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Apr
28

A Look at Proverbs 10.32

By | Proverbs

Pr 10.32
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

 The Parts:

Parallelism Examined

32a

32b

lips of the righteous

mouth of the wicked

bring forth
(know)

(does not bring forth)
(does not know)

what is acceptable

what is perverted

acceptable – delight, favorable, pleasure (for shades of meaning, see the verses below)

bring forth (know) – knowledge which integrates with life, includes perception. This “knowledge” reflects in relationships, behavior, attitudes.

References to consider:

Acceptable

Ps 5:12 (favor or goodwill of God)
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.

 Lev 1:3 (delight or acceptance of an individual)
3 ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord.

Ps 40:8 (desire, pleasure in the specific will of God or man)
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

Sharpening in my life today:

Our final gem in Proverbs 10 turns our attention to the “form” of words.

Just a note on the “form of words” in Proverbs may give us an illustration. When we read Proverbs, it, by our standards, seems more abstract. The use of the third person style seems rather impersonal and often less “directive” than we may have expected. We’re often much more prone to “directly” say something!

By this manner of teaching, the teacher builds an evaluative grid into the learner. When the learner enters life, he is able to evaluate himself (an reward himself) regarding his choices of wisdom, or, of foolishness!

Proverbs places the locus of training, responsibility, and control within the hands of the learner who must now choose. Here is how “wisdom,” i.e., skill in living, is developed.

Our “likeness” to the God of life and His righteousness will impact the “form” of our words! When we come to the New Testament, we’ll find such a walk is one of love, Eph5.4.

4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

This is a good time to look at the “form” of our words for speech “formed” in righteousness “perceives” (knows) and brings forth pleasure, delight, and favor with those around us.

Such speech is good, profitable, beckoning, but, most of all it reflects God’s likeness in us!

We may not see ourselves as divinely ministering, yet with words well formed we can surround someone with the likeness of God’s favor, encouragement, blessing, guidance, and much more!

Nov
07

A Look at Proverbs 10.22

By | Proverbs

Pr 10.22
22 It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

22a

22b

blessing of the Lord

  

it (alone/uniquely) makes

  

rich

it
 

He adds no sorrow to

blessing of the Lord – always sourced in the Lord, His ways, what He is doing, and His ways through His people (e.g., kindness, grace, truth, love . . . )

rich –

sorrow – grief, anxiety, but often inner in its impact!

References to consider:

Pr 22.4
4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.

Pr 12.2
2 A good man will obtain favor from the Lord,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

Pr 15.16
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

cf. Pr16.8; 28.6

Sharpening for my life today:

This gem from Proverbs touches on the reality of riches. Living in a culture consumed by capitalism which determines much of worth and respect and merit and prominence and value on “riches,” this jewel is well worth your pondering as you walk through life.

The first thing to note is the Author of riches is the Lord! This does not say that our responsibility is not diligence in our tasks, it most definitely is! cf. Pr10.4 Yet, it is arrogance of the highest order to think one “makes” what we have. The Lord most definitely is the source of blessing. His blessing does numerous things. For one, it provides for us. Probably more important, it is our storehouse to be used of Him for sharing His blessing with others. Equally important, it tests us in our allegiance to Him! Read carefully Pr11.24-27 and give it some time to settle in your heart!

The second thing we need to note is the blessing of the Lord is not mixed with painful or sorrowful accompaniment. This doesn’t mean there isn’t labor involved for labor is not sorrowful!

Here is a key lesson: the righteous person works diligently with what is before him and the Lord’s blessing / benediction is upon him! Here is blessing! Those who gain only by strenuous labor may acquire but there is no blessing accrued!

So, how can I weigh / assess my accumulation / riches / assets to see if they are of the Lord?

1) Is the Lord getting the glory?

2) Am I seeing the Lord “through” the blessing, or am I just seeing the blessing?

3) Is there sorrow, grief, anxiety with the “blessing” (this isn’t saying there wasn’t labor with the blessing)?

4) Do I see the Lord working through the blessing or am I only seeing my “sufficiency”?

5) Maybe most importantly, am I satisfied with the Lord’s blessing to me?

Remember, ill-gotten riches always come with the emptiness of sorrow, grief, anxiety, and no blessing!

When we work, recognizing the Lord’s blessing is upon us, there is no “sorrow” as He blesses. We see His hand! We’re used of Him to bless others! We are, indeed, rich!

Aug
13

A Look at Proverbs 10.11

By | Proverbs

 Prov 10.11
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The Parts

Parallelism Examined

11a

11b

mouth of the righteous

mouth of the wicked

is

conceals

fountain of life

violence
sharpen_150x117

Prov 27.17

mouth – a figure of speech for what proceeds from the mouth, our words, our speech, indeed, our very heart, cf. Matt 15.18 below. Our mouth is the window to the world of our heart/mind!

mouth of the righteous – “righteous” is always tied to relationship, 1st with the Lord, then with those around us. These words are wisdom based, consistent, true, fair, loving, upbuilding.

mouth of the wicked – a “wicked” person is someone not in relationship; they’re only looking out for self! Therefore, the words are partial in truth, manipulative in direction, self?satisfying, self?promoting. There is no substance in these words (or in the life that speaks them!).

fountain of life – a source of vitality, strength, refreshment, healing, benefit

violence – almost always sinful violence. This is a characteristic of those judged in the Flood, cf. Gen 6.11 where this word parallels “corrupt,” and Gen 6.13 where it parallels “destroyed.”

This rendition “But the mouth of the righteous conceals violence” is preferable to the NIV, which follows Delitzsch (Proverbs Volume 1:212–13) in taking “mouth” as the object rather than subject. The NIV also translates “conceals” as “overwhelms” (also v6) which is forced and not the best translation of kasah. The idea is the wicked use their mouth, a figure of speech for their words, to cover/conceal their violence.
See: Duane A. Garrett, vol. 14, “Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs,” electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1993).

Proverbs’ focus on character (noted in the previous verse) continues here. It is “character” which preserves, is blessed, and brings a blessing.

Prov 10.6-11
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

                        8 The wise of heart will receive commands,
                        But a babbling fool will be ruined.

                        9 He who walks in integrity walks securely,
                        But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

            10 He who winks the eye causes trouble,
            And a babbling fool will be ruined.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

References to consider:

Matt 12.34
34 “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Matt 6.21
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 15.18
18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Luke 6.43-45
43 “For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
44 “For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Prov 13.14
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.

Prov 4.23-24
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.

Sharpening for my life today:

Character in my life produces “fruit” in the lives of others. The converse is also true, lack of character is fruitless to those around me, reason, the focus is on “self” which robs from others to satisfy me, even with my words!

We can literally come alongside another with a “fountain of life,” i.e., blessing, strength, healing, comfort, power, and more, with the words with speak!

Take a second look at the “References to consider” and let this tip of the iceberg from God’s Word soak in. Our words are very important, they reveal our character, they reveal our relationship with the Lord and with others. Our words are one of the significant ways the Lord works in and through us to display His glory and bring His blessing!

Jul
15

A Look at Proverbs 10.7

By | Proverbs

Prov 10.7

7 The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.

sharpen_150x117

Prov 27.17

The focus of this proverb is on the reward of the righteous (probably future), a reward built on character. The character of the righteous person is not only making an impact in the present, it makes an impact in the future for wisdom has a longer view of life. Note that the proverb “almost” seems to be written after life has passed, i.e., written for the dead, but, Proverbs is most definitely written for the (truly) living! 

Here in Nashville, we’ve just suffered the tragic death of an outstanding professional athlete. While his performance has never been in question, his character has seriously suffered. And, as is typical for rebellion against God’s Word and Ways, that rebellion spreads and affects the lives of those around us, in this particular situation even bringing the death of another person as well as the memory of this athlete.

Let the lesson of God’s wisdom in this Proverb soak into your heart. When your life view is only for instant gratification, only what’s in it for me, when your course of life is that of sin, the consequences are never what we truly desire. Sin is always personal, but, it is never private! There is the classic lesson of life, what you sow, you reap.

Parallelism Examined

7a

7b

memory

name

righteous

wicked
 

will

blessed

rot

righteous – (see previous study) “righteousness” necessitates relationship to another where there are claims to be met, moral and ethical. There is a standard for life by which “righteousness” to the Creator of the standard is evaluated. Consider Mal 3.18, one who serves God.

wicked – (see previous study) There is no relationship to be claimed, no standard for life.

blessed – (see previous study: this is directly tied to that which comes from God, cf. 1 Chron 29.11-12; it is frequently future from this present place in life.) This is always a positive benefit, something practically good. While there are “emotions” of blessedness, it is imminently tangible in life.

memory – (of God: Ex 2.24; 6.5; Gen 8.1; Ps 79.8; Jer 31.34; of man: Ezek 6.9; Num 15.40; Ex 20.8; Ps 22.27; Amos 1.9)

name – (1 Sam 25.25; Ex 6.3; Gen 35.10)

rot – something without strength which will eventually disappear. There is no “name”! The ultimate unpleasantness is to be forgotten! Be certain here to consider that “righteousness” is strength which passes on character and a “name.”

References to consider:

Prov 22.1
1 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.

Prov 30.4
4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!

John 17.25-26
25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

Sharpening for my life today:

Consider “how” you can build a memory, especially something which communicates righteousness and declares a “name” to be passed on. Typically, it’s trophies and deeds considered first, instead of character.

Consider what causes “memory” to root. One key is retelling the story, something the Word of God consistently does, declaring the “name” which resounds with the character!

Consider what causes “memory” to rot. There is little doubt that wickedness is a major destroyer of a desire to retell the story, declare the “name,” remember the character.

Consider “memory” itself. It’s a way we recall so we can imitate and follow. Memory shows us (often via the Word) the hand of God, the way of God, the truth of God. In our present age, the Lord’s Supper is crucial to our “memory” of the Lord. It’s a past act with a very present reality! Those who think this is “dull” are only watching, they’re not remembering! Remember, boredom is never a statement of circumstances; it’s always a statement of our own life, thinking, focus, and future.

“Memory” and “name” are often synonyms. Consider the memory you are building and the name (i.e., your character) being declared now and in the future.