Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10

The Proverbs of Solomon

1 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8 The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. 13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. 14 The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. 15 A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. 17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. 18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. 22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. 24 What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. 26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. 30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Devotional

Introduction

We have finally done it!! We have made it to the beginning of Solomon's good ol' chips of wisdom. Congratulations! As the next few chapter will literally be a random collection of proverbs, I have decided to focus on some of the verses that really stood out to me when reading the chapter.

In this chapter, I wanted to first note the five main themes or ideas that the chapter really addresses (there are others, but these ones are common things addressed throughout proverbs as well:

1. The Mouth/Tongue/Lips/Speech

2. The fool's path leads to destruction, and the wise path leads to life

3. Sluggishness/idleness/laziness

4. The Lord's specific interaction with people

5. Wealth/Poverty

In this study, I am going to address the five main themes, with the five verses that really stood out to me. I hope you enjoy some of my comments, and some of the Bible's comments on these different issues.

Study

1. The Mouth/Tongue/Lips/Speech (vs. 10-14;18-19)

The idea that what we say matters is quite a big idea not just in Proverbs but throughout the whole Bible. According to proverbs 10, "the babbling fool will come to ruin" (vs.10), or one who "utters slander is a fool". So what follows from our mouth has serious consequences. The New Testament reiterates this same idea, most famously in the book of James

"...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing..." (James 3:8-10)

James points out that that which proceeds from our mouth can be evil and good. It can be full of blessing and cursing. But we can infer that even our blessing is all messed up. Look at what Jesus says in Matthew 15:

"But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person." (Matthew 15:18)

Notice that what defiles a person is not only the action, but the heart. Our heart is sinful. We are fallen. So even what we do good, is tainted with our sinful heart.

In relation to proverbs, it is fair to say that no one has clean lips. Everyone is wholly broken and messed up. So no one is perfectly wise in this regard. Remember, only God is perfectly wise. But it is still important that we watch what we say. Proverbs 19b says that "whoever restrains his lips is prudent". He is not saying that extroverts or friendly people or talkers must stop being so. But in James' words, we should "tame the tongue", for from it can come the worst evil.

2) The fool's path leads to destruction, and the wise path leads to life (vs.25)

The wicked are said in verse 25 to be destroyed in a storm, whilst the righteous are "established forever". This reminded me of the wise man who built his house upon a rock in Matthew 7:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Notice how the wise man knows the right foundations, whilst the foolish man thinks his foundations will be fine. But he is eventually swept away quite easily by the storm. When we have the right foundations, we are not swept away by bad teaching, or by temptation, or the way of the world.

The fool's path leads to his own destruction because he does not seek to have the right foundations (eg. following God and his teaching.). The wise man knows the right foundations for him to gain life. And he trusts in God. He is wise in doing so.

3) Sluggishness/idleness/laziness (vs.4-5)

There is a condemnation of laziness here and a comment on how the diligent will gain wealth. I would say this is a generalisation. Proverbs, as I have mentioned in a previous study, often uses generalisations, or commonalities seen in life. Generally, those who work hard will gain wealth (vs.4b). Generally those who don't work much will be poorer (vs.4a). But as we have seen in our lives, this is not always true.

Now verse 5 seems to focus on something perhaps a little more important: the character of the sluggard compared to the diligent. Those who work hard are called "prudent", those who do not "bring...shame" (vs.5). It is there character which seems to matter, not just the ends to their doings.

Perhaps more importantly, is how each is seen in the eyes of God. Consider Colossians 3:

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men." (Colossians 3:23)

In this passage, what we do, all the work we do should be for the Lord. The same is said in 1 Corinthians 10:31:

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

So what God thinks of our idleness is just as important as our reward, or even how people see us. And what we do will even be granted reward by God himself, though we don't know exactly what that reward is now.

No, our salvation cannot be earnt by works, but we must still live a life working hard for God (with appropriate Sabbath rest) and doing everything for his glory. Soli deo Gloria!

4) The Lord's specific interaction with people (vs.3)

The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but what the wicked crave will be thwarted. I think it is about more than just food. My study bible points to Numbers 11:34 which says this:

"Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving." (Numbers 11:34)

Kibroth-hattaavah literally means "graves of craving". If you read the story, the people had just been complaining to God. He had provided them with Manna, but it was not like the food in Egypt...where God had just delivered them from slavery. In an act of judgement, God brings quail which they eat and God judges those who eat it with a plague.

Very literally, I think the proverb of verse 3 points to this story. The Israelites were wicked in their complaints. They were not trusting the Lord. God thwarts their craving in their death. The Lord's interaction with people is both merciful and just. Some people are spared, if you look at the next few verses. He gives the sinners what they deserve, but sometimes he doesn't.

Let me tell you something, God doesn't owe a sinner anything. But God is also merciful. Meaning, we don't get what we deserve. Some people are righteous because God has chosen them to be saved by the blood of Jesus. So the righteous are not left hungry. They are provided for. (Personal fact: I'm a bit of a calvinist :) )

Praise God that he is both just and merciful!

5) Wealth/Poverty (vs.15-16)

In general, wealth brings greatness (vs.15a) but poverty brings ruin (15b). But note this in the physical sense, because there is a whole other, much more significant side to human beings - the spiritual. Wealth seems to bring greatness and in general it does, but I have seen what poverty & Christianity and Wealth & secularism can do to people.

Poverty & Christianity fills the poor with joy. I went to the Philippines last year and there were so many people with earnest faith in the gospel who are utterly joyful and fulfilled. However, the truth is, many have quite miserable lives compared to the rich. However, what lasts is the spiritual. They are going to heaven. And unlike many secular, and comparatively wealthy Australians, they have secured a much greater future. This is why I think verse 16 exists alongside verse 15, those who live in righteousness have a path that leads to life. Eternal life.

Psalm 52:7 makes it clear that God must be our stronghold:

“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!” (Psalm 52:7)

To trust in physical wealth is our own destruction. Remember that next time you think you need something in order to be fulfilled.

Conclusion

Admittedly, that was much longer than I expected. But it felt so good to discuss the truths of the Bible with you. Remember that this part of proverbs can seem super tedious, especially if seen as simply a collection of wise sayings. But notice how these different saying link with the gospel. I encourage you to see that in every proverb you come across. Ask yourself "How does this show me Jesus" because I promise you, everything in the Bible points to Jesus. And he is the one you should be reminded of.

Love you all, and praying that you get a lot out of Proverbs. Milestone: we've reach day 10. Congratulations!