The Proverbs provide wisdom and advice on life, contrasting righteousness and evil, encouraging diligence and exposing laziness. Today we focus on Proverbs 10.
You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.
The Righteous
Proverbs 10:17-23
- The Proverbs are like self-contained units of wisdom
- Dispensed one by one
- Moving from topic to topic without pause
- Sometimes carrying a theme across more than one verse, but not always
- Today we approach Proverbs 10
- Solomon speaks as a father to a son
- Providing advice on life
- Contrasting the righteous and the evil
- Encouraging diligence and exposing laziness
- Inviting us to examine our speech
- And quite a few other things
- Today, “The Righteous” are mentioned toward the end of the passage
- As that is our theme, from Proverbs 10:17-23
- Let’s read our entire passage first
- Then we’ll take a closer look…
Proverbs 10:17-23
17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
- Now, the first verse…
Proverbs 10:17
17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
- There is instruction, especially that which comes from God, that leads to life
- The Bible makes this clear
- An example is John 5:24 in the New Testament, which says…
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
- A person hears God’s word – God’s instruction
- In it, they discover Jesus, the Savior of all men
- Place their faith in Him
- And are granted access to the Father, because of His life-giving sacrifice
- Then, they look forward to eternal life in Him
- But other instruction leads to abundant life
- Jesus said in John 10:10…
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
- And how do we obtain it?
- Through our relationship with Him
- Reading and trusting His word, which helps us to know Him
- And then obeying that word
- These are instructions that put us on a path to life
- But there are those that reject instruction
- Almost any instruction
- Not just that which points us to Christ
- But anything that would reveal our flaws or declare us unworthy
- Not only will this lead the prideful man away himself
- But he will take others with him
- Showing an example of rejecting instruction
- And convincing others that instruction is not needed
Proverbs 10:18
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
- Kind words do not always come from a kind heart
- Words can be deceptive
- A person can hold hatred in their hearts toward another person
- But cover up those feelings with lying lips
- And while a hateful person may be congenial to the subject of their hate
- They may also slander them before others
- Lying, questioning their character, and undermining them publicly
- The Bible calls that person a fool
- More about our words as we continue…
Proverbs 10:19
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
- When we talk too much, we face a particular danger
- Committing sin with our words
- This type of sin may be one of the most common
- We say more than we should
- We say less than we should
- We fail to tell the whole truth
- We tell the opposite of the truth
- We gossip
- We assassinate character
- And who knows what else
- A lot of this happens in a “multitude of words”
- That is, when we talk more than we should
- But there is an alternative
- Talking less
- Holding something back
- Stopping ourselves when we have the urge to keep talking
- Wisdom is shown when we do this
Proverbs 10:20
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
- The right and just say things of value
- Often of great value
- They do not waste their breath with the frivolous or vain
- And these words of choice silver come from a heart of rightness
- Without a doubt, given by God
- Through a relationship with Him
- But others reveal their hearts
- Sometimes in words, sometimes in actions
- And if it is a heart of wickedness
- Those words and actions are of little worth
- They are value-less
- In this case, we move from the tongue to the lips
- Same idea: about our speech…
Proverbs 10:21
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
- Righteous people say things that help others
- Their lips are filled with encouragement
- And wisdom
- And exhortation
- All of which help those listening
- Fools do not help
- They don’t help those listening
- And they don’t help themselves
- They have nothing to offer
- Because they haven’t listened to wise words
- Often rejecting them
- And they have not embraced wisdom or, and this is the most important part, the God of wisdom
Proverbs 10:22
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
- A man becomes wealthy because of the blessing of the Lord
- Certainly no man obtains anything without the permission of God
- Who rules all things
- But we may be thinking of those who obtain riches through nefarious means
- No doubt that happens
- That’s where the second portion of the verse comes in
- This says the blessing of wealth has no sorrow along with it
- But those lying, cheating, and stealing to obtain wealth
- Cannot say the same
- Much sorrow, either today or in the future, will come to them
- For evil has consequences
- There’s more from Proverbs…
Proverbs 10:23
23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
- This verse can be said another way…
“Fools enjoy doing wrong, but the wise enjoy wisdom.”
- I like the idea of wise people enjoying wisdom
- This makes sense
- Those who love God
- And who have embraced His word
- Return to His word
- To learn more of Him
- To develop character
- To know His instructions, which they intend to obey
- And for many other reasons
- But the fool, the one who lacks all wisdom, enjoys doing wrong
- He is deceived into believing evil is fun
- And while it may seem fun for the moment
- It doesn’t remain fun
- It bites like a serpent in the end