| Ruled by the Strength of Inner Conviction
To master yourself is the first and most important task of life. This feat requires a recognized dependency upon God to enable us to discipline our lives to follow the wisdom of God. In this collection of proverbs, we are given a portrait of the end result of those who have disciplined themselves to follow the wisdom of God and those who by contrast live as victims of forces that doom a person to tragic failure. The discipline of hard work promises great reward for our labor. For the lazy, all we have to look forward to is poverty and shame (24:27-34, 26:13-16). For those who have come under the rule of righteousness, they will not quit even if they failed at something seven times (24:10, 16). The discipline of strengthening our character will not let us quit until God has enabled us to conquer the sins or obstacles we must overcome by His strength. In like fashion, it's the person who had authority over his tongue who not only has a rich life and also enriches all who hear him. By contrast, it is the fool whose loose tongue that leaves a trail of gossip, hurt, and trouble (25:11-12, 15; 26:18-25). You may ask, where do we get such power? The power to rule over our lives to God's glory and our ultimate benefit is found in God the Holy Spirit. It is God's Spirit within our spirit that enables us, "to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16). When your inner being is ruled by God's Spirit, it then becomes possible for God's Spirit within you to rule over any area of your life. God's Spirit can conquer a lazy spirit within you. God's Spirit can rule over your rebellious, hurtful tongue. Learn to yield your spirit to God's Spirit and you will have the power to rule all things. It is only those under the rule of God that will ever be truly able to rule over themselves. | |||
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| Proverbs 24:1-26:28
2 For their heart devises violence, 3 Through wisdom a house is built, 4 By knowledge the rooms are filled 5 A wise man is strong, 6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, 7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; 8 He who plots to do evil 9 The devising of foolishness is sin, 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, 11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, 12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," 13 My son, eat honey because it is good, 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; 15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; 16 For a righteous man may fall seven times 17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, 19 Do not fret because of evildoers, 20 For there will be no prospect for the evil man; 21 My son, fear the LORD and the king; 22 For their calamity will rise suddenly, 23 These things also belong to the wise: 24 He who says to the wicked, "You are righteous," 25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, 26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips. 27 Prepare your outside work, 28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, 29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; 30 I went by the field of the lazy man, 31 And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; 32 When I saw it, I considered it well; 33 A little sleep, a little slumber, 34 So shall your poverty come like a prowler, 1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied: 2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, 3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, 4 Take away the dross from silver, 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, 6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, 7 For it is better that he say to you, 8 Do not go hastily to court; 9 Debate your case with your neighbor, 10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame, 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold 13 Like the cold of snow in time of harvest 14 Whoever falsely boasts of giving 15 By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, 16 Have you found honey? 17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house, 18 A man who bears false witness against his neighbor 19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble 20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; 22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, 23 The north wind brings forth rain, 24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, 25 As cold water to a weary soul, 26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked 27 It is not good to eat much honey; 28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit 1 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, 2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, 3 A whip for the horse, 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, 6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool 7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp 8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling 9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard 10 The great God who formed everything 11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, 12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? 13 The lazy man says, "There is a lion in the road! 14 As a door turns on its hinges, 15 The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; 16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes 17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own 18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, 20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; 21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, 22 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, 23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart 24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, 25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, 26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit, 27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, 28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, | |||
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| Proverbs 24:1-26:28 v. 1 Do not be envious of evil men – Solomon warns against desiring the glamorous lives of worldly people. He describes their ultimate fate in v. 20. v. 3 Through wisdom a house is built – Houses are constructed using well-defined plans and experienced craftsman. Just as a house is built through wisdom, so also is the character of a person. Just as wisdom can build a strong house, it can build a strong person as well. v. 7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool – Solomon contrasts a foolish person with a wise person in this verse. A foolish person is too self-willed to learn from anyone or anything. They even mock wisdom and understanding. v. 10 If you faint in the day of adversity – A person's spirit is tested in adversity. When adversity strikes, the true character of a person is brought to life. The person with wisdom is strong (v. 5) and will be able to stand in the face of life's trials. v. 14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul – Wisdom is compared to honey and the honeycomb in this verse. Honey is natural and was one of the sweetest foods in the Jewish diet. Those who obtain wisdom will savor its sweetness in their souls just as a person who eats honey will savor its sweetness in his mouth. v. 16 For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again – The righteous man possesses an inner fortitude that the wicked lack. It is important to note that a righteous man will fall at times, but they are distinguished in that they always get back up. v. 28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause – A person who falsely accuses another is an abomination to God (Prov. 6:19). v. 31 Its surface was covered with nettles – A nettle is a type of weed that will flourish everywhere if it is not dealt with. Solomon describes the field of a lazy man as overgrown with thorns and nettles, and with broken stone walls. The sluggard does not maintain his field and it is overcome by weeds and erosion. This illustration is used to describe the condition of a soul that has been overrun by neglect. Proverbs 25v. 1 the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied – King Hezekiah reigned more then 200 years after Solomon. The revival experienced during his reign might explain Hezekiah's interest in compiling Solomon's proverbs. Hezekiah had court-sponsored sages who gathered and compiled wisdom sayings. v. 4 Take away the dross from silver – Dross is another term for waste. Removing the dross from silver is a picture of purification. Silversmiths would purify the silver using iron oxide and heating it to a temperature of 1,640 degrees Fahrenheit. v. 6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king – Verses 6 and 7 are a warning to ambitious men who presume to be greater then they are. Solomon warns them to take a lower seat and wait to be called up, rather then taking a high seat and being asked to take a lower one. Jesus reiterates these sentiments in Luke 14:7-11. v. 11 is like apples of gold – This metaphor compares finely crafted jewelry to saying the right words at the right times. Just as the golden apple designed with a silver setting draws the eye so also a clever saying touches the mind. v. 13 Like the cold of snow in time of harvest – Harvest occurred in the late summer months in Israel. Some suggest that the workers laboring in the heat would have welcomed snow as a means to cool down. Others think this verse is referring to packaged snow or ice brought down from the mountains and used to refresh and cool down the harvesters. v. 20 like vinegar on soda – Putting vinegar on soda causes a reaction, just as taking a coat away from a person in cold weather. So also is it cruel to sing happy songs to a sad person. v. 28 Is like a city broken down, without walls – A city without walls was considered defenseless and disgraced. v. 1 Snow in summer – These descriptions show things that are out of place. Summer is not known for its snow, neither is harvest a time of rain. Likewise, honor and foolishness are not found together. v. 2 Curse without cause – The sense here is that this type of cursing (or bitterness, anger) will not have direction, just as the erratic flying of a swallow overhead will do no harm. v. 3 Whip for the horse – Stubborn animals require motivation to change their behavior. God will use any means at His disposal to influence the decision making of the foolish man (including animals, see Num. 22). v. 4 Answer a fool – There are two ways that we can respond to a fool. We can correct him in love with truth and righteousness so that he will not be "wise in his own eyes" and continue down his path of destruction. The second manner is to ignore the fool so as not to be pulled down to this level of foolishness. v. 6 Cuts off his own feet – To have a message relayed by a foolish person is asking for trouble. The messenger cannot be trusted to relay the message correctly, if at all. The damage then is done to the sender as well as the hearers. v. 7 Legs of the lame – Like the limbs of a paralyzed person that do not have any function, the wise saying is of no useful purpose when delivered by a fool. v. 8 Binds a stone in a sling – A person who gives honor to a fool is simply giving him more ammunition to carry on in his foolishness. v. 9 Thorn in the hand of a drunkard – A drunk man is generally considered to be numb to any sort of physical pain. In a sober person, a thorn in the hand would elicit a pain response. A proverb spoken by a fool would not elicit any sort of a response from anyone. v. 10 Transgressor his wages – This is a warning that everyone who rejects the saving grace of God will receive their just due. He is faithful, merciful, and just in His decisions. Each person chooses their inheritance based on their relationship with the One who formed everything. v. 11 Dog returns to his vomit – Solomon compares the filthiness of sin with the vomit of a dog. It is inevitable that a dog will venture back to investigate; likewise a foolish man will repeat his foolish acts. A sinner who has not been converted will after a time return to the sin life, forgetting how it made him sick. (see 2 Peter 2:18-22 for the apostle's commentary on this verse as applied to false teachers) v. 12 Wise in his own eyes – At the heart of man's rebellion is the pride of life. People with a high value of self often have a difficult time with faith in the saving grace of God, as He requires repentance from worldly pride and self glorification (1 John 2:16). Despite the repeated warnings against foolishness, it is easier to be delivered from folly than pride. v. 13 Lion in the streets – The lion is an imaginary one. Any excuse is used to avoid going to work. Note that the excuse worsens as it is retold when the lion becomes a fierce lion. v. 14 Door on its hinges – The swinging from side to side is used to conjure up a picture of a man with no likelihood of going anywhere other than turning over in bed. Like a door on a frame, he appears to be hung on his bed. The slothful man loves the ease of life. v. 15 Back to his mouth – The image is one that describes a man that is too lazy to even lift his hand from the bowl to feed himself. v. 16 In his own eyes – A prideful person will often not listen to reason, despite the number of witnesses to the contrary. Man will powerfully defend what he sees is right in his own eyes (Deut. 12:8, Judges 17:6). v. 17 Quarrel not his own – It is an understatement to say that grabbing a dog by the ears would be a handful of trouble, as would jumping into an argument that does not pertain to you. The idea is that by just passing by, the person involving himself would not be aware of the complicated matter of the discussion, and so would lack the facts. v. 18-19 Deceives his neighbor – Only a crazy person would scatter destruction without any regard as to the consequences. The man who deliberately deceives another and then passes it off as a practical joke has no sense of the ramifications of his actions. Such things could lead to disastrous results. On the contrary, the Lord instructs His people to love one another (Mark 12:31, Gal. 5:14). v. 20 Fire goes out – Fuel (in this case, wood) is one of the three necessary elements to fuel a fire. Once this critical element is removed, the fire ceases to exist. Once the talebearer is removed, conflict will also cease to continue. v. 21 Kindle strife – Contentious people will add conflict to a situation much like adding more combustible material onto an existing fire…it feeds the fire and keeps it alive. v. 22 Words of a talebearer – Also whisperer, gossiper. These words are readily accepted because they are pleasing to the flesh, and delicious as sweets. Mankind loves to rise above others, so as gossip tears down another, it elevates self. (See Leviticus 19:16 for law regarding talebearers.) v. 23 Covered with silver dross – A cheaper alternative to solid silver is a clay bowl covered in silver. The beauty of the outside of the vessel belies what is underneath…a cheap imitation disguised as something better. The words spoken by this person do not convey the true heart condition (Matt. 23:25-27). v. 24 Hatred is covered by deceit – A deceiver will initially not be easy to recognize, as he covers his hatred with smooth words and flattering speech (Rom. 16:17-18). Wisdom will uncover the counterfeit and he will be revealed to all. v. 27 Digs a pit – A pit was dug as a snare to catch animals that would fall into it. Large stones for building that were too heavy to carry were often rolled from quarry to building site. The irony here is that though the pit and the stone are intended for something else, they will be the destruction of the fool. Though he intends to catch his "prey" in the pit, he himself will be the one who is "caught" and judged by God (for an example, read the story of Haman in the book of Esther). v. 28 Flattering mouth works ruin – The owner of the lying tongue and flattering mouth hates the object of his lies, but does it in such a way as to disguise it (see the betrayal of Judas in Mark 14:43-45). | |||
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| "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls." –Proverbs 25:28 It is a true blessing, Lord, that we no longer have to strive to observe the many commandments of the Old Testament. Thank You, God, that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us; that we now are Your Temple here on Earth. But we also see in this verse, Lord, that if we do not have that salvation, that we have no protection from the sinful things of this world that seek to destroy us. | |||
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Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
1 Do not be envious of evil men,
Freedom House
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