Results Reveal Our Folly or Our Wisdom ~ Bob Caldwell

Proverbs 19:1-20:30 20:15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Sometimes the best way to be convinced to do what is the wisdom and will of God is to come face to face with the inevitable result of what is wrong. Chapters 19 and 20 do just that for us. When we have rejected the knowledge and wisdom of God, a dysfunctional life will be the natural by-product. When sin reigns, our lives inevitably become twisted. What could have been a life beautifully shaped by the wisdom of God will become a perverted, warped version of life (19:1-3). The perceived gain of falsehood and deception will be short lived. As an example, we will be trapped by our own lies, and destruction will one day fall upon our carefully crafted deceptions (19:5, 9). The same is true when the good we are to bring to our families is exchanged for foolishness and contention. This, too, will warp what could have been the most pleasant of all relationships (19:13, 18). The lazy person will think he is the wiser man because, in the short term, he is “enjoying” his life. But this, too, is a short-lived pleasure, once his stomach is empty and his bed a park bench. Yet for some, even when surrounded by opportunities to work and better themselves, they are like a hungry man with his hand in a bowl of food who will not even exert the energy to bring his hand to his mouth (19:24). We also are introduced to the man whose anger has no self-restraint. Anger will ultimately be his undoing. It takes no skill to be angry or to start a quarrel (19:19). To be slow to wrath and skilled to properly confront conflicts gives us great success in navigating the troubled waters of human relationships.Disregarding this skill will create greater loss than anyone can imagine. Included in this summary of what brings inevitable sorrow is alcohol. Wine and strong drink will make fools of all who seek the escape from life that it temporarily provides. The abuse of alcohol and drugs has done more than any one thing to make fools of even the wisest among us once they are under its control (20:1). This brief example of the end result of wisdom and folly should be ample evidence. For us to avoid God’s knowledge and wisdom will make us our own worst enemies. It is a delusion at the highest level to think that we can disregard God’s wisdom and not suffer tragic consequences. To do so when faced with the facts to the contrary makes us the greatest fool of all (19:8, 20:15).
Proverbs 19:1-20:30 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, And he sins who hastens with his feet. 3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the LORD. 4 Wealth makes many friends, But the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape. 6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility, And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. 7 All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. 8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. 9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish. 10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. 12 The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass. 13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger. 16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die. 17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given. 18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. 19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. 20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. 21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand. 22 What is desired in a man is kindness, And a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. 24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge. 26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach. 27 Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28 A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And beatings for the backs of fools. Proverbs 20 1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. 4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? 7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? 10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. 13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. 14 “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress. 17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war. 19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. 20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end. 22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good. 24 A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? 25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows. 26 A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them. 27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head. 30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
Proverbs 19:1-20:30 v. 1 one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool – What comes out of one’s mouth is a reflection of what is inside their heart. In God’s eyes, it is better to be poor with integrity then rich and perverse. v. 13 the ruin of his father – The ingredients for a miserable home are a foolish son and a nagging wife. v. 14 prudent wife – Though some may inherit houses and riches from their father, a prudent wife does not come by matter of chance or descent, but from the Lord. The word “prudent” in this verse describes her wisdom in governing the household and her godly wisdom. A prudent wife possesses good judgment and discretion. v. 18 Chasten your son while there is hope – The word chasten means to inflict punishment as a form of discipline. Discipline is an important aspect of parenting. v. 20 That you may be wise in your latter days – A youth who gathers and learns wisdom as a youth will produce fruit of understanding and prudence in old age. v. 24 A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl – The picture here is of a man who ceases to do the things in life that are necessary and that should be enjoyed. The man in this verse is so lazy that he chooses to sleep rather then eat the food that has been provided for him. v. 25 scoffer – A scoffer is one who shows their disapproval by mocking, sneering, or scorning. Proverbs 20 v. 1 Wine is a mocker – The term “mocker” in this verse suggests the character of the drink itself. It promises pleasure but produces intoxication by dulling the senses. v. 16 Take the garment of one who is surety – A surety was a pledge to secure a debt against default by the one who was in debt. It would be similar to a down payment for a car or house. Garments were often used as a pledge in Old Testament times. The law for taking a garment as surety is found in Exodus 22:26-27 and Deuteronomy 24:10-13. v. 20 Whoever curses his father or mother – This is a violation of the fifth commandment (Ex. 21:17) and one who was found guilty of this violation was to be condemned to death. v. 21 An inheritance gained hastily – This may be referring to a child who demands his inheritance prematurely. It may also denounce those who rush to become rich by dishonest means. v. 27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD – The “spirit of man” refers to the part of a person’s being that allows them to commune with God. The conscience resides in the spirit of man. v. 30 Blows that hurt – This is referring to stern, physical discipline that is necessary to break the strong self-will of those who refuse to listen by other means. This discipline is not given in anger, but in love. Its purpose is to heal a person of evil and lead them to maturity.
"There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." –Proverbs 20:15 All of the very best things in Your Kingdom, Jesus, are not “things” at all. You have given us what is more precious than any precious metal or rare jewel. Thank You, Lord.