Proverbs 13:7

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about deception:

Proverbs 13:7 (ESV)

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. 

 This is a peculiar proverb in that it seems to have more ambiguity than clarity.  This is an observation that Solomon is making and stating, without giving us any moral right or wrong ... not clearly, at least.   We are not told why the one who is poor is making himself look rich, nor why the one rich is making himself poor.   The words here for "pretend" are the way in which they are pretending, not indicating any particular deception.  The proverb is saying one man makes  himself to look rich and one makes himself to be poor, when the opposite is true.   Assuming evil motives, we would say the world is full of such deception.  People go out on any given night of the week and party as though they are something they are not.   Or, conversely, they look pious and they are not; inwardly they are full of evil.   If we think those spoken of here have pure motives we might think that the poor simply wants to be accepted and considered valued, while the rich doesn't want others to always take advantage of them ... preferring just to be one of the crowd ... pedestrian.   Perhaps, however, what Solomon is warning us about is that we should be careful to make judgments off appearances.  We might observe one who is something else and something else who is one.   The Spirit gives discernment.  The Proverbs are written that we might have wisdom and discernment.   We should not be persuaded by outward status.   God knows the hearts and wisdom will make us wise to what is real and not simply presented.

Proverbs 12:8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about a twisted mine:

Proverbs 12:8 (ESV)

A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is despised.

Proverbs 12:8 (NASV)

A man will be praised according to his insight,

But one of perverse mind will be despised.

Insight in the Hebrew means more than having knowledge of life or knowledge of people in life.   It means having prudence for the things of life. It is a knowledge that impacts our decision making and life choices.   In this proverb the first line is telling us that those who have, or possess, insight (the prudence to make the right decisions and the ability to convey that to others) will be given and offered praise.   The praise can come from man, both unsaved and saved men.  Or, the praise, by way of blessing, can come from God.   The second line contrasts the first and gives us more depth into what the word in "insight" in the first line means.   The second line is a contrasting parallelism and shows us the a "perverse mind" is in opposition to the insightful mind.  This is another way for us to know that having insight is not just about "knowing" something, but using the "knowledge" in an righteous application manner.   The "perverse mind" will be despised, while the "insightful" mind will be praised.   No one will praise those of perverse minds.   Praise is for those who offer insight that is righteous, meaningful and practical way.    God will take care of that.  This is exactly why Solomon wrote the proverbs.  Note:

Proverbs 1:2-6 (ESV Strong's)

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance,

6 to understand a proverb and a saying,

the words of the wise and their riddles.

God gives insight as we fear Him.  The wicked does not fear Him and therefore, insight alludes him/her.  

Proverbs 11:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about righteousness:

Proverbs 11:4 (ESV Strong's)

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

but righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 11:6 (ESV Strong's)

6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

Proverbs 11:8 (ESV Strong's)

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked walks into it instead.

Proverbs 11:9 (ESV Strong's)

9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

Proverbs 11:21 (ESV Strong's)

21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,

but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

Righteousness Delivers

The theme of the above proverbs is that God provides righteousness that delivers from evil, peril, punishment. The righteousness spoken of Proverbs it typically not understand as the righteousness that Paul describes in Romans.   It is from the same source, faith in Christ, but simply stated in a different manner.  The righteousness of Proverbs is the result of someone who has wisdom.   Note how Solomon, the author, stated this in the beginning of Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:2-3 (ESV Strong's)

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

Solomon is giving us instructions “in righteous” living.  It is a benefit of Wisdom.  We obtain Wisdom by the fear of the Lord (standing in awe of Him and recognizing who He is in our lives):

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV Strong's)

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

When we fear the Lord we are putting out faith in Him through His Son.  We have to remember that Christ is the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2).   The above proverbs all speak of what happens when we have Christ as are righteousness.  When someone has the Wisdom of God (through Christ) they are declared righteous by God.   That righteousness delivers them from what we see in the above proverbs.  Some turn to riches to deliver.   They will not.  Some turn to their own evilness to deliver them.  It will not.   Some turn to their words to deliver them. They will not.  Only the righteousness that God provides through the wisdom of fearing Him will deliver us from the evils of this world.   It should be noted that these proverbs do NOT say that we won’t experience hardships.    It does not say “when” and “where” the deliverance comes.   Solomon is talking about eternal deliverance.   Verse 4 makes that abundantly clear:  “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” Those who put their faith in God and fear Him will experience pain and suffering in this life (just go visit Job).   But, those who have the wisdom of God in Christ, will be delivered in the end.   

When tough times come we do get an understanding of who are friends are and what will and can deliver us tough times.   We tend to think we are good against a storm ... until the storm comes.   We seldom can predict the severity of tumult, even though we plan for it.   Tornadoes devastate a community.   What people thought would protect them often doesn't and can't.  We live in a false sense of safety, security and serenity.    In this proverb Solomon warns us that in the day of wrath, one of our great "safety nets" will also fail.   The crash of the stock market in 1929 is a great example of this.  Some jumped to their death because they had "lost everything."  Riches, as tempting as it is too trust in them, do not and will not and can not deliver us in the day of judgment.   Ask the nation of Israel when the Assyrians came to take them captive (Amos 4, 6).   But, those who trust in God's Righteousness will be, ultimately, delivered.  They too may faced physical death and difficulty, but their final destination will be peace with their Father.   Let's not trust in family, finances or futures.    Let's trust in a Friends who sticks closer than a brother who will and can deliver from wrath: God the Father, the Wisdom found in Christ.

Proverbs 10:31

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the righteous and those who are not:

Proverbs 10:31 (ESV)

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

A repeated theme in Proverbs is the thought in the above proverb:  What is in the heart is heard and reveled by the work of the tongue.   Several times Solomon points out this truth.  He often points out the truth and associate speech with a tree: Proverbs 12:14; 13:2; 18:20.   Jesus, also, makes the same connection.  He is so adamant about the way we speak and the relationship with the tongue that He ties our speech to our final judgement.    

Matthew 12:36-37 (NASBStr)

But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Righteous people are like full fruit trees when they speak.  Others should want to hear what they say and even pluck the fruit off their tree.  Even though they hated Jesus, the Pharisees and religious leaders showed up each day to hear Him speak.   If you find that others are ignoring you and avoiding you when you speak, you CAN chalk it up to their "ungodly" thought process.  But, according to Solomon people will want to hear wha the righteous say.  Remember, the Queen of Sheba and others not only traveled a long way to hear Solomon's wisdom, but paid him for it.   So, if you find that those in your circle don't want to hear what you have to say it just might be your heart/thoughts.   Just because they hear you doesn't mean they repent and follow the wisdom you offer.  However, that is not the point.   The righteous are like a tree.  The perverted are like a dead tree ... left only to be uprooted and cut out.   Folly is not a real positive dialogue in the long run.   Solomon wants us to realize that not only does the tongue reveal the heart but it is also an attraction for others.   In a garden a dead fruit tree is cut down.   If we can tell them by their fruit than we can hear their heart by their words.

Proverbs 9:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about wisdom’s approach: 

Proverbs 9:2 (ESV)

She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

This chapter is a comparison between Christ's (called Wisdom) appeal (9:1-12) and folly's appeal (9:13-18).  Each makes an appeal for the soul of man.  Each states their case.  In the first few verses we see the place of wisdom (a palace ... v. 1). Solomon will show us the servants of the house (v.3) and the people invited to the house (v. 4).  In the above proverb we see Solomon using a table setting to describe Christ's appeal.  Note the appeal: Food, drink and a comfortable table.  What Christ is saying to our soul is that He will prepare the elements of sustenance for our hungry. In the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 we read that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled (v. 6).   Christ can fill our souls with both what we need, and if we submit to His authority, what we desire.  The table is set by the Bread of Life and the Living Water.  Join Him as He prepares the Table in the presence of the enemy. He can make our cup run over ... that's his appeal.

Proverbs 8:33

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about what words we worth-ship:

Proverbs 8:33 (ESV)

Hear instruction and be wise,

and do not neglect it.

In chapter eight of Proverbs we see wisdom, personified, declaring her virtues, availability, and benefits.   She is making herself available to all who will listen.  The key to listening to her will be stated more fully in Proverbs 9:10 (the Fear of The Lord is the beginning of Wisdom).  Here, however, she simply gives a commanding statement to all who have just heard her remarkable benefits and virtues     We are more than eager to "heed" the counsel of our peers.  Peer pressure is nothing more than hearing what my peers say and giving in to their counsel.   It is putting “weight” on their words and doing what they say because we honor their words.  When Satan tempted Eve in the garden and she yielded, she did nothing more than "heed" his wicked words.  She put a lot of weight on his words. She worth-shipped his words.  When Aaron was asked by the nation of Israel to make a molten calf while Moses was in the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, he did nothing more than "heed" their request.  He worth-shipped their words. David "heeded" the voice that said sleep with Bathsheba.   Saul "heeded" the pressure to sacrifice rather than obey.  Jonah heeded the inner voice to flee rather than go to Nineveh. They worth-shipped these wicked words  It is not hard to know the concept of "heeding" a voice.   Wisdom says, "heed" what you just heard me say.  Give full “weight” to the words of Wisdom.   Fear The Lord and embrace Wisdom's benefits.   Failure to heed is to see the result of these mentioned.   Eve ate the fruit and gave it to Adam and sin was forever in the world.   Aaron made the calf out of gold and the nation disobeyed before the ink was dry on the Commandments.   David committed adultery.   Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Saul lost the kingship.   Those who pursue wisdom don't see these failures and flaws. Those who "heed" instruction will "be wise."   Those who don't "neglect" God's Wisdom will be corrected and find the blessings of God rather than the pain of "neglect."

Proverbs 7:14

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about temptation: 

Proverbs 7:14 (ESV)

“I had to offer sacrifices,

and today I have paid my vows;

In chapter seven of Proverbs we actually have a synopsis of the entire book of Proverbs. The story in Proverbs is about Wisdom vs. Folly. In this chapter you have Folly personified as a harlot on the street calling out to the simple one (you or I, or any believer or unbeliever who refuses wisdom). The word wisdom is not found in the chapter but inferred at the end. This chapter is a demonstration of what Folly can do to us and how Folly works us over. In this chapter we see Folly telling the simple one that she is not so evil at all.  In fact, she claims to have had a religious experience: She has offered a peace offering and paid vows. Folly is like that. Folly looks pure. She paints herself up to look good. To smell good. To appeal good. Folly will always make you think that it is pure and it is righteous. But, it is not. It is evil and it makes its way into our lives to do evil and to do sinful behavior. God warns us in Proverbs 7 to watch out for cunning nature of Folly.  We like to think that Satan walks down the street with horns on his head and a pitch fork in his hand.   But, Paul, like Solomon, states that is not true.  Evil can look good and even make you think it is righteous:

2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV Strong's)

14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Beware of Folly’s lightness ... in the end it is death:

Proverbs 7:25-27 (ESV Strong's)

25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths,

26 for many a victim has she laid low,

and all her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is the way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 6:12-15

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about a worthless person:

Proverbs 6:12-15 (ESV)

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

goes about with crooked speech,

13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

points with his finger,

14 with perverted heart devises evil,

continually sowing discord;

15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

The word “worthless” in the above verse (A worthless person ...) is defined by one commentators as follows:

The אד֨ בליעל, "man of Belial," is given a full description. He is a scoundrel; the phrase means more than "worthless," and less than "devilish." He is described as evil in 16:27, where he is certainly in bad company (16:27-30), and in 19:28 he is associated with unjust and false witness.

The word is used three times in Proverbs.  The term, in context of Proverbs, is speaking about a person who has rejected God’s Wisdom and becomes a “fool.”   A “foolish” man is one who rejects God and His Wisdom (see Psalm 14:1).   The context of the above verses shows us that what is in the belief structure of a person will come out in the behavior of the person.   You can’s separate behavior from belief.  This “scoundrel” rejects truth and, therefore lives a life that injures and harms truth.   Notice the area’s where this person’s life demonstrates his/her rejection of truth:

1. Crooked speech - no matter what they say you can’t trust their words.

2.  Winks with eyes - they use  non-verbal deception to get what they want.

3. Signals with his feet - this is a metaphor for more deception.  They take “steps” as though they are changing course or going in a great course, but they return to their old ways, sooner than later. 

4. Points with finger - they never go wrong.  They “point fingers” at everyone else and never take responsibility. 

5.  Heart devises evil - they are always (ALWAYS) possessed with evil and planning evil things (see Proverbs 1). 

6.  Continually sowing discord - they always try to have and make discord.  They never want harmony. They might step toward harmony.  They may wink at harmony.   They might point fingers that others are destroying harmony and not them.  But, it is them.  

But, they will get their fruit at the end of sowing all this discord.   Calamity will overtake them ... suddenly.  They will end up “broken, beyond repair.”   People who reject God’s truth all end up the same.  No matter who they are or what they see.  Their behavior, over time, will demonstrate who they are.  We are to not listen to them.  We are not to give them power in our lives.   

In this section Solomon is giving us the "qualities" of a useless or "worthless" man. Solomon wants us to beware of such men and wants us to know how to recognize them. In verse twelve we see that worthliness is first revealed by the tongue ... out of the heart the mouth speaks (Proverbs 4:23). If you hang out with people long enough and listen to their words it doesn't take long for their lips to convey the soils of the heart. What's in the well comes up in the bucket. So, it is important to listen to the mouth if you want to recognize the quaility fo the person you are with. Solomon lists other identifiers in the next few verses but the first he lists is the tongue. He wants us to listen. This is in stark contrast to the Words of Truth that are found in God's Word and in the life of those who seek wisdom. Those who pursue wisdom have different language than those who pursue their own selfish ends. God revelas the character of the heart though the conduit of the tongue. Just listen.

Proverbs 5:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about keeping discreation:

Proverbs 5:2 (NASV)

That you may observe discretion

And your lips may reserve knowledge.

Proverbs 5:2 (ESV)

that you may keep discretion,

and your lips may guard knowledge.

Solomon has just told the his son to pay attention to his words and to listen to him.   Most of us could relate to that in regard to our "speeches" to our children.    In this proverb he is telling his son what the advantages are should he indeed listen.    The words his father is giving him (in this case God's Word) will help him "observe" discretion and "reserve" knowledge.   The Hebrew words "observe" and "reserve" here in the text are words that mean to "watch over" or "stand guard" over their object: discretion and knowledge.   Solomon is telling us that if we listen to God's Word we will be able to "stand guard" and "watch over" discretion and knowledge.    For too many, discretion and knowledge come and go.  They only see them briefly and then they are gone.    But, for the man of God who by faith listens to God's Word, we will have a permanent view of these two choice life guide rails.  Having knowledge and discretion we will act wisely and Godly. The negative example of this would be King David when he saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof top.  He lost his “discretion” and that started an entire series of bad events.  Had he listened to God’s Word, David would have avoided death, disappointment and despair.   A positive example of this proverb is found in the story of Joseph. He made sure to obey God’s word and was blessed with “discretion.”   The same can be said of Daniel.  Daniel wanted so much to obey God’s word that he was able to convince his handlers to let him eat different foods and prepare in different ways.  God overflowed him with knowledge.

Proverbs 4:21

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how we should respond to God’s Word: 

Proverbs 4:21 (NASBStr)

Do not let them depart from your sight;

 Keep them in the midst of your heart.

Proverbs 4:21 (ESV)

Let them not escape from your sight;

keep them within your heart.

This proverb is the middle proverb of a three-stanza prose of Solomon regarding wisdom.  In each of the three there is a reference to an organ of the body being involved in the retention of the instruction Solomon is providing.  In the previous proverb Solomon referred to the ears.  Here he refers to the eyes and the heart.  In the next proverb he will tell us the positive affect all this has on the body as a whole.   When our organs are absorbed with God's Word our life is complete and our body's whole.   In the above proverb we are instructed to keep Wisdom in our sight at all times.   This may be the most difficult function in our life as Satan keeps flashing shinny objects in front of us to titillate the senses.  Remember, it was the pleasantness of the eye in Eve's experience that caused her to want to the fruit.   When David "saw" Bathsheba he wanted her and fell into adultery.    John warns us in his epistle to be careful of the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:16).   But the eyes are simply a portal to the heart.   Solomon doesn't want us to simply look on the Word, but he wants us to internalize it to the heart.  Solomon doesn't want us to just merely touch the heart, but he wants it in the "tawak" (the midst) of the heart.  The Hebrew word Tawak means anything that is NOT on the outside edge or end.   It is in the center or middle.   We need to take God's Word and allow the Spirit of God to internalize it within us.   That is the only way we can see the results of live mentioned in the next proverb.

Proverbs 3:34

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about God mocking the proud: 

Proverbs 3:34

He (God) mocks proud mockers, But gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 3:34 (ESV)

Toward the scorners he is scornful,

but to the humble he gives favor.

 This proverb gives us insight how God’s grace is given out to man. Its message is rather simply but implications amazing. The second line contrasts the first line. It is called “contrasting parallelism” in Hebrew poetry. The first line states that God actually mocks those who mock others or Him. Mockers are men who are proud and think they are above others. They might think they are more superior in any number of areas, but the most extreme are those who think they are more spiritual than others. The second line shows the opposite. Although God mocks the mocker, He gives grace to those who show themselves as humble. When you are in trials and don’t think it is fair, that is when God resists giving His grace. Humility doesn’t say, “I don’t deserve this.” Humility says, “Show me your grace, for a I am a lowly man.” The next time you feel yourself proud in spirit note that God’s grace is no longer flowing.  The Apostle James uses this proverb to make his point about God’s grace:

James 4:6 (ESV) 

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James, like Solomon, gives us the key to God’s grace giving.   God gives grace to the humble.  Humility is recognizing what little you have or are and how great those around you are, such as God.   The proud resists the knowledge of God.   That is why God resists the proud.   They resists Him, first.   It takes humility to admit you are a sinner.   God gives grace to those who humbling admit they are full of sin.