to be on the continuing nature of this wisdom.
a. These are all antithetical parallelisms.
• A poetic style in which opposites are put back to back for the purpose of comparison.
• Ex: vs. 29- strength to the upright; destruction to workers of iniquity.
• Ex: vs. 30 – the righteous will never be removed from the land; the wicked will not inhabit the land.
b.Verse 31 does not seem to be an exact antithetical parallelism – the righteous brings forth wisdom; the forward tongue is cut out.
• The righteous and the froward are opposites.
• But bringeth forth wisdom does not seem be the opposite of cutting out the tongue.
• A possible explanation is found in another translation: the mouth of the just KEEPS ON bringing forth wisdom… while the tongue of the froward is cut out… stops.
• Then, we have true opposites—one that continues; the other does not.
• The NASV seems to capture this shade of meaning: The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom… (implies continuous action)
c. This seems to add to what Solomon has already said about the mouth of just men. Now he adds that it is not only a source of wisdom, but a continually replenishing source! A renewable source of wisdom.
• Just men continually seek after wisdom… and hence they keep on discovering more and more!
• Just men are wise enough to know that they don’t know it all. There is always more to learn… and they keep at it.
• The fool thinks he knows it all, and hence, does not seek more wisdom.
» Why bother?
» You can try to talk sense to a fool, but he will roll his eyes and not pay attention. Why should he listen? He thinks he knows it all already. He has nothing to learn. That is folly and vanity at its worse.
• The just man is not like a fool. He listens. He hears. (Prov. 1:5) He is continually increasing in learning and wisdom.
• That is why wisdom is associated with age. Wise, righteous men keep on learning. They are continually being replenished with wisdom. They continually read God’s Word… and keep on learning… and listening.
• In that sense, we should all be lifelong students of God’s Word.
4. The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom like a spring bubbles up water. It is not like a stagnant pool… but more like a spring or a flowing stream… a continual supply…
a. You want advice? You need wisdom?
• Study the Scriptures and become wise…
• And go to a godly man or woman who has been walking with God for many years!
b. If you have gained wisdom over the years—do what Solomon says here: let it flow out! Bring forth wisdom… don’t keep it all to yourself!
c. One of the most serious mistakes of modern churches in America—even the fundamental churches—is that everything is geared around the youth.
• The older saints are not being used as they ought… not being tapped for the valuable wisdom they have accumulated!
• Church growth folks are taking surveys of the youth to find out what kind of a church they would like.
• We would do much better to tap the wisdom of the older saints… the epistles COMMAND us to!
• The last 20 years has seen a huge push towards counseling… yet the New Testament says that if younger women are having marriage problems or problems with their kids they are to go to the older women in the church and tap their wisdom!
• The mouth of the just keeps on bringing forth wisdom. Shame on us if we ignore the wisdom of older saints.
1. Froward: perverse; wicked; the opposite of the just or righteous man.
2. While the mouth of the just keeps on flowing out with wisdom, the tongue of the perverse man shall be cut out. It shall NOT continue to wag!
3. Unfortunately, fools often talk too much.
a. Prov. 10:19 – in a multitude of words there is no lack of sin!
b. Ecc. 5:3 – a fool is characterized by an abundance of words.
• He has an opinion on every subject—whether he has done his homework on the subject or not.
• He has something to say about every issue—whether he knows anything about it or not.
c. Sometimes it seems like the froward tongue will NEVER stop.
• Solomon states that in time, they WILL be stopped.
• Eventually they trip over their words… get caught in their lies… others eventually begin to see through their evil intentions…
• The froward tongue will not go on forever.
• Eventually, such men will have to stand before God and give an account for every idle word.
• Some folks who talk non-stop will have an awful to give an account for!
• Evil tongues will not wag forever. Sooner or later they will be “cut out.”
4. Cut out – not literally, but figuratively.
a. There have been some folks who have gossiped, slandered and have separated chief friends. I have been tempted to literally cut out their tongue. Fortunately the fruit of the Spirit is self control.
b. Solomon did not mean literally.
c. But the truth the figure of speech portrays IS to be taken literally.
• The message of the figure is that eventually the tongue of the wicked man WILL be exposed… and dealt with.
• This exposure and treatment may well HURT… as if someone cut it out with a sword.
• Gossips don’t like to be found out. It hurts their pride.
• Those who seek to stir up trouble with their tongue don’t like to be discovered and exposed as a troublemaker.
• A liar doesn’t like to have his lies exposed as lies either.
• The MANNER in which the tongue is finally stopped may hurt a lot!
• Their reputation is ruined; they lose friends; people’s opinion of them plummets; no one can trust them. Ouch!
5. Eventually, however, they will get what they deserve.
a. Psalm 120:2-4 – what does the froward tongue deserve? A sword!
b. Psalm 31:18 – we should pray that froward tongues would be silenced!
c. What a warning to all of us—NOT to use our tongue in that manner.
32a The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable
1. In addition to being a continual source of wisdom… the lips of righteous people also have discernment.
2. Acceptable: good pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill
a. The wicked speak perverse things, but the righteous speak things that are pleasant… delightful… acceptable…
b. They know what to say and when to say it. Their speech is acceptable and well pleasing to God and to those who love God.
c. They are aware of that which is socially acceptable… and stick within those parameters in their speech.
d. There are believers with no social skills whatsoever. They just don’t have the discernment to know what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in different settings.
• For example: in this setting—the local church—it may be perfectly acceptable to have a Bible study exposing the errors of Rome.
• But if you are invited to the home of Roman Catholic, it is NOT acceptable to just tear his church apart now that you know many of its errors.
• There is a time and place for everything. Timing means a lot.
• Tearing someone’s church apart is not the best way to win him to the Lord.
e. This doesn’t mean he is a people pleaser with his speech. He does not compromise truth or holiness in order to please the crowd. But he does not unnecessarily offend others with his speech either.
f. They are not caustic and sarcastic, but pleasant.
g. They speak the truth, but they speak it in love.
h. They know the right thing to say and the right time to say, and the right spirit with which to say it.
i. Prov. 15:23 – when they speak, others say, “How good it is!” He speaks the right words in due season. We should cultivate this!
3. Ecc. 8:5 – A wise man discerns the “time and judgment” in his speech!
a. He knows WHEN… to speak and when to keep quiet.
b. He knows WHAT to say… he has the good judgment to know words that are acceptable.
c. This goes for speaking up in prayer meeting too! There are some requests that are not acceptable for public prayer!
4. Ecc. 12:10 – we too should SEEK OUT acceptable words.
a. When you are witnessing to a friend—pray about what words to use… how to present the gospel.
b. When you have to approach a brother who has offended you, seek out the right words to bring it up so that you don’t inflame the situation even more!
c. When you are going to your boss to ask for a raise—rest assured you would go over the exact wording in your mind. Do the same on other occasions!
d. When you have to bring up an issue with your spouse—avoid the inflammatory speech. Seek out acceptable words…
1. The wicked… the fool… just keeps on uttering frowardness… perverseness.
2. Be careful with your tongue. Out of the same fountain comes both sweet water and foul. Avoid the foul!
