Proverbs 27:4
The Power of Envy
1. This proverb seems to be linked in some ways to the previous one.
2. Verse three speaks of the provocation of a fool. Fools often provoke others to wrath (and frustration, agitation, etc.)
3. Solomon carries the thought of inward emotions a step further in verse four.
4. In verse four Solomon speaks of the relative power of envy vs. wrath. Both are powerful; but envy is more powerful.
1. In the first part of this proverb Solomon says virtually the same thing in different expressions.
2. “Wrath is cruel”
a. Wrath defined: Heat; burning anger; rage; fury; indignation; hot displeasure; fever; venom; poison.
b. Cruel Defined: Cruelty; especially the damage that cruelty brings; lack of compassion; merciless.
c. When a person is angry and full of wrath, he does cruel things; he shows no compassion; he is merciless; heartless.
3. “Anger is outrageous”
a. Anger defined: Anger that is seen on one’s countenance; anger that is kindled; it is virtually a synonym for “wrath.”
b. Outrageous defined: A flood; a torrent; overflow; flowing; swept away; overwhelmed; outrageous.
c. This term is used to describe intensity or overpowering force of something. A person can become overwhelmed by emotion—especially anger. It can overflow like a flood and get out of control.
d. Anger can become so intense that it overwhelms a person and overflows like a flood—destroying anything in its pathway.
e. It is an appropriate way to describe anger out of control.
4. Wrath and anger lead to cruelty and they can easily get out of control and become overwhelmingly destructive—like a flood.
a. Prov. 15:1 uses the same two Hebrew words. Here Solomon gives us a hint as to the best way to deal with a person who comes at us like an overwhelming flood of anger and wrath: a soft answer!
b. Solomon states here that there IS a defense against wrath and anger.
5. The Bible is FULL of examples of cruelty and intensity of wrath and anger.
a. Gen. 4:5 – “Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” and he killed his brother Abel.
b. Num. 20:11 – Moses was angry and smote the rock three times.
c. II Chron. 16:10 – “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing.” The prophet warned him of sin and experienced the wrath of the king.
d. Dan. 3:13 – “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” and they were cast into the fiery furnace.
e. People do not always act rationally when they are angry.
f. Wrath and anger are cruel and outrageous… intense… overwhelming. But…
1. In the second part of the proverb, Solomon drives home his main point: envy is even more outrageous and cruel.
2. Envy defined:
a. The Hebrew dictionaries did not seem to distinguish between jealousy and envy.
b. The Hebrew term is defined as jealousy; zeal; rivalry for love.
c. The state of ill will based on a perceived advantage or a desire for exclusivity in a relationship.
d. Zeal, ardor, passion, strong desire and deep devotion for someone or something
e. The original sense of the word is “zeal” and is used that way often. But it came to mean zeal in the sense of jealousy… especially in a love relationship.
3. Usage:
a. Gen. 30:1 – “And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister…” She wanted to bear a son for her husband, thinking he would love her more. She was envious of her sister. (Polygamy was never a good idea.)
b. Gen. 37:11 – “And his brethren envied him.” Joseph’s brothers envied him: (1) because they perceived their father loved him best; (2) because he had a possession—a colored coat—that they did not want him to have.
c. Ps. 73:3 – “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Asaph was envious of the wicked men who prospered in the world and they had what he wanted. They seemed to have it made while he suffered.
d. Ecc. 4:4 – “Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.” Here Solomon speaks of the fact that a hardworking man who prospers is envied by his neighbor… who perhaps has not worked as hard or has not prospered as much.
e. There is a lot of envy and jealousy in society… among friends… and also in family dynamics… and especially in any kind of love relationship.
f. This sin is common to man—and woman.
g. In fact, God is jealous of us when we give our devotion and affection to something/someone other than Him! (Ex. 20:5)
4. Prov. 14:30 – Envy is rottenness of the bones.
a. When the heart is healthy and wholesome, it has a healthy effect on the body.
b. When the heart is sick… decayed… rotten with a sin like envy, it too has an effect on the body…
• It is not like medicine, but more like a poison… a disease.
• Envy is like a disease that eats away at your insides.
• It is a killer. It destroys relationships.
• The way to deal with poison in the system is not to tolerate it, but to get rid of it. Deal with it. See it as sin and confess it and forsake it.
5. Prov. 6:34 – “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.”
a. There is no way to calm down a man who is overwhelmed in a rage of jealousy.
b. Usually money and gifts can get someone’s attention and cause them to change their behavior (bribes). But even money won’t work when a man is overtaken by uncontrolled jealousy.
6. James 3:16 – “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
a. Envy leads to EVERY kind of evil work.
b. Don’t underestimate the power of envy!
7. Solomon’s rhetorical question: “Who can stand before envy?”
a. The answer is no one!
b. It is stronger than wrath and anger.
c. It is overwhelming like a flood. Nothing can stand in its way.
d. It leads to every evil work… including murder.
e. It is the rage of a man… it controls a person to the point of causing him to behave irrationally.
f. It is rottenness to the bones… it is a deadly emotional disease that rots, corrupts, and destroys a person from within.
g. The obvious application is stay away! Don’t play with fire! If you sense jealousy or envy creeping up, deal with it. Don’t tolerate it. Don’t assume you can keep in under control.
h. Solomon’s point is that no one can stand before envy. Therefore, YOU cannot stand before envy either.
i. It can easily become overwhelming and overpowering and results in all kinds of evil works you never thought yourself capable of.
8. Prov. 23:17 – “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”
a. Don’t envy sinners; fear God!
b. Don’t focus on men and what they have; focus on God and who He is. That will result in fear, reverence, and respect for God.
c. When we stand in awe of who God is… the glitter and gleam of earthly trinkets will grow strangely dim…