Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Pr 24:1-2 and following. Indeed, they who do evil can be for us Christians objects of either envy (verse 1) or irritation (verse 19; Ps 37:1-6). But such feelings only prove our poor spiritual state. May the sight of the poor sinners rather arouse in us the compassion and evangelical zeal to warn them and deliver them from death! (Ezekiel 3:17-19; Acts 20:24-28). Let us not invoke ignorance to apologize for doing nothing. “He who weighs hearts” (verse 12; Pr 21:2) knows our true motives: lack of love, fear of contempt, weakness of our own convictions. But why do the wicked often have an easy life when the faithful are sometimes painfully tested? The key to this enigma is provided to us by one word: the future. “There is no future for the iniquitous” (verse 20), its end is the perdition to which it is led without resistance (Ps 73:12-18). He stumbles to fall into misfortune (verse 16). On the other hand, “there is a future” (verse 14) for the one who has found Wisdom, that divine Wisdom that is Christ Himself (Pr 8:22-23). And the expectation of the believer will not be reduced to nothing, for the object of this expectation is still the same Person: the Lord Jesus who comes. This short division concludes what is called “the words of the wise” (Pr 22:17-18).
When men seek to make themselves pleasing to their fellow human beings, it is often at the expense of justice and truth. The man of God must be blameless in these respects (verses 23-25). Verse 27 reminds the young believer that before he thinks of founding a home, he must take care of ensuring its resources, be able to provide for his own. “After, build your house.” But for a novice it is risking disaster to embark on a construction on his own. Pr 24:3-6 designates us in this case an architect whom we can trust completely: it is Wisdom, that is, the Lord (Ps 127:1-2). The life of the faithful Christian is made of balance. Letting the Lord act does not prevent him from being active and diligent, for he has had the opportunity to observe to what decay laziness leads in all areas (verses 30-34). Dear friend, to avoid the spiritual scarcity of your future home, Pr 24:3-6 invites you to fill the pieces of your memory in advance with knowledge. And God will bring down into your heart all the precious and pleasant possessions you have found in the Word (Matthew 13:47-52).
Verses 1-2 continue the topic of the previous chapter: Jehovah himself gives counsel to his son. The latter, having given him his heart, will be attentive to His words. The first piece of advice is not to envy the bad guys; the wise man is in danger of doing so when circumstances become more and more painful. This is what Asaph expresses in Ps. 73:3. We see them succeed, and we would like to associate with them, without thinking about the state of their hearts. Under correct exteriors, their thoughts are destruction, their words torment. Attractiveas these exteriors are, the heart meditates on evil and the lips speak of it. Peace is far from their hearts. While the villain meditates on destruction, wisdom thinks of building, of building. She has in mind a house where she wants to establish her family. Intelligence is necessary for it to be consolidated, because many elements must be excluded from it; finally, the knowledge of all that is precious, provides the house with riches, ornaments, everything that can make it pleasant.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Bad associations, warning about
Ex 23:2 Thou shalt not follow the multitude to do evil; and thou shalt not testify in a trial by siding with the many, to violate righteousness. Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk according to the counsel of the wicked, Who does not stop on the path of sinners, And who does not sit in the company of mockers, 1 Cor 5:11 Now, what I have written to you is not to have relations with someone who, calling himself brother, is immodest, or greedy, or idolatrous, or outrageous, or drunkard, or kidnapper, not even to eat with such a man. 2 Cor 6:14 Do not put yourself with the infidels under a foreign yoke. For what is the relationship between justice and iniquity? or what is there in common between light and darkness?
- Divine Counsel
Ps 16:7 I bless the Lord, my counselor; That very night my heart exhorts me. Ps 73:24 You will lead me by your counsel, and then you will receive me in glory. Isa 11:2 The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him: Spirit of wisdom and intelligence, Spirit of counsel and strength, Spirit of knowledge and fear of Jehovah. Rev 3:18 I advise you to buy from me gold tested by fire, that you may become rich, and white clothes, that you may be clothed and that the shame of your nakedness may not appear, and eye drops to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
- Lack of sympathy, condemned
Ps 35:15 Then, when I falter, they rejoice and assemble, They assemble without my knowledge to outrage me, They tear me apart relentlessly; Ps 69:22 Ils put fiel in my food, and, to quench my thirst, they water me with vinegar. Mt 18:30 But the other did not want to, and he went to throw him in prison, until he had paid what he owed. Lk 10:32 A Levite, who also arrived in this place, having seen him, passed by.
- Good for evil, orderly
Ex 23:5 If you see your enemy’s donkey succumbing under his load, and you hesitate to unload it, you will help him unload it. Mt 5:44 But I say to you: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat and persecute you, Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend without hope for anything. And your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is good for the ungrateful and for the wicked. Rom 12:20 But if your enemy is hungry, give him food; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in doing so it is burning coals that thou shalt amass on his head.
From all the above, we note that inthe admirable series that extends from Pr 22:17 to Pr 24:22, we find the teaching of Wisdom itself, addressing the son, then the father; then the teaching of the father to the son; finally that of the Lord: “My son, give me your heart” – putting him with tender solicitude in warning against all the dangers of the way. The mother’s joy at seeing the son walk in these ways is deeply touching. Pr 24:1-22 brings us back to general maxims. These four verses pronounce, on the subject of the acceptance of persons, either in general or in judgment, a blame all the more sensitive to those who encourage it because it is simple and without any mitigation: It is not good. If one says to the wicked: You are righteous, one will raise against oneself the indignation and curses of the peoples whom he oppresses. If it is taken up publicly, it will be pleasing to men by making them appreciate the truth, and pleasing to God who to prove it will pour his blessing on his own. Righteous words are a sign of affection for those before whom they are spoken. The world believes it is making itself pleasing to men by lying and judging falsely. Prepare your work outside, and restore your field, and then build your house. Foresight is one of the qualities that belong to the son of Wisdom. It is necessary to make sure to have work outside and to prepare his domain (whatever small it is) for the report, before thinking of creating a family. Do not witness without reason against your neighbor; Would you therefore like to deceive with your lips? If you have a neighbor, you are bound to love him as yourself. The next one has a trial and you may be called to testify against him. If this reason does not exist, do not present yourself as a witness. Either you will accuse him, or you will exonerate him because he is your neighbor. But then you will have deceived with your lips. Do not say: As he has done to me, I will do to him; I will give back to man according to his work. “Not avenging yourselves, beloved; but let the anger work” (Rom. 12:19); this principle is as true under the law as it is under grace. We are never called to give back evil for evil.’ This belongs to the righteousness of God who “renders to man according to his work.” What a presumption to want to usurp His place! There is instruction for the wise man to consider always again and to learn by heart what are the fruits of laziness. Madness and laziness go hand in hand. This leads to the neglect of the goods that God has entrusted to us and that belong to Him, to the neglect also of God’s interests in this world. Let us never forget the activity in all areas, but especially the activity for Him. She keeps us in her communion. It delivers the wise man from thinking about himself. How much is to be pityed and blamed “the lazy man!” 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 the proverbs on the moral life; miscellaneous maxims (Pr 25).
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of Hosts.