The Proverbs dispense wisdom sentence by sentence. Today we’ll work through Part 2 of a diverse collection of thoughts from Proverbs 12.
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“Proverbs 12” Part 2
Proverbs 12:16-28
- As we mentioned in Part 1, the Proverbs are a valuable place to spend time
- They dispense wisdom sentence by sentence
- They address the practical things of life and tell us what God has to say about them
- They are brief, but deep
- Well-known, but worth returning to again and again
- Today we’ll work through a diverse collection of thoughts from the second half of Proverbs 12
- Let’s get right into our text
Proverbs 12:16
16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
- A fool reacts with anger and frustration when he is confronted
- But the man who is prudent ignores an insult
- Both men may be insulted, only one strikes back in wrath
- And whatever may be happening inside these men
- Whether they are feeling hurt or angry or sad is known
- For the prudent man, it is known only to him and God
- But for the foolish man, everyone around may know!
Proverbs 12:17
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
- Truth-speaking is the province of the righteous
- This is what righteous people do
- The ESV phrases the verse this way…
“Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”
- If a witness is needed in a court of law, everyone involved desires a credible witness
- No jury can be expected to determine the truth by listening to deceitful witnesses
- They want people to tell them exactly what was seen and heard with no hint of dishonesty
- Essentially, they are looking for righteousness – rightness
Proverbs 12:18
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
- When some people speak, they seem only to harm
- Their words are like sword thrusts
- Perhaps they harm others because their own lives are so filled with damage
- (Probably as the result of sin)
- Or perhaps they do so out of pride, because they think they are better
- Whatever the case, the wise are not so
- They speak health
- They are skilled in words of healing
- They have enough grace and enough kindness in their speech to build up, rather than harm
Proverbs 12:19
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- There is no end-point for truth
- Truth – in the form of God’s word – will endure forever
- Anything that is true endures for the long-term
- What was true when Adam was created is still true
- Lies may endure for a period
- We may be fooled into believing lies have become truth, but this is an illusion
- Deceit is but for a moment
- Lies will be exposed one day
- God is never confused – He knows the difference
- He sees everything with clarity
Proverbs 12:20
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
- A man may plan to do something wrong, hoping to get a good outcome for himself
- This is a myth
- He is deceived
- Trouble and ultimately destruction is the final outcome
- But those who work for peace
- Who make plans that promote peace
- Whether than be the absence of conflict with God or men
- Or a tranquil state of spirit
- Live a life of joy
Proverbs 12:21
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
- The ESV says it this way…
“No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.”
- Those who know God and follow God and trust Him are protected
- He is our tower and our hiding place
- He watches over those that are His
- The wicked live a troubled life
- Their behavior brings danger and hardship and confusion
- They cast aside God’s protection
- Their rebellion puts them outside His protective boundaries
Proverbs 12:22
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
- An “abomination” is something that is unclean or impure
- The word is used often to describe those who worship idols
- It is moral abhorrence
- Those who lie makes themselves impure before Him
- He hates a lying tongue
- On the other hand, He delights in those that tell the truth
- Honesty is right
- He is pleased with truth-telling
Proverbs 12:23
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
- We know people, maybe we are the kind of people, that tell everything we know
- This is not a good trait
- Foolish people, speak foolishly
- They speak at the wrong time, have the wrong attitude, speak to the wrong people
- They use poor judgement in their selection of words
- Say things that ought not to be said
- Go on too long
- Raise their voices or speak in a whisper
- Reveal private things publicly
- Speculate, accuse, or take wild guesess
- This is not pleasing to God
- Prudent men do none of this
- They wait to speak
- They gather the facts
- They make sure whatever they say needs to be said
- They have regard for the feelings of others, speaking appropriately
- And they leave out information that ought to be left out
Proverbs 12:24
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
- Those who work hard and make good choices are selected for leadership positions
- They are respected, well-regarded by those around them
- When responsibilities are being handed out they receive a share
- They can be trusted with things that matter
- There is evidence they won’t let people down
- Those who are slothful, lazy, without a proper work ethic, are the opposite
- They will borrow and be slave to the lender
- They will not have enough, because they have not worked enough
- They are not looking for a hand-up, but rather a hand-out
- They want something for nothing
- This will mean hardship in life
Proverbs 12:25
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
- The heaviness of anxiety weighs a man down
- The man who worries stoops
- It is like a heavy weight upon him
- The good news is that a hopeful word, a kind word lightens that load
- When someone else speaks a good word to us, our hearts are lifted
Proverbs 12:26
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
- I wasn’t sure about how to understand this verse a first
- The ESV helped, it says…
“One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
- A neighbor – a good neighbor – helps to guide others
- He desires to (and indeed does) lead them in the right direction
- Left on their own, the wicked go astray
- They need neighbors to help
- Neighbors that are Godly
- That have embraced God’s word and God’s path
- Otherwise they become lost on the broad road
Proverbs 12:27
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
- The slothful man may have enough enterprise to go hunting, but he is too lazy to cook the meat
- He lets things go to waste
- He is presumptuous about getting more food tomorrow
- Maybe he hunts just to make others think he provides for his family, then he lets the meat rot
- There is a totally different attitude in the diligent man
- He believes all the fruit of the hunt is precious
- He lets nothing (or very little) go to waste
- He makes no assumption about how successful his hunt will be tomorrow
- He plans to make all he can out of what he has today
Proverbs 12:28
28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
- If we are following the righteous pathway – God’s pathway – it has a sure end
- That end is eternal life
- It is life in heaven with Him
- He has provided a Savior in Jesus Christ
- And it is through Him (and Him alone) that we have life