The Sayings of the Wise - Part 27

This is the 26^th Saying of the 30 SAYINGS OF THE WISE.  I started this study back in 2016.  Part 1 explains why this is categorized this way and the basic structure.  A review of that Blog Post might be helpful.  I note in that post that “Solomon is generally thought to have authored the entire Book of Proverbs except for three sections: the Sayings of the Wise in Proverbs 22:17-24:34, Proverbs 30, and Proverbs 31. He may have collected and compiled the Sayings of the Wise, but it is generally agreed that he did not write them. We do not know who wrote them.”  The title Thirty Sayings comes from the text:

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17–21, ESV) (Emphasis mine).

After a long hiatus I want to pick up where I left off.  Today’s passage is found in Proverbs 24:13–14 (ESV),

¹³ My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. ¹⁴ Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Here the author is comparing the enjoyment of eating good honey as wisdom is to the soul. The health-giving properties of honey are analogous to godly wisdom. The Mayo Clinic writes,

“Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants. In addition to its use as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.”[1]

Of course, the imperative “eat honey” is not the point.  The point is “know wisdom” because it is health-giving. More specifically the absorption of wisdom and application of wisdom provides a future and a hope. “The motivation is that wisdom will have a long future to it ("hope"—'aharit and tiqwah).”[2]  The consistent picture of wisdom is the result of not daring to choose any path that God would disapprove of.  Or even more precise, pleasing God in all our ways.  The “father” behind this proverb reminds his son that such wisdom leads to hope and a future.

Again, the reader needs to be reminded that the longevity of life promised in the Old Testament is clarified in the New Testament.  Long life and hope is described by Jesus as “eternal life”.  “It is a mistake, however, to view eternal life as simply an unending progression of years. A common New Testament word for “eternal” is aiónios, which carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. In fact, eternal life is not really associated with “years” at all, as it is independent of time. Eternal life can function outside of and beyond time, as well as within time.”[3]  Eternal life can be experienced now. It is linked, as Christ affirmed, with “knowing God”. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV). God in Christ is wisdom personified.  This is the Wisdom that proverbial literature points to.  Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God incarnate.  It is knowing Him that grants eternal life.  “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”^[4]  

To those who are “in Christ”; those who have placed their trust in Him as Savior and Lord, we read, “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:30, ESV).  Herein is the reality of life: “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11–12, ESV)

 

 

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[1] https://cutt.ly/hAeQVeQ

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-eternal-life.html

^[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Col 2:2–3). (2016). Crossway Bibles.

The Sayings of the Wise – Part 13

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER TWELVE

“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:15–16, NIV)

Ask any parent what brings them the greatest joy and if they are worthy in their calling as parents it will have something to do with the success of their children.  From the little leaguer that hits a home-run, to the gargantuan fish on the line – parents love to see their children achieve. Godly parents receive the most joy, the most exhilaration when their children act in godliness.  Or stated in the words of the Apostle John: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4, NIV).

“The quatrain is arranged in a chiastic pattern, using "if your heart is wise" and "when your lips speak what is right" to bracket the verses.”[1]  So the inspired author notes that a “wise heart” will “speak what is right”.   If the child’s heart is wise then the heart of the parent rejoices.  To speak what is right is from the Hebrew word, מֵישָׁרִים [meyshar /may·shawr/]^[2]  which refers to direct, honest speech – speech that is not deceptive.

As Solomon had noted earlier: “… A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother” (Proverbs 10:1, NIV).   The Targum, the Aramaic paraphrase or interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, translates the latter clause of verse 16: “when my lips speak right things.”   If this interpretation is correct then the author is not just rejoicing in the congruent speech of the child but further that the child speaks what is right.  In other words, “speaking truth, truthfully”. 

Where can that truth be found?  John Gill writes, “When the heart is wise; things agreeably to right reason, to the Scriptures of truth, the oracles of God; to the law and to the testimony; to the Gospel of Christ, and the doctrines of it.”[3]  It then proves proportionally that when parents teach the truths of the Bible and the wonder of the Gospel to their children, it may in God’s grace, resound back to them with great joy when they hear their children communicate the great wonders of God’s Word. 

So we are left with a poignant question: As parents will your greatest joy come from seeing your child succeed in athletics or academics; or will it come from hearing them “speak what is right”? 

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[1] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

^[2] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[3] http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/proverbs-23-16.html

Thirty Sayings of the Wise - Part 1

The Book of Proverbs

Proverbs. This is a book of wisdom.  The Hebrew idea behind the word wisdom is “skill in living.” As a Biblical text the Book of Proverbs is to give us skill for living life from God's perspective  The Wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord.  I believe that the "fear of the Lord" is analogous to love, in that it reflects such honor and love for Him, that one is fearful of causing His displeasure.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  We know that there is healthy truth in that.  But if we were only to eat an apple a day we would die.  Proverbs are to be taken in a limited sense. They are general statements of truth, not universal, absolute promises.  They are never intended to be exact to the precise detail.  There is also a need to culturally interpret Proverbs and apply them to a contemporary scenario.  Proverbs rely heavily on imagery to make an impact.  Consider this warning to adultery: “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27, ESV)

Solomon is generally thought to have authored the entire Book of Proverbs except for three sections: the Sayings of the Wise in Proverbs 22:17-24:34, Proverbs 30, and Proverbs 31. He may have collected and compiled the Sayings of the Wise, but it is generally agreed that he did not write them. We do not know who wrote them.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Introduction

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17–21, ESV).

Commentary

Wisdom calls us to a life of learning.  The pursuit of knowledge and applied wisdom is pleasant. but have you ever said to someone, "It's going in one ear and out the other?"  Wisdom helps us here to hear!  When we learn something, be ready to tell someone right away.  This helps us retain what we know. Meditate on what you learn.  Think about it.  Be ready to personalize and tell someone else. 

Why do we learn wisdom?  “That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.” (Proverbs 22:19, ESV).  The author's emphasize is clear: even you – yes, to you I am speaking.  We internalize and apply wisdom and when we do our faith increases.

An additional purpose of God's truth and Divine wisdom is summed up by the author this way: "That you 'know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?'"^[1]  The author may have in mind some diplomatic or ambassadorial service, but what greater service do we have as messengers of the King of kings?  We learn, internalize, personalize, apply so that our own trust in God is magnified and our ability to represent Him is enhanced.

Application

"The general thought of the introductory paragraph is . . . that 'the pupil is to devote himself to study,

in order that his religious life may be firmly established, and that he may be able to give wise counsel to those who seek advice.'"[2]   "The two purposes (trust in Yahweh and skill in answering for [or to] a king or official) are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Sages who served as courtiers answered to two authorities, as did Joseph, who advised Pharaoh but ultimately served Yahweh."^[3]

1.  A great way to apply this in our lives is to tell someone – tell them why a lifelong pursuit of God's wisdom is important.

2.  We are sent to be envoys of God's wisdom.  When we stop learning and stop studying we will falter in our mission.  Are you consistently applying yourself to the study of God's wisdom?  If you are “it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.” (Proverbs 22:18, ESV).  If you are not, one would ask the question, "Do you fear God?"

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Pr 22:21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

^[3] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 534). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The Sayings of the Wise – Part 15

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER FOURTEEN

“Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Proverbs 23:19–21, NIV)

 In Deuteronomy 21:18–21 (NIV), we read:

¹⁸ If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, ¹⁹ his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. ²⁰ They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” ²¹ Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

Breaking the Fifth Commandment (““Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Deuteronomy 5:16, NIV)) brought the violator to the knees of capital punishment.  This was indeed very serious. In this proverb there is a warning that “… combines fears of gluttony and laziness; the “drowsiness” may come from the wine or simply from love of sleep.”^[1]

“The "drunkard" (sobe'e-yayin) and the "glutton" (zolale basar) represent the epitome of the lack of discipline.”[2] The author prophecies that this kind of person will eventually come into poverty. Drinking, debauchery and laziness are symptoms though – symptoms of a lack of discipline, which itself is symptomatic of a deeper problem.  There is also the need for a different mentality from the “son” in the face of peer pressure.  

As Richard Baxter explains, “Gluttony is a sin so exceedingly contrary to the love of God: it is idolatry. It hath the heart which God should have . . . because that love, that care, that delight, that service and diligence which God should have, is given by the glutton to his belly and to his throat.”

The essence of the problem is to love food, to love alcohol and to love the attention of others. It is the breaking of the whole Law (“’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27, NIV)).   “Moderation and self-control are but the by-products of proper delight and joy in God, which is the work of the Spirit who shows us Jesus as our all-satisfying treasure” – Matt Wallace.

The solution, of course, is the Gospel.  The irresponsible son needs to see Jesus, who lived a life of self-control and perfect moderation, dying for the glutton and drunkard. That is what these sins deserve before God’s tribunal—death. As an idol, gluttony and drunkenness deserve to be cursed and removed from his holy presence. Though without sin, Jesus became the gluttonous/drunkard on the cross.  By faith in Jesus Christ, the undisciplined son becomes (no longer a gluttonous drunk) a child of God; and his sin is placed on Christ who forgives it all. Now his relationship is based on the reality of God’s approval; and he no longer needs the approval of men.

Also by God’s grace, the Christian is given the indwelling Spirit of God who provides the will and the ability to be self-disciplined. He is also enabled by the ongoing promises contained in God’s Word, e.g., “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11, NIV)

“To persevere, the soul will need constant reliance on Jesus' gospel through deep community, daily feeding on the gospel, reliance on the Spirit’s work, preaching, and worship to keep the all satisfying splendor of God before our wandering appetites.” Matt Wallace.

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^[1] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 548). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

The Sayings of the Wise – Part 23

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER TWENTY-TWO

Proverbs 24:7 (ESV) reads:  “Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.”

What does the Bible mean when it refers to a place called “the gate”?  Well, in Genesis 19:1 the gate was the place where men discussed business or political issues. In Deuteronomy 21:18-21 it was a place where civil law was practiced. Even in Ruth 4 we learn that’s where property rights were upheld. The point of the Proverb seems to acknowledge “the incompetence of fools to speak in the gate where public policy is formulated.”^[1]  “If guidance and counsel help one win a battle [as noted previously], the fool has none to give at the gate, where public decisions and judgments are made.”^[2]

Wisdom is unattainable for a fool, so says the Sage. What is a “fool”?   Notice a few passages that “fool” is mentioned in Proverbs:

·         “The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.” (Proverbs 10:14, ESV)

·         “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18, ESV)

·         “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:23, ESV)

·         “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15, ESV)

·         “Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” (Proverbs 13:16, ESV)

·         “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” (Proverbs 14:16, ESV)

“Often in Scripture, a fool is associated with wickedness and a direct denial of God (e.g., in Psalm 53:1). Because God has infinite wisdom, the person who neglects God will naturally miss out on wisdom—he will become a fool. A fool is anyone who does not follow the warnings and commands of God. A fool lacks wisdom, has no concern for others, does not desire to avoid sin, and brags about his sinful actions.”[3]

“The point here is that he is at a loss when a situation calls for serious analysis.”^[4]  The Bible makes a direct correlation between the ungodly, the moral corrupt and their ability to be trusted in their choices.  The prerequisite to wise counsel and direction is moral aptitude than can only come from honor and respect for God.  “The verse portrays a fool out of his element: in a serious moment in the gathering of the community, he does not even open his mouth.”[5]  In most cases that would be a blessing.  Unfortunately, too often, fools don’t understand that they are out of the league and they seek to contribute wisdom that in the final analysis is “fool’s gold”. 

The primary assertion of proverbial literature is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7, ESV) To seek counsel and direction in civic affairs and human justice from those who deny God and live in rebellion to His will, is to invite the worst of advice or at least no advice at all.  Likewise those who seek guidance in relational, therapeutic or personal matters are faced with the same concern.

Psalm 1:1 (ESV) , “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”

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^[1] Waltke, B. K. (2005). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 15–31 (p. 273). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

^[2] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 562). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/fool-Proverbs.html

^[4] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1176). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[5] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

The Sayings of the Wise – Part 19

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER EIGHTEEN

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”” (Proverbs 23:29–35, NIV)

Wisdom addresses those who “linger over wine”.  “The sage gives a vivid picture of the one who drinks too much: he raves on and on, picks quarrels and fights, poisons his system with alcohol, gets bloodshot eyes, loses control, is confused, is unable to speak clearly, imagines things, and is insensitive to pain.”[1]

Most (not all) Christians would find no support in the Bible for total abstinence.  Having said that excessive use of alcohol, drunkenness is a contravention of God’s will (“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18, NIV)).  The Wise Person is one who does not “linger” over wine.  What does linger mean?  The Tanakh, the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible was translated into English and reads this way: “Those whom wine keeps till the small hours, Those who gather to drain the cups.” (Proverbs 23:30, Tanakh).   So again the idea is over-indulgence.

The metaphors of the author are profound.  One is to treat wine as he or she would treat a poisonous snake.  The venomous bites are stupefying and slowly killing.  Like a person in a boxing ring, the blows are slowly dulling the senses rendering the person incapable of even judging that they are incapacitated. This form of self-abuse is so deceptive that the morning brings search for more drink.

Proverbs 23:34 (NIV) reads, “You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.” “This is a notoriously unstable place to stay: the comparison is either to the staggering gait of the drunk person, or to the nausea he will feel (as uncontrollable as seasickness).”^[2]

The warning and the wisdom in this passage relates to the allure of alcohol. “Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!” (Proverbs 23:31, NIV).  The metaphor may seem unrelated, but I recall hearing a judge speak to a person just convicted of dangerous driving.  The judge reminded the offender to keep in mind that they are driving a lethal weapon.  That is a sobering metaphor.  Likewise the inspired author is reminding us that to pick up a glass of alcohol one is holding a venomous snake; one is stepping into the ring with a skilled boxer; and one is balancing precariously on the rigging of a sailing vessel.

Unless one is trying to be possessively defensive the wisdom seems obvious, when the question is posed this way: Why would you do that?  Modern medicine categorizes alcoholism as a disease.  To do so clouds the issue.  Excessive, over-indulgent drinking of alcohol is self-abuse, dishonoring our bodies and our God. 

The drinking of alcohol is small quantities are not prohibited by the Bible.  “However, due to the biblical concerns regarding alcohol and its effects, due to the easy temptation to consume alcohol in excess, and due to the possibility of causing offense and/or stumbling of others, it is often best for a Christian to abstain from drinking alcohol.”[3]

That is good advice!

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[1] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

^[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1175). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/sin-alcohol.html

The Sayings of the Wise – Part 18

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER SEVENTEEN

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways, for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.” (Proverbs 23:26–28, NIV)

The call of the parent/teacher to the child/student is to “give me your heart”.  “To give the heart is to entrust it to the one who will direct it through teaching, although some affection is certainly involved.”^[1]  This is a profound statement.  As the ESV Study Bible notes: “The preface, give me your heart, guides parents in their nurturing task: their target must ever be the deepest core of the child’s inner life.”^[2]  So many times, we parents tend to ask our children “Give us your attention.  Give us your obedience.  Give us your ….. .”  The task of the parent is to seek to gain the heart of the child. 

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV), reminds us that “above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  So Jesus could say, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45, NIV).

Focusing on the heart enables us to change the behavior.  Dr. Tedd Trip writes,

“Parents often get sidetracked with behavior. If your goal in discipline is changed behavior, it is easy to understand why this happens. The thing that alerts you to your child's need for correction is his behavior. Behavior irritates and thus calls attention to itself. Behavior becomes your focus. You think you have corrected when you have changed unacceptable behavior to behavior you sanction and appreciate.”[3]  [I encourage you to read the entire cited article.]

But the emphasis of this proverb is less on the parental responsibility and placed on the child.  They are to give their heart to the wisdom of the Teacher.  It is their obligation. One of the reasons a child should “give their heart” to their godly parent/teacher is that the wisdom that flows out will protect them from “an adulterous woman”, a “wayward wife” and her occasion to lead the young man in “unfaithfulness”.  “The passage portrays two types of harlots: unmarried (zonah "prostitute") and married (nokriyah "wayward wife") (v.27). In either case there is danger, for their way is a "pit," the gateway to Sheol; and those who enter are as good as dead.”[4]

The wisdom that flows out to a teachable learner is a wisdom that will not fall prey to lesser gods – particularly the god of sex.  This important application toward sexual promiscuity is often the pit that young men fall into – young men; unfaithful to the wisdom they have been taught.  Immoral sexual conduct is the primary means that captures the young (men and women) leading them into the pit of sin and corruption.  It is entrapping and costly to disregard the Lord’s teaching on sexual propriety.

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^[1] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 549). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1175). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/parenting/foundations/spiritual-development/getting-to-the-heart-of-your-childs-behavior

[4] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

The Sayings of the Wise - Part 28

The Twenty-Seventh Saying involves the treatment of righteous people by the unrighteous or wicked. One of the expectations of those who are righteous is that God will protect them from wicked people.  A famous psalm that gave rise to Luther’s great hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, is Psalm 46:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way . . . The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:1–11, ESV)

Bible stories abound in showing God’s protection His people.  Israel’s voice reached the ears of the Almighty and He rescued them from Egypt.  They faced constant danger and threat of annihilation even to the point where the Persian empire was lawfully granted the right to wipe them up.  Except for Queen Esther and the sovereign mercy of God, that may have been their plight.  Except for Queen Esther and the sovereign mercy of God, that may have been their end.  One would expect that a good king, a kind king, and importantly an omnipotent king would protect and care for his subjects.  Psalm 91 gives us this comfort:

“Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9–10, ESV)

The Twenty-Seventh of the Thirty Sayings, gathered by Solomon, addresses this issue and is recorded in Proverbs 24:15–16 (ESV)

¹⁵ Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; ¹⁶ for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

It is a warning to those who might think it advantageous to join with the wicked against the “dwelling” of the righteous.  The home is his place of provision, rest and freedom. “A man’s home is his castle, “so to speak. The NASB translation carries the Hebrew a bit better in my opinion: “Do not destroy his resting place.” The home is symbolically and extrinsically linked to one’s well-being, his source of providence, his place of nourishment and rest.   Don’t violate that.

Derek Kidner points out that an “unscrupulous victory” is temporary. It “is never permanent: you are fighting against God.”^[1]  This Wise Man isn’t gullible.  He understands that sometimes the righteous do “fall”, even “seven times” (That’s Hebrew for “a lot”!)  The number”.  One might ask what the nature of that fall is.  Matthew Henry takes that “fall” even a fall into sin.^[2]  The phrase “seven times”, according to Bruce Waltke portrays an intensification through to completion, meaning, “The righteous don’t fall permanently. Life of the righteous does not pass without unmerited suffering. Indeed, it may appear to end in final ruin like the boxer knocked out for the count of ten of ten (i.e., its over) and like the proverbial cat that used up his “ninth life” (i.e., his last chance).” ^[3] But the encouragement is that he always rises.  The word “for” in verse 16 indicates a relationship between the fall of the righteous and the violence of the wicked. The wicked have been the cause of the fall. “The righteous may fall, but they rise again—not like the wicked, who are brought down for good (cf. 4:19; Jer. 6:15; 8:15; 20:11).^[4]

Everyone suffers injustice and personal attacks.  Everyone suffers.  But Proverb teaches us that when the wicked stumble they remain fallen. A huge question in our day is “why does God permit evil”? People ask that because it is obviously true. But the righteous see hope despite the evil.  The wicked cannot.  This begs the question, “who are the righteous?”  Beeson Divinity School professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Allen P. Ross puts it this way:

“The basic meaning of ‘righteous’ has to do with conforming to the standard; in religious passages that standard is divine revelation. The righteous are people who have entered into covenant with God by faith and seek to live according to his word. The covenant that they have makes them the people of God—God knows them, and because God knows them, they shall never perish. They may do unrighteous things at times, but they know to find forgiveness because they want to do what is right.”[5]

Even though the righteous are often victims of the ruthless and unprincipled, they do not remain victims forever.  “Since the righteous rise after a violent and final fall, his recovering points to his resurrection from death.^[6]  God causes even these events to work together for their salvation (Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1). He that started a good work in them will continue until glorification (Philippians 1:6). The crucifixion of Christ seemed that a righteous man fell for the last time.  He did not.  God raised Jesus from the grave, He ascended back to Heaven where He reigns as a good and sovereign King over His subjects. The Righteous Man did not ultimately fall but rose again in triumphant victory.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:1–6, ESV) (Emphasis mine)

 

 

 

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^[1] Kidner, D. (1964). Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 17, p. 147). InterVarsity Press.

^[2] Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1010). Hendrickson.

^[3] Waltke, B. K. (2005). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 15–31 (p. 283). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

^[4] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 563). Zondervan.

[5] Allen P. Ross, A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume I (1-41) (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2011), p193-194

^[6] Waltke, B. K. (2005). The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 15–31 (p. 283). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.