Proverbs
Notes on Proverbs – Chapter 17
Proverbs 17:1
Peace is Better than Strife
Introduction:
1. This is yet another “better than” proverb.
2. Just in chapter 16 we saw several: 16:8, 16, 19, 32.
3. Here Solomon speaks of the fact that peace is better than strife… which seems quite obvious… but sometimes obtaining peace requires a trade off.
1. In life there are many trade offs.
a. You may want to join a basketball team, but since they practice on Wednesday nights, so you would have to give up prayer meeting. You have to choose: which is better?
b. You want to take that job promotion with more pay, but it means working in the plant 15 miles further down the highway. You have to choose: which is better? (trade off: miles and time for money)
c. Sometimes it is a difficult choice to decide which is better.
d. Proverbs gives us quite a few trade offs and he TELLS us which one is better.
e. Solomon speaks of a trade off in this verse. The issues considered are peace vs. strife and poverty vs. prosperity—and the trade off that may be required.
2. Quietness Defined:
a. Strong’s: ease; quiet; relief; i.e., a state or condition of satisfaction in one’s circumstances in life.
b. Zodhiates: It depicts a state and attitude of peacefulness and enjoyment between friends or family; tranquility.
3. Solomon is relating this peace and tranquility to the HOME.
a. There OUGHT to be peace at home… rest for weary souls.
b. Home ought to be an oasis from all the troubles and trials of everyday life.
c. The husband should genuinely LOVE his wife… willing to sacrifice himself for her.
d. The wife should love her husband and submit—no arguments about it.
e. The children should obey their parents in all things and bring joy and delight into the home.
f. That’s the way a Christian home OUGHT to be. Unfortunately, our homes aren’t always what they ought to be… and strife and fighting often disturb the peace and joy of home life.
g. The IDEAL home is where quietness reigns… peace rules… because Christ is LORD. We should strive for that ideal.
h. Psa. 128:1-4 – a picture of a happy home… where peace rules. Idyllic!
4. There is another IDEAL situation hinted at in this proverb.
a. A home where there is a FEAST to be enjoyed every day.
b. A house full of sacrifices = the feast that accompanies many sacrifices offered to the Lord.
• Some portions of the sacrifices were taken home and the meat was eaten…
• If the home was prosperous and many sacrifices offered, then there would be FULL of sacrifices and there would be a feast.
• It speaks of a household that is well off financially.
c. That’s the ideal: A happy, peaceful home that also prospers and feasts sumptuously and prospers physically.
d. Who wouldn’t want that?
e. All things being equal, nobody in their right mind would opt for poverty over prosperity!
• Just like no one would choose to be sick over being healthy!
• Or no one would choose to be persecuted over living peacefully in the land.
• No one would choose to have an accident… or a fire… or a flood… or to be the victim of a robbery.
• No one would choose war over peace.
• God does use adverse circumstances in our lives for good. Sometimes God knows that it is just what we needed.
• But no sane person would OPT for those tragic circumstances.
• If God sends them, then praise the Lord. He means it for good.
• There is no intrinsic value to suffering just for the sake of suffering.
• Its only value lies in God’s design and purpose behind it. Otherwise, we should all cut off our limbs and try to come in contact with those nasty viruses out there.
f. The ideal is to be happy, peaceful, and prosperous.
• In fact, we are told to pray for that! (I Tim. 2:1-2)
• John’s prayer was that they would be in good health and prosper. (III John 2) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health.
• The ideal would be that we could all be healthy, wealthy, and wise and live happily ever after.
5. But as we are all aware, we don’t live in an ideal world.
a. We live in a sin cursed world.
b. Sometimes God allows trials and tragedies to strike… and He means it for our good.
c. God uses calamities (evil things) for His good purpose.
d. We all want to be healthy, but sometimes sickness sets in.
e. We all want to have enough money to pay our bills and live comfortably, but sometimes financial problems set in.
f. We all want to experience peace in our homes, but sometimes strife sets in.
g. And sometimes those various factions interact with each other: health, finances, tragedies can put additional stress on an individual or a family…
h. And that can result in the peace being replaced by strife.
i. So sometimes we face situations where we have to make a choice between competing factors… where it becomes evident that it is an either/or situation.
j. We have to make a trade off of one thing for another.
k. This is precisely the situation Solomon describes in this proverb.
6. BETTER:
a. Better: An adjective meaning good, well-pleasing, fruitful, morally correct, proper, convenient.
b. This is a comparative term… one thing is better than another.
c. Eating a poor man’s meal (a dry morsel) with peace is BETTER than the alternate: a rich man’s feast (leftovers from the many sacrifices he could afford) with strife.
d. Note also, that this is not the BEST.
• The best here would be to have the good meal AND peace.
• The best would be to live in an ideal world.
• The best would be for the family to be spiritually-minded, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful… continually praising God. (Sort of like heaven!) That’s the ideal… the best.
• Unfortunately, the best is usually not available in this life.
e. But given only the two possibilities mentioned in this proverb, one is clearly BETTER than the other.
f. It is BETTER to have a dry morsel with quietness.
g. Prov. 15:16 – better is a little with the fear of the Lord…
h. Prov. 15:17 – better is a dinner of herbs with love…
7. The alternative: a house full of sacrifices with strife.
a. Again, the house full of sacrifices is a way of describing a well to do household financially.
b. There are a lot of wealthy households in our county… but they are not all happy homes.
c. Often WITH great wealth and prosperity comes STRIFE.
d. The wealthy fight with their relatives over inheritances…
e. They live in a high-pressure environment… many things to worry about… which often causes stress and strife.
f. II Tim. 6:9-10 – Making the pursuit of wealth your goal in life usually leads to destruction and many sorrows.
g. If pursing wealth comes with a price tag of a life of strife, it’s not worth it!
This is not a healthy and happy alternative.
h. The meal of dry morsels is better!
i. Choosing the way of the feast (prosperity) might SEEM better, BUT there are often strings attached.
• It may be the way to prosperity, but not the way to peace and rest.
• There may be financial gain, but spiritual loss.
• The alternative isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be.
• Many a wealthy man living in the lap of luxury has looked at the poor man eating his dry morsel in a happy home with ENVY… wishing he could trade places.
8. Two applications:
a. When comparing YOUR situation to others. (To royalty!)
• When we compare our situation to others (say we don’t have much wealth)—it is easy to become discontent.
• We begin to look at their large estate, their fancy cars, and all the toys they have… and we might become jealous.
• We might begin to think that if we had all that, we would be happy!
• What we are unable to see is behind the doors of those homes. They are not always happy homes. Sometimes they are full of strife.
• When we compare our dry morsels to their sumptuous feasts… we are not seeing the whole picture.
• Solomon warns here that there is often a trade off for that prosperity.
• Sometimes, the trade off is quietness… tranquility in the home… restful hearts… peace…
• If you have to make that trade off in order to achieve the life of feasting, it’s not worth it.
• This proverb can be of great comfort to that believer who begins to look longingly and with a bit of jealousy at his wealthy neighbor.
• Solomon’s words of comfort: if you’ve got peace and quietness in your house—you have that which is BETTER!
• Don’t trade places for anything!
• Hopefully this will prevent us from making a foolish move… in trying to trade places.
b. When making a decision for YOUR situation.
• There are other situations where this same principle would be valuable: when facing an either/or situation where you have to make a CHOICE.
• No family wants to go without. No family wants to be in a place where they can’t afford to buy the things they need and pay the bills. And who doesn’t want to be able to go on vacation? (rent a cottage; play golf)
• But if maintaining a standard of living results in the need for working two jobs or more hours (etc.)… and that in turn results in stress and strife at home… the dry morsel is BETTER!
9. And if you stop and THINK about it, of course this is true!
a. STRIFE ruins a meal!
• Consider the Corinthians. The strife and divisions RUINED their meal… the Lord’s Table!
• Paul rebuked them for this.
• Strife ruins a meal in the home too.
b. Naturally we want our lives to be “comfortable.”
c. Too often we associate a comfortable life with having money.
d. But are you really more comfortable living in an environment of hatred, trouble, and strife? (Even if you have a million dollar Persian rug on the floor and a Van Gogh on the wall?
e. Wealth and festive foods might SEEM to provide comfort… but the comfort is RUINED with hatred and strife.
f. If you REALLY want to have a comfortable life… then put relationships above all these other “things.”
g. Learn to get along with one another… love one another… cease from strife…
h. If maintaining your lifestyle results in stress and strife… then living in a little shack on Walden Pond would be preferable… simplify!
i. Psalm 133:1 – how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
• If raising one’s standard of living destroys that… it’s not worth it.
• If working two jobs… or having mom and dad work two jobs destroys the quietness and peace in the home… then it’s not worth it.
• We don’t live in an ideal world and don’t always have the luxury of always choosing that which is best or ideal.
• In the real world we often have to make difficult choices… and those choices often come with strings attached… and require trade offs.
• Solomon gives his inspired advice here on one particular KIND of choice.
• A dry morsel, and quietness therewith, is BETTER than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Proverbs 17:2
A Servant and a Son
The Position of a Servant and a Son
1. Solomon seems to be speaking of a family of means here.
a. He mentions an inheritance to be left behind…
b. The man has servants…
c. At some point, all wealthy men must leave their wealth behind to somebody…
d. Normally that somebody is the son—the firstborn son usually received a double portion of the inheritance.
e. Along WITH the inheritance of property came an inheritance of position and power.
f. That too was usually given to the firstborn… that was the son in line to receive more of the property and more of the power to rule… as a patriarch… head of the tribe or clan.
2. Under normal circumstances, it is better to be the SON of a wealthy man than his servant.
a. A servant might have a pretty good job or position.
b. A wealthy man might treat his servants well and even leave them a pittance from the inheritance if the servant was well pleasing to his master.
c. But the wealthy man’s sons are in a special position.
d. The father wants to make sure that his sons receive a good education… good upbringing… proper training in the life… A father wants the best for his sons.
e. The sons receive virtually ALL of his inheritance.
f. Naturally a father is going to want to take care of his sons when he dies… and leave his wealth to them. That is pretty normal and natural behavior.
g. All things being equal, it is better to be a son than a servant… in every way!
h. We don’t get to choose in life whose son we will be… but if we COULD choose… almost everyone would rather be the SON of a wealthy man than one of his servants.
3. One might picture this proverb coming alive in a quiet room of the family mansion… filled with family members after the patriarch has died.
a. The family lawyer is there to read the will before them all…
b. The perspective beneficiaries are all hushed as the will is read… wondering how much money dear old dad actually had… how much his stocks were worth… to find out what he was leaving and to whom…
c. All the sons are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to hear how rich they will be… what portion of the estate would be theirs… who gets the chalet in the Swiss Alps… who gets the waterfront property on Cape Cod… who gets the family mansion… who gets all the artwork…
d. And perhaps the faithful family servant is there too… filling up their glasses with ice water… and running to get fresh supplies of Kleenex…
e. In such a setting, under normal circumstances it is much better to be the son than a servant.
When the Son Causes Shame
1. But Solomon is speaking about an ABNORMAL situation here.
a. Normally a father is happy to be able to leave behind an inheritance to his son.
b. However, not all sons are the same.
c. Some sons cause shame! Some sons disgrace the family name. Some sons are a perpetual headache and heartache to their parents.
2. Shame defined:
a. Means: ashamed; disappointed; cause disgrace; humiliation; painful feeling and emotional distress (sometimes to the point of despair), by having done something wrong.
b. This speaks of a son who has evidently many times over caused his father embarrassment… shame… disgrace… hurt… humiliation…
c. Every son embarrasses his parents at one point or another along the way. But most sons eventually grow up and apologize to their parents… and make up.
d. But Solomon seems to be speaking of a repeat offender… a son whose whole life was characterized by shameful behavior…
e. Perhaps a son who never grew up… a son who took advantage of his parent’s kindness… a son who was completely selfish… did whatever he felt like doing… and could not have cared less about how it affected his parents.
f. Prov. 10:5 – a lazy son who refuses to work causes shame.
g. Prov. 19:26 – he robs from his parents… perhaps to support an immoral lifestyle… (drug addicts do that all the time!)
h. There are many other ways a son might bring shame to his family.
• A son who robs a bank, gets arrested, and has his picture splashed on the front page of the newspaper.
• A son who wastes the talents and brains God gave him… and who chooses to hang out with trouble makers instead of going to college…
• A son who chooses an immoral lifestyle…
• A son who chooses a life of crime…
• There are LOTS of sons who bring shame to their families.
• The next time you watch the six o’clock news… and see all the mug shots of criminals—remember that every one of those young men have parents… parents who are heartbroken over the way their son turned out.
3. The son that causes shame (for whatever foolish reason) might find that the family servant fares better after dear old dad is gone.
a. Some sons are foolish. Some servants are wise.
b. Even though the wording is a little different here, this is really one of those “better than” proverbs.
c. It is better to be a wise servant than a foolish son.”
d. In spite of all the advantages the son has over the servant… educational… physical… training… social… sometimes the servant does better in life.
e. Sometimes the servant… the one NOT born with the silver spoon in his mouth rises above his circumstances… and the underprivileged servant rises above the privileged son…
f. Sometimes a child born in a ghetto with seemingly everything working AGAINST him… do better in life than a son of privilege: a Kennedy… a Rockefeller…
4. The son that causes shame (because he is an alcoholic; drug addict; a gambler; lazy slug who does nothing but leech off his father)… may find himself surprised and disappointed when the family lawyer reads the will of dear old dad.
a. A father knows if his son is a fool… druggy… boozer… lazy…
b. A wise father doesn’t want to leave his hard earned money to a fool. (Ecc. 2:17-19)
c. If his son is a fool… a real loser… the father knows that within a year or so all his hard earned money will have been blown to the wind if his lazy good for nothing son gets it.
d. Some wealthy men have chosen instead to leave their fortunes to some surprising beneficiaries… the butler… the auto mechanic… even total strangers!
e. The wealthy father may take his foolish son OUT of the inheritance and divide up his wealth among his other sons… and include his wise servant in the place of his foolish son… to receive a portion of the inheritance. (“to have part of the inheritance among the sons.”)
f. That servant finds himself in the place of a son… ruling OVER the foolish son who lost out…
g. Prov. 11:29 – the foolish son troubles his own family… and inherits nothing. That foolish son will find himself SERVANT to one who has a wise heart… even if that wise man used to be his household servant!
h. God has a funny way of turning the tables in life!
5. This occurs in many walks of life.
a. Prov. 14:35 – kings do this… they show favor to a wise servant… and give nothing but anger to those who cause shame… even if they are much superior to the servant.
b. Some servants (stewards) were given important positions of responsibility.
c. Consider the position of Joseph as the steward of Potiphar’s house. (Gen. 39:1-6)
• Joseph was put in authority over ALL that Potiphar possessed… everything!
• One has to wonder what kind of authority Potiphar’s sons had… and if Joseph in fact ruled over them!
• A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame.
6. We might glean from this some principles that apply in many other areas:
a. Wisdom exalts; folly and shameful behavior degrades and brings low… regardless of one’s privileged position.
b. In the local church, one’s position or gift is no guarantee of rewards in glory. A wise and faithful floor sweeper will in many cases receive MORE rewards than a pastor or missionary… if their behavior brought shame to the name of Christ.
c. Just as that hushed room where the family lawyer reads the will of dear old dad… there could be some surprises… too at the Bema seat… there could be some surprises.
d. God exalts wisdom and faithfulness… He exalts the lowly and humbles the proud.
Proverbs 17:3
Tried Hearts
A. Silver and gold
1. These were precious metals mined from the earth.
2. When found in their natural state, they were often riddled with impurities…
3. Pieces of raw earth would cling to the metal… other worthless metals and rock would be mingled into a vein of gold or silver in the earth.
4. Hence, when these precious metals were taken from the earth they were impure and needed to be cleansed and purified…
5. There were two processes for cleansing metals (and both are used as metaphors in cleansing and purifying people too)
a. Water – used to wash away sand and gravel from the chunks of metal mined from the earth.
b. Fire – used to burn and melt the metals to purify them.
6. Once refined, they were good to be made into coins or expensive jewelry.
7. When purified, the metals were much more valuable and useful. (pure gold!)
8. Gold was used often in ancient times… and was quite abundant, yet still prized and given great value.
9. One man noted that there are 13 words for gold in the Bible.
B. The Fining pot
1. A crucible, a refining pot.
2. It indicates a metal pot in which the impurities of precious metals were separated out
3. The fining pot was used for gold and silver and for the process of refining metals before they were worked into fine vessels (Prov. 25:4).
4. Mal. 3:3 – a fining pot was used to REFINE and purify silver or gold. (going from the figurative to the literal…)
5. Used only in: Prov. 17:3; 27:21.
C. The Furnace
1. Smelting furnace for metals; a kiln; an oven.
2. The furnace was a construction that was able to attain to extremely high temperatures to melt metals and remove the dross-impurities.
3. The furnace was source of the heat on which the fining pot was placed.
4. Through this process, the metal mined from the earth is melted in the fire… and the dross removed.
a. It might appear that the gold would be destroyed in the fire, but in fact, the gold is purified by the flames and only the dross is removed…
b. The ore mined from the earth is both proved and improved.
• Proven to be true gold or silver by the results… (fools gold and other shiny particles would not stand up to such a test…)
• Improved in quality—refined and purified.
c. Apart from the furnace, the dross would remain permanently in the metals.
• The purpose of the smelting is to REMOVE the pieces of raw earth that attach to the metal.
• Until the metals go through the fire, they are unfit for service… to be used various ways.
d. The refiner knows exactly how much heat to apply so as to purify and not to cause the metal to boil over and lose it.
• The refiner knows how valuable the gold is. He is extremely careful not to lose one ounce of gold in the process.
• Some sources tell us that the refiner allows the silver to be refined until he can see his image reflected in the pot. Then he knows it’s pure…
THE ANALOGY:
A. The heart of man is likened to silver and gold—precious metals.
1. The heart of a child of God is valuable to God.
a. The refiner knows the value of the precious metals once refined.
b. He goes through a lot of effort to bring about that refinement.
c. God knows the value of the child of God once refined too.
2. But it is also defiled… and earthly… and in need of purification.
a. Just as metals mined from the earth have earthly impurities attached to the metal itself, so too our hearts!
b. God seeks through trials and afflictions to separate from us those earthly attachments.
c. The Lord tries the HEART…
d. Psa. 139:23-24 – Since we KNOW this, we should pray like the psalmist… (Search me O God!)
e. Psa. 26:2 – the psalmist ASKS God to test his heart… to refine it… and purify it.
• Try: verb meaning to refine, to test. This word describes the purifying process of a refiner, who heats metal, takes away the dross, and is left with a pure substance.
• The psalmist prays that God would undertake this process in his heart… knowing the heat that it would require.
• This is the acknowledgement of a godly man that his heart IS defiled and that it NEEDS to be purified.
• If we’re honest, we’ll ALL admit this…
• If we’re courageous and really want to be used of the Lord, we will pray this prayer.
f. Like silver and gold mined from the earth… we too retain way too much earthliness… and need to have it removed… though the removal process is painful.
g. Isa. 48:10 – God uses a furnace to purify our hearts, but He doesn’t use a literal furnace. He uses the furnace of affliction. God uses affliction for our good.
3. And, once cleansed and purified, it is useful in God’s service.
a. Isa. 1:25-26 – God seeks to remove the dross from the lives of His people… and restore them to a place of useful service.
b. As defiled metal is not useful, a defiled city or a defiled human heart is not useful in the service of the Lord.
c. Such defilement requires the process of refining to BRING it to the place of usefulness.
d. Job 23:10 – when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold (meaning purified gold).
e. Gold comes forth from the refiner’s fires shiny and fit for use… as we come forth to shine forth His glory in our lives.
f. God chastens us for our good… that we might partake of His holiness in ways we did not previously. (Heb. 12:10)
g. Chastening isn’t necessarily punishment. It is child training… a process we ALL need to undergo.
B. God is likened to the fining pot and furnace.
1. Jer. 17:10 – God is the searcher of the heart… and refiner of men.
2. Rev. 1:14 – His eyes are a flame of fire!
a. He alone is responsible for putting the heart of man in the refining pot…
b. God is the Source of the heat (furnace).
c. God is also the Refiner… the One doing the work of refining… and putting everything into place so that the process will work.
3. Psa. 66:8-12 – God brings us into the furnace, but He also brings us out… refined… purified… better than ever!
4. God is the Refiner who allows us to be melted by the heat until He sees His image reflected in us! That’s the goal of trials and afflictions—to make us like Christ.
5. God knows the hearts of men and knows exactly what we need. (I Kings 8:39)
6. Men might be able to purify metals, but only the Lord can purify the heart and remove dross from the heart. This is HIS work in us… for us… to us… and IN us.
7. And since it is GOD who works in us… we can place our confidence in His goodness and wisdom…
8. Dan. 3:19-26 – a good application for us: in the trials of affliction, He walks in the furnace WITH us.
9. He will never leave us nor forsake us… not even in the furnace of affliction.
D. The purpose: Refinement and Usefulness
1. Pieces of raw earth cling to the gold ore—and smelting removes that which defiles and depreciates the value and usefulness of the metal.
2. This is likened to the things of earth which cling to us and must be removed… till the things of earth grow strangely dim…
3. And when the metals are purified and the dross removed, that metal is then useful and can be formed into whatever purpose the refiner has for it. When we are purified we too are fit for service to God.
4. Jas. 1:2-3 – trials bring us to perfection… maturity… Christlikeness…
5. Trials and afflictions are for us what the furnace and fining pot are to precious metals: painful but necessary processes of refinement and purification.
6. I Pet. 1:6-7 – when our faith is tested and tried, it may bring heaviness in the here and now… but ultimately, it will bring praise and honor at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Proverbs 17:4
What Evil Doers and Liars Listen To
1. Wicked doer:
a. Bad; evil; injurious; mischievous; harmful (translated by 13 different English words!)
b. One who is morally corrupt in his behavior.
2. False lips:
a. Trouble of iniquity, wickedness
b. Morally evil and corrupt
c. False, as an idol or false words
d. False lips: refers to speech that is evil, immoral, or untrue
3. Giveth heed:
a. To hear; be attentive; heed; hearken; pay attention; listen.
b. Accept information as true and respond to it.
c. The person who DOES evil things pays attention to the person who SAYS evil things.
d. They are on the same wavelength.
e. One whose heart is wicked will naturally be INCLINED to listen to one who speaks evil… corruption.
f. There is a natural camaraderie.
4. The wicked doer is an expression that describes the kind of corruption or immorality that a person DOES… his PRACTICE.
a. His practice is affected by what he listens to…
b. If he LISTENS to that which is morally evil and corrupt… it will affect his practice… his deeds…
c. That in time affects his lifestyle.
d. Who and what a person listens to… will show in his life over time.
e. Giving heed to evil communication affects one’s behavior.
f. The wicked person LISTENS to that which is in harmony with his character… wicked men LOVE to listen to wicked things.
g. That strengthens his wicked character…
h. He practices corruption and likes to HEAR that others do too.
5. I Cor. 15:33 – it has a corrupting effect…
a. Communication: to converse; talk. Originally the word meant being together in company, companionship.
b. Manner = (ethos) custom, morals, character. This is the word from which the English word ethics is derived.
c. The person with whom one associates… communicates with… talks with… listens to… affects one’s manners.
d. The effect of evil communication = corruption; destruction
e. Good communication does the opposite. Good communication and fellowship doesn’t destroy; it builds up.
f. That’s why Christian fellowship is so important!
6. Wicked doers (those who practice wickedness) are those who listen to corrupt and immoral and false speech.
a. They listen to corrupt speech with delight and great pleasure!
• Such speech supports them in their evil doings…
• They FEED upon such speech…
• It motivates them… encourages them…
• They get new ideas from such speech…
• They feel justified by such speech…
• Without hearing such things from other wicked men, they might be AFRAID to practice their wickedness.
• Without the support they get from such speech they might be too cowardly to act alone…
• They NEED this speech to live the way they do.
b. Wicked doers LISTEN to wicked speech.
• So if you want DON’T want to be a wicked doer, then don’t LISTEN to the false lips!
• Refuse to listen… turn your ears away from those who use corrupt and immoral speech… and promote ungodly ideas.
• It will be GOOD for your behavior.
1. Liar:
a. The liar is compared to the “wicked doer”.
b. Lie; deception; falsehood; fraud; mislead.
c. Deut. 19:18 – the “false witness.”
d. Jer. 5:31 – used of “false” prophets.
e. Prov. 6:17, 19 – this is something God especially hates. A lying tongue and a false (lying) witness.
2. Giveth ear:
a. To lend an ear; to give an ear; to listen; to hear.
b. This word is almost always found in poetic texts of the Old Testament and is often found in songs.
c. The Song of Moses begins with an exhortation for the heavens to lend its ear (Deut. 32:1).
d. Jeremiah asked for the people of Israel to listen to his prophecy (Jer. 13:15).
e. God’s people often asked the Lord to listen to their prayers.
3. Naughty tongue:
a. evil desire, wicked craving,
b. evil desires that lead to destruction (a destructive tongue)
c. Ps. 52:2 – their tongue deviseth mischief (destruction)
d. Ps. 38:12 – the destruction that comes from an evil tongue… evil speech.
e. This destructive tongue destroys friendships, families, reputations, peace, and anything else in its pathway.
f. The tongue is spoken of in a poetic way of causing destruction… like a sword or a knife that pierces.
g. Such is the nature and power of the tongue…
4. The LIAR listens to destructive speech so that he might get some new information to lie about… to gossip about…
a. Prov. 16:28 – what people say and listen to can be exceedingly destructive.
b. Prov. 13:5 – righteous men ought to HATE lying. We ought to be aware of the destruction that it creates.
c. We ought to rejoice in the truth…
Both Cases Are the Same: one who does evil and speaks evil…
1. Evildoers and evil liars BOTH LISTEN to corrupt speech.
2. Sinners strengthen one another… they encourage one another…
3. They seek out those that are like themselves.
a. Birds of a feather flock together…
b. Like begets like…
c. It takes one to know one…
4. Wicked men feed off each other.
a. Evil speech encourages evil action.
b. Evil action encourages more evil speech.
c. They are not content with the evil in their own minds and hearts… they seek out others to STIMULATE these thoughts and behaviors.
d. II Sam 13 – two evil men fed off each other.
• Vs.1-2 – Amnon wanted to go in unto this woman, but was afraid to do so. He had the desire… but not the courage.
• Vs. 3 – but he had a friend… a subtle, evil friend.
• Vs. 4-5 – the evil friend communicated an evil plan…
• Amnon LISTENED to the plan and carried it out.
• He forced his sister… and now he was a rapist.
• These two men encouraged one another in evil.
• Men who want to DO wicked things LISTEN to wicked men with evil plans.
• Evil communication CORRUPTS good behavior.
• Alone, Amnon had evil thoughts, but DID nothing.
e. By LISTENING to the lies, wickedness, and gossip, we share responsibility with the one speaking the lies.
f. We may not be able to STOP other men from speaking evil… but we certainly should not give them OPPORTUNITY to speak evil by listening.
g. Don’t support evil communication by lending it an ear!
h. If nobody lends the gossiper or the liar an ear, they won’t be able to gossip or lie!
5. Communication and fellowship are extremely powerful.
a. Crooks and liars are comfortable around others who are just like them.
b. They are attracted to those who share their lack of values.
c. Consider how Ahab listened to Jezebel… and where that led.
d. II Tim. 4:3-4 – men have ears for what they WANT to hear. Men who do not want the truth turn their ears away from it… and towards fables!
e. It matters what we listen to.
f. What a great application to MUSIC… what are you listening to? It affects behavior.
g. Apply this to the Internet: what are you bending your ear towards on the internet? What about your kids? Do you know who they are “hearing”?
6. GOOD communication and fellowship are powerful too!
a. If crooks and liars seek the fellowship of one another… we as Christians should too!
b. If immoral people feed on one another… and encourage one another in their immorality, then certainly moral people ought to do the same!
c. What WE listen to will have an effect on our behavior too.
d. Jas. 1:21-22 – be hearers and doers of the Word… and fellowship with others who do the same.
Proverbs 17:5
Mocking and Gloating
A. Mocking the Poor
1. Mocking: to mock; deride; ridicule; scoff; speak words which disparage another.
a. This term was used of men laughing at the servants of God: Job (Job 21:3 – mock on); Jeremiah (Jer. 20:7 – everyone mocketh me); Asaph (Ps 80:6 – our enemies laugh among themselves); Nehemiah (Neh. 2:19 – they laughed us to scorn…)
2. Mocking the poor an expression of arrogance, pride, self-righteousness, and extreme cruelty.
a. It is judging a person on the basis of his wealth or lack thereof.
b. We are not to be respecter of persons. (Jas. 2:1-4)
c. But this is a step beyond that. It’s bad enough to treat them as inferiors. It is far worse to mock them—taunt them—to make fun of them… laughing at their misfortune.
d. Some people are poor because of their own folly. (lazy; drunks; covetous and buy everything they can.)
e. But MOST poor people around the world are poor because of factors beyond their control: what continent they (in God’s providence) were born on; war; famine; corrupt dictators; injuries (blind; crippled; etc.)…
f. Seeing the plight of the poor ought to evoke sympathy and compassion. When it evokes laughter or mocking… it does so because of an especially depraved, cruel, and evil heart.
3. Oppressing the poor – (Prov. 14:31)
a. Here Solomon speaks of another cruel treatment of the poor: oppression.
b. Oppression: violate; defraud; get deceitfully; extort’ exploit.
c. This term speaks of those who take advantage of the poor.
d. It was used in the sense of abuse of power… taking advantage of those who are unable to defend themselves.
e. The wealthy benefit greatly from the labor of the poor… take advantage of them… and God hates oppression.
f. The poor and the weak have always been mistreated throughout history.
g. Prov. 14:20 – the poor is hated even of his own neighbor.
→ dislike, to be hostile to, or to loathe someone or something.
h. Power goes to a person’s head and corrupts. It’s human nature.
i. Wealthy people in positions of power think of themselves as superior… that’s human nature.
j. And they use that power to oppress the poor and the weak… to their own advantage. That’s human nature too!
B. Reproaches His Maker
1. Notice in BOTH passages, Solomon says the result is the same: they are actually reproaching their Maker.
→ To mock the creature is to mock their Creator.
→ The Creator is Sovereign over all the earthly position of every one of His creatures.
2. Reproach Defined: to taunt; blaspheme; defy; rail; upbraid; treat with contempt; insult; defame; cast blame upon.
a. Prov. 14:31 – reproach is seen here as the antithesis of honor (dishonor).
b. The one who oppresses the poor INSULTS the Maker… God, our Creator…
c. God is the One who “maketh” the poor! (I Sam. 2:7-8)
d. The one who mocks the poor INSULTS the Maker. Same effect.
3. As Creator, God is SENSITIVE to how we treat other people…
a. All men are made in the IMAGE of God… rich and poor.
b. Treating those made in God’s image in a demeaning manner is in a sense treating GOD in a demeaning manner…
c. All sin is against God ultimately… and perhaps especially this sin.
d. Prov. 19:17 – Solomon also notes (on the other hand) that those who LEND to the poor do so to God in a sense too.
→ “Lends” … to mean to lend… to help someone out.
→ The point is that in the Theocracy of Israel one who helps his poor Jewish brother is lending to God… serving God.
→ In the Christian dispensation helping the poor doesn’t have the same meaning… (it becomes mere humanism)… unless there is a Christian testimony attached.
e. In Israel, God was close to His people; treating them well was a service to God. Mistreating them was an insult to God.
f. In the church, God is close to the Body too. (Acts 9:4) Persecuting the church was persecuting Christ Himself. It was His body!
g. In the tribulation period the same will be true. (Matt. 25:35-40) The way one treats the persecuted Jews in the Tribulation period is in a sense doing so to Christ. They are His servants!
4. In any age, the way one treats God’s people is an expression of one’s attitude towards the Lord Himself!
5. And even if they are NOT God’s people (not believers)… they are God’s creatures… created in His image. God is their Maker and mocking them is an insult to their Maker.
→ Every human being has been created in God’s image and is to be valued as such.
→ Anyone made in the image of God deserves respect… not oppression or mockery!
→ God observes the way we treat others.
A. Glad At Calamities
1. Calamity defined:
a. Distress; burden; calamity; destruction; disaster.
b. It speaks of misfortune of all types.
2. This is in a sense a parallel to the expression in the first part of the proverb: poverty… as a calamity that befalls a person.
a. Oftentimes a calamity or tragedy left a person in poverty.
b. No social security system—widows were sometimes left destitute.
c. No insurance—a storm or flood could leave a whole community in poverty.
d. Not much medical knowledge—a disease could leave a family or a community in poverty.
e. War often left the defeated nation in poverty.
f. Of course the term calamity is much broader than “poverty”. It would include all kinds of other disasters and troubles.
3. GLAD defined:
a. Joyful, merry, glad.
b. Happiness or contentment, with a possible focus of making an outward expression of that joy.
c. The term is usually used in a good context… but here it speaks of a perverted or twisted kind of joy and gladness.
d. To actually take delight in someone’s misery and misfortune is especially cruel and ungodly.
e. Unfortunately, this too is part of fallen human nature.
f. Slapstick comedy is built around this aspect of human nature. (The pie in the face; the person slipping on the banana peel and dropping all their bundles… it makes us laugh.)
g. That’s fine when it is a joke or comedy routine… or even if it did not cause real injury.
h. But in REAL life… when the misfortune causes real pain and suffering, it is NOT a laughing matter.
i. That’s what Solomon is getting at here. (Not the innocent chuckle over something minor)… but the real thing.
4. Ps. 18:18 – Men may mock us and be glad at our misfortune, but the Lord is our stay in the day of calamity.
5. Prov. 24:17 – we are told specifically NOT to be glad over the misfortunes of others.
a. To do so is more than just poor manners. It’s sin.
b. And sin does not go unnoticed by God.
c. And MAYBE that wrath will fall on you! (Hence, the next part of the proverb.)
B. Shall Not Be Unpunished
1. Unpunished: innocent; clean; free of guilt or punishment; acquit.
2. Obad. 1:12-13 – Edom gloated over Israel’s destruction.
a. This is what the book of Obadiah is about!
b. Edom rejoiced over Israel’s calamity.
c. Edom did so because of pride. They felt they were secure forever! (vs.3-4)
d. Vs. 15 – therefore Edom will receive the same!
3. INSTEAD of oppressing the poor… mocking them… and gloating over them:
a. Prov. 29:7 – the righteous consider their cause. (Their cause could be YOUR cause tomorrow!)
b. Prov. 22:9 – be bountiful to them… and God will be discovered to be bountiful to you!
c. Prov. 28:27 – give to the poor… that man shall not lack!
d. The example of David.
• Ps. 35:15-16 – his enemies lashed out at him in his day of adversity.
• Ps. 35:13-14 – David treated them as a friend and a brother. What a contrast!
• Ps. 18:18 – They prevented (confronted) me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay (support)
Proverbs 17:6
Children and Their Fathers
Introduction:
1. Here Solomon gives us another gem of wisdom.
2. This portion of the proverb basically says that old men usually glory in their grandchildren… and children usually glory in their fathers.
3. This is a simple and basic truth or fact of life.
4. Remember, these are proverbs… little nuggets. They do not cover every possible situation.
5. Here Solomon tells us how things OUGHT to be.
6. In the real world, it is not always the case, but this is to be the NORM.
A. Crown defined
1. Strong’s: a crown or wreath…
2. Dict. of Bib. Lang. = a precious metal adornment worn on the head often as a symbol of rulership or high status.
3. The term is most often used in a figurative sense, as it is here.
a. A literal crown was a symbol of honor and glory.
b. Hence, the term came to be a figure of speech describing anything a person might glory in or rejoice over… something someone is proud of… in a good sense.
c. Prov. 16:31 – the hoary head is likened to a crown of glory (something to glory in… rejoice over…)
d. Prov. 12:4 – a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband… someone he glories in and rejoices in.
4. Psalm 128:3-6 – it was considered a great honor to live long enough to see your children’s children.
a. This is especially so when your children’s children are still walking in the ways of the Lord.
b. III John 4 – no greater joy than to see one’s children walking in the truth.
c. This is doubly so when you see your children’s children STILL walking in the truth. What a delight!
5. The old men – patriarchs of their families delighted to see their grandchildren
a. They delighted to see them carry on the family name… the family reputation… to continue the tribe… the family business… to maintain the family farmland…
b. They especially rejoiced to see wisdom manifested in their children and grandchildren.
c. Ecc. 2:18-20 – Solomon thought it a cause for despair if you had no one to leave your life’s work to… and worse to leave it to a fool.
d. Thus wise children and wise grandchildren were especially delightful to old men… to grandpa! Something to glory in! A crown! It topped his long life with happiness and contentment.
e. Ps 127:3 – the fruit of the womb are a REWARD… this refers to ALL the fruit from the womb… children… grandchildren… and great-grandchildren!
f. These passages speak of one’s heritage… family… tribe… nation… etc.
B. GLORY defined:
a. Strong’s: beauty; splendor; glory; honour; boasting.
b. The state or quality of giving high attribution or status to someone.
c. The state or quality of being legitimately proud of a person or circumstance.
d. Prov. 20:29, “‘the glory’ of the young is their strength.”
e. It speaks of that which one honors and is proud of… glories in…
1. Children normally are proud of their fathers… they glory in their fathers.
a. They will certainly have days when they don’t get along, but over all, children normally delight in their fathers.
b. Fathers were to be honored by their children. That was one of the commandments.
c. It was expected… even commanded… but it should be natural affection.
2. Deut. 12:25, 28 – it was to the BENEFIT of a child to have a father who obeyed God’s law.
a. When dad obeyed the law, things would go well for dad, but also for his children after him!
b. Children benefit from a godly parent.
c. A child should rejoice to have such a father.
d. The godly lifestyle of the father should produce an atmosphere that puts his child in a distinct advantage over many other children… whose parents are not godly.
e. Thus, children benefit from it—for generations to come.
f. The opposite is true as well. Children bear the sins of their fathers up to the third and fourth generations. (some behaviors seem to be taught and passed down for generations—abuse; violence; alcohol; etc.)
g. Children should GLORY in having a father who loves the Lord.
3. Ex. 22:22 – It is an awful thing to grow up without a father.
a. Therefore, God took special care of the fatherless in the Old Testament.
b. In many passages we see God standing up for the fatherless in the Old Testament… and pronouncing judgment against those who hurt them or took advantage of them.
c. To be fatherless was considered an awful curse; to have a father was a delight… that was the norm.
d. Today, we have thousands of young boys and girls growing up without a father—for various reasons: parents are divorced; dad is in prison; drug or alcohol problems; death; etc.
e. Children WANT to glory in their fathers… in their parents.
f. As a church family, we should take under our wings young people who come to us who are fatherless. That is an expression of godliness. They are missing out on that which other children GLORY in: having a dad!
4. Normally, children delight in their fathers. It’s natural.
a. This should be the case not only for children to delight in their parents when they are young, but also when their parents are aging.
b. It is NOT good for a child to consider caring for an older parent to be a burden.
c. Parents should be loved and honored in their old age too.
5. In a sense, this passage speaks of a good kind of pride (glorying) that relates to our heritage.
a. The old men referred to a grandfather or other patriarch… an ancestor.
b. Children’s children often referred to descendants in general (not grandchildren in particular).
c. Hence, the passage speaks about a normal, natural sense of respect and delight one takes in his family, his tribe, his earthly heritage.
d. In our politically correct world today, we are almost afraid to mention that we have a heritage.
e. That thinking is foreign to the Bible.
f. It is something we should glory in.
g. In fact, our heritage and nationalism will be maintained during the glorious kingdom!
• All nations will be there… under Christ… regenerated… and exulting and glorying in their uniqueness…
• This is something God built into His creatures… the capacity to grow and develop a unique culture… all UNDER Christ.
h. The kingdom is not one monolithic, amalgamated culture… a one world blob of humanity.
i. In the Kingdom national identity and national cultures remain intact. Evidently the politically correct police will be put in jail…
j. In the Kingdom, instead of pretending that the nations of the world don’t have any cultural differences… instead of fighting over our differences, we will be appreciating and rejoicing in our differences and diversity… as we do today in the Body of Christ.
k. We will be glorying in our heritage… and praising God for His wisdom in making the whole world of mankind… with such great diversity.
The Unstated Assumption:
1. The assumption is that family members glory in their patriarchs and in their children when they are rightly related to God and each other.
a. When that is the case, and godliness rules, children are a crown to their fathers.
b. When that is not the case, children can be a crown of thorns to their fathers. (There are many such cases in the Bible: Rehoboam was no glory to Solomon; Manasseh was no glory to godly Hezekiah.)
2. Deut. 6:2 – God’s word is to be taught and passed down from generation to generation.
3. There is to be no generation gap between generations.
a. The various generations appreciate each other… that’s the way it OUGHT to be.
b. This is good for our country; in our homes; and in the church
c. The older generation—grandpa is to be revered and honored by the young ones. The youth can be a delight to grandpa too—relive his youth… make him feel young again…
d. We don’t follow the Biblical pattern for family very well in our country… and it is to our great loss.
Proverbs 17:7
Excellent Speech and Lying Lips
A. Excellent Speech Defined
1. Excellent:
a. This term is translated variously in the Old Testament.
• And so has this proverb.
• It has been translated “excessive speech,” “excellent speech,” “arrogant speech,” or “fine speech.”
• It makes a big difference in interpreting the proverb.
b. Basic definition: remainder; leftovers; the rest; excess; abundance; riches; overflow; exceeding.
c. In the vast majority of cases, (about 80 or so) it is translated “rest, remnant, or residue.” That is the basic meaning of the term.
d. It is translated “excellent” only once—here.
e. However, it is translated excellency twice in Gen. 49:3.
• You can see why… an overflow of dignity or power would be considered excellent. (Above and beyond the norm.)
• But the basic meaning of the term is excess; overflow; which is how it is translated in the approximately 80 other times it is used.
• But it also has the meaning of excellence. Hence, it could be translated either “excellent” or “abundance.”
• The context has to determine the usage—whether it means extra (too much) or in a good sense, abundance or excellence.
f. The make up of the Proverb decides this for us.
• In the second part of the proverb, Solomon points out how out of place lying is from a prince or ruler.
• Hence, the first part of the proverb ought to reflect that point.
• An overabundance of words (talking too much) is NOT out of place for a fool. That happens all the time with fools.
• But excellent speech IS out of place with a fool. It is something you don’t expect.
• Hence, that interpretation best fits the purpose of the proverb.
g. It is best in my opinion to stick with the good old KJV: “excellent speech”
• He is speaking about absurdities. (Cf. Prov. 26:1)
• Excellent speech coming out of the mouth of a fool.
• Lies coming out of the mouth of one put in a position of guarding and preserving the truth in the theocracy.
2. Speech:
a. Speech: lip
b. It is the very same term translated lip in the second part of the proverb.
c. It is the literal lip—but obviously used in a figurative sense as speech.
d. It stands for the conversation, the theme of conversations, the type of speech, that which is communicated verbally…
e. Excellent speech = eloquent speech; elevated conversations on noble themes; wisdom employed in speech.
B. Becometh Not a Fool
1. Becometh:
a. Defined: comely; seemly; fitting; appropriate; suitable; in its proper place.
b. Ps. 33:1 – praise is comely for the upright. (fitting)
c. Prov. 19:10 – certain things are not appropriate for a servant, like delight (luxury) or to rule over princes. That is out of place.
d. That is the sense of the term in Prov. 17:7.
e. Solomon is speaking about things that are not becoming… out of place… not appropriate… unexpected… unsuitable for the situation.
f. He is speaking about things that do NOT fit together. (round peg and a square hole)
2. Fools and excellent speech do not go together.
a. It is abnormal… an absurdity. (Proverbs 26:6) (They both limp!)
b. It is quite out of place for a fool to blurt out his folly at a business meeting when he knows nothing of the business world.
c. It is absurd for a fool to take the floor at a conference of scientists if he knows nothing of science.
d. It is absurd for a foolish person to attempt to make a speech on politics or philosophy if he knows nothing about politics or philosophy!
e. It is equally absurd for a fool to make a speech to correct the theologians if he knows nothing about theology.
f. All of this is absurd… out of place…
g. Excellent speech and fools don’t go together.
3. Fools do sometimes say things that are true or wise… but when they do, something is still not quite right.
a. They are not the right person to speak!
b. For example, David wrote that praise is comely for the upright.
c. But praise coming from those who are NOT upright… but are foolish (wicked fools)… their praise is NOT comely. It is hypocrisy.
d. God doesn’t accept excellent words of praise if it comes from a fool.
e. Solomon is sending out a warning to us here. Don’t be deceived by a fool who tries to speak with excellence. Something is not right with that picture.
f. It is far better for excellent speech—noble communication—wise words—to be communicated by a wise man… not a fool.
g. A fool—a man with no credibility—is not the best communicator for an excellent message.
• A man who is hooked on smoking is not the best spokesman for the nicotine patch. (they don’t go together)
• A man slurping down a bottle of Jack Daniels is not the best spokesman for Alcoholics Anonymous.
• These men might SAY excellent words… but the message loses a lot coming from that person…
• A business looking for a spokesman to represent their company will not choose a fool… they want someone whose life backs up the message they present.
h. Psalm 50:14-17.
• Vs. 14-15 – to the godly and the upright God encourages them to offer praise and to call upon Him and He will deliver them.
• Vs. 16-17 – but to the ungodly—the fools—God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes (word) or to make claim on God’s covenants?”
• That is absurd… out of place… inappropriate.
i. As Christians, we too have an excellent message: the glorious gospel of the grace of God! (Phil. 1:27)
• But if our walk is more like the walk of a fool… then we are not the best spokesmen for Christ.
• What we say may be excellent speech… our words may be correct… but something is not right with that picture.
• It is an absurdity for a believer who is living in sin to speak forth the excellent message of deliverance from sin!
• That brother would do well to put his energy into dealing with sin in his own life before he makes speeches for Christ.
• Fools and excellent speech do not go together.
7b Much less do lying lips a prince.
A. Lying Lips Defined
1. Lying lips is in contrast to the excellent speech.
2. This presents another absurdity:
a. One in a lowly position (a fool) is out of place with excellent speech.
b. One in a high position (prince) is out of place lying.
c. Neither one is appropriate. Both are equally out of place.
B. Becometh Not a Prince
1. Prov. 16:12-13 – Kings are expected to be righteous and just.
2. II Sam. 23:3 – He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”
3. Just as it is unbecoming for a fool to attempt excellent speech, it is unbecoming for a prince—one in a position of authority and power—to lie or deceive.
4. It happens all the time in modern politics… but it is inappropriate. That’s the point. It is out of place… inconsistent… not fitting…
5. Of course lying is not fitting for ANY man… but it is far more inappropriate for one who is in a position of trust for the common good.
6. The position a man holds carries with it a further obligation and responsibility.
a. When a man in a position of authority sins, it is marked as being far worse.
b. It is a shame when anyone commits adultery, but more so if it is a pastor or missionary.
c. It is a shame for anyone to deceive others, but more so if it is the president.
d. People look to the position and have expectations.
e. It is so very out of place for one in a position of authority to LIE or deceive.
f. It is FITTING or appropriate for one in a position of authority to speak the truth.
Proverbs 17:8
Bribes Work!
Introduction:
1. This proverb is helpful and instructive when properly applied.
2. However, it can also be dangerous because it can easily be abused.
3. It is wise for us to be reminded once again that we are in the book of PROVERBS… and proverbs are little nuggets of truth.
a. They are not essays.
b. They are not the final word on a subject.
c. They don’t discuss the truth from every angle.
d. Every one is different. Some are pregnant with meaning. Others make a simple statement.
e. They are all designed to make us THINK.
4. This proverb simply makes a statement: Bribes work!
1. A “gift”
a. A gift; a present; a bribe.
b. Zodhiates: It refers to what is given in a situation to influence persons to act or think in a certain way they would not normally.
c. It was often given to pervert justice in the court system of Israel… and the USA… and every other nation.
d. The perversion of justice through bribes was a major downfall of Israel (1 Sam. 8:3).
e. Throughout Proverbs, the word for gift is used of a BRIBE.
f. Some might apply this passage to a husband giving flowers to his wife to win her heart… but that does not seem to be the way the term is used in Proverbs. It is a bribe… with an evil connotation. (Cf. vs.23)
g. Bribes were and are very much an accepted part of the way business is done in many parts of the world.
h. It is considered more or less like giving a tip to a waiter… only these “tips” or “gifts” are given to public servants: like tax collectors, customs officials, politicians… greasing the palms to get what you want!
2. A “precious stone”
a. Precious: favour; grace; charm; an act or object which gains a favorable response, because it is beautiful to see or hear.
b. Solomon is speaking about a precious stone (like a diamond) that “charms” all those who see it.
c. A stone like a diamond or other precious stone has the power of charm… the power to dazzle…
d. It therefore has the power to influence… and thus be used to manipulate and influence others.
3. “In the eyes of him that hath it.”
a. The first part of this proverb is looking at the issue of bribes from the perspective of the one MAKING the bribe.
b. He has MONEY… diamonds… wealth.
c. The main point of this part of the proverb is that many wealthy people see in their money, not just the power to purchase products… but the power to purchase INFLUENCE… to purchase people… and manipulate others.
d. In their eyes, their money is viewed as having the power of charm… to charm other people into thinking or acting the way they want them to.
e. A bribe could consist of a major political gift or present to another king or nation, a glorified bribe (1 Kgs. 15:19).
f. A bribe could be used on a much smaller scale too… smaller pawns in politics too… not just kings.
g. We don’t have to look very far to realize the influence of bribes… Washington DC gives us a nearly unlimited supply of examples!
h. Political decisions are influenced by the giving of such “gifts” (trips to Hawaii; fancy dinners; golfing vacations; etc.)
i. It’s called influence peddling.
1. The main point of this part of the proverb is that bribes WORK! They are extremely effective in accomplishing their goals…
a. Wherever the bribe goes, it prospers… it accomplishes its goal. (Prospers = is successful)
b. “Prospereth” is used in Josh. 1:8 – for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.
c. Bribes bring success to those who use them effectively.
• Rich men use bribes like a diamond to dazzle people.
• Rich men see their “diamonds” as more than a pretty ornament. They understand the POWER it can have over others.
• Money gets people to move, to vote, to act, to think, and do whatever else the giver of the bribe wants them to do.
• Wealthy people KNOW this and use it to their own selfish advantage.
• Matthew Henry noted a popular proverb of his day: the deepest bag will carry the cause.
• Today we say, Money talks.
d. Other proverbs say the same thing: they are effective! (Prov. 18:16; 19:6; 21:14) They work like a charm!
e. There are countless examples there are of men who were influenced by the lure of money to one degree or another:
• From athletes bribed into throwing a game… to rogue politicians whose votes are purchased by corporations… to Judas!
2. This does NOT mean God condones bribery.
a. In fact, the Bible very clearly CONDEMNS bribery.
b. Prov. 17:23; Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19;
c. The person who took a bribe was cursed by God (Deut. 27:25).
d. Knowing what God really thinks about bribes, a believer should never OFFER a bribe to anyone to get our way.
e. And knowing how “charming” they can be, we should never FALL for a bribe.
3. Trying to influence people is not necessarily wrong.
a. Evangelism is an attempt to influence people! Bible teaching… is designed to influence people’s thinking… and actions.
b. But there is a RIGHT way to influence people and a wrong way.
c. The RIGHT way is by example and REASON… teaching… instruction… explaining, comparing, etc.
d. The WRONG way is through bribes of any sort. (Whether you are promised a diamond, a cushy job, a lush vacation, or a cut of the pie, or some other “gift.”)
e. Bribes pervert justice… they prevent the right thing from being done.
f. When bribes are used, the best idea or right concept does not prevail.
g. Instead, the best FUNDED idea prevails…
h. And the best funded idea, concept, or project is not always the best choice.
4. Perhaps we could make another interesting observation about this proverb.
a. The truth conveyed is that bribes work.
b. From the rest of Scripture, it is exceedingly clear that although bribes work and are effective, they are NOT approved of God.
c. Principle: just because something WORKS, that does not mean that the Lord approves it!
d. Some years ago a Christian University sent me a letter asking for the names of our high school seniors and if I sent the names along, I would be included in a small pool of names to win a trip to Europe.
• I wrote back and said, “Thank you but the names of our young people are not for sale.”
• They were using a “gift” to get what they wanted from me… to influence me to send them what they wanted.
• I’m sure that technique worked—and they probably got more names than they would have without the drawing.
e. Would to God that the church growth folks would learn from this principle.
• In their obsession to see churches grow, they have resorted to methodologies that may WORK… but are not be acceptable to God.
• They ignore the doctrine of separation—and it works.
• Some promise those who come that God will make them rich and healthy! And it works.
• The promise of such a “gift” draws great crowds.
• It works… but the end does NOT justify the means.
5. Solomon was an observer of human nature.
a. As king, who did business with other kings and the nobility (men of great wealth)… this is something he observed repeatedly: men use bribes to influence others and get what they want.
b. Wealthy men realize how INFLUENTIAL their wealth is and they use that to influence to get what they want.
c. This proverb is the record of what he observed: bribes work.
d. He observed that wealthy men who offer bribes understand the POWER their diamonds can have over others.
e. Another part of human nature Solomon observed those who RECEIVE bribes:
• How often and how easily men who love money are INFLUENCED by money.
• They will think, vote, say, or do almost ANYTHING when a diamond is dangled before their eyes.
f. It is not an approval of bribes… either giving or taking them.
g. It is simply an observation of human nature and human behavior.
6. If our hearts are right with God, we will neither OFFER a bribe nor TAKE a bribe.
a. To the believer who loves the Lord, we are motivated by something higher and nobler than gold and silver…
b. We should be led of the Spirit… not by silver, gold, and precious stones!
Proverbs 17:9
How to Make or Break a Relationship
Introduction:
1. In this Proverb, Solomon gives us some words of wisdom with respect to human relationships.
2. The truth he observed is applicable in all kinds of relationships: husband/wife; parent/child; co-workers; and among the members of a church.
3. Two simple statements are found in this proverb.
a. One tells us how to promote love and thus bind parties together in a relationship.
b. The other tells us how to drive a wedge between people and thus break up a relationship.
4. Solomon warns us of the RESULTS of certain kinds of behavior.
a. The results occur so often, they become proverbial.
b. When “A” occurs, “B” can be expected to follow.
5. As a proverb, this covers just one tiny slice of human behavior…
a. Human relationships are much more complicated than this.
b. There are countless other elements involved in making or breaking a relationship.
c. But here’s one element that we should know about.
A. Covering a Transgression
1. The first part of the proverb tells us how to MAKE a relationship
2. COVER defined:
a. Strong’s: to cover; conceal; hide.
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: keep information from others, though known and understood.
3. Usage of the Term COVER
a. It is used often in a literal sense:
• Covered by clothing…
• Women covering their faces…
• Covered in darkness
• It is also used in the sense of concealing information from others…
b. Psalm 85:2 – when God forgives sin He COVERS it. It is buried from sight…
4. Solomon is not speaking about covering up our OWN sins.
a. Ps. 32:5 – Self needs to be honest and open about our own sins.
b. When we sin, we should confess it to the Lord. He knows anyways… but God wants us to acknowledge it before Him. Confess it—speak of it in the terms that God speaks of it: SIN!
c. We are never to cover up our own sins. We are to DEAL with them.
d. Don’t brush them under the rug and pretend they are not there.
5. This is speaking about covering up the sins of others.
a. We are to cover up the sins of others.
b. Don’t misunderstand. This is NOT speaking about a “cover up”… in the sense of covering up a crime and deceiving or lying in order to cover up the guilty party.
c. If you witness a murder. DON’T cover up that man’s sin. Report it to the police.
d. That’s not what Solomon has in mind here.
e. When a brother sins we may want to quietly confront him. But once confessed and resolved, that sin need not be mentioned ever again. Cover it!
6. The kind of transgression to be covered up.
a. Crime, sin, rebellion, offence, fault, i.e., what is contrary to a standard, human or divine.
b. It can refer to rebellion against God OR an offence or a fault among men.
c. People have faults. We have MANY faults.
• Perhaps a brother is struggling with a particular sin.
• Maybe it’s smoking; pornography.
• Maybe he hasn’t been reading the Word.
• Maybe you caught him in a lie.
• Maybe he was arrested for stealing.
• Maybe he and his spouse have been fighting.
• Maybe a child has been in trouble at school.
• Maybe someone has committed adultery.
• Believers can and do fall into sin… and commit transgressions.
• USUALLY when a believer falls into sin, he is embarrassed and doesn’t want anyone to know.
• Maybe he has made it right with the Lord or maybe he hasn’t.
• But either way, his sin is between him and the Lord.
• Most people like to keep it that way.
• It can be humiliating to have everyone find out.
7. The question arises, what do you do when you find out about it?
a. Solomon says, “Cover it up.”
b. Conceal that information from others. There is no need to blab it all over the place.
c. If you have such information—conceal it.
d. If Fred sinned and you find out, it isn’t going to edify either Fred or the congregation to learn that he got so mad he threw a lamp against the wall.
e. Making it known will only humiliate and probably infuriate Fred.
f. If you find out such information, then PRAY for Fred… in your private prayer closet. That doesn’t need to be brought up at a public prayer meeting.
g. And if you DO find out… don’t assume that God wants you to be his little policeman and FIX the problem.
• You may have the best of intentions in wanting to HELP Fred… but be sure you have earned that right.
• Don’t just barge into the inner sanctuary of someone’s personal life…
• You may have a few very close friends into whose personal problems you can inject yourself and be welcomed… but not just anybody!
• Be careful, be discerning.
• And Solomon’s advice here is also to be quiet.
• There is no need to proclaim another person’s transgressions…
• Divine wisdom says: cover them up.
B. Seeking Love
1. Seeking Defined:
a. Seek; search for; desire; try to obtain; pursue.
2. Love defined: affections in relationships; either a romantic love; or a family love.
3. Love covers sins – I Pet 4:8
a. Prov. 10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife; but love covereth ALL sins.
• Love covers sins. Hatred does not.
• Hatred stirs up the pot. Love puts the lid on the pot.
• And notice that real love covers ALL sins… not just a few.
• There is no limit to love… it knows no boundaries.
• That’s what makes love so difficult to practice… and also so precious to receive.
b. Prov. 11:13 – A faithful spirit conceals a matter.
• Relationships NEED faithful spirits… (faithful – someone you can TRUST with your secrets)
• A faithful, loyal friend or partner will conceal a matter.
• An unfaithful, disloyal friend or partner will not. He reveals secrets… he will blab matters all over town.
• Revealing secrets is a betrayal of trust. That is not a faithful spirit.
• A faithful spirit can be trusted… entrusted with secret matters… and is faithful to KEEP secret matters secret.
• There are things that happen in a home that should be KEPT in the home.
• There are things said in confidence that should be KEPT in confidence. Faithful spirits honor that trust.
• That faithful, trusting spirit aids in BINDING relationships.
4. Like it or not, this is God’s Word on the subject: if you want to promote love and thus BIND relationships… then learn to COVER transgression.
a. Prov. 19:11 – a man (woman, or child!) of discretion will not blow up and get angry every time someone says or does something offensive to them.
b. They will instead “pass over” the transgressions of others against them.
c. It is a virtue to be so close to the Lord that we are able by His strength and grace to pass over a transgression… an insult… an offence against us.
d. To have the strength of the Lord operating in us means that we will be ABLE to turn a deaf ear to gossip against us… and a blind eye to offences against us.
5. God’s wisdom says to COVER the transgressions of others if we should become privy to them.
6. And if they transgress against us personally… cover it up by turning a deaf ear to it… ignore it… pay no attention to it…
7. Fill your mind with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report… etc.
8. Covering transgression is HOW we seek love and thus MAKE a relationship what it ought to be.
9. It requires the power of God at times to bury transgression (especially if they sinned against us).
10. But that power is available to all who will come and drink of the fountain of life.
1. The first part of the proverb tells us how to MAKE a relationship. This part tells us how to BREAK a relationship: instead of covering up the sin matter, REPEAT it!
a. It’s easy to do. All you have to do is speak!
b. And the result? Friends are separated.
c. Separated: the term used when Lot separated from Abram. (Gen.13:9)
2. If the transgression was against you, then repeat it to the offending party often… and you will BREAK the relationship.
a. When someone sins against you, they repent, and you forgive them, then BURY it. Cover it up. Don’t bring it up again—ever.
b. That’s what forgive means on our level.
c. We can’t forgive their sins judicially before God.
d. But we can forgive them in that we bury it…
e. That’s how God forgives us… and that’s how we should forgive one another.
f. When God forgives our sin, He never brings it up again. It is gone! Buried. It is covered by the blood never again to return… no condemnation.
g. But when someone sins against you… and you REPEAT it… (you buried it for a short time—but dug it up again)… then you bring about separation… breaking up the relationship.
h. Covering it promotes love and BINDS relationships.
i. Digging it up and repeating it BREAKS relationships… it is very destructive behavior spiritually.
3. If the transgression was not against you, then repeat it to the general public… and you will BREAK relationships of OTHERS.
a. Prov. 16:28 – whispering separates chief friends.
b. If you are privy to a matter (say you also heard about Fred throwing the lamp)—and repeat it publicly, you might end up turning a lot of people against Fred.
c. Or say you heard some gossip and repeat it. By doing so you can turn a husband against his wife… a child against their parent… a brother in Christ against a brother in Christ… a boss against an employee… congregation against a pastor… a class against a teacher… friend against friend.
d. You can by merely saying a sentence or two DESTROY a relationship… separate chief friends.
e. That is a very painful process…
f. The tongue is powerful… like a little flame of fire. It takes a long time to build a house. It can be burned down in no time at all!
g. It takes a long time to build relationships… but they too can be destroyed in no time… by repeating a matter.
4. Conclusion: Covering transgressions is an expression of love. Revealing transgressions and repeating them is the opposite.
a. Keep in mind: God covers our sins; and Satan is the accuser of the brethren.
b. Be godly… not satanic… in our approach.
Proverbs 17:10
Different Forms of Correction
Introduction:
1. In this proverb, Solomon speaks about two different kinds of men who have sinned: a wise man and a fool.
2. He also speaks about two different forms of correction: reproof and stripes.
3. And he speaks of two different responses to correction: a lesson learned and a lesson not learned.
1. Reproof:
a. Strong’s: rebuke; reproof.
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: to speak words that show what another has done wrong; a threat or verbal warning.
c. Strong admonitions
d. A reproof is usually verbal. It’s not a beating or imprisonment… but a warning… a word of rebuke… scolding.
2. Wise men need to be reproved.
a. There is no such thing as a wise man who demonstrates wisdom 100% of the time.
b. Sometimes wise men make bad choices. Sometimes they make foolish decisions. Sometime wise men sin and do things they KNOW are wrong.
c. All men are sinners—including wise men.
d. Abraham was a wise man—but he made some poor decisions (going in unto Hagar).
e. Moses was a wise man—but he got angry and broke the tablets containing the Ten Commandments. He was doing too many chores by himself and had to be admonished to get others to help him with the load. He listened to his father in law.
f. David was a wise man and he too committed sin (counted the troops; Bathsheba).
g. Peter was a wise man—and he too needed to be reproved on occasion. (Not so Lord!—Lord, I’ll never deny you!)
h. No wise man is wise 100% of the time.
i. This proverb implies that even wise men need to be reproved from time to time.
j. And an important part of that wisdom is recognizing that need.
3. Entereth:
a. Strong’s: to go down; to go into; to pierce; to penetrate.
b. To impress; to pay close attention and respond appropriately.
c. This word is rarely used in the Old Testament, but it is used 2 times in Psalm 38:2 – “stick fast” and “presseth sore”.
• In this psalm, God was chastening David. David was being reproved or rebuked for his sin.
• God knows how to get His point across. He can cause the message He wants us to hear to ENTER IN… to penetrate our minds and hearts… so that we pay close attention to what He is trying to teach us.
• Both times they speak about the EFFECT of God in his life. The arrows God “stuck” in him worked.
• They got his attention and he PAID attention. God’s hand pressed sore upon him…
• God made his point known…
• He applied enough pressure to get David’s attention!
• God knows how to get our attention!
• God knows how to make His reproof ENTER in so that what He is trying to teach us is unmistakable.
4. Reproof ENTERS the heart of a wise man.
a. Words of rebuke pierce his heart.
b. A verbal reproof penetrates into his mind and heart and accomplishes its purpose.
c. When his sin or failure is brought to his attention, it ENTERS into his head and heart… and he RESPONDS to it in an appropriate manner.
d. It penetrates into his heart and becomes life transforming.
e. He does not dismiss it. He doesn’t ignore it.
f. He doesn’t see himself ABOVE correction.
g. This implies a certain amount of humility in a truly wise man.
→ You cannot separate wisdom from humility… they go hand in hand. So too, pride and foolishness go hand in hand as well!
→ A fool gets a little bit of knowledge, and it can produce pride.
→ A believer may begin to understand some important Bible doctrines… and begin to think he’s got it all figured out…
→ That pride keeps him from becoming wise!
→ Once you’ve got it all figured out—who needs to learn any more? Who needs to listen?
→ This kind of pride prevents a man from growing in wisdom.
5. Wise men are sensitive to their failures and shortcomings and genuinely WANT to be corrected and to learn.
a. Prov. 1:5 – a wise man will hear! That is the first step in the direction of wisdom – an ability and a desire to hear instruction and correction.
• Truly wise men are wise enough to know that they don’t know everything.
b. Hear = to hear; listen to; to hear with attention or interest; obey.
• This is a close kind of hearing… attentiveness… interest…
• This is the kind of hearing that really sinks in…
• It implies more than simply hearing a sound; it implies the proper response to what is heard. (obedience)
• It might be translated “hearken” – because that is more closely associated with obedience.
• To the Hebrew mind, to hear God was to obey Him. For a parent to give a command to a child in his hearing meant that it would be obeyed.
c. II Tim. 3:16 – a simple scripture passage is all that is needed to correct a wise man. He responds.
• The wise man is teachable. He does not insist on doing all the talking. He is willing to listen.
• Readiness to learn is characteristic of a truly wise person.
• Anyone can be a wise person—young or old—male or female! Wisdom is characterized by the capacity to listen… and really hear what is being communicated.
• This is a priceless capacity—for the husband to be able to hear his wife… for the wife to be able to hear her husband—for the children to hear their parents! For a worker to hear his boss… and the boss to be able to hear his employees… etc.
d. Ps. 19:11 – by them thy servant is warned.
e. Prov. 15:30 – wise men hear reproof… and thus gain understanding. But some men (fools!) refuse instruction and do so to the destruction of their own soul (life).
f. Prov. 28:23 – he understands the value of reproof and appreciates it… even if it hurts at the time.
g. Prov. 18:15 – he even SEEKS after knowledge… instruction.
h. Prov. 9:8 – reprove a wise man and he will LOVE you for it.
i. Prov. 15:5 – regarding reproof IS wisdom. Rejecting it is folly.
6. We too should allow reproof to ENTER in to our minds and hearts.
a. Reproof and rebuke are for our good—when administered properly.
b. Divine wisdom tells us here that we should LISTEN… learn… appreciate it… even if it hurts at first.
c. Divine wisdom tells us that it requires humility on our part to receive reproof. It requires a sensitivity to our failures and a genuine desire to change… to correct those failures.
d. They may be relatively rare traits, but that’s what true wisdom is all about.
7. The main point of the first part of the proverb is that reproof is EFFECTIVE in the life of a wise man.
a. Sometimes just one word of reproof is all that is needed to bring about correction.
b. Wise men respond well to wise words.
c. We would do well to respond to words of wisdom…
• When we hear them taught in church…
• When a spouse, parent, teacher, or boss reproves us… or even a stranger!
• When we are reading the Scriptures on our own and the Holy Spirit rebukes us by shining the light on a particular area of our life…
• Honestly examine the reproof… compare it with Scripture. If it is correct—then let it ENTER IN!
1. A word is enough to correct a wise man.
a. Sometimes even a LOOK is sufficient. (Luke 22:61-62)—Peter…
b. But it takes 100 stripes to get the attention of a fool—and still there is no guarantee that he will respond.
c. The Law of Moses allowed no more than 40 lashes (Deut. 25:2-3).
d. Hence, this reference to 100 lashes is probably hyperbole – an exaggeration to make a point.
e. Almost nothing can change a fool bent on folly.
2. Stripes on the back of a fool don’t necessarily reach his heart.
a. If the heart is hard and stubborn and self willed—then no amount of punishment or beatings will suffice.
b. If the heart is like a stone, NOTHING can pierce it.
c. But if the heart is tender… a tiny needle can pierce tender skin…. While a sword cannot pierce a stone.
d. Solomon’s point here is that the real difference between a wise man and a fool is not so much their heads, but their hearts.
• If the heart is tender and sensitive to God, then a word will suffice—even a look.
• If the heart is hardened and stubborn—then 100 stripes won’t bring about repentance.
3. Both the wise man and the fool make mistakes; do things incorrectly from time to time. We ALL do.
a. This proverb does not deny that wise sometime take the wrong route in life.
b. But the proverb does state that there is a HUGE difference in the way the two men receive correction:
• The wise man listens, learns, and changes.
• The fool doesn’t listen—may be beaten 100 times—and will still refuse to submit and learn. Therein lies his folly.
Conclusions:
1. Notice that BOTH the wise man and the fool make mistakes and do things incorrectly from time to time.
2. This proverb does not deny the fact that wise men sometimes take the wrong route in life.
3. But the proverb does speak about the difference in the way the two men receive correction.
a. The wise man listens, learns, and changes.
b. The fool doesn’t listen—and has to be beaten 100 times… for the same infraction—and still doesn’t learn!
Proverbs 17:11
Seeking Rebellion
1. An EVIL man
a. Evil: pertaining to that which is not morally pure or good according to a proper standard; bad in a moral and ethical sense.
b. Prov. 21:10 – his soul desires evil.
c. Prov. 15:26 – his thoughts are an abomination to the Lord.
d. Prov. 16:30 – they don’t just think about it, they practice it… bring it to pass too.
e. Prov. 28:5 – they are morally blinded by the evil in his soul, mind, and heart. Hence, they cannot understand judgment or justice.
f. The evil man is saturated in evil: his soul, mind, heart, what he perceives… all are twisted and warped by evil!
g. In the olden days, men like Solomon were ignorant and didn’t understand what men have discovered today: it wasn’t really their fault!
• Men that blew up and did evil things couldn’t help it. They had a disease: IED (intermittent explosive disorder)… or ODD (opposition defiance disorder).
• In the olden days ignorant men like Solomon used to call it sin and evil…
• They used to call IED anger and left men with low self esteem as a result.
• They used to call ODD disobedience…
• And because of their ignorance, they used to teach that it required the grace and power of a supernatural God.
• Now we know better. It’s a disease. A prescription of Valium, Prozac, or Ritalin will cure it!
• My how we have progressed over the ages!
h. I am being facetious of course.
• Solomon and other Bible writers are thoroughly accurate. There IS such a thing as EVIL… and evil men.
• It is not a disease like leukemia or arthritis. It is SIN!
• In this verse, Solomon is speaking about EVIL men.
2. Seeketh:
a. Evil men SEEK after rebellion.
b. Seek: to seek to find; to seek to secure; demand; require; search for; to attempt; to try to obtain.
c. This is the term used often in Psalms to describe men seeking after God and His guidance, wisdom, presence, etc. (Men CAN seek after that which is good if they choose to do so…)
d. But in proverbs, the evil man seeks other things such as rebellion, death, silver, wine, and many evil inventions.
e. Prov. 2:12, 13, 14 – evil men rejoice in evil and delight in wickedness (same word as evil).
• It is their joy and delight.
• This is what makes evil men evil: they LOVE evil.
• Men seek after that which they love and delight in.
• They seek anything except for wisdom or the Lord.
f. Prov. 6:14 – they devise mischief (evil) continually. They lay awake at night thinking about it…
g. Prov. 11:19 – some men pursue evil (to their own destruction) [pursue = chase after; persecute].
h. Prov. 12:20 – they IMAGINE evil… because of what lies in their hearts… and plot to bring it to pass.
3. Rebellion:
a. Rebellion, revolt, i.e., a state of disobedience, opposition, or resistance to one in authority.
b. This term for rebellion is used rarely in the Old Testament… only once in Proverbs… except in Ezekiel.
c. Evil men SEEK after rebellion – resistance to authority… opposition… disobedience… (they have ODD)
d. God considers this extremely serious. (I Sam. 15:23) It is as the sin of witchcraft!
e. Parents need to deal with this sin in their children… for that very reason. It is MORE serious a matter than we might think.
f. Rebellion is not always apparent.
• It is often “covered up”
» by cuteness
» under a guise of piety and feigned submission
» by shyness or cowardice
a. Sometimes that inward rebellion is too cowardly to break out… to speak up and express itself… so it simmers inwardly undetected…
• Sometimes God puts a lid on it by external restraints and circumstances He arranges to prevent it from outward expression.
• And sometimes God allows the devil to remove those restraints in order to demonstrate to us what our hearts are really like…
• Tea bag illustration… the bitterness in the tea bag may not be noticed until circumstances around it change—hot water! The hot water doesn’t MAKE the tea bag bitter. It just draws out what is there already.
g. Rebellion can be found in many different venues:
• Home… kids learn to cover it up at an early age.
• Marriage…
• School… it can simmer inside because of a fear of punishment…
• Counselors… and others who offer help…
• Local church… it can simmer just waiting for an opportunity to break out…
• Government…
• God…
h. What grief, sorrow, heartache, and knots in the stomach are produced by rebellion and the consequences of rebellion…
• A refusal to submit to authority can ruin any setting.
1. The cruel messenger here refers to a message of JUSTICE and judgment to be meted out against the one who sought rebellion.
a. This is yet another form of an oft-repeated truth in this book of wisdom: you reap what you sow.
b. Sow rebellion—and you will reap a cruel messenger with some very BAD news for you!
2. An example from the Scriptures: Saul. (I Sam. 15:9, 23).
a. God’s command was clear and precise. (vs.3)
b. Saul rebelled against the commandment of the Lord. (vs.9)
c. He even denied that he rebelled. He claimed obedience. (vs.13,28)
d. A cruel messenger was sent to him from the Lord: you have lost your reign as king! (Vs. 23)
3. The cruel messenger might report to us today too:
a. You rebelled against God and refused to bring your children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. A cruel message may come to you one day: Your son ran away… Your 14 year old daughter is pregnant…
b. You sought rebellion at work and refused to do what your boss wanted you to do. A cruel message may come your way: You’re fired!
c. You rebelled against parents and teachers and refused to do your homework. A cruel messenger might report to you: you’re staying back a year at school!
d. You rebelled against the law… and the judge might deliver a cruel message to you: you’re going to jail!
e. Deut. 21:18-21 – a cruel messenger for that rebel.
4. Prov. 11:21 – the wicked (evil men) shall not be unpunished.
5. Prov.14:32 – the wicked is eventually driven away because of his wickedness (evil). [Driven away – in the sense of chased out and defeated].
6. God does not delight in sending cruel messengers. He would MUCH prefer to send messengers of GOOD!
a. Reminders from His Word… of His promises to those who walk with Him.
b. Christ is coming!
c. God promises to work in and through us as we yield to Him.
d. The Bible is FULL of good messages… for those who submit to His authority.
e. But the type of messenger sent to us will depend upon our heart attitude: is it one of humble submission or arrogant defiance and rebellion?
Proverbs 17:12
Meeting a Fool
1. Meeting up with a bear robbed of her whelps
a. Approach, i.e., make linear movement which then draws near and encounters another object, implying an immediate interaction.
b. It means to encounter, to come in contact with, to come face to face.
2. Solomon first speaks about the possibility of coming face to face with an angry bear robbed of her cubs.
a. Hosea 13:8 – this passage speaks of the great DANGER and damage that can be done by a bear robbed of her whelps.
b. A bear robbed of her whelps is used several times in the Old Testament to describe a potentially dangerous and explosive situation.
c. This is obviously Solomon’s point in Proverbs too: the great danger and threat that it is.
3. I have seen bears from a distance in the wild… but I have never personally encountered a bear face to face.
a. I researched several sources on bears and encounters with bears… to get a better idea of the situation Solomon described.
b. I discovered that as dangerous and threatening as a face-to-face encounter with an angry bear is… there ARE ways to diminish the danger of that situation with a bear.
4. The dangers of an encounter with angry bears.
a. Actually, the situation Solomon described is rare.
b. Bears are not usually a threat to men.
c. One hiking source said the following about the danger: “The reality is, you have a much greater chance of being flattened by a semi on the way to the trailhead than you do having a problem with a bear once you’re on the trail. But, unlike the runaway semi, the bear danger is mostly controllable with education and common sense, so you have a responsibility to take sensible precautions and know how to respond to the danger if encountered…”
d. Consider the advice given to those who encounter a bear protecting her whelps:
→ Avoid direct eye contact as bears may perceive this as a threat.
→ Don’t make any sudden movements, throw anything, or yell.
→ If necessary, back away slowly to give the bear plenty of room to escape— including the right-of-way on the trail.
→ Bluff charges: stand tall and they usually retreat!
e. If you follow those simple rules, you normally will avoid being mauled by the bear.
f. What should I do if I find myself around a mother bear with cubs? (NH Fish and Game)
• Mother bears are rarely aggressive toward humans, but they are protective of their cubs.
• A mother bear will usually give many warning signs (huffing or popping sounds, swatting the ground or even bluff charges) to let you know that you are too close.
• Move away as described above… and even a bear protecting her cubs will not do you any harm.
• Female Brown Bears though will fiercely protect the cubs even if it means her own life.
• But a bear robbed of her cubs is LOOKING for her cubs. She doesn’t want you.
• Though rare, the most common type of bear attack is generally the result of a surprise encounter and almost always with a mother and her cubs. In nearly every mauling that has occurred in the past during a surprise encounter, once the hiker quit fighting and laid quiet, the sow has grabbed her cubs and run or walked away.
g. That’s exactly what Solomon is telling us when encountering a fool! (The danger is mostly controllable with education and common sense. Solomon is giving us some common sense advice here!)
h. Then it is up to us to take sensible precautions and to know how to respond if encountered by a fool!
5. Thus, there IS a way to escape.
a. There are warning signs.
b. There are procedures to follow that usually result in your safety.
c. The danger is usually controllable with education and common sense.
d. And if you know how to respond, you’ll be fine.
e. So, while it IS a potentially dangerous situation, there are ways of dealing with that danger.
f. Bears have been studied, and there is a rationale behind their behavior.
1. Fool – Strong’s = fool; stupid fellow; dullard; simpleton; arrogant one; the state of being in complete lack of understanding, implying rebellion.
2. Folly – (different term from fool – synonym) – sometimes translated “scoffer or scoffing”) – a state of being devoid of wisdom and understanding, with a focus on the evil behaviors…
3. RATHER THAN:
a. This is another one of Solomon’s “better than” proverbs.
b. A is better than B.
c. This implies that you are better off (A) being confronted by an angry bear THAN you are (B) being confronted by a fool in his folly.
d. One is better than the other. If you ever have a choice—choose the bear!
e. The fool is WORSE than a savage beast in its most aggressive moment!
4. As we saw in Hosea 13:8 – there is a great DANGER and much damage that can be done by a bear robbed of her whelps.
a. Prov. 27:3 – his wrath is weighty! Don’t stir him up.
b. As dangerous as an angry bear is, meeting up with a fool is MORE dangerous. His wrath is WORSE!
• Consider the folly of Herod killing ALL the babies 2 and under to get to Christ!
• Consider the folly of Saul killing all the innocent priests because he was angry with one.
• Saddam Hussein gassing an entire city because someone there attempted to assassinate him.
c. The fool behaves less rationally than does a bear. That’s the point of the proverb.
d. There is a rationale behind bear behavior.
e. Solomon warns us that that kind of rationale does not always exist with fools.
f. You’re better off meeting up with a wild animal than a fool in his folly!
g. You can predict how a bear will react. A fool—well, who knows what he’ll do! Stay away!
h. A fool in his folly is dangerous and unpredictable!
5. HOW can a fool be MORE dangerous?
a. Lots of ways!
• Try putting a knife in his hand.
• Put him behind the wheel of a car with a carload of foolish teens.
• Put a pair of skis under him.
• Think of this fool full of a fifth of Jack Daniels
• Think of this fool on crack cocaine
• Think of this fool with a gun in his hand.
• Even a bicycle! (Look ma, no hands!)
• That’s a fool engaged in his folly!
• This is comparable in the analogy to a bear ROBBED of her whelps.
» A bear is not normally all that dangerous.
» But while engaged in looking for her cubs, she is!
» That’s the WORST time to meet a bear.
» A fool may not normally be all that dangerous—except when engaged in his folly. (beer; car; gun)
» We can’t always AVOID being in the presence of foolish people. They are everywhere!
» However, a fool IN their folly – a fool engaged in his folly should be avoided like the plague!
b. Cars and bikes aren’t dangerous all by themselves. Neither are guns or knives.
c. But when in the hands of a fool they BECOME exceedingly dangerous.
d. Fools engaged in their folly are dangerous.
e. That’s why many of them find themselves locked up in prison—because they are a danger to society.
f. Like an angry bear, a fool is a danger to anyone who happens to be unfortunate enough to find himself in the presence of that fool.
g. Treat him like an angry bear.
• Prov. 26:4 – sometimes the best thing to do is to be quiet. Answer him not… lest he draw you into his outrageous folly.
• Get out of his way…
• Don’t yell or throw things…
• Don’t corner him… step back quietly and give him space to leave…
• You can’t argue or reason with an irrational person.
h. Prov. 22:24 – keep your distance—don’t make friends with this kind of person.
• Avoid fools in their folly whenever possible!
• Forsake the foolish, and live (Prov. 9:6) [back away quietly].
i. Prov. 13:20 – fools are destroyed by their folly and so are their companions.
• Don’t be their companion. Stay away.
• It is dangerous to remain in the presence of fools… especially as they practice their folly.
Proverbs 17:13
Rewarding Evil for Good
1. This is a particularly treacherous kind of evil… because it is completely unexpected.
a. When one does something good for another person, it is expected that good is given in return.
b. However, Solomon warns, that that is not always the case.
c. Sometimes our good deeds are rewarded with EVIL in return.
d. It’s not the norm—even in the world.
e. It is usually shocking when it does occur—but it DOES occur!
2. What Solomon describes is the ultimate in ingratitude.
a. Isa. 1:2 – Ingratitude is what Israel displayed to the Lord.
• God brought them up and nourished them… and they spit in his face!
• What father wouldn’t be broken hearted over this kind of ingratitude?
• Let’s be honest: this is often how WE treat the Lord too!
b. Have you ever experienced this sort of thing?
• Have you bent over backwards to help someone out… only to have them reward your good by stabbing you in the back?
• Have you ever gone the extra mile to show your appreciation for someone—only to have them wrongly judge your intentions or motives?
• Have you ever put yourself out in doing favors for a so-called friend—only to have them trample over all your efforts?
3. Matthew Henry: “To render evil for evil is brutish, but to render evil for good is devilish.”
4. The world’s standard of behavior is usually tit for tat. Good for good and evil for evil.
a. Rendering evil for evil is wrong—but it is understandable.
b. Rewarding evil for good is exceptionally bad behavior. It is “over the edge” even for the lost.
c. But God’s standard goes over the edge in the other direction! (Rom. 12:17a; 21) – we are to reward evil with GOOD!)
d. I Pet. 3:9 – we are to render blessings upon those who are evil to us. And we are to leave the reward for our behavior towards them in God’s hand. We will inherit a blessing for that kind of behavior in glory.
e. Matt. 5:44-48 – this is quite a high standard. It requires the power of the Holy Spirit to produce. It is UNLIKE our nature.
f. Luke 23:24 – it is Christlike behavior. He could have called 10,000 angels to destroy them all. Instead, he prayed for their forgiveness. I wonder how many of them were forgiven? Imagine meeting one of those men in glory?
1. Solomon states that such a man will experience evil and it will not depart from his house!
a. Evil (controversy; trouble; calamity; disaster) will hover over his home like a dark cloud on a very still day.
2. Some might equate this with karma…
a. Karma is part of the philosophy of Hinduism and Buddhism which states that the quality of a person’s life is determined by his actions in this life and in previous lives.
b. It is quite superstitious.
c. It might appear to be the same… but the source is very different.
d. It is not the natural vibes of the universe or a universal force that will retaliate.
e. This evil hovering over the house of the one who commits such an atrocity is the judgment of the Living God!
f. Prov. 15:3 – God watches over all the earth, beholding both the good and the evil… and He is the rewarder of good and evil. Sometimes the reward/judgment comes in this life… and sometimes not until the life to come. But it DOES come!
g. And God takes note for a reason. He judges accordingly.
3. There is a striking example of this principle in the life of David.
a. David was served WELL by Uriah. This young soldier did GOOD unto the king with service that put his life in danger. (II Sam. 11:6-11) He was a noble man of principle. He served his king well.
b. David returned his good with EVIL.
• David stole this man’s wife… and ultimately had him killed. (II Sam. 11:1-5)
c. As a result, evil (calamity) would never depart from David’s house. (II Sam. 12:9-10)
d. II Sam. 12:11 – notice that God says HE will raise up evil against David’s house.
e. This is exactly what Solomon was talking about.
f. And Solomon should know. David was his father—and this woman was his mother! (II Sam. 12:24)
g. Solomon LIVED and grew up in that house… from which the sword would never depart.
h. Evil never departed from David’s house… and Solomon and his sons paid a price for David’s sin—because David rendered EVIL to Uriah for the good service Uriah rendered unto David and his kingdom.
4. David is also a good example of the opposite. David also rewarded GOOD unto those who treated him cruelly.
a. Psa. 35:11-12 – false witnesses arose against him and did evil unto him. They lied about him and caused his soul (life) to be deprived in some way.
• The normal response is to rise up against them with evil… fight fire with fire.
b. Psa. 35:13 – But David did not behave like the world.
• He seems shocked by their treatment of him.
• He recalls when they were hurting, he mourned, prayed, and fasted for them.
• Vs.14 – he treated them like a brother.
• Thus he seems surprised by the way they are treating him.
c. Psa. 38:20 – David felt strongly that this kind of behavior was especially reprehensible.
• He felt SO strongly that he decided to count those who behaved this way as his enemies… they were enemies of good and of society.
• On the contrary, David chose to follow that which is GOOD.
• How much like us is David. He had good intentions… but he was inconsistent in carrying out those good intentions.
• Sometimes he failed miserably… and was GUILTY of the very behavior he felt was so abhorrent.
5. On one occasion, David rewarded good with evil. On another occasion he rewarded evil with good.
a. No David wasn’t fickle… but he (like you and me) had the potential for either exceptionally good behavior OR exceptionally evil behavior.
b. And, if we were honest, would have to admit that we have probably been on BOTH sides of this… as David was.
c. Those in Christ are capable of the most noble, Christlike behavior (rewarding evil with good!)
d. Unfortunately, we are also capable of the vilest behavior as well.
Proverbs 17:14
Dealing with Contention
A. The Beginning of Strife
1. Strife:
a. Strife; contention; arguing; disputes; discord; quarrel.
b. The root word means to drive a wedge or swing an ax.
c. That concept developed into a word that means strife between people—like driving a wedge between parties.
2. Beginning:
a. A point of time which is the beginning; (Gen. 1:1).
b. The word designates the earliest or first products or results of something.
3. Solomon speaks here of a dispute between two or more people or groups of people.
a. We are all painfully aware that arguments DO occur.
b. We have all been engaged in them… probably repeatedly.
c. Such disputes occur in politics; among friends; in the workplace; in the neighborhood; in school; in the local church; at home.
d. And again—we have probably all been engaged in strife to one degree or another in EACH of those settings!
e. Disputes and strife can occur anywhere there are sinners.
f. This means of course, that until we get to glory, we are going to be faced with strife and contentions… over and over again.
g. Solomon was a great observer of life… and this is a truth that he observed repeatedly: people fight and argue.
4. He gives us some words of wisdom along these lines… something he noticed in the contentions and disputes that arose in his kingdom.
a. He noted that wherever there is an argument… there is a beginning to it.
b. Every dispute has a “start” line. Unfortunately, they don’t all have finish lines… but they all have a start line.
c. There is a point in time wherein strife begins.
d. In the office it might begin when you were given an extra pile of work to do.
e. In school it might begin when your team lost and the other team was taunting you.
f. Among friends, it might begin when you weren’t invited to the cookout.
g. In the local church it might begin when the pastor preached a sermon on election…
h. In the home it might begin when the husband leaves his dirty socks on the floor… again.
i. In the Middle East it began when Abram cast out Hagar and her son—thousands of years ago.
j. EVERY argument or dispute can be traced back to its beginning.
B. As the Letting Out of Water
1. The letting out of water defined:
a. “letting out” = set free; remove; open; escape; burst through.
b. Breech, break open, i.e., have a wall of a container break open from relative pressure, so allowing the unchecked flow of water.
c. The term speaks of water being let to flow…
2. The Hebrew writers were divided as to which of the following Solomon had in mind:
a. The letting out of water in a dam
b. The emptying of one’s bladder
• The point driven home is the same either way…
3. Solomon makes an analogy here.
a. There is something similar between the beginning of an argument… and the beginning of letting out of water.
b. The point: once it begins to flow, it can be almost impossible to stop.
4. Think of a breech in a dam… New Orleans.
a. A breech usually starts off small… with a little crack.
b. In the beginning of that breech, a small crack is easily repaired.
c. But if you are careless about the BEGINNING of the breech, and the water starts flowing—it is almost impossible to stop.
d. It simply has to run its course—doing all kinds of damage in the process. Just look at New Orleans!
e. Our government is spending billions to rebuild the city of New Orleans. And they will be spending a lot to repair the levy… to hold the water back.
f. It would be unreasonable and irresponsible to spend billions of dollars in rebuilding the city… and to fail to deal with the potential for another breech.
g. Water is extremely powerful and destructive. It can wipe out a whole city.
h. In Noah’s day, it wiped out the entire earth.
5. There is something similar between the beginning of an argument… and the beginning of letting out of water. Solomon implies THREE analogies from this illustration:
a. Once water begins to flow—it is virtually impossible to stop it.
• So too with arguments and disputes. Once they begin… (however small) they are very difficult to end!
b. And disputes and flowing water, are both extremely destructive.
• Water can ruin a city.
• Arguments and fighting and ruin a home… a business… friendships… the local church.
c. The beginning of it all is the most important point.
1. THEREFORE:
a. In light of what was said in the first part of the proverb…
b. Having stated the analogy and implied similarities between water that begins to flow and arguments that begin to rage… Solomon gives us some advice.
2. Don’t let it start!
a. Exert self control at the very beginning BEFORE the water starts to flow… because once it starts, you have no more control.
b. If you can control the first little trickle of water in a small crack in a dam… you can prevent the dam from bursting and causing a lot of death and destruction downstream.
c. If you don’t stop it right away, it gets larger and larger and more and more powerful… until finally there is no stopping it!
d. If you wait until the water is flowing rapidly out of the dam, the resistance becomes too great to be successfully opposed.
e. You KNOW the reaction between gasoline and a spark—so intervene BEFORE they come together!
3. Leave off contention…
a. Leave off = to leave; forsake; cast off or away; reject; cease; abandon; quit; cast down…
b. Cast down contention… reject it… abandon it…
c. Prov. 19:11 – the discretion of a man DEFERS his anger.
4. BEFORE it be meddled with…
a. TIMING is everything here.
b. How do you deal with a rip roaring argument? Don’t ever let it BECOME a rip roaring argument!
c. Don’t MEDDLE with it.
• Meddle: used in Prov. 20:3 – cease from strife.
• Quarreling and being obstinate by insisting on having one’s own way.
• Don’t be obstinate; don’t demand your own way; don’t let that first little trickle of a fight BEGIN.
d. BEFORE it leads to anything… CEASE.
• As Christians, we should recognize that that first irritating little trickle is DANGEROUS.
• We should be aware of the awful, destructive capabilities of our sin nature… and fear.
• We should realize the potential destruction when an argument begins… knowing from past experience where it can lead…
• Be aware that something TINY can become huge in no time.
• Solomon’s advice is sensible.
• Exert some Holy Spirit empowered SELF CONTROL before the water starts flowing… or you won’t be able to stop it.
• At that first little irritating thought or word… that first urge to let out your waters of retaliation… determine to HOLD IT IN… (A soft answer turns away wrath.)
• Prov. 15:18 – A little bit of patience and longsuffering up front can prevent a LOT of trouble and disaster from occurring.
• You FEEL LIKE blurting out an insult… you FEEL like striking back… you FEEL like letting them have it… you FEEL like giving them a piece of your mind…
• Solomon says before you let ANY of that out (before you begin meddling in an argument) exert self control…
• Once you let it out… the waters behind that dam begin to flow with more and more force and you will find yourself powerless to stop it.
• Prov. 12:16 – a fool’s wrath is PRESENTLY known… instantly known. He holds nothing back. That is folly.
• Wisdom has learned to hold back that initial urge to retaliate…
e. The BEGINNING is the most important point.
• At the beginning, before the argument takes root… when the first spark of contention flies… PRAY… ask God for wisdom… for grace… for His strength.
• Remember that you died with Christ and don’t HAVE to argue and fight any more. You are ABLE to walk in newness of life.
• The devil will try to convince you that you HAVE to act on your feelings.
• But instead—walk by FAITH. Trust God… rest in His power… believe that HE will work in you HIS good pleasure.
• Here is His good pleasure: leave off contention before it starts!
• On that first urge to strike back… fall upon the Lord in faith and trust Him.
• Whether it is water or fire or emptying one’s bladder or an argument: the initial response to that first urge is the most important.
» It’s easier to blow out a match than to put out a forest fire.
» It’s easier to fix a tiny crack in a dam than to hold back a full-fledged breech.
» It’s better to hold it in…
» And in a potential argument—when that first urge to snap back occurs—hold it in.
» A soft answer at the beginning can turn away wrath… and prevent a breech in a relationship.
» Drop the issue before the contention begins.
» And regardless of who’s to blame for sending out the first spark of contention, be quick to forgive or to say, “I’m sorry”… before irreparable harm is done.
» Prov. 25:8 – don’t be HASTY to enter into an argument. You may not know how to end it!
Proverbs 17:15
Justifying the Wicked and Condemning the Just
Introduction:
1. Solomon seems to have the judicial system of a nation in mind here.
2. Justice is important to God.
3. Justice ought to be important in human government as well… since it was the Lord who instituted human government. (Rom. 13:3)
4. Solomon, as the King in Israel, also functioned as Judge.
a. Judicial matters that were not easily adjudicated in the court system came to the King… as a sort of Supreme Court.
b. You recall the case of the two women who both claimed to be the mother of the living child… and claimed the other was the mother of the child who died.
c. That case was brought to Solomon…
5. Thus, Solomon had a concern for justice in the land.
a. And as an observer of human nature, he also noticed that justice did not always prevail.
b. He noticed that sometimes justice was twisted and perverted.
c. I Kings 8:32 – as King, this was the prayer of Solomon – that God would execute justice in the land.
d. We too are encouraged to PRAY for those in positions of authority in our country… pray for our president. Pray for the judicial system too.
e. Pray for justice—and equality for ALL in our land.
f. That’s what this proverb is all about: justice in the land, and what GOD thinks about perverted justice.
1. The Wicked:
a. This term is not a general term for wickedness in general or evil. It has LEGAL connotations.
b. Strong’s: guilty one; one guilty of crime.
c. Zodhiates: in the wrong, guilty, criminal.
d. Guilty, i.e., pertaining to being legally not innocent of a violation of law (Ps. 109:7)
2. The wicked are to be CONDEMNED by the judge. (Deut. 25:1)
a. Justifying the wicked is a terrible abuse of a judicial system. It is twisted, perverted, crooked, unfair, unjust, and unreasonable.
b. It is also a violation of the Mosaic Law. The law required justice.
3. Justifying the wicked = acquitting guilty persons in court.
a. A two year old can understand how WRONG this is…
b. But sometimes, it happens… and Solomon observed it.
c. Sometimes it happens through no fault of the court system.
• Witnesses lie in court… (Ex. 23:1)
• Evidence is tampered with… or accidentally mislabeled…
• Eye witnesses sometimes have a faulty recollection…
• Sometimes there is a preponderance of circumstantial evidence that makes a person LOOK guilty…
• Sometimes when all the evidence is laid out, honest, well meaning jurors draw the wrong conclusions.
• Sometimes there’s just not enough evidence available to condemn a guilty criminal.
• Human error is always a possibility… and many a guilty person has been exonerated… justified… because of human error.
• We hear almost weekly about innocent men who were convicted 10, 20, even 30 years ago for crimes they did not commit—and are just now being exonerated due to DNA evidence that did not exist at the time.
• Many of those cases were honest mistakes made based on the evidence they had…
• But that does NOT seem to be the scenario Solomon describes here.
• Solomon seems to be speaking here about INTENTIONAL injustice…
d. Injustice also occurs and it IS the fault of the system.
• Deut. 25:1 – why do you suppose this law had to be instituted in Israel? Doesn’t that go without saying?
• It was instituted because sometimes judges were crooked… and God wanted a law on the books to DEAL with that situation.
• Sometimes they justify the wicked out of popular demand (Ex. 23:2)
• Sometimes those in positions of power justify the wicked upon a bribe… or because of some other means of personal gain. (Ex.23:8)
• Sometimes they justify the wicked to keep their job…
• A judge might justify the wicked because the one he knows to be the guilty party is a friend or relative…
• A judge might do so as a favor to another corrupt official.
• Sometimes they justify the wicked to promote their own political agenda.
4. Intentionally justifying the wicked is what Solomon calls an abomination to the Lord.
a. This is a travesty of justice…
b. It is inexcusable…
c. It is an abomination to God. God hates it.
1. This is another travesty of justice… and equally abominable in God’s sight.
2. Again—it appears that Solomon is not speaking about UN-intentional injustice… or honest mistakes made due to human error… but rather to INTENTIONAL injustice… condemning the just on PURPOSE.
3. This too occurs.
a. This often occurs because of prejudice… bias… and bigotry. That is an abomination to the Lord. He hates it…
• And it happens in this country! Pray for our judicial system…
• Things are improving along these lines—but there will always be racially biased men of all colors who judge according to the color of one’s skin.
b. Just men are also often condemned—yes even in our country—because of money—which he doesn’t have.
• A poor man cannot afford a fancy Philadelphia lawyer to represent him… and his wealthy opponent in court knows all the tricks of the trade to make him LOOK guilty… and thus be found guilty.
• I would not be surprised if we had thousands of innocent men in prison today because they could not afford a good lawyer.
• Ex. 23:6 – twisting judgment for the poor… to get the rich man off the hook. Because it is human nature to do so, God made a law against it.
c. When the people feel they are not getting a fair shake with the government… instability and erosion of the society occurs.
• Prov. 24:23, 24 – there is to be no respect of persons… or the people will rise up against that kind of injustice in the land.
d. Lady Justice is pictured as holding a balance/scale… and being blindfolded.
• She is blindfolded so she can’t see whether the person before the court is dressed in rags or riches…
• Or whether he is red, yellow, black, or white… so she will not judge according to appearance.
• She is to judge according to the facts of the case.
• That is the RIGHT principle… the right system…—but unfortunately, the system is full of PEOPLE and all people are sinners.
• There are corrupt policemen, corrupt lawyers, corrupt judges, corrupt witnesses… and unfortunately, the system doesn’t work perfectly.
4. What we REALLY need is a truly RIGHTEOUS judge—as the One mentioned in Isa. 11:3-5.
a. This judge is also omniscient… and omnipresent… and omnipotent…
b. He doesn’t need any DNA evidence. He doesn’t even need any fancy lawyers to present the facts of the case.
c. He can pierce into the hearts of men. He doesn’t even need the case to be presented before Him.
d. This judge does that which is RIGHT. (Gen. 18:25)
e. This judge will reign as King and Judge—and will execute judgment and justice in the land… (Jer. 23:5)
f. But until that day… when Christ returns to establish His Kingdom, we have a judicial system run by fallen, frail, sinful creatures.
g. Until He comes, we will have guilty murderers like Barabbas set free… and innocent men—like the Lord Jesus condemned o die.
h. No wonder we are commanded to PRAY for kings and for ALL that are in authority (I Tim. 2:1-2). Their decisions affect OUR lives.
1. Injustice is an abomination because of who God is…
a. He is a righteous God… a just God.
b. He is a Judge of all the earth, who does RIGHT.
c. Justice and righteousness is part of Whom God is… it is His nature.
2. We even see this kind of behavior exhibited in arenas OUTSIDE the courtroom… in the courtroom of public opinion.
a. It has become quite popular and commonplace today to look down upon and condemn those who promote wholesome, family values… condemning the just in popular opinion.
b. It is also becoming commonplace for the wicked to be justified—whether in the area of abortion… or gay marriage… spanking children… or even evangelizing…
c. That which is just and right is condemned…
d. That which is wicked and wrong is justified…
e. Prov.18:5 – it is not right—but it is happening more and more frequently today.
f. Isa.5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.
3. Psalm 94:17-23 – don’t be discouraged; for in the end, God wins.
a. In the meantime, David refused fellowship with those who perverted justice. (vs. 20)
b. David saw and was troubled by the injustice in the land. (vs. 21)
c. But it did not move him. He stood firm on a solid rock! (vs. 22)
d. He trusted that in God’s good time, justice would ultimately prevail—regardless of how strong the evil appears in the present. (vs. 23)
e. Proverbs 12:2 – God is just and fair. Nobody ever escapes His justice in the end.
Proverbs 17:16
No Heart for Wisdom
1. Solomon is asking a question here.
a. His question is based upon an observation.
b. This proverb pictures a man with money in hand, able to make a purchase.
c. He possesses the price necessary to obtain wisdom.
d. He is ABLE to make the purchase… but he doesn’t.
e. The question is, “Why?” (wherefore)
2. Price
a. Price, wages, cost. It refers to the value of a transaction, a market price, or the equivalent value in goods.
b. Job 28:12-15 – Of course, we know that wisdom CANNOT be purchased with money…
• It’s WORTH spending all one’s gold and rubies to buy it if you could… but one cannot BUY wisdom.
• If so—all rich people would be wise… and all poor people would be foolish.
• BUT—that is certainly not the case in reality!
c. Solomon is using the concept of making a purchase in a figurative sense to illustrate making another kind of transaction.
d. The concept of making a purchase was used in a figurative sense elsewhere in the Old Testament.
• Isa. 55:1-3 – Come and buy… only with this purchase you can buy without money! All you need is the DESIRE for it… come and receive… knock and it shall be opened unto you…
• The purchase represents another kind of transaction… coming to God for salvation.
• Anyone who comes can buy it… obtain it… even without money.
• This is a figurative way of saying that salvation is offered and available to all… equally…
• In this sense, it is like the wisdom spoken of in Proverbs 17:16.
e. Like salvation, wisdom is also offered in the Old Testament to all… freely… just come and get it! Nobody who comes will be refused.
• Prov. 8:1-5 – Lady Wisdom offers wisdom to all.
• Prov. 8:10-11 – She tries to demonstrate how valuable wisdom is… in hopes of luring “customers.”
• Prov. 8:17 – Seek and ye shall find! It’s available!
• Prov. 8:33 – Don’t refuse it!
• Just come and receive it—make the transaction.
3. The fool in this picture:
a. He HAS the price to make the purchase in his hand…
b. In other words, he has everything necessary to complete this transaction… for him to BECOME wise…
c. He COULD make the purchase if he chose to do so… the money is in his hand…
d. In other words, the fool has at his fingertips the opportunity to become wise…
e. There is no good reason why he COULDN’T gain wisdom… for he has the price in his hand to make the transaction.
4. Fools HAVE in their possession all the “coins” needed to gain wisdom:
a. A sound mind… a capacity to think rationally… reason…
b. The capacity of will – to make decisions…
c. Access to God’s Word…
d. Contact with believers…
e. The ministry of the Holy Spirit… who convicts the whole world…
f. Lady Wisdom is CRYING out to be heard…
g. Parents whose heart desire it is for their children to become wise…
h. Good role models… godly examples…
i. Teachers…
j. The local church…
k. People praying for him or her…
l. The gospel message…
m. Access to God… available to whosoever will call…
n. Time and countless opportunities…
5. The average fool has MOST of these coins in his hand… in his possession.
a. That’s the point of this proverb…
b. He has the price—all he needs to do is make the transaction.
c. Fools have every asset necessary to obtain wisdom… but one.
d. The concept of a purchase here is an illustration…
e. It illustrates this one fact: even a fool could be wise if he wanted to be.
f. Fools are not fools because they lacked the opportunity to become wise… or because they lacked advantage…
g. The fool has everything he needs to “make that purchase”… IF he wants to.
h. He has every advantage, every opportunity, every asset, but one…
1. When you have the price for an item in your hand, you can get it if you want.
2. The fool has everything he needs to (figuratively) make the purchase… the only thing he lacks is HEART.
a. He has NO HEART for wisdom… he doesn’t want it!
b. He COULD have it… just like others, but he has no heart… no interest… no inward desire for… no will.
c. He has set his heart on other things…
d. Thus, he turns away from Lady Wisdom… seeking other voices…
3. Prov. 1:22-23 – Lady Wisdom is continually crying out to these fools…
a. There is no need for them to remain as fools…
b. All they need to do is respond to the call… come… it is something every last one of them COULD do… IF he had the heart for it.
c. But fools REJECT counsel…
d. Fools won’t listen to the words of wisdom…
e. Fools turn away from the right way for the way of folly…
f. Fools DESPISE wisdom… (Prov. 1:7)
g. Fools HATE knowledge… (Prov. 1:22)
h. Fools DELIGHT in their folly…
4. Deut. 5:29 – God lamented the same “lack of heart” in the Israelites with respect to coming to Him for salvation… and for a walk of wisdom and obedience… they just didn’t have the heart for it.
a. Vs. 27 – on the surface, they SAID, “all that the Lord our God shall speak to you we will hear and do.”
b. They had good intentions… good words…
c. Vs. 29 – But God knew their heart. He knew that they had no heart for Him really. They were but words.
d. There was no good reason WHY Israel could not walk humbly with God in obedience to His Word… a walk of faith.
e. The only real reason was that they had no heart for it.
f. That was the sad truth.
5. This is true when it comes to the wisdom necessary to function in this world… AND it is also true for the kind of wisdom that relates to spiritual things.
a. A man, woman, or child needs to have a HEART for wisdom… or they will never obtain it.
b. Solomon noted, sadly, that MANY fools have had every opportunity to become wise… just like others… but just did not have the heart for it.
c. It is not that they lacked intelligence. It is not a matter of IQ. It’s not a matter of the head, but of the heart. It’s a matter of the heart… will… desire…
d. And giving these folks MORE opportunity isn’t going to resolve the problem.
e. Bailing them out of the hole they have dug for themselves won’t resolve the problem. They will dig themselves another hole.
6. Solomon’s question:
a. The question is really sad and discouraging…
b. Solomon observed this event occurring often and it saddened him…
c. But perhaps even more so, it puzzled him… especially since there was no good reason WHY the fool should remain a fool!
d. WHY? Why would this ever occur, even once, not to mention millions of times?
• Why would God GIVE such people so many advantages?
• Why should such a person be given so many “coins” if they fail to use them?
• Why is it that some persons with MANY coins fail to make the purchase, and someone with only a few coins, who DOES have a heart for wisdom, is able to make the purchase? WHY? (Heart!!!!)
• Solomon’s question is: Why does God even bother with such people?
• Why does God bother to give them so many advantages… privileges… only to see them squander them?
• Solomon is not complaining to God here… he is simply puzzled and perplexed by human nature.
• It does not make sense to him… and he laments the irrational nature of it all…
• And we too have lamented this in folks we have known
• Every one of us has met this kind of fool… with EVERY advantage… yet he/she fails to take advantage of it.
• We all know godly Christian families—with several children—each one possesses the same coins… the same advantages… and yet there may be one of four who has no heart for wisdom—and goes out and makes a big mess of his life… spiritually… or otherwise.
• WHY? Why would a person who has so many coins and advantages at his fingertips NOT make the purchase…?
• The simple, but heartbreaking answer is, he has no heart for it! He doesn’t want it. His heart is set on foolish things.
• Prov. 26:11 – As irrational as it sounds, fools delight in their folly—no matter how disgusting it may seem to those who seek to lead them to something better!
• WHY would they do such a thing? They have no heart for something better.
Proverbs 17:17
A Friend Loveth at All Times
A. WHO
1. Friend Defined:
a. Zodhiates: A masculine noun meaning another person. Most frequently, this term is used to refer to the second party in a personal interaction without indicating any particular relationship.
→ Ex. 18:16 – used of an adversary in court.
→ II Sam. 2:16 – an enemy combatant.
→ Ex. 20:16, 17 – used of one’s neighbor
→ Hos. 3:1 – used of one’s lover… (a female friend)
→ It has a wide range of meaning.
b. Strong’s: friend; companion; fellow; an associate; another person—there are lots of possibilities for a “second party” or “another person.”
c. Most often in Proverbs and the rest of the Bible, it is translated “neighbor” —
→ 31 times “friend”
→ 87 times “neighbor” in the Bible
→ Also as opponent, mate, etc.
d. In some passages in Proverbs, it is quite clear that it should be translated “friend.”
→ Prov. 22:11 – The king shall be his friend (another person of a favorable sort… a friend).
→ Prov. 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron—the result of friendship.
2. The CONTEXT that must determine which meaning best fits the passage.
a. In Prov. 17:17, the “other person” is being compared in a favorable way to a brother.
b. The fact that this other person expresses LOVE indicates it is not an enemy combatant or an opponent at court!
c. Neighbor does not fit well here. Neighbors don’t always express love towards those who live next door. They should, but they don’t.
d. Thus, friend seems like the logical and sensible translation here.
B. WHAT
1. Loveth Defined:
a. Strong’s: to love; human love for another; includes family, and sexual; the act of being a friend.
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: have an affection based on a close relationship
c. Used of a love for people (also = a love for God or things)
• Gen. 22:2 – the love of Abram for his son Isaac
• Gen. 25:28 – Rebekah’s love for her son Jacob
• Gen. 29:32 – Jacob’s love for his wife Leah
• Ruth 4:15 – Ruth’s love for her mother in law
• Lev. 19:18 – Love thy neighbor as thyself
d. This term for “love” is used of Abraham.
• He was called a “friend” of God: i.e., loved Him deeply… had a great heart affection for God.
C. WHEN
1. At all times:
a. Time = time in general; at all seasons; at a crisis point.
b. Ecc. 3:1 – and a TIME to every purpose under heaven… (the term appears 19 times in Ecc. 3:1-8)
2. This passage could be understood in one of two possible ways:
a. It could mean that a friend loves at ALL times (continually without interruption).
b. OR it could mean that friends love during all seasons of life.
c. The latter seems more likely to me… more in line with reality.
d. Sometimes there can be FRICTION between friends… and that affection might grow cold for a while.
e. Prov.16:28 – A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
f. Solomon did not mean in 17:17 that friends love continually, constantly, without ever wavering in their friendship.
g. It is more likely that Solomon meant that real friendship lasts through all kinds of seasons—through all the seasons of life… the good times and the bad times…. through thick and thin… the ups and the downs of life… in sickness and in health… happy days and days of sorrow and grief…
h. God provides FRIENDS for all the seasons of life.
3. Good friends WILL stick it out—during good times and bad.
a. Friends ideally SHOULD love at ALL times.
b. A friend that is friendly only when his own interests are served and the relationship brings him pleasure… is quite selfish… and not the best kind of friend.
c. Prov. 19:4 – Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
• Friend and neighbor = same word as friend in 17:17.
• Some folks might appear to be friends during periods of wealth (when you buy the tickets and pay for the food)…
• But when poverty comes… those kind of friends disappear… they separate from their so-called friend.
• He’s a great friend when he is gaining or receiving from the relationship. But he’s not such a friend if his friendship dissipates when he has to GIVE.
• If he bails out when the going gets tough, he’s not much of a friend… he’s a fair weather friend.
d. John 13:1 – Christ is our example of a Friend who loves at all times—even to the end. (Note the presence of Judas!)
e. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. (Rom. 8)
4. We NEED good friends in our journey as a pilgrim.
a. This is another reason why the local church is so important in God’s program… we need one another in a hostile world.
b. Two are better than one…
c. The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone.
A. WHO
1. Brother defined:
a. Brother; kinsman; relative; of the same tribe; countryman.
b. The word is used not only of those with common parents but also of those with common ancestors
B. WHEN
1. Adversity—times or seasons of adversity.
a. Adversity:
• Literally – that which is narrow and binding.
• Straits; distress; trouble; anguish; tribulation.
2. A brother is BORN for such times.
a. My first reading of this passage as a new believer gave me the wrong impression: friends are for friendship and affection… brothers are for fighting with. (With 5 brothers, we had our share of scraps together… and this made perfect sense.)
b. However, this proverb is not an antithetical parallelism (showing opposites), but a synonymous parallelism (describing things that are alike).
c. Just as there are friends for all seasons of life… there are brothers or relatives to help us through seasons of adversity.
d. Note that the translators used AND instead of BUT to connect the two parts of this proverb. They also saw this as synonymous rather than antithetical… contrasting.
e. He is not contrasting a brother vs. a friend. Instead, he speaks of how much alike they are: they are to be there when you need them… at all times, but especially in times of adversity.
f. His point is that all throughout life, there is great value in maintaining relationships with friends and family.
g. A friend and a brother are seen as equals here, however, in Prov. 18:24, there are times when a friend is BETTER than a brother.
3. Psalm 35:13, 14 – This is what friends and brothers OUGHT to be… in times of adversity.
a. Comfort; encouragement; a helping hand; right there…
C. WHAT
1. Brothers had certain responsibilities towards one another.
a. To be your brother’s keeper…
b. To raise up seed for your brother’s house if he dies…
c. He is BORN… born into one’s family…
2. Note that God says a brother is BORN into a family for a PURPOSE.
a. True of sisters too.
b. One of the reasons God puts a brother into a family is for a time of need… a calamity… a tragedy…
c. That’s when family really counts… and it is by God’s design.
d. Brothers were BORN for that purpose… and God is the BEGETTER of all… the Sovereign who places individuals in families as it pleases HIM. (We don’t choose this; He does.)
e. God makes no mistakes. He places individuals in the families of His choice… and to accomplish HIS purpose.
3. Rest assured that sooner or later adversity will strike YOUR family.
a. That’s one of the reasons God put you in that family… to minister to your family.
b. Family is an expression of God’s care for people… saved or unsaved.
c. Family was instituted before the fall… it was part of God’s original design.
d. When the earth was cursed—and adversity began to strike—God gave families a whole new purpose.
e. Family members know each other better than anyone else… and are thus equipped to minister in times of need.
f. And think of this in light of our position as a son of God!
g. We were placed in families—who may or may not be saved… they may or may not know the Lord.
h. You were born into THAT family for a purpose… and it is especially valuable as a witness for Christ to the lost.
4. Thus, Solomon lets us know that there is great value in family and friends!
a. Take care of them!
b. Be friendly to them.
c. Be a friend and a brother to them… through all the seasons of life—especially in the days of adversity.
d. That (among other things) is what you were born for!
5. Prov. 18:24a – we all WANT others to be a friend to us. Solomon also warns that WE need to be a friend to them!
a. Sometimes we whine and complain because others are not friendly to us…
b. Friendship is reciprocal.
c. Love isn’t. We can show love expecting nothing in return.
d. But that’s NOT the way it ought to be with friends and family. It OUGHT to be reciprocal.
e. And if we WANT friendship… we need to BE a friend.
Proverbs 17:18
Foolishly Helpful
Introduction:
1. There seems to be a connection in thought between vs. 17 and vs.18.
2. Vs.17 spoke of being a faithful, loyal friend…
a. Even in times of adversity… a loyal friend will stick with you.
b. A true friend loves at ALL times.
c. You can count on a true friend to come through.
d. And we should BE true friends to others.
e. Our friends should be able to count on us!
f. We should be a loyal friend to THEM at all times.
g. We should stick closer than a brother.
h. We should bear one another’s burdens.
i. We should be there in times of adversity.
3. However, Solomon presents us with a stipulation in vs.18. There are LIMITS to what a friend should do for a friend.
a. Here Solomon teaches that we should use care and caution in our financial obligations and promises to a friend.
b. Friendship and emotion can lead a person to commit himself to an obligation he might regret later.
c. This is a warning against rash, thoughtless generosity that might come back to bite us!
1. Surety.
a. This is a subject mentioned often in Proverbs.
b. Surety defined:
• pledge, token, bond,
• pledge, i.e., an object of value that is given as a guarantee of repayment of a loan, or fulfillment of an obligation
• Interestingly, one of the related words to this word family is “hostage.” (The relationship is that when one guarantees the repayment for another, he is a slave or a hostage to the owner of the loan until it is paid off.)
c. Gen. 43:9 – Judah agrees to be the surety for his youngest brother, Benjamin, to his father, Jacob. He states, “I will be the surety for him; of my hand you shall require him.” It was a promise to his father to be responsible and to bear the penalty if he is not returned. It was a pledge to “deliver” (pay up) or else!
2. Becometh:
a. To give a pledge, i.e., give an object or personal security in an agreement to ensure that an agreed future event in fact happens.
b. It is virtually the same word as “surety”. It reads: if you pledge a pledge… if you guarantee to be the one responsible for paying the debt…
3. In modern terms…
a. This is the equivalent of agreeing to sign for a loan… putting up bail… making a promise to pay… promising financial security for someone else’s loans or debts… putting up your house as collateral.
4. A friend.
a. This is the same word for friend as in vs.17
b. It means an associate. It does not necessarily imply a close friend. (lit. = another person)
c. But even with a close friend, it is not always the wisest thing to do.
d. Money problems can turn friends into enemies.
5. In the presence of…
a. Presence: face; superficial;
b. The meaning seems to be: in the presence of your friend.
• When your friend is standing right there… eyeball to eyeball…
• When there is the threat of losing his house, or his car if he doesn’t come up with the money or a guarantee to pay… it’s hard to say NO!
• There is undue pressure on a person to make an important decision—especially in the presence of a friend in need…
c. If you were NOT in his presence, the decision might be easier.
• You might reason, “I’d like to help Joe, but I have bills of my own. I need to put my family before my friend.”
• What happens if Joe doesn’t pay that bill? I’ll get stuck with it! I can’t really afford to take on that responsibility right now.
• Without being put “on the spot”, a much more sensible decision can be made.
• When put “on the spot”, we often agree to things on the spur of the moment that we would otherwise never agree to.
• Salesmen know this. That’s why they put great pressure on a person to make the decision NOW… because they know if they go home and THINK about it sensibly, you will probably not make the purchase at all.
• When under pressure, people agree to things they might NOT agree to if there was no pressure.
1. Striketh hands:
a. This was an Old Testament custom similar to a gentleman’s handshake – a means of closing a deal.
b. It was the final and binding part of becoming a surety or a guarantor of the other person’s debt.
c. It virtually meant, signing on the dotted line.
2. Solomon says that a man “void of understanding” is often snared by that trap.
a. It is NOT WISE to do so!
b. A man who operates on the spur of the moment without thinking about future ramifications is not wise.
c. A man who makes important decisions based on emotion is not wise. He is void of understanding.
d. Here’s another reason why it is not wise:
• When Joe takes out a loan—paying that loan back is on his mind.
• There is pressure on Joe to work hard; to be diligent; to pay his bills; to get that yoke of debt off his back.
• But once YOU step in as his guarantor, the pressure is gone!
• Joe doesn’t feel such pressure any more to work hard and pay it off.
• Now he has a cushion, and you are it!
• After all, why should Joe break his back working to pay down that debt? If the debt doesn’t get paid, they go after YOU not him!
3. If you HAVE a lot of money—beware!
a. A person looking for someone to bail them out… or to sign a loan for them… or to pledge to be their guarantor for some kind of debt is going to be looking for a person with money.
b. If you have money, you will be a target for such folks.
c. You might discover that you have more so called “friends” than ever when they discover you are wealthy. Beware!
d. Don’t let people talk you into obligating your hard earned money to bail them out of debt!
e. Solomon says this is a trap… those who fall for this trap are not wise.
4. For those who do NOT have a lot money. It is always best to keep OUT of debt ourselves.
a. Do whatever you can to AVOID personal debt.
b. Prov. 22:7 – “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”
c. Hence, taking on the responsibility for someone else’s debt is not very wise.
d. You become servant to the lender—and your financial stability is now out of your control… in the hands of another.
e. You could become servant to HIS lender—and gain nothing from it.
f. It’s bad enough becoming a servant for our own bills… be very careful about the possibility of becoming a servant to someone else’s bills!
g. Prov. 22:26–27 – Here Solomon warns about the possibility of signing as a surety when you don’t have the resources to actually MAKE the payments if called upon!
h. If you are willing to sign, make sure you are ready and able to take on the debt… for you may have to!
5. A note to parents:
a. When your kids live under your roof, their financial responsibilities are really yours.
b. However, once they move out on their own—do NOT feel responsible to bail them out of debt.
c. That could be the worst thing in the world for them. You could cause them to become dependent upon you for the rest of their lives…
d. They might never learn to be responsible UNTIL they begin to feel the PAIN of being irresponsible with finances.
e. When face to face with your adult child who is agonizing over the financial hole he has dug for himself… don’t allow the emotion of the moment cause you foolishly to promise to pay what he SHOULD be paying.
f. Don’t allow him to play on your heart strings and wrap you around his or her little finger…
g. That is not love… Love wants the very BEST for the other… and what is best is for that adult child to learn to BE responsible… and to not spend more than he makes…
h. Even if you can afford to bail him out—it is not best for him.
i. That can be a painful lesson. It’s hard to see your kids suffer or go without… but sometimes that’s the only way they will learn.
6. Prov. 11:15 – for a stranger—you are really foolish! (smart – be broken)
a. If Solomon warns us about doing so with a friend—doing so with a stranger is doubly foolish!
b. That person will smart for it!
c. There are lots of folks who pose as friends… good salesmen come across as your best friend… one who is out for YOUR best interest… even though he is a total stranger and is seeking to get your money into his pockets.
d. Beware!
e. Don’t let anybody force you into signing on the dotted line when face to face. Take a day or two to think and pray about it!
7. Men VOID of understanding bind themselves in such agreements.
a. Thus, be careful about signing on the dotted line for a friend… especially under the emotion of the moment.
b. Think and pray about it.
c. You might be better off GIVING him a small amount of money than to agree to be his guarantor.
d. If anything happens YOU are responsible to pay the whole debt in full!
e. Suppose you sign a loan for his car…
• He could die… and you have to pay off his car. His widow may know nothing about it.
• He could become ill and unable to work.
• He could be dishonest… and LET you pay.
• He could have several other debts that other people have signed for and he has no possible way to pay them all off.
f. Solomon warns us here to be careful. A man VOID of understanding falls for this snare. Wise men avoid it.
Proverbs 17:19
Sin and Pride
1. In this part of the proverb, Solomon makes a relationship… a direct link between a love for strife and a love for sin.
a. He speaks of two loves here.
b. The love for sin
c. The love for strife
2. The love of strife…
a. Love: to love; to have an appetite for; to have affection for; to have a desire for.
b. Strife:
• a verbal contention or argument; wrangling.
c. Some men have an appetite for STRIFE. They LOVE it.
d. They have a fond affection for fighting; a desire to see any controversy continue…
e. These are the ones who keep on throwing wood into the fires of controversy to keep it ablaze…
f. Prov. 26:20-21 – some men like nothing more than to keep the flames burning… keep the fires of controversy and strife fierce and hot…
g. They are controversial pyromaniacs.
h. Normally, such fires go out relatively easily and quickly, as long as no one adds fuel to the fire.
i. The fires go out. The strife ceases… and peace rules again.
j. But Solomon warns us here that some men LOVE strife.
• They don’t WANT to see the fires go out. They keep adding wood to the fire.
• They don’t want to see strife end. They LOVE the strife… the excitement of it all…
• Just like some men love to watch fires… some men love to watch strife…
• In many large cities there are groups of people who follow fire trucks around the city just to watch apartment buildings burn down. They bring lawn chairs and make a picnic out of it.
• It is a sick and twisted infatuation with the excitement of seeing destruction.
• Some folks have that same kind of sick and twisted infatuation with watching strife and controversy among people.
• Some folks not only love to WATCH it, they go a step beyond that and DO whatever it takes to keep it going… AND to prevent it from dying down.
• As soon as it begins to die out, they throw more wood on the cinders…
• As arguments begin to die down, those who love strife will say, “And another thing! He also said….!”
3. The love of transgression…
a. Transgression:
• Rebellion; revolt; defiance of authority.
• Sin, offence, crime—and it emphasizes the rebellious nature of the sin or crime.
• Though the term is sometimes of used crimes against another man or against a nation, this word primarily expresses a rebellion against God and His laws.
b. Solomon states that there are also men who LOVE transgression.
• They have an affection for defiance and rebellion.
• They have an APPETITE for rebellion… they are hungry for it… they love it.
• Sin is fun… it’s a sport to them.
4. The first part of this proverb teaches us that there is a direct LINK or connection between these two loves.
a. The man who loves controversy and strife ALSO loves rebellion and sin.
b. The person who delights in controversy and strife is a REBEL at heart.
c. He stands in DEFIANCE of authority.
d. It is a matter of AUTHORITY.
• Among nations – if a nation picks a fight or declares war, God gave nations the authority to put down that controversy… with FORCE.
• At home – if the kids are fighting, God gave parents the authority to END that controversy and strife… through discipline…
• In the local church – if the sheep are stirring up controversy, God has given the under-shepherds, the elders the authority to bring that strife to an end… through discipline if necessary.
e. Solomon observed this many times.
• As a King, he had to deal with controversy and strife all the time.
• As a King, he had individuals and groups of people stir up strife…
• He observed that there were some people who seemed to LOVE controversy… they thrived on it.
• He also noted that those same men (or women!) were also rebels against his authority… and against the authority of God.
• He noted that these two traits usually went hand in hand: the one who loved strife and controversy usually had a very rebellious spirit about him.
f. This is true in various realms.
• Those who love strife in a kingdom, usually have an ax to grind against the authority… the king.
• Kids who stir up controversy and strife at school usually do so out of rebellious spirit… rebels against authority in the school.
• People in the congregation at church who seem to love controversy and strife also do so to express rebellion against the authorities in the local church– either the pastor and elders, or the HEAD… Christ Himself.
• Anybody in a position of leadership or authority wants peace and unity. Those who seek to rebel against that authority do whatever they can to make life difficult for them… and one way is to stir up strife!
• At the bottom of a love for strife, is a rebellious heart…
• And though the rebellion might be directed at the teacher, the boss, the king, the elders, or the parents… ULTIMATELY, indirectly, it is rebellion against God… the Author and Source of authority.
5. That is quite a perceptive observation on the part of Solomon… and very helpful for us!
a. When you see someone demonstrating that he LOVES strife (by adding fuel to the fire)—stay away!
b. Remember that behind it all is deep-seated rebellion against authority.
c. Do NOT join him in his rebellion. Reprove him and separate from him. Do not partake of his evil deeds.
d. James 3:14-16 – James tells us that such strife is not only sourced in a heart of rebellion, but that it is earthly, sensual, and demonic to boot!
1. In the second part of the proverb, Solomon notes another connection or link between two things.
a. He that exalts his gate…
b. Is connected to the one who seeks destruction.
2. Exalting one’s gate…
a. This is a figurative expression.
b. Literally it speaks of expanding or making one’s gate tall, large, and wide.
c. In those days, the gate or front door to one’s home OR the gate to a wall surrounding their home, reflected a person’s social or financial status.
d. A poor man would have a small and simple doorway or gate.
e. A rich man however, would want everyone to know that he is wealthy. Therefore, he would “exalt his gate” – he would construct a large and ornate front entrance to his residence.
f. It was designed to be ostentatious, showy, and eye catching.
g. This man seeks to exalt his gate ABOVE all his neighbors. He has to show off that he has the best.
h. His gate needs to be bigger and better than the Joneses… he has to outshine all neighbors.
i. Thus, exalting one’s gate is expression of PRIDE.
3. The man who (out of pride) exalted his gate, was in reality SEEKING destruction! He was looking for trouble and calamity.
a. The basic truth in this part of the proverb is mentioned several times in the book: PRIDE leads to destruction.
b. Prov. 16:18; 18:12 –
c. One man noted a possible real life scenario that prompted such an illustration.
• Adam Clark noted that in some parts of Israel it was common to have very SMALL and LOW gates to the walls surrounding a home or city.
• Some were only 3-4 feet tall.
• The reason was SECURITY. If attacked by an enemy on horses or camels, they would not be able to enter.
• Thus, a small, lowly entrance would provide a measure of safety and security.
• But if a man out of PRIDE decided that he wanted his gate large and pronounced, he was inviting destruction! The enemy could easily enter and attack through a large gate.
• In a very real sense, his pride exposed him to destruction!
Proverbs 17:20
A Froward Heart and a Perverse Tongue
A. A Froward Heart
1. Froward Defined:
a. Strong’s: twisted; distorted; crooked; perverse; perverted.
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: morally crooked or warped, i.e., pertaining to what is distorted or perverted from a just, right condition.
c. Zodhiates: It is used to describe a deceitful, perverse heart, the source of evil.
2. Usage of the term
a. Prov. 8:8 – True wisdom has no frowardness… no perversity… nothing crooked. That’s one way to recognize the wisdom that is from above: it is PURE.
b. Prov. 11:20 – Those who are froward in heart are an abomination to the Lord.
c. Prov. 28:6 – in spite of God’s estimate of this kind of perversity, evil men use this frowardness to their own advantage.
• Here the contrast is between the rich and the poor.
• The contrast is also between the characters of these two men: one who walks in uprightness but is poor and one who walks in perversity but is rich (same word and froward). It is BETTER to be poor and upright.
• But note that sometimes perversity seems to prosper!
• Sometimes men make great gain by lying and deceiving… through dishonest business practices…
• Through a froward heart they seem to prosper.
B. Findeth No Good
1. Findeth Defined:
a. Strong’s: find; attain; acquire; land upon; encounter; discover.
b. Used in: Gen. 26:19 – discover = Isaac’s servants dug in a valley and discovered water,
c. Used in Ruth 1:9 – experience = The Lord grant that ye may find rest.
2. No Good Defined:
a. Good = good; pleasant; agreeable; happy; beneficial; prosperous; well pleasing; fruitful.
3. Thus, Solomon warns us that those with a froward heart will find NO good… nothing good or pleasant; no happiness; nothing beneficial; no fruit; nothing prosperous.
a. However, this seems to be a contradiction to what Solomon said in Prov. 28:6… where he implies clearly that those with a froward heart DO prosper!
b. Now he says they will not prosper… no good will come their way. So, which is it?
c. There are quite a few proverbs which present to us this same kind of dilemma… an apparent contradiction to the obvious… things which seem to fly in the face of reality.
d. Solomon says that men with froward hearts will see no good… no prosperity. Yet we all know evil men who are quite well off!
e. This is like the dilemma faced by Asaph when he was puzzled by this same thing: Why do the ungodly prosper in the world?
f. Asaph had his dilemma answered by coming to realize that while they prospered in the WORLD… one day they will face judgment before God. They will NOT prosper in the world to come.
g. This and many other proverbs seem to present a similar apparent contradiction… but the APPARENT contradiction is easily cleared up when we view the principle from eternity’s perspective.
4. From eternity’s perspective, those with froward hearts will ULTIMATELY see no good… even if they see it briefly in this life.
a. II Sam. 22:27 – With the froward God will shew Himself unsavoury! (unsavoury: shrewd; cunning; to wrestle.)
b. Psalm 18:26 – with the froward God will shew Himself froward!
c. The froward may boast presently that they are “getting away with murder”… but they are on notice here: God is against you and one day—in this life or in the next—one day God WILL show Himself froward to you!
d. It may be in THIS life:
• Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. (Prov. 22:5)
• If not, it will sure be in the life to come.
A. The Perverse Tongue
1. Perverse: overthrown; turned down; turned over; upside down; (a cake not turned)…
2. A person with a froward or perverse heart will eventually manifest that perverse heart through a perverse tongue.
B. Results of a Perverse Tongue
1. That perverse tongue will result in him falling into mischief.
2. Falleth:
a. Strong’s: Fall; to be cast down; knocked over…
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: have an object go from a higher position to a lower position, often with the implication of being out of control in relation to the situation.
c. To drop; to bring down; to fail; to fall.
d. The term speaks of the fact that a perverse tongue leads a person downward… to a fall… perhaps out of control…
3. He falls into MISCHIEF.
a. Defined: evil; misery; calamity; distress, adversity, disagreeable, unwholesome, or harmful.
b. Instead of finding good (pleasant; agreeable; fruitful), he finds NO GOOD… and falls into MISCHIEF… that which is harmful and disagreeable… full of harm and adversity.
c. The man with an unbridled, perverse tongue will fall into one mischief after another… until he deals with the source of his trouble: his own tongue!
d. This proverb is a powerful warning to us all.
• What goes on in our hearts and what slips off our tongues determine to a great degree where we end up… the course of our lives… what happens to us in life… whether life turns out good or not so good… agreeable or disagreeable… happiness or distress…
• Much of that is determined by what we allow in our hearts and on our tongues.
• Froward hearts and perverse tongues will reap what they sow… trouble and hardship.
4. It implies that MUCH of what we suffer as human beings, we bring on ourselves…
a. Much of it is the result of following our froward hearts… and the result of our tongues… saying things we should not say.
b. Many of the calamities we face could be avoided…
c. If we are not finding GOOD in our lives, it could be a heart problem!
d. If we find ourselves in constant calamity—it could be the result of an undisciplined tongue.
C. What to Do
1. Solomon gives a word to the wise here… a word to be HEEDED.
2. We are given valuable information… valuable truth and wisdom and we are expected to DO something about it.
3. Prov. 4:23 – Give all diligence to our HEART.
a. We are so prone to give all diligence to the various troubles and circumstances of life… and choose to get to the heart when things settle down and we have time…
b. That is sort of like mopping up a floor when the water faucet is wide open and flowing from the sink to the floor. Rather than mopping up the mess… go to the source of it FIRST and turn off the faucet!
c. Too often as believers we spend way to much time mopping up the messes in our lives and don’t spend nearly enough time dealing with the SOURCE of the mess: our hearts!
d. Keep your heart with ALL diligence.
• ALL implies that we should put ALL of our diligence into first dealing with the heart.
• Out of the heart flow all the issues of life.
• If we concentrate on trying to fix all the “issues of life” first, we will never get around to the source of it all.
• If we keep our hearts, then our tongues will be in line too… and the source of so many of our troubles and distresses will be “shut off.”
4. A few small adjustments in the heart could change the whole course of our lives…
a. From finding “no good” to finding spiritual prosperity, joy, contentment, and satisfaction in Christ…
b. From “falling into mischief” to standing firm on solid ground.
c. A few small twists on the faucet can prevent a huge mess on the floor… and save us from a big mess to mop up.
d. A few small adjustments in the heart can prevent us from having to deal with a long list of calamities…
e. Solomon warns us where a froward heart will lead: to no good! He warns us where a perverse tongue will lead: to mischief and trouble.
f. We can spare ourselves a lot of trouble… and often by some minor fine-tuning of the heart:
• A simple “I’m sorry.”
• Confession of sin…
• A tongue yielded to the Holy Spirit
• A heart that has been saturated in God’s Word each morning…
• Little changes can produce huge results.
• Failure to deal with the heart (and thus the tongue) can result in finding no good… nothing but trouble.
Proverbs 17:21, 25
Grieving Parents
Introduction:
1. These two passages describe for us grieving parents, and they explain the REASON for their grief: a foolish child.
2. These are extremely SAD verses. There isn’t anything positive said in either proverb.
3. Four sad statements are made. Three relate to the father and one to the mother.
THE FOUR SAD STATEMENTS:
1. The first word for Fool: kes·eel
a. This term is also used in verse 25… but is different from the term used in the second part of this proverb.
b. Strong’s; stupid fellow; dullard; simpleton; arrogant one.
c. dull and thickheaded
d. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: the state of being in complete lack of understanding, implying rebellion.
e. Zodhiates: usually unable to deal with life in a successful, practical way.
f. Theol. Wordbook of the Old Testament: The term refers not to mental deficiency, but to a propensity to make wrong choices.
• Fools don’t LIKE understanding. They have no interest or heart for it. (Prov. 18:2)
• His folly or mischief is a game to him. (Prov. 10:23)
• Fools do not understand issues (Ps. 92:6)
• Fools live in a fog of darkness (Ecc. 2:14)
2. The father who begets a foolish son does so to his OWN sorrow.
a. The fool lives a life of sorrow that he brings on himself.
b. Here Solomon notes that he also brings sorrow into the life of his father…
c. As the son bumbles through life, making one poor choice after another, it brings sorrow to the son… but also to the father.
d. And this sorrow doesn’t go away when they move out on their own. A father will always be a father to his son… throughout his adult life too.
e. Sorrow defined:
• grief, heaviness, sorrow, anguish
• The emotion and process of feeling a great loss and loneliness.
• a mental troubling resulting from affliction
3. MANY godly fathers have endured this kind of sorrow from their foolish sons.
a. Gen. 26:34-35 – Esau’s poor choices were a grief to his parents the rest of their lives!
b. I Sam. 2:32-35 – Eli
c. I Sam. 8:3 – Samuel
d. II Sam. 18:33 – David
4. Usage of the term “sorrow”
a. Lam 3:32–33 – it was used to describe the grief of the Jews during the destruction of Jerusalem.
• God reminds them that the ANSWER to their grief and sorrow is to found in the faithfulness and mercy of God!
• Your son may be unfaithful to you or to the truth that you taught him.
• But your heavenly Father is faithful to you.
• And God doesn’t afflict or cause grief willingly.
• Such suffering and sorrow is the result of life in a cursed earth… not God’s will… not the desire of His heart!
b. Psalm 119:28 – another usage of the term speaks of heaviness of heart that weighs us down and “melts our souls.”
• The answer to that is found in the strength God gives in the Word.
• He builds up and restores our melted soul through the ministry of the Word.
c. If you have a foolish child—one who seems to continually make poor choices, then there is an ANSWER to the sorrow that results: know who God is… knowing His faithfulness… His mercy… and allowing His WORD to restore your heavy soul and lift you up!
1. The second term for fool (nabal)
a. Fool defined
• Senseless person
• Pertaining to lacking understanding or even the capacity for understanding, implying a willful moral insolence and impudence and disobedience to the law of God.
• Insensibility to God, as well as a moral insensibility.
• This kind of fool says “there is no god.”
• This kind of fool reproaches the name of God.
• Nabal = the name of the husband of Abigail who was rightly named. He was a “nabal”—a fool. He would not listen…
• It is unclear what distinction Solomon intended by using two different terms for fool. They may have been chosen simply to avoid redundancy.
2. The father of a foolish son… a senseless, disobedient son who lacks understanding… has NO JOY.
a. This part of the proverb says virtually the same thing as the first part…
b. It is added to reinforce the statement… stating it in the negative.
c. He has sorrow and NO JOY.
3. Of course, this doesn’t mean that he has no joy in his life at all.
a. It means that he derives no joy from the condition of his son.
b. Every time he thinks of his son, there is no joy: his joy dries up… and sorrow enters his heart.
c. What other emotion COULD you have for such a child?
d. There is nothing happy or joyous about a child who ruins his life… and stumbles through life making poor choices and suffering from those poor choices.
4. That parent has sorrow and no joy.
a. It is almost like grieving for a dead person.
b. His life is gone… ruined. Hopes of a productive life are over for him.
c. That brings grief… not unlike the grief brought on by death.
d. Only this child is still alive…
5. That father will not find his source of joy in his son.
a. But he can and SHOULD find his source of joy in the LORD!
b. Hab. 3:18 – Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
c. Actually, the Lord is to be the source of our joy no matter HOW your kids turn out.
d. Our children are NOT our true source of Joy… they ought not to be our god… our center of attention…
e. When the Lord is the source of our true joy, the Source never changes… our joy will remain… and no man can take our joy from us… not even a wayward child.
1. This word “foolish” is the same root as fool in vs. 21a. (kes·eel) [dull and thickheaded; unable to deal with life successfully]
2. Here Solomon states that this kind of a son (or daughter by the way!) is a GRIEF to his father.
3. Grief:
a. Strong’s: vexation, grief, frustration, provocation… even to anger…
b. Dict. of Bib. Lang.: the feeling of anxiety and sadness in a distressing situation.
c. Theol. Dict. of the Old Testament: Vex, agitate, stir up, or provoke the heart to a heated condition.
4. A foolish child causes his father grief… vexation of soul… distress… and sadness.
a. This is the sort of condition that keeps a man up at night…
b. This term implies how upsetting it is to the parent… vexing… troubling… distressing…
c. Prov. 19:13 – A foolish son is the calamity of his father: (calamity = engulfing ruin, destruction.)
d. How could a wayward child cause such grief and heartache? It is because of LOVE.
A foolish son is bitterness to his mother.
1. The mother is also deeply affected by a wayward son.
a. Bitterness:
• The Hebrews expressed tragic, unpleasant experiences in terms of the sense of taste, the bitter.
• Dict. of Bibl. Lang.: bitterness, grief, i.e., a mental state of personal anguish or regret, implying annoyance toward someone.
• Zodhiates: harsh; the opposite of pleasantness.
b. Such a son is a bitter pill for the mother to swallow too.
c. Prov.10:1 – it is “heaviness” for the mother.
Exhortations
1. To older parents with a wayward son:
a. Be sure you make the LORD your source of joy. He never changes… and no one can take that joy—TRUE joy from you… not even the ongoing foolish antics of a foolish son.
2. To younger parents bringing up their children:
a. BEWARE! This could happen to you!
b. Make sure that your children do not become fools because of negligence on YOUR part.
c. There’s no guarantee how they will turn out… but if they go astray, be sure that it’s not your fault!
d. Do whatever it takes to PREVENT this from happening to them!
e. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Pray for them daily… hourly…
f. And start now learning this important lesson: no matter how they turn out, the LORD is the Source of our joy…
g. Don’t let your children become your god.
h. Christ is to have all the preeminence, not your kids.
3. To children:
a. Maybe you are presently sitting on the fence: teetering back and forth… debating about which way to go…
b. Debating between whether you should follow the advice of your parents and being a wise son… OR forsaking your training and living for yourself… and doing your own thing… and not listening to authority… and ending up as a fool.
c. Make good decisions NOW before your heart gets hardened into folly.
d. Remember, that the life of a fool is no fun. It brings great sorrow to YOU for the rest of your days. There are consequences to folly.
e. And think of others too… your folly can cause unending grief and sorrow for your parents too.
f. If you’re not saved, get saved! That’s the first step to wisdom.
g. If you are saved and not walking with the Lord, then repent… and get right.
h. Don’t ruin your life… and the lives of those around you!
Proverbs 17:22
A Merry Heart
22a A merry heart doeth good like a medicine
A. A Merry Heart
1. Heart:
a. It refers to the inner man—including the mind, will, heart,
b. It is the source of life of the inner person in various aspects, with a focus on feelings, thoughts, volition, and other areas of the inner life.
c. It speaks of the immaterial inner self… the inner man as opposed to the body, the outer man.
d. This proverb speaks of a RELATIONSHIP that exists between the inner man and the outer man.
e. We speak of man as being “tripartite” meaning he has body, soul, and spirit.
f. The condition of the soul and spirit on the inside can have an effect on the body—the outside.
g. In this passage, Solomon only speaks of two parts to a human being—the inside and the out… the heart and the body…
h. His point is that they are related and one has an effect on the other.
i. There is such a thing as a psychosomatic relationship that can be beneficial or harmful to our health.
2. Merry:
a. Joyful; glad; delight; contentment; pleasing; cheerful; happy…
b. The term is used to describe the emotions evident at the joyous Jewish festivals, the anointing of a king, the birth of a baby, the reception of blessings from the Lord…
c. It is an inward delight…
d. Who wouldn’t want a merry heart?
e. To be inwardly happy, satisfied, content, delighted, joyous… the whole world strives for that…
f. But in spite of the fact that everyone wants it, it is RARE.
B. Doeth Good
1. A merry heart does GOOD to the one who has it.
a. It is good for you!
b. If you are down physically… dealing with a chronic disease or if you are dealing with a loss or a trial… a good attitude (especially a joyous attitude) is like medicine!
c. The worst of circumstances are lightened and lessened by a merry heart.
2. Good:
a. Good, well, pleasing, beneficial…
b. Used in Deut. 5:16 – children are to obey their parents that it might go WELL with them… it is beneficial for them to do so.
c. It is good and beneficial in many ways for a person to have a merry heart.
3. A merry heart is good like medicine.
a. Medicine: cure, healing, restoration…
b. Medicine works on the body. When we are sick, medicines are supposed to take away the sickness… heal the body… restore the body to good health once again.
c. Medicines do GOOD to the body: by healing and restoring it.
d. Solomon states here that a merry heart has the same effect as a medicine!
e. A cheerful, joyous, upbeat HEART can help restore the body… or perhaps better understood as the “whole person” in a manner similar to the way medicine restores the body.
f. A person’s inward state of mind and emotions can have an effect on his or her ability to heal and to be restored from a physical ailment.
g. A merry heart is BENEFICIAL to you as a person. It can even have a beneficial effect on healing from what ails you.
h. Just as worry can adversely affect you physically; joy can be beneficial to you physically.
4. The benefits of a merry heart.
a. Prov. 15:13 –It radiates right through to the countenance.
• It can be SEEN on your face.
• The inside affects the outside.
b. Prov. 14:30 – a sound (healthy) heart is the life of the flesh…
c. Prov. 15:15 – it results in a continual feast.
d. Prov. 18:14 – a healthy spirit—a strong, content, joyous inner man—will sustain a person’s infirmity: physical or emotional.
• Teens on a long overnight hike became worn out… and were ready to quit hiking.
• But once they discovered we were LOST—they all cheered up… and were transformed from weary group on the verge of quitting—to energetic trailblazers!
5. A Christian can have a merry heart regardless of the circumstances.
a. The world desires to have a merry heart.
• Hence, they seek to arrange circumstances such that they can enjoy merriment… happiness…
• To the world, happiness comes only through happy circumstances… pleasant “happenstances.”
• If things are going well, they have a merry heart. If things are not going well, they lose their merry heart.
• They live in the natural realm and that is the only realm they know.
• When circumstances in the natural realm are pleasant, they have a merry heart.
• When circumstances in the natural realm are UN-pleasant, they are discouraged, defeated, depressed.
b. That ought NOT be the case for us as believers.
• Our inner joy is not linked to circumstances but to Christ.
• The emotional condition of our heart ought to be determined by our relationship to Christ! (Ps. 42:11– HE is the health of my countenance!)
• We are told to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.
• Even if there is NO fruit on the vine, yet I will rejoice in the Lord—I will joy in the God of my salvation!
• Our joy is sourced in the Lord… not in circumstances.
But a broken spirit drieth the bones
A. A Broken Spirit
1. Same expression as “wounded spirit” in Prov. 18:14 – who can bear?
2. It speaks of a crushed, broken, wounded, pulverized spirit… ground to powder… no strength… no breath… depressed… discouraged… distant… alone…
3. A broken spirit looks at the gloomy side of everything… worries over anything… it’s cup is always half empty… it is inwardly tortured by dark thoughts… thinking only and always of the worst possible things that could happen… it is introverted… thinking of self…
4. Lots of circumstances in life can break the spirit… and it can be unbearable. It can be more intense and worse than physical pain.
5. This heavy emotional burden can affect us spiritually and physically. It affects the whole person.
B. Drieth the Bones
1. A broken spirit can dry up the bones… it can have a withering effect on the body… robs the body of its vitality…
2. Things like worry, fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, hatred, bitterness can adversely affect us physically.
3. Sorrow can break the spirit. (Prov. 15:13) That can have an effect on you physically too. You can get run down…
C. Victory Over Circumstances
1. Don’t allow YOUR spirit to remain wounded or broken.
2. It is natural for a spirit to be wounded in the battles of life.
3. It is NOT natural for a spirit to REMAIN that way. It will dry the bones… it can become unbearable.
4. It can lead to depression and even suicide.
5. Hence, it is our responsibility to pay attention to our spirit. And there are things we can DO to deal with a broken spirit.
a. Prov. 4:23 – Keep (guard) your heart with all diligence applies here. Don’t ignore your heart… your spirit… your inner man. Pay attention. Guard it… protect it.
b. Keep your heart clean… sins confessed…
c. Communion with Christ… abiding in Him… staying in close fellowship with Him… Remember, He came to “bind up the broken hearted.” (Isa. 61:1) He came that we might have joy.
d. Increase your prayer life. (John 16:24 – Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.)
e. Bathe your mind in the Word… renew your mind.
f. Think on things above… on things that are lovely…
g. Get fellowship with other believers. (John wrote about our fellowship one with another “that your joy might be full.” (I John 1:3-4)
h. Get some physical exercise too. Remember, there is a relationship between the inner and outer man.
i. Keep your old man on the cross—by faith.
• That old man LOVES to wallow in self-pity.
• He loves to lick his wounds…
• He loves to carefully rehearse all of his woes… his trials and troubles… one by one…
• He doesn’t deserve to be pitied. He deserves the cross. That’s God’s sentence for him.
6. The believer’s heart is to be MERRY.
a. But not all merriment is good.
b. It is the joy of the Lord… joy from the Word… from fellowship and communion… from spiritual things that makes our heart merry.
c. Ecc. 2:1-2 – Solomon sought to make his heart merry through earthly pleasures… and discovered that it was all vanity… emptiness. Laughter and mirth were not a medicine but madness!
d. A merry heart made merry through a relationship to God does good like a medicine.
Proverbs 17:23
Perverting Justice
1. Many of the proverbs make a contrast or compare two things.
2. This one does not. It simply makes a statement of fact: Bribes pervert justice.
3. Solomon has spoken about injustice previously in Proverbs. Each statement adds another layer of truth on the subject.
4. Here he speaks of the PURPOSE of a bribe: to pervert justice.
5. The statement is true on an individual level; on a judicial level; and on a national level. Bribes pervert justice.
The Evil Purposes of Bribes: (Short term)
1. Prov. 17:23 – to pervert justice.
a. Here Solomon tells us WHY men use bribes: in order TO pervert justice.
b. Bribes are given with a specific design… with a specific intention… with a purpose in mind.
c. Here Solomon tells us what that the purpose is. It is a deliberate perversion of justice.
2. Pervert:
a. Defined: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, bend, pervert, deviate,
b. Usage:
• I Kings 11:2, 4 – used of women TURNING Solomon’s heart…
• Hearts and minds of men can be perverted by outside influences. Solomon’s heart was perverted—twisted.
• Num. 20:17 – we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left (turn – pervert – same word)
• If the heart is perverted, it results in perverted actions eventually…
c. Perversion speaks of a twisting out of the right way… bending so as to no longer be straight…
d. Justice should be straight as an arrow. But bribes can BEND that arrow… twist it… Arrows that are bent don’t end up where they should… they miss the mark.
e. Bribes are designed to pervert justice…
• Ex. 23:8 – bribes blind the wise and TWIST words… and it is all done on purpose!
» wise = open eyes;
» It speaks of those who SHOULD be able to see.
» That is the intended purpose of GIVING the gift… the bribe… to BLIND the eyes of those who should be able to see the TRUTH and judge clearly.
• The purpose is to CHANGE the words… for the purpose of securing a desired end: a perversion of justice to suit the one giving the bribe.
» Such a gift might be designed to change the words of the witnesses or the judge…
» Perhaps just a “stretching” of the truth here and there…
» It is a well thought out, planned perversion of justice for one’s own personal benefit…
• I Sam. 8:1-3 – bribes LURE judges away from justice
» Samuel’s sons were judges… but they were evil judges.
» They TURNED ASIDE after lucre. (same word as pervert in Prov. 17:23 – used two times here)
» Money moved these men… it perverted them… it caused them to deviate from the path of justice.
» The judges became perverted and thus the justice became perverted.
» Money was behind it all.
» Paul tells us that money is the root of all kinds of evil!
3. Perverting justice
a. This is quite an indictment against human nature—to think that money could be more important than justice.
b. Isa. 1:21-23 – Here Isaiah laments the awful moral decline in Israel.
• They fell from being faithful to being a harlot; from righteous to murders!
• Because of bribes, the orphans and widows were not given justice… they were ignored.
• Poor people suffer because of those in positions of authority are greedy and twist judgment for money.
• Prov. 29:4 – bribes overthrow the land
» Justice strengthens a land.
» Bribes – a form of injustice RUINS a land.
» Overthrow: pull down, to break through, to overthrow, to destroy.
c. One danger of committing an act of injustice is that it might come back to bite you one day! You reap what you sow.
• Injustice often leads to revolt and rebellion against that injustice.
• Leaders who oppress the poor and rule with injustice sometimes find themselves at the mercy of the poor if the Peasants rebel!
The One Receiving a Bribe
1. Solomon emphasizes here the one who RECEIVES the bribe.
a. Taketh: to take; get; fetch; lay hold of; seize; receive; acquire.
2. The bribe is OFFERED for the purpose of perverting justice.
a. But the offer is useless unless it is received.
b. Even if bribes are offered, justice will be still carried out if the bribes are refused by the one TO WHOM they are offered.
c. While both men are evil… both the one offering the bribe and the one receiving it, here Solomon emphasizes the evil of the one who RECEIVES it.
3. The one RECEIVING a bribe is the one in a more responsible position.
a. Judge; lawyer; witness who has sworn under an oath; a senator; legislator; governor; CEO.
b. Even if 90% of the population is corrupt and offer bribes, justice will prevail if they are refused by the FEW in responsible positions… where it matters.
4. Note also the secrecy involved here: out of the bosom.
a. Bosom: refers to a fold in the garment used as a hidden pocket…
b. When a bribe is covered up in the bosom and passed from the bosom to the one receiving it—BOTH parties realize that what they are doing is WRONG.
c. The fact that they have to conceal it means they know what they are doing.
d. When a bribe occurs BOTH parties are obviously guilty.
→ They know WHAT they are doing (purposely perverting justice).
→ And WHY they are doing it (to obtain an outcome favorable to the one offering the bribe).
→ And they know it is WRONG (for they conceal it).
e. Thus, they are guilty and accountable. No excuse.
f. Of course hiding the gift in the bosom hides it from the sight of men, but certainly not from the eyes of the Lord.
5. Solomon says that the man who RECEIVES this bribe in secret is WICKED.
a. It is HIS sin.
b. He can’t claim that he was tricked or deceived… or lured into a trap. He WALKED into the trap because of his greed and his wicked heart.
c. In our legal system, cases are thrown out of court if there is entrapment… a set up… but that is NOT the case with God’s system of justice.
d. It was up to him to say NO to the bribe… but he didn’t.
e. When someone attempts to LURE us into ANY kind of sin, it is up to us to reject it… and if we don’t, we are guilty.
f. Of course both parties are guilty, but in this proverb God lays the blame on the one who receives it.
g. As Christians, we should be aware that our adversary will attempt to “set us up” and “entrap” us in to sin… into his snares all the time. It is up to us to say NO!
The WAY of judgment (justice)
1. WAY: This term speaks of a way, a road, a pathway, a highway, figuratively as a course of life… a way of life…
a. Thus, this seems to broaden the concept of injustice here from one isolated act to a WAY of life… either for an individual or a society.
b. One act of injustice is an integral part of the WAY of injustice.
c. The pathway to injustice begins with one act… one step on the pathway… and it can lead to a whole course of life.
2. A wicked man who thinks he is just committing one isolated act of injustice is in reality part of a BIGGER problem… the WAY of injustice.
a. When one act of injustice is tolerated, it tends to corrupt the whole system of justice. It PERVERTS the whole.
b. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
c. “If he can do it, then so can I”… and it increases, until it becomes commonplace.
3. We might not find ourselves in a position to either offer or receive an actual bribe.
a. But we CAN commit a similar sin by secret acts of dishonesty for personal gain.
b. Most of us don’t hold positions of authority wherein we have to worry about being offered a bribe.
c. Secret acts of dishonesty at ANY level contribute to the corruption of the way of justice in the land… and weakens the whole fabric of society.
d. Often when leaders are corrupt, it encourages the little guys—like us—to follow suit…
e. Examples:
• Workers at toll booths who let their friends go through for free…
• Taking coffee at work, but not putting the money in the can…
f. This is the leavening process of the corruption of a society.
g. We lament when we hear of corrupt judges or politicians. We bemoan the direction our country is headed.
h. But every time WE stretch the truth, we too are weakening the fabric of our society.
i. As a Christian, we should stand against dishonesty—in every one of its forms…
j. Acts 24:26 – Felix sought for a bribe from Paul.
• Paul could have been released and never would have been sent to prison in Rome.
• He could have saved himself a lot of grief if he had just greased the palms of Felix… as was suggested.
• However, Paul did not bend. He did not offer a bribe—as was common practice.
• Paul’s integrity was not for sale.
k. Every offer of a bribe… every temptation to be dishonest is a test of our character.
• The sin is far worse for a believer because we have more light. We should know better.
• The devil seeks to cause us to sin.
• God seeks to approve us…
• Our character hangs in the balance…
The Effectiveness of Bribes: (short term)
• Prov. 17:8 – monetary bribes are effective!
• Prov. 18:16 – men often advance because of bribes
• Prov. 21:14 – money can buy off anger… appease wrath…
Warnings Against Bribes:
• Deut. 16:18 – judges and offices were required to be JUST… fair…
• Deut. 27:25 – a curse is placed on one who bribes that leads to a person’s death… a paid hit man
• Prov. 15:27 – it is good to HATE bribes
• Isa.5:23 – WOE to them who justify the wicked for money.
Proverbs 17:24
The Eyes of a Fool
1. The man of understanding has wisdom before him.
a. This book of wisdom begins with several chapters speaking of Lady Wisdom calling out to all who would hear her voice. (Prov. 1:20-23)
b. This man listens… his eyes and ears turn to her.
c. He focuses on wisdom; He concentrates on wisdom
d. Wherever he looks, and at whatever he sees, he sees it through the eyes of wisdom.
e. Wisdom is ever before him… like frontlets before his eyes.
f. Therefore, wisdom is always AVAILABLE to him.
g. It is available because he KNOWS God… and KNOWS God’s Word. He hides God’s word in his heart.
h. Therefore, wisdom is right before his eyes everywhere he looks.
2. Wisdom is a matter of the heart, not the head.
a. Prov. 2:10 – First wisdom enters the heart… not just the head.
b. Prov. 14:33 – Then wisdom RESTS in the heart… (rest = to settle; pause; repose; to settle down; be at rest.)
c. In the heart of a man of understanding, wisdom enters and then settles down…
d. For this man, wisdom is before his eyes because it is residing and resting in his heart.
e. A man of understanding is wise because his heart LISTENS to Lady Wisdom calling. He listens and responds.
f. Fools don’t listen… but he does.
g. This is not a matter of intelligence, but a matter of the heart.
h. A man’s eyes look at (focus upon) that which his heart WANTS to look at… focus on…
i. His heart is in tune with God; therefore, he listens to Lady Wisdom.
j. He is open for God’s guidance and instruction. He is willing to let God’s Word control his choices.
k. Thus, he FOCUSES on wisdom. It is constantly before his eyes… because it is residing in his heart. It affects everything he does.
3. He sees wisdom and applies wisdom by making wise choices.
a. Of course he is AWARE that other options are available… many of which are foolish.
b. However, a man of understanding THINKS about the consequences of those options… of making foolish decisions.
c. Hence, a man of understanding keeps WISDOM before his eyes at all times.
d. That wisdom filters out foolish decisions… and predisposes him into making wise choices.
e. Whatever set of circumstances comes his way he views it all through the lens of wisdom.
f. Wisdom is constantly before his eyes.
4. The man with SPIRITUAL understanding is focused on one thing: Christ… in whom dwells all wisdom!
a. Col. 2:3 – all wisdom is in Him.
b. Col. 1:18 – He is to have all preeminence.
c. Heb. 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus…
d. II Chron. 20:12 – “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.”
• A man of understanding doesn’t always have all the answers.
• But his eyes know where to look for guidance!
e. The man with spiritual understanding keeps his eyes on things above. His affections are on things above.
f. This man is focused… in mind and heart… not double minded… not looking in all directions…
g. His eye is single and his whole body will be full of light.
h. This man will have wisdom from God before his eyes at all times…
i. He will be ready to apply spiritual wisdom to every set of circumstances that may arise.
j. It is not the eye gate that guides us, but the heart. That’s why it’s so important that our hearts be under the control of the Holy Spirit.
1. In contrast to the man of understanding stands the fool.
a. He is anything BUT focused!
b. His eyes are wandering all over the place!
c. His eyes wander from one thing to the next… and he never sees wisdom.
d. He doesn’t pay attention to anything long enough to see wisdom.
e. His eyes are in the ends of the earth because his heart is not fixed… not stable… not steadfast… but wandering.
2. Lady Wisdom is calling out to him too, but he is unwilling to pay attention, focus, listen, or to change. (Prov. 1:20-23)
a. Her message is TURN at my reproof! (vs.23)
b. Very often Lady Wisdom says, “Change! You’re going in the wrong direction! Stop and think! Repent!” And the fool doesn’t want to hear that.
c. Once it is understood that the words of Lady Wisdom might require an inward change… submission… repentance… obedience… he stops listening… he stops looking in that direction…
d. His eyes are elsewhere… ANYWHERE else… in the ends of the earth!
e. Once the message of wisdom starts digging deep into the heart… and calling for repentance… he becomes uncomfortable and doesn’t want anyone probing in his heart.
f. Darkness hates the light… and runs away from the light. When a person chooses to live in darkness, his eyes become acclimated to darkness, and light hurts his eyes. His decision to walk in darkness predisposes him to turn away from the light.
g. Prov. 14:6 – “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”
• The fool who scorns words of wisdom… will SEEK wisdom when he needs it… and his eyes will look unto the ends of the earth… but will not find it.
• Prov. 1:24, 25, 28 – Lady Wisdom STOPS calling after a while…
• You can only ignore the voice of Lady Wisdom for so long…
• As time goes on, and there is no response to her voice, it begins to fade away… the voice of wisdom becomes faint and distant…
• Then the fool doesn’t even know WHAT direction to look in…
• He becomes less and less sensitive to wisdom… deaf and blind… and increasingly foolish.
3. Have you ever known a person that continually flits about from one thing to the next?
a. They take up the piano for a few months and quit; then it’s scuba diving and quit; then it’s golf; then it’s art lessons for a few months.
b. In their career, they go from the medical field, to a plumber, then they are interested in law, then it’s broadcasting, then on to some other career.
c. This fool is unsettled, unfocused, distracted, without direction, aimless, undisciplined in mind and heart… he looses interest easily… he ends up wandering from one thing to the next.
d. He can’t fix his mind on anything, and therefore he is unable to pursue anything with any diligence, purpose, or steadfastness.
e. He would rather mindlessly watch the clouds and dream…
f. He never makes any headway.
4. Men do this in the spiritual realm too.
a. They flit from one doctrine to the next…
b. They go from one church to another…
c. They dabble in this theory for a while… then in another…
d. Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth… because deep down inside they don’t really WANT the truth. It’s a matter of the heart.
e. They would rather debate foolish and unlearned questions that do gender strife…
f. Like the Greeks in Acts 17, they always want to hear some new thing… and never become resolved on anything.
g. They heap to themselves teachers… because they have itching ears… always wanting to hear something new and different.
h. Many years go by—and they are still not sure about what they believe… eternal security… whether they are dispensational or Covenant… whether the Bible has errors in history or not… whether tongues are for today or not…
i. Flitting is much easier and more fun than settling down and digging in roots… and becoming fruitful.
5. Phil. 3:13 – What a contrast to a man of wisdom—like Paul. This ONE THING I do… with his eyes focused on Christ alone… he pressed toward the mark.
a. He was determined NOT to be distracted.
b. Paul’s eyes were not wandering all over creation. He was focused on Christ.
Proverbs 17:26
Injustice is Not Good
Introduction:
1. There are several “not good” proverbs in this book.
2. They are Solomon’s observations on various aspects of life—and they are usually pretty obvious—as is this one.
3. NOT GOOD: punishing good citizens, or resisting good rulers.
4. Solomon tells us something that is not good—that anyone with common sense would recognize.
5. However, such statements ARE necessary, because it happens often in corrupt societies—that things get turned upside down… and the obvious isn’t always obvious to the average citizen. Common sense and fairness do not always prevail.
6. Isa. 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.
7. We live in confusing days… wherein common sense and fairness are often turned upside down.
8. This seems to be what Solomon is speaking about in this proverb.
1. Punishing the just is NOT good. It is evil.
a. 18:5 – overthrowing the righteous in judgment… is not good.
b. 17:15 – condemning the just is an abomination. It is exceptionally evil.
c. Rom. 13:3-4 – Rulers are NOT a terror to good works.
• Solomon speaks here about the times when magistrates ARE a terror to good works!
• When just men—innocent, good men—do that which is good and just and are punished by the government… that is an abomination.
• Magistrates are to be a terror to EVIL, not to good citizens.
2. This subject was important to Solomon. He was a King who also functioned as a Judge.
a. Judges were required to do that which was RIGHT… and true.
b. Judges were to get at the truth… and treat people fairly.
c. I Kings 3:16-25 – Solomon’s first difficult case.
• Solomon had before his bench a case that had no evidence… no DNA evidence to prove who was the real mother… no eyewitnesses… nothing to go on.
• There were no legal technicalities to let the guilty person off the hook… no plea bargains offered… no loopholes…
• Solomon as a judge was simply interested in getting at the truth—and treating the innocent party fairly.
• He used a pretty unorthodox method of getting to the truth… but he DID get to the truth.
3. If justice is anything, it is doing that which is RIGHT… in accordance with the TRUTH… and treating people FAIRLY.
a. The old fashioned common sense principles of righteousness, justice, and truth are losing ground rapidly in our country.
b. Our court system seems not as interested in truth, justice, and fairness as in being politically correct… or technically correct.
c. As a result, justice is not executed.
4. Examples:
a. In Florida, a forty-eight-year-old man sentenced to life in prison for raping a thirteen-year-old girl with muscular dystrophy was released when the Second District Court of Appeals ruled that the rapist had been convicted with the wrong charge. The charge, “sexual battery of a helpless person,” was deemed unfair in the court’s opinion since the girl had screamed for help and tried to push the man away. Instead of the maximum thirty-year sentence, the rapist served only a few months for battery.
b. In New Jersey, the Supreme Court decided that a robber convicted of purse snatching had been wrongly sentenced since he slipped the purse off the victim’s arm quietly and did not actually “snatch” it.
c. Electronics retailer Radio Shack recently settled a claim by a man who said post-traumatic stress, caused by his previous robbery of a Radio Shack store, was to blame for his robbery of the store a second time. Many such cases are being settled rather than submitted to the antics of lawyer theatrics and sympathetic juries.
d. The just… the innocent victims are punished and the criminal gets away with his crime.
e. Evidently Solomon saw similar shenanigans in the judicial system of his day… and said, “It is not good!”
f. It is not good for citizens to be treated unfairly.
g. Today hundreds of men who were wrongly convicted of crimes are being exonerated by DNA evidence that was unavailable to them when their case was heard.
h. But that tells us that many JUST men are being punished…
• Often the injustice is due to race or social class.
• Bigotry blinds jurors to the truth or fairness.
• Social class results in miscarriages of justice—just because a person is not able to afford a good lawyer.
• Solomon says that this is NOT good for a country.
5. As Christians, we may one day be punished for being JUST.
a. We may be punished for spanking our children… (which is the RIGHT thing to do… just!)
b. We may be punished for evangelizing…
c. We may be punished for preaching against sin… and against sinful lifestyles.
d. We may be punished for not allowing women preachers…
e. In some small ways, it is happening already in America. It could begin to happen on a much bigger scale.
f. Sometimes people are punished for doing the RIGHT thing… for being just… and that is NOT good.
g. This was certainly the case in the crucifixion of Christ. He was a Just man… sinless… and was punished for speaking the truth.
h. Those who follow Christ can expect nothing better—the servant is not better than his master.
i. But God has given us a remedy for this kind of injustice: the Throne of grace!
j. We are therefore to PRAY for those in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (I Tim. 2:1-2)
1. But as a king, he also saw the other side of the coin.
a. The citizenry did not always treat their nobles, princes, and officials fairly or justly either.
b. It was also NOT GOOD for the people to STRIKE princes for their uprightness.
c. It is not good to strike them physically or verbally.
d. Princes and those in positions of authority are representatives of God… in His authority…
2. Sometimes governmental officials made pronouncements that were just and fair—and it caused upheaval among the citizens.
a. People in positions of power and authority have ALWAYS made enemies—even in carrying out their responsibilities in justice and equity.
b. There will always be those who seek to undermine their authority… and to rebel… resist and strike at the ruler any way they can.
c. There have often been rebels and criminals who have a lot of popular grass roots support—like a Robin Hood.
d. Those in charge are responsible to punish such men—regardless of their popularity—for their criminal behavior…
e. When that happens, the people often take it out on those in positions of authority, like the judge or the prince…
f. They will STRIKE the prince—flog him—maybe even hang him… and for what? For equity: for doing that which is right!
g. Solomon says that that is not good either. That too is not fair.
h. People in positions of power and authority often find themselves in awkward positions… especially on divisive issues.
• If a judge rules one way, half the people involved will be angry at him… and vice versa.
• We had a case not too long ago where a man shot a judge because of his ruling in divorce court…
• Judges make enemies in carrying out justice.
3. All of this teaches us an important lesson about God… a truth repeated countless times in the Word: God is a God of Justice!
a. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do RIGHT?
b. God is no respecter of persons.
c. When this world whose god is the devil is destroyed and the Kingdom of the Messiah takes over the rule of the earth, JUSTICE will reign! (Jer. 23:5)
d. II Sam. 8:15 – David ruled in justice over the land.
e. Ecc. 5:8 – God NOTICES every act of injustice—and one day He will set the record straight.
4. This principle is not just for kings and judges!
a. As believers we should LOVE righteousness (justice) and hate iniquity.
b. Phil. 4:8 – We are to fill our minds with thoughts of justice.
c. Prov. 1:3 – if we haven’t been fair or just, we should respond to correction in that area.
d. If you are an employer or a boss at work and have people under you—it is NOT good to punish the just. Be fair!
e. And if you are an employee—it is not good to resist a boss who is just trying to do his job in an equitable way. Don’t rebel against him just because he is following company policy! That’s not fair.
Proverbs 17:27-28
Sparing Words
Introduction:
1. These two proverbs deal with ONE subject: The wisdom of sparing words.
2. Verse 27 deals with the reality.
3. Verse 28 deals with the perception.
4. Both passages teach that it is WISE to spare words.
27a He that hath knowledge spareth his words:
1. He that hath knowledge.
a. Lit. = He that knows knowledge… (Two words for knowledge).
b. He that understands discernment… a man who is skillful with knowledge and understanding… he who knows knowledge experientially…
2. The man who has a hands-on, experiential grasp of understanding and knowledge… SPARES his words.
a. Spares:
• Strong’s: withhold; restrain; hold back; keep in check; refrain.
• Dict. of Bib. Lang.: restrain; halt; i.e., stop an action from occurring.
3. A man who is SKILLFUL in wisdom, knowledge, and discernment has learned experientially to spare his words.
a. That is a great lesson.
b. It is one thing to HEAR a message like this.
• Not all who hear actually learn.
• It is possible to hear… to acknowledge that there is truth in what is being said… but not to practice it!
• It is possible to hear in one ear—and let it all go out the other.
• It is possible to hear and even to memorize the verse… but not practice the truth found therein.
• It is also possible to hear this truth, believe it, and to do our best to practice it. That is FAR better.
• It is possible to learn from the book (book-learning).
c. It is quite another thing to learn this truth experientially.
• Book learning is great—and even ideal… if we can learn the truth and then practice it.
• BUT the tongue is so HARD to tame.
• Unfortunately, it is usually the school of hard knocks that seems to drill in truth the deepest…
• There is nothing like actually getting burned to teach us to stay away from a hot stove…
• Even though the manual might warn against leaning against a hot stove. Over time, we can forget what the manual said.
• A very painful BURN seems to be the best teacher… it is the kind of lesson that seems to stick with us.
d. Experience is an excellent teacher… which is what Solomon speaks of here.
• A person who has learned BY EXPERIENCE to spare his words really understands knowledge…
• One of the best ways to learn to close one’s mouth is to stick your foot in your mouth—say too much and get BURNED as a result.
• Our mouths can offend others, hurt feelings, alienate, create division, cause friction, anger, even hatred. Our words can be like swords that wound the soul. Words can cause us to lose friends… and can separate chief friends.
• If YOU by YOUR words have caused any of that… and it has come back to BITE you—often the BITE is the best way to learn experientially keep your mouth shut!
• Wise men have learned this lesson.
• A few VERY wise men learn the lesson by hearing and practicing what they heard from the Bible.
• It seems the rest of us have to learn the hard way—by experience… and usually the experience is unpleasant—like getting bit or burned.
4. Sparing our words.
a. This doesn’t mean that such a man doesn’t talk at all, but he SPARES his words. He uses words sparingly.
b. There are a few little “RULES” of speech which if followed, will cut down dramatically on the raw number of words that flow off our tongues.
• THINK before you talk. When we do that, it usually will cut our words in half or more! (Prov.15:28) He studies to answer.
• Eph. 4:29 – no corrupt speech—and it must be edifying.
• The golden rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. (Don’t speak or joke about others unless you would like something similar said about you). Sometimes people who DISH OUT a lot of jabs and jokes towards others, but can’t take them themselves.
• Fearing God will cut down on our words too. We should be afraid of displeasing God with our mouths… and aware of how easy it is to do! (Psa. 19:14 – let the words of my mouth—be acceptable).
• Remember that we will have to give an account for every idle word we speak. That will limit our words too!
c. There are some good questions to ask before speaking:
• Is it TRUE? Do I have my facts straight? Am I sure? Is my source reliable? Am I repeating hearsay?
• How will these words be perceived by this brother?
• Could this information be used against me? Could it be used to slander someone else?
• Imagine how it might sound if repeated in another setting… for it very well may!
• Would you want your name attached to this information as its source if it gets disseminated?
• Would it be more helpful and edifying to give forth this information or to withhold it?
• Would the person who told me this information WANT me to tell others? Was it given in confidence?
• HOW should it be worded?
• How can it be seasoned with grace? Is it kind?
• Is this the right time and place to say this or would another setting be better?
• Does it really need to be repeated?
• Is this going to stir up controversy and divide friends and brethren? Will it be unifying among the saints? Edifying to this brother? Glorifying to God?
• Taking the time to ask a few questions will also cause us to spare our words.
1. This expression speaks of the same issue. He continues to speak of the same man of understanding… the man who “knows knowledge.”
2. This man is of an excellent spirit.
a. Lit = a cold or cool spirit… it is a figure of speech.
• It has virtually the same meaning today in our expression, “he was cool headed.” (level headed; cool, calm, and collected)
• It is far better to have a cool head and a warm heart than to have a hot head and cold heart!
b. The man of understanding has learned to “cool it” when it comes to the use of his tongue.
• He has a cool spirit—cool, calm, and collected.
c. That cool, calm, and collected spirit is one of SELF CONTROL.
• He doesn’t fly off the handle in a rage of passion and spout off all kinds of words that he will regret later.
• He learned to spare his words by controlling his spirit – his inner man. That’s where the words come from.
d. Being cool headed cuts down on words immensely—especially the harsh, hostile, angry, unkind, corrupt words… the kind that especially needs to be restrained.
3. Psa. 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth—be acceptable…
a. This ought to be the goal of the use of our tongues—to please God.
b. Prov. 10:19 – Constant babble and gabbing invariably leads to sin.
c. Prov.15:2 – The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
• Fools pour out foolishness; (no restraint)
• Wise men spare their words.
1. Verse 27 spoke about the reality. Truly wise men control their spirit and thus spare their words.
2. Verse 28 speaks about a perception. Even fools can APPEAR to be wise if they keep their mouths shut!
3. Onlookers will consider that man to be wise.
4. Prov.10:14—Normally, fools are FULL of words.
a. However, if they restrain their speech, they can give the IMPRESSION that they are wise.
b. In fact, it might be the beginning of wisdom for them… to stop talking and start listening.
c. When a fool holds his tongue—others will think him to be wise.
5. Prov. 29:11 – Usually, a fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
a. But when a foolish man chooses to NOT blurt out whatever is on his mind, he appears to be wise…
b. His behavior is much like that of a wise man.
6. Example: Try to envision a convention of the world’s ten leading microbiologists.
a. They have assembled together in one of the large, walnut paneled conference rooms in the inner sanctuary of MIT.
b. The men have never met before, but have convened to discuss potential benefits to mankind of a recent breakthrough in their field.
c. And one of the seats is occupied by a man who never finished third grade… and who knows nothing about microbiology.
d. He was told to sit quietly and stroke his beard throughout the discussion.
e. You could not distinguish between those men UNTIL the uneducated man opened his mouth.
7. There are lots of good applications from this truth.
a. If you don’t know what you’re talking about—then don’t say anything! There’s nothing wrong with being ignorant. But there is something wrong with being FOOLISH—and saying foolish things. You’re better off being quiet and letting others speak.
b. It is great wisdom to know when and where to speak… and when and where to be silent.
