Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Pr 12:1-2 and following. Indeed, the righteous is now considered in his family life: his wife (verse 4), his house (verse 7), his servant (verse 9), his beast (verse 10), his work (verse 11 …). Where is the faithfulness of the believer to be shown, if not first in his domestic relationships and in his daily work? These teachings of Wisdom should not be confused with what in the world is called morality. This is the set of rules of good conduct that men give to themselves; they too are often expressed in the form of maxims. Some of them were borrowed from Christianity; others are inspired by common sense or by the experience of life in society. But human morality does not involve God. While here we have divine principles, communicated by God. James 3:13-18 distinguishes wisdom from above with the wisdom of this century, earthly, animal, evil, that which, for example, made Peter speak in Matt. 16:21-23, forcing the Lord to call him « Satan. »
Verse 15 shows us that man is unable to judge for himself whether his way is right or not. The world is filled with those fools who regulate their steps according to human morality, rather than listening to God’s counsel. « Whoever watches over his mouth, keeps his soul » (Pr 13:3). Let us not be surprised, therefore, to find in Proverbs so many recommendations concerning the use of language. This is truth in verse 17. A child of God should be known to say it, and always, no matter what it costs him (Ephesians 4:25-32)! The truthful lip (verse 19) is the opposite of the lying lips that are « abominated to the Lord » (verse 22). Verse 25 suggests another use of our language: to rejoice with a good word those whose hearts are dejected. Isn’t the good word par excellence the good news of the gospel? Through it I will be able to show the way to my companion (verse 26). To show the way is to show Jesus (John 14:1-7) by my words and especially by my works! He was that wise Son who listened to the Father’s instruction (Pr 13:1; John 8:46-50). He was only one thought, « I always do the things he pleases » (John 8:28-30). What model Does He offer us, doesn’t it?
Here we find the lazy with his opposite the diligent (verses 24, 27 and Pr 13:4). By neglecting to roast his hunt (v. 27), the sloth deprives himself of food. Let us remember that a personal effort is essential to retain and assimilate the biblical truths that we have read or heard (notes taken and reread, verses learned by heart, etc.). Let us not be « lazy to listen » (Heb. 5:5-14).
Whoever loves education loves knowledge and who hates reprehension is stupid (v. 1). Chapter 1 spoke to us of knowing, of receiving, of listening to instruction. Here it is a question of loving it, of loving this education of Wisdom, either directly or from parents, because it makes us recognize evil and hate it, seek good and follow it, and spare neither discipline, nor exhortation, nor reprehension, nor even severity, to bring us to it. To love Him is to recognize that the education given by Wisdom comes from love; but it is through this education that we arrive at knowledge, at a knowledge that appropriates God’s thought on all things. He who hates reprehension, the painful and sometimes painful part of instruction, is stupid, and will never come to knowledge. The good man obtains favor through Jehovah, but the man who makes machinations, he condemns it (v. 2). The good man is the son of Wisdom who has goodness in his heart (14:14) and exercises it. He receives Jehovah’s favor in earthly things according to God’s government (13:22). God’s public favor responds to man’s goodness. But God holds guilty the one who works in secret to harm and he falls under judgment.
Man is not strengthened by wickedness, but the root of the righteous is not shaken (v. 3; Pr 12.12). The position of a man is not consolidated by wickedness, but the root, the foundation on which the righteous are established, and which is the basis of their growth, cannot be shaken. For us, that root is Christ and His word.
The thoughts of the righteous are just judgment, the designs of the wicked are fraud (v. 5). Here we are brought back to the character of man according to God: practical justice. This character is not attributed to the wife, placed in a position of dependence, under the direction of the husband who makes the way in front of her. The righteous, in his thoughts, appreciate all things according to the character of a just God. The wicked also think, but their hidden designs have in view only falsehood and deception. The words of the wicked are pitfalls in shedding blood, but the mouths of upright men will deliver them (v. 6). V. 5 told us about fraud in the heart, here it is shown by words, because one of the great subjects of Proverbs is that language is the expression of the heart. The words of the wicked are intended to set up pitfalls: cunning – to shed blood: violence. This is the character of Satan of which they are only the instruments, but the truth in the mouths of righteous men prevents them from falling into the traps set for them by the words of the wicked. Overthrow the wicked, and they are no more; but the house of the righteous remains (v. 7). After considering (v. 5-6) the thoughts and words of the righteous and the wicked, we enter here into god’s governmental ways. The overthrown villains disappear from the scene, even from the memory of men. « Like a dream when one awakens, thou shalt despise, Lord, their image, when ye awaken » (Ps. 73:20).
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Miscellaneous maxims:
- Insensibility
Ps 92:7 The stupid man knows nothing about it, and the fool is not careful. Jer 8:10 That is why I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who dispossess them. For from the smallest to the greatest, All are greedy for gain; From the prophet to the priest, all use deception. Tt 1:12 One of them, their own prophet, said: Cretans always liars, wicked beasts, lazy bellies. 2 Pet 2:12 But they, like bullies who surrender to their natural inclinations and are born to be taken and destroyed, speak in an insulting way of what they do not know, and they will perish by their own corruption,
- Fruit of sin, evil fruit
-Amer Dt 32:32 But their vine is of the sodom plant and the gomorrah terroir; Their grapes are poisoned grapes, Their bunches are bitter;
-Natural Isa 5.2 He stirred the ground, removed the stones, and put a delicious plant in it; He built a tower in the middle of it, and he also dug a vat in it. Then he hoped that she would produce good grapes, but she produced bad ones.
-Selfish Hos 10:1 Israel was a fertile vine, which returned much fruit. The more abundant his fruits were, the more he multiplied the altars; The more prosperous his country was, the more he embellished the statues.
-Deceitful Hos 10:13 You have cultivated evil, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; For you have had confidence in your way, in the number of your valiant men.
-Corrupted Mt 7:17 Every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
-Carnal Gal 5:19-21 Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, they are immodesty, impurity, dissolution, 20 idolatry, magic, enmities, quarrels, jealousies, animosities, disputes, divisions, sects, 21 envy, drunkenness, table excesses, and the like. I tell you in advance, as I have already said, that those who commit such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Spiritual fruit, general references
Mt 3:8 So produce fruit worthy of repentance, John 15:16 It is not you who have chosen me; but I have chosen you, and I have established you, that you may go, and bear fruit, and that your fruit may remain, that what you will ask of the Father in my name, he gives it to you. Rom 7:4 Likewise, my brethren, you too have been, by the body of Christ, put to death as far as the law is concerned, so that you may belong to another, to the one who rose from the dead, so that we may bear fruit for God. Phil 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- Straight trails
Ps 16:11 Thou shalt make known to me the path of life; There are abundant joys before your face, Eternal delights to your right. Ps 119:35 Lead me into the path of your commandments! Because I love him. Pr 2:9 Then you will understand justice, fairness, righteousness, all the roads that lead to good. Hb 12.13 and follow with your feet straight lanes, so that what is lame does not deviate, but rather firms up.
From all the above, we note thatlife is in the path of righteousness, and there is no death in the path it traces (v. 28). Doesn’t this sentence recall the words of Psalm 16: « You will make me know the way of life? » Christ, the perfect Servant, followed from one end to the other the path of righteousness, a path from which the slightest shadow of sin was excluded. Death, the pledge of sin, was therefore excluded forever. However, he met death, the fruit of his love for us. He suffered it in perfect obedience to her Father’s will, but she could not hold him back; the way of his way had nothing to do with death, so he can say, in front of the tomb, that He, the Saint, would not see corruption and that his soul would not be abandoned to Sheol. But his love brought him down into death in order to know « the way of life », of the life which, as a man, he enjoys with God, of the eternal life that he has acquired for us through his sacrifice. No, now there is no death in the way of our path. Even the death of the body is no more than an uncertain accident on the way of those who have been justified by faith, since they are waiting to be raptured at the coming of the Lord, without going through death. Death has been defeated, its doors have been broken, and the believer can say: There is no death in the way of the path of righteousness! Magnificent word with which these first three chapters end. Many passages, in this chapter and in the previous two, show us the immense importance that God attaches to words, contrary to what men think and proclaim. These passages also show us the happy or unfortunate consequences of the fruit of the lips. The intentions and tendencies of the heart expressed by the word are revealed, their expression approved or judged, their consequences listed. « If someone does not fail in words, this one is a perfect man, capable of also holding the whole body in bridle. » We also continually find in these chapters the activity of the righteous and how God condemns indolence and laziness. We see in our chapter these principles in action in domestic life (vs. 4-14). The contrast between the righteous and the wicked is perhaps less accentuated in chapter 12 than in the previous ones. On the other hand, general principles are more frequent. Vs. 13-22 present the contrast between truth and falsehood. In vs. 23-28 we find the benefits of righteousness and activity to lead, teach, and sustain others. 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 « Collections of Proverbs on the Moral Life (Pr 13).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.