Beloved, I have the joy of sharing with you today the above theme from Pr 18:1 et seq. Indeed,to stand aside by living for oneself is to show selfishness and often pride. Romans 15:1-4, citing the example of the Lord Jesus, exhorts us not to seek what pleases ourselves (verse 1), but what pleases our neighbor, “for good, for edification.” But language is the means of communicating with one’s neighbor for his good or for his evil. The mouth can be “the source of wisdom” (verse 4). But it can also spark arguments (verse 6), reports (verse 8), boasting (verse 12; James 3:1-6), hasty answers (verse 13), hard things (verse 23)… Well! these sad fruits of the flesh will be eaten by the very one who produced them (verses 20,21; Luke 6:36-38). They will cause him blows (verse 6), ruin, a trap for his soul (verse 7), confusion (verse 13), death… (verse 21). What a poison, what a bitter aftertaste is hidden in these “treats”! (verse 8). Verses 11 and 12 show us another kind of folly: that of the haughty man, who puts his trust in the uncertainty of riches and imagines himself to be protected by it (Mark 10:17-27; 1 Tim 6:17-19). The righteous have no retreat other than the name of the Lord, more powerful than the strongest tower (verse 10; Ps 91:1-2).
He who stands aside seeks what pleases him; he contests against all wisdom (v. 1). To stand aside is to put oneself, by living for oneself, away from difficulties, sorrow, the need for work other than the one one has chosen; it is to separate oneself from the trade of men, instead of walking, not with, but in the midst of them; it is to seek what we like. In this way, we free ourselves from duties and obligations. In fact, it is selfishness and independence, the very principle of sin. One thus contests against all wisdom (or rather “sound counsel”, Pr 2:7; 3:21), against dependence, obedience, self-judgment.
The fool does not take pleasure in intelligence, but in his heart being manifested (v. 2). To seek what pleases us is to show ignorance, of non-understanding of God’s thoughts, which Proverbs calls “foolishness.” So the fool cannot take pleasure in intelligence, which is exactly the opposite of man’s thoughts. He can only bring to light what is in his heart, selfishness, own will, independence. When the wicked comes, contempt also comes, and with ignominy, opprobrium (v. 3). When the villain enters the scene, he brings with him the contempt of others and the opprobrium that attaches himself to those who receive his ignominious person. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is a flowing torrent (v. 4). Beware of words that come out of a man’s mouth! They come from the heart and in the heart are deep waters from which one can draw either evil or good (20:5). On the contrary, the fountain of wisdom flows in the open sky; the source expands into a torrent; it is a river of living water; the more it flows, the more it widens and deepens, like the river of Ezekiel 47.
It is not good to have an understanding of the person of the wicked to frustrate the righteous in judgment (v. 5).” Not having acceptance of people”: how often this is told of God! and how bad and blameless the opposite, says of men, is – much worse still, when one accepts the person of the wicked to do wrong exactly in judgment and deprive him of his rights. God will know how to claim them and punish such iniquity. The lips of the fool enter into an argument, and his mouth calls for blows (v. 6). The lips are always the expression of the heart, here the expression of the madness of the fool. His lack of wisdom causes him to enter into an argument by the words he speaks, and these words are followed by the brawl and the blows that do not spare the one who provoked the quarrel (19:29). The mouth of the fool is his ruin, and his lips are a trap for his soul (v. 7). The fool is condemned by his words, witnesses of his ignorance and obstinacy; he ruins himself, for his words cause him to fall into the trap. The rapporteur’s words are like treats, and they go down to the inside of the bowels (v. 8). There are also the malicious words of the rapporteur; we like to hear them, we welcome them and we taste them because they suit the state of the natural heart that loves evil. These relationships penetrate the one who receives them so deeply, that they are now very difficult to dislodge. The one who is also cowardly in his work is brother of the destroyer (v. 9). It is not words and relationships alone that destroy, but also laziness, complacency about activity. What result can they produce, if not ruin?
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The Lord and Daily Life:
- Misunderstanding, examples of those who are slow to believe
Ps 32:9 Do not be like a horse or mule without intelligence; They are bridled with a brake and a bit, which are adorned, so that they do not approach you. Pr 24:30 I have passed by the field of a sloth, and near the vineyard of a meaningless man. Jer 4:22 Certainly my people are mad, they do not know me; They are foolish children, devoid of intelligence; They are skilled at doing evil, but they do not know how to do good. Mt 13:19 When a man listens to the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and takes away what has been sown in his heart: this man is the one who received the seed along the way.
- Quarrelsome spirit
Ps 120:7 I am for peace; but as soon as I speak, They are for war. Ps 140:3 Who meditate on evil designs in their hearts, and are always ready to wage war! Pr 17:19 He who loves quarrels loves sin; Whoever raises his door seeks ruin. Pr 26.21 Coal produces a blaze, and firewood; Thus, a quarrelsome man heats up an argument.
- False trust, general references
Ps 52:9 This is the man who did not take God as his protector, but who confided in his great riches, and who triumphed in his malice! Ps 146:3 Do not entrust yourselves to the great, to the sons of man, who cannot save. Pr 28:6 Better the poor who walks in his integrity, than the one who has tortuous ways and who is rich. Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who descend to Egypt for help, Who rely on horses, And rely on the multitude of chariots and the strength of the horsemen, But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, And do not seek the Lord!
- Divine Approval, Examples
Gen 4:4 and Abel, for his part, made him one of the firstborn of his herd and their fat. The Lord looked favourably on Abel and his offering; Ex 2:25 God looked at the children of Israel, and he had compassion for them. Luke 1:30 The angel said to him, “Fear not, Mary; for you have found grace before God. Lk 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and grace, before God and before men.
From all the above, we note that the activity in the word satiates the very one who deploys it. He cannot present it to others without being fed it himself. The word is an income by which life is abundantly maintained in the one who presents it. Apply this to evil, you can draw similar consequences. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he who loves it will eat of its fruit. The word has the power to dispense death or life. He who loves the word will eat the fruit it brings, for it is a tree of life for the one who receives it. For one who despises his testimony it is a smell of death for the sake of death. He who found a woman found a good thing, and he obtained favor from the Lord. Itwould not be all that we have found life through words. Man needs help, a companion in the path of life. By finding her he obtained a favor from the Lord. The poor speak in supplications, but the rich answer for harsh things. Another sentence, but how sad, on the word. At least the poor speak in supplications. God finds them pleasant and responds to them, but that the poor do not hope to depend on the rich. It is not on this side that he will find pity, help and help. Will he lose? The sentence does not go any further, but other words show us what God thinks of the one “who despised the poor” and that God himself made himself poor to enrich us. The man who has many companions will ruin himself, but he is such a friend more attached than a brother. The previous verse showed us the isolated poor. For God is his only resource. This one shows us the rich surrounded by greedy companions who eat his good. Blessed is he who has a friend! Precious thing among all. He is more attached than a brother. Such was Jonathan for David. We Christians know this friend, and much more, he did not take to shame to call us his brothers! Alongside isolated proverbs, this chapter offers some important sequences of sentences: The advantages and disadvantages of words and the way to escape the destroyer;trials and quarrels; and finally thepower of speech. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “Continuation of proverbs on the moral life (Pr 19).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.