Wisdom of Solomon's Proverbs

You show your heart by how you respond to instruction. Wicked men rebel and purpose to continue in their evil way. Righteous men receive correction and alter their lives. Your response to instruction may tell more about your character and future than anything else. A wicked man hardens his face. Here is a metaphor for a rebel who has purposed to reject teaching. He chooses to rebel rather than to submit. Setting his jaw, steeling his eyes, frowning, or looking away are only symptoms of his wicked heart. He has resolved to ignore correction and instruction and stay put in his opinions, conduct, and habits. The Lord knows faces and how they reveal rebellion, so He warned about them (Is 48:4; Jer 3:3; 5:3). Rebellious hardening is also used of the neck and heart (Pr 28:14; 29:1; Acts 7:51). He told His ministers to ignore such faces and preach the unvarnished truth without apology or compromise anyway (Jer 1:4-10,17; 23:28-29; Ezek 2:6-7; 3:7-9). You cannot play with God. He knows your every thought; He knows your every intent (Heb 4:12-14). He knows how submissive or rebellious you are at the deepest level of your heart and mind. Get totally clean with Him by destroying resistance to any Bible doctrine or practice, and fill your heart and mind with eagerness (Ps 27:4; 122:1-4). Ministers learn faces. There is a huge difference between the hungry, submissive, cheerful, and godly face of the righteous and the bored, stubborn, unhappy, and carnal face of the wicked. Some faces crave and devour instruction; others resent and reject it. Both are in every church. They cannot hide from God or men. Their hearts are revealed. Sometimes a minister will see by the faces that his hard preaching is “out of season.” The people do not want to hear what he has from the Lord. Sometimes his preaching may be “in season.” But in either case, he has only one duty – preach the word insistently and press it upon all the hearers (II Tim 4:2). Only fearless men should ever be ordained. A true man of God wages war against those faces, smashes through their walls, pulls down their strongholds, casts down their haughty imaginations, brings every thought into obedience to Christ, and readies himself to revenge any disobedience (II Cor 10:3-6). Do you understand this warfare, reader? Do you appreciate this kind of servant? It is a far cry from the effeminate, refined, cultured, and mannered pastor sought by most Christians. God hates stubbornness and rebellion. He considers them comparable to idolatry and witchcraft (I Sam 15:22-23). And He judges them severely. Think King Saul rejected from the throne! Think Judah in Babylon! Think women eating their children in 70 A.D.! God will not be mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Gal 6:7). Righteous men hear and change. The Thessalonians heard Paul and turned from their idols to serve the living and true God (I Thess 1:9-10). Cornelius begged Peter to tell him and his family all of God’s duties (Acts 10:33). Harlots wept at Jesus feet. The Ephesians burned their books of magic, which were worth 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts 19:19). Dear reader, the Lord Jesus warned you about your hearing (Luke 8:18). Do you receive instruction and rebuke meekly and thankfully (Neh 8:1-18; Acts 17:11)? Or do you stop up your ears and wish you could stone the preacher (Acts 7:57)? Why do some people never learn or grow? Because the Lord is judging them for how they hear (Luke 8:18)! You can stay in your wicked rut received from childhood, the devil, your parents, tradition, religious training, or worldly education. Or you can eagerly desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby (I Pet 2:1-3). Wise men and great men say, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Ps 119:59).

Lazy people love comfort and hate effort. They avoid work even for food. They want you to work and feed them. Solomon used sarcastic hyperbole to ridicule lazy men. They fold their arms to keep their hands from work, for they are too lazy to feed themselves. They hope food will fall in their mouths. An exaggeration? Yes, but he made a powerful point. So necessary is the lesson for some men, Solomon repeated it in similar terms (Pr 26:15). He altered it slightly to say lazy sluggards are grieved to have to raise their hands again to their mouths to eat. It bothers and hurts a slothful man to put forth any effort, even for himself. Welfare programs and thinking of modern, socialist nations encourage this sin. You have heard, “That bum sits around with his arms folded.” With arms folded, hands are held against the bosom by the opposite arm. You have heard, “He stands around with his hands in his pockets.” Lazy people dislike exertion, so they put their hands away from work. David even asked the Lord to take His hand out and use it to help him (Ps 74:11). A great work ethic did not originate with man. God worked six days in creating the world, and His example should be good enough for you. He wisely ordained that work is good and should be done with diligent zeal. Before Adam sinned, God had given him the work of dressing and keeping the garden (Gen 2:15). Work is not a curse; it is a blessing. Starvation will cure laziness. Welfare checks encourage laziness. Paul ordered that those who did not work should not eat (II Thess 3:10), and Solomon warned that lazy men would beg at harvest and get nothing (Pr 20:4). Christian charity does not include sluggards. When a man is denied food and comfort long enough, he will work (Pr 16:26). Wise parents apply this wisdom. Children and teenagers do not deserve to eat unless they have worked in school, a job, or chores. Why create lazy adults? Fixing meals and snacks when they do not work hard is not love; it is cruel hatred. Train them to work hard, to work fast, and to enjoy a job well done. They will be successful and have plenty to eat. Set wise priorities for your children. A godly work ethic is more valuable than the highest grades possible. School is not like the real world. Academic regurgitation is not a good predictor of life success. Teachers are paid to flatter and promote; but employers pay and promote only those that produce more than expected. A 3.90 GPA versus a 3.50 is marginally wasted compared to extra-curricular creativity, diligence, and responsibility. A favorite place for lazy people to hold their hands in their bosoms is in bed. The pleasure of self-cuddling for an unnecessary hour of sleep is just too much to resist. The wise Preacher saw this love of sleep and ridiculed it (Pr 6:9-10; 24:30-34; 26:14). Snooze buttons on alarm clocks are foolish. Get up, sluggard! Get up! The day is wasting! Once a person starts down the path of laziness, work becomes harder and harder. A lazy attitude toward work will make you sleepy (Pr 19:15); obstacles will seem much more difficult (Pr 15:19). Diligence begins in the heart and mind, when you choose to enjoy work. The best way to tackle a job is to start now, with intensity. Do not think about it. Hard work is its own reward, but you only know this blessing by getting to work. Ever heard, “I’m too tired to fix anything tonight”? Virtuous women do not say this. A woman would feel better and less tired, if she ran to the kitchen and creatively put supper together. The words themselves, and the thoughts generating them, are mentally and physically disabling. Do not make excuses. Work! You will feel better and sleep better. Lazy people have blessings, but they are too lazy to take advantage of them. They may take game in hunting, but they are too tired to dress it when they get home (Pr 12:27). An opportunity is frightening to them, for it likely involves more than sleep. What a shame!

Who can you fully trust? No one, especially you! Wisdom includes knowledge your heart is corrupt (Pr 28:26). You will increase in wisdom when you learn to mistrust yourself. Only fools trust their own motives and thoughts (Pr 12:15; 14:12; Jer 17:9; I Cor 3:18-20). This crucial fact forces you to seek counsel for decisions from God or wise men, keeps you from proudly condemning others, and causes you to cry out to God for mercy. Can you answer the proverb’s question? The answer is negative: no man can make these two statements about his heart. It is a literary style that an interrogative of positives creates a powerful negative conclusion. Man’s heart by nature is corrupt, and his motives are impure. Solomon used the power of the rhetorical negative to teach man’s depravity. The Bible, the inspired holy book of Christians, teaches that all men have perverse hearts and selfish motives. Adam, the father of humanity, ruined the human race by rebelling against God (Rom 5:12-14). Since the Garden of Eden, all men by nature despise God and righteousness and love sin and evil (Ps 14:1-3; 51:5; 58:3; Rom 3:9-18; Titus 3:3). Job used a rhetorical question to teach the same truth. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one” (Job 14:4). And his friend Eliphaz asked, “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?” (Job 15:14). And his friend Bildad asked, “How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” (Job 25:4). The human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, beyond even your ability to comprehend (Jer 17:9). Believe the painful truth! No man can overcome this internal curse that twists his thinking and perverts his motives (I Jn 1:8-10). Only by the creative power of Jesus Christ can men obtain a new heart of righteousness and holiness, capable of true wisdom (Rom 8:7-8; I Cor 2:14-16; Eph 2:10; 4:24; Phil 2:12-13). What is the lesson? The doctrine is clear – man is depraved, foolish, sinful, and wicked, and he cannot cure himself. But why is this proverb here without context (Pr 20:8-10)? It fits Romans better! Remember Solomon’s purpose to teach young men discretion and wisdom (Pr 1:1-4). There are two important lessons here – others cannot be fully trusted to have pure intentions, and you must not foolishly presume your own motives are pure. Solomon made a similar argument from the doctrine of human depravity in his book of philosophy – Ecclesiastes. He wrote, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ec 7:20). Again, it appears there is little or no context for the statement (Ec 7:19-21). But if you look closer, you see that Solomon was warning against thoughts of self-righteousness and excessive harshness toward others (Ec 7:16-22). A prerequisite for wisdom is to know man’s nature – it is incurably foolish and depraved. Holy cynicism is necessary to deal with human problems. Therefore, you must evaluate others’ opinions and thoughts by the criterion of Scripture (Ps 119:98-100,128; Job 32:7-9; Is 8:20). As Paul wrote later, “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Rom 3:4)! But you cannot trust your own opinions or thoughts either. So you must also test your ideas by scripture (Ps 19:7-11; II Tim 3:16-17). With holy doubts about your own motives and thoughts, you will more faithfully heed Solomon’s exhortation to a multitude of counselors for your safety (Pr 11:14) and more humbly receive correction (Pr 27:5-6). Furthermore, you must slow down to better hear others’ arguments and complaints, when in time past you might have reacted too arrogantly and quickly (Pr 18:13). After all, your judgment could be very wrong due to your corrupt heart. With this proverb’s wisdom firmly in your mind, you will slow your responses and study before answering (Pr 15:28).

Wisdom is only acquired by dedicated effort. And few men have the desire or make the effort to pursue and acquire it. So the Preacher commended the studious man or woman. Most men will live and breathe and die in ignorant folly, even those who were offered wisdom plainly. And their lives and those of their children will bear the deserved pain. The next verse confirms this distinction among men, for fools have no delight in learning; they are totally occupied with their own thoughts and fantasies (Pr 18:2; 17:16). Dear reader, would the Author and writer of this proverb commend your desire and efforts for acquiring wisdom? Would God and Solomon praise your pursuit of learning? When a man desires wisdom, he must make sacrifices. He will avoid distractions that take time and misdirect his soul. He will separate from friends and pleasures that do not serve the great goal. He will reject the popular ambitions of riches, education, recreation, or bodily exercise. His life may be lonely. Hopefully, in a church of sincere saints, he will find a few choosing the same course (Luke 8:14; I Cor 9:24-26; I John 2:15-17). Like the man of God, he must limit obligations in this life (II Tim 2:4; I Tim 6:6-12). For this pursuit will weary his already-wearied flesh (Eccl 12:12). And the ignorant ravings of the world are an influence he must avoid (Pr 9:6; 13:20; I Cor 15:33; II Cor 6:14-18). He will learn that when alone he has the sweetest moments of fellowship and instruction of His heavenly Father (Psalm 4:4; 63:5-6; Matt 6:6; Job 33:14-18). He knows that examining his soul and pondering the path of his feet requires separation from all the noise and activity of others (Pr 4:26; Psalm 26:2; 77:6; 139:23-24). God chose the dark night for Abraham (Gen 15:5), the back of the desert for Moses (Ex 3:1), the plain for Ezekiel (Ezek 3:22), the wilderness for John (Luke 1:80), and Arabia for Paul (Gal 1:17). The blessed Lord rose exceeding early to meet alone with His Father (Mark 1:35), or He would spend the night alone with Him (Luke 6:12). With great ease of travel, telephones, email, and all sorts of communication devices in homes, offices, and cars, you are cursed with a curse. Solitude has become a much greater difficulty and not understood by any. The hours farmers had with an ox and God have been stolen away by progress. It has benefits, but it also contributes to distraction. Writing psalms while watching sheep is a luxury this perverted generation cannot afford. Men even move the clocks to force more activity into a day, when the sun is crying, “Be still!” Rebekah would still be single, if she waited for a meditating man in a field today (Gen 24:62-67). Lord, help your children flee to the hills for some quiet and solitude. Having separated from the diversions that deceive, distract, and destroy most men, the good man seeks and intermeddles – gets deeply involved, concerned, and occupied – with all facets of wisdom. He dives into the study and contemplation of all aspects of creation and revelation, with the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, and the man of God as guides. This pursuit requires an intense and thorough search (Pr 2:1-9; II Tim 2:15; I Tim 4:13-16). Even the ostrich and horse deserve your careful attention and consideration (Job 39:13-25). How will you remember, meditate, and muse on all His works in a few minutes (Ps 143:5)? Can you in a few minutes comprehend the dimensions of a Saviour’s love (Eph 3:14-19)? With the fullness of God your personal reward, does it not deserve more investment? When did you last break forth in praise for a single thought (Rom 11:33)? How will you read, let alone consider and meditate upon, the 31,101 verses in your King James Bible? Yet Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, commends the careful meditation of every verse. Only a man with great desire, who separates himself from other distractions, will make any progress in this extensive and valuable project.

Fools are dangerous. Wise men will avoid them. It is a universal fact that a mother bear robbed of her cubs is very dangerous. But such a ferocious animal is less trouble than a fool pursuing his perverse ideas. Solomon condemned fools and their brutish lusts by his knowledge of bears. The wisdom is to identify dangerous fools and avoid them. Some fools are merely lazy or stupid, so they are not very dangerous (Pr 17:16; 21:20; Eccl 10:15). While irritating and troublesome, they are not a great threat to a righteous man. Their folly will do them more harm than anyone else. And the folly of children and Christians can be corrected (Pr 22:15; 29:15; Luke 24:25-26; I Cor 15:36; Gal 3:1). But other fools are malicious and scornful; they are very dangerous (Pr 21:24; 26:12; 27:3; 29:20,22). The wickedness of incorrigible fools cannot be corrected, no matter what you do (Pr 17:10; 27:22; 29:9). The Bible calls these profane fools, “sons of Belial,” or evil personified (I Sam 25:3,17; II Sam 23:6-7; I Kgs 21:10,13). They are brute beasts to be destroyed (II Pet 2:10-12). Wise men stay far from these wicked fools (Pr 9:6-8; 14:7) A fool is in his folly when out of control and acting by base and profane passions. Rage is the anger of a fool (Pr 14:29; 29:22; Eccl 7:9). Consider Cain killing Abel (Gen 4:1-12), Potiphar’s wife accusing Joseph of attempted rape (Gen 39:7-20), Simeon and Levi destroying a city against their father’s word (Gen 49:5-7), Doeg killing God’s priests (I Sam 22:9-19), Absalom committing adultery with his father’s concubines (II Sam 16:20-22), and the Jews screaming for the blood of Jesus of Nazareth (Matt 27:22-25). What bear was ever as merciless and violent as these examples? Angry bears are brutishly stupid and vicious, but such profane fools are worse. Reader, it is your duty to learn to identify them and take pains to avoid them. And it is your duty to rule your lusts and passions to avoid being like a bear yourself. Consider how close the sweet psalmist of Israel came to destroying a household for one scorner’s ignorant remarks (I Sam 25). There are three American brown bears – the grizzly, the Alaskan, and the Kodiak. A male Kodiak bear may weigh 1500 pounds or more. It is 10 feet tall when standing on its back legs. If you try to run, it can reach 35 mph, which you cannot. If you put up a fence, remember it can bite through ½” steel bolts. Will you climb a tree? It can also climb trees, if needed. Will you hide underground? It can dig much faster than you can shovel. But Solomon did not use just any bear in this proverb. Most bears retreat at the presence of a man, if they are not disturbed or provoked. He compared a fool in his folly to a female bear robbed of her cubs. This creature, though smaller than the males, is much more aggressive and dangerous. She will ferociously and fearlessly attack any threat to her cubs. The proverb is designed to frighten. Such bears and such fools are dangerous. David’s friend Hushai kept Absalom from pursuing his father by comparing David and his chafed mind to a bear robbed of her whelps (II Sam 17:8). And it was two such bears that tore 42 children that mocked Elisha (II Kgs 2:23-24). A wicked ruler over poor people is like a ranging bear, a hungry bear leaving its territory to find food (Pr 28:15). God compared His judgment of Israel to a female bear robbed of her cubs (Hos 13:8). You know what bears look like and where they live. You easily avoid them. But can you spot dangerous fools as well? They show no fear of God: they are not holy; they are profane in speech and action; they are arrogant and selfish; they despise authority and scorn correction; they justify anything they wish; they are earthly minded; they are unmerciful; they are without natural affection; and they have a violent temper.

The best way to live is when mercy and truth combine to purify your life. These two aspects of godliness come together to make men perfect. And the motivation to seek and practice both of them is the fear of the LORD, which compels men to forsake their sins. You must start with the fear of God. It is the very beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Pr 1:7; 9:10; Job 28:28; Ps 111:10); it is the foundation for living a godly life (Pr 15:16; 20:28; 23:17; 28:14); it is the whole duty of man (Deut 10:12; Eccl 5:7; 8:12; 12:13-14; Micah 6:7-8). It brings riches, honor, and life to surpass other men (Pr 22:4; Eccl 7:18). The fear of God drives men to seek His approval in every part of life. It drives them to hate and turn from sin (Pr 8:13; 14:16; Ps 97:10; 101:3; Amos 5:15; II Cor 7:1). It drives men to learn godliness that will perfect them before Him (Col 1:28; 4:12; Heb 13:21). It is the whole duty of man and will fulfill your life before God and men (Eccl 12:13-14). Mercy and truth are two jewels of perfect godliness. Mercy is compassion, forgiveness, or kindness you show to others when they are in your power or debt and have no right or claim to them. Truth is perfect fidelity to what is right as revealed in the word of God, and pure dealings in true sincerity without deceit or pretence. Consider these jewels well. Mercy and truth are unknown to Satan and wicked men. Satan was a liar and murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), which are opposites of truth and mercy. When he seduced Eve in Eden, he questioned and reversed what God had said and profaned His motives: he lied against the truth. Rather than show merciful kindness to Abel, who was righteous in his worship, he moved Cain to kill him for nothing but envy (I John 3:12). Wicked fools and religious Pharisees lie by word or deed when it serves their purpose, and they will judge without mercy when someone is in their power. They lied to Pilate in their rage to crucify the Truth, and they had no mercy on a Man in Whom he found no fault. They were hypocrites and murderers. They twisted Scripture to justify personal revenge, and they only showed mercy to their friends (Matt 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-36). They hide their own sins under whitewashed exteriors, but they want to expose all others. They would pull an ass out of a pit on the Sabbath day, but they condemned Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6). They had no mercy! They condemned the disciples for picking corn on the Sabbath, in spite of David eating the shewbread (Matt 12:1-7). They had no truth or mercy! They refused to answer His legitimate question about John the Baptist due to their wicked rebellion (Matt 21:23-27). They had no truth! Mercy and truth appear to be opposites – mercy seeks to compromise judgment for the benefit of another, and truth demands that you do right at all times. But in a wise and good man they meet together and modify each other enough to create beautiful gems. They purge iniquity and sin from lives, for most sins are violations of one or the other. Which is more important, mercy or truth? Wisdom carefully assesses circumstances. Pure motives are more important than peace; you only compromise judgment or truth very carefully to show mercy (Jas 3:17; 2:13). Preaching contrary to Scripture is cursed (Gal 1:8-9). You should hate every false way (Ps 119:128), and justifying the wicked brings God’s judgment (Pr 17:15; I Sam 3:13; I Cor 5:2). Do justly and love mercy (Mic 6:8). But mercy is more important than the letter of the law (Matt 12:7; Mark 2:27), if it keeps the spirit of the law (John 7:23-24). And minor personal offences demand mercy over judgment (Pr 19:11; Matt 5:7,38-42; 6:15; 7:1-2; James 2:13). Bowels of mercies are part of Christian character (Col 3:12-14), which teaches men to eliminate any fleshly revenge.

Wise men love learning and crave knowledge, but fools love amusing themselves with folly. A man of understanding is not content with his knowledge; he wants more. But a fool never considers his ignorance; he happily continues to talk through his foolish life. If you hear both talk, the wise man says little, knowing his knowledge is limited; the fool, knowing nothing, belches nonsense, declaring to all that he is a fool (Eccl 10:3,12-14). Ah, reader! How is it with you? Do you want to learn? Or do you want to talk? Let the apostle James remind you to be swift to hear and slow to speak (Jas 1:19). Solomon made the contrast clear, “Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself” (Pr 18:1-2). See the commentary on that verse. Is your desire for knowledge so great, you organize life accordingly? Does pursuing wisdom get top priority in your life? Or do you use life to tell others what your heart has imagined? Your character is visible. If you seek knowledge, you will read the Bible, love preaching, associate with wise men, and avoid folly in every form. If you are an ignorant fool, you will emphasize business, health, hobbies, amusement, and chitchat. Which do you prefer? The Bible or your favorite newsletter? Preaching or pleasure? Or is preaching a pleasure? Do you think you know a lot? Or do you crave knowing more? The differences are great! Cornelius wanted truth. He gathered family and friends to hear Peter (Ac 10:24). God told him that Peter could teach him the truth, so he said to Peter, “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Ac 10:33). But what of Simon the sorcerer? He heard Peter preach as well, but his belief and baptism were pretensions to see if he could get some miracle power for himself (Ac 8:9-24). He wanted to buy the Holy Spirit, so he could continue as an important player in Samaria. Israel chose to hear preaching in Nehemiah 8. They held a great celebration, because they were so glad to understand the word of God. And they kept asking for more, continuing the preaching and celebration for seven days, even though it added to their duties. You live in the perilous times of the last days, when even Christians have traded sound doctrine for fables and entertainment (II Tim 4:3-4). The industrial revolution has come and gone, and so has some aspects of the service industry, and you now live in the information era, where there is more data coming at you by electronic devices than ever. In order to be wise, you must reject 99% of the data published today, because it is folly and vanity, especially if it is through social media. With all checks, standards, and costs of publishing removed for the first time in history, anyone can publish anything for no cost, which means there is an exponential increase in foolish nonsense coming at you. Learn to be skeptical like Solomon and reject most things you hear or read (Pr 14:15). While the world’s fools text and tweet each other the most inane and wasteful thoughts ever publicly disseminated, wise men must severely restrict their access or exposure to the noxious fumes of their babblings. You must carefully, by the wisdom of God, prioritize the data and information worth reading, learning, or repeating. God help you. Wise men, including the Queen of Sheba, came to hear King Solomon’s wisdom, but a greater preacher than Solomon has come – the Lord Jesus Christ (I Kgs 4:29-34; Matt 12:42). Do you crave learning from Him (Matt 11:28-30)? Have you asked your preacher for more of Him (Ac 13:42)? Do you make the preaching of God’s word a priority?

There are two kinds of evil passion, and they are treated differently. Rash anger, by a quick temper that reacts without discretion or thought, is foolish and proves a man is not ruling his spirit. Such a person is difficult and trying, but he can often be corrected and recovered. However, there is another kind of anger, the deep-seated malice of smoldering envy and revenge that plots to harm another. God and men hate this wicked monster. Before applying this proverb, remember that not all anger is sin. God is angry at the wicked every day (Ps 7:11), and He was angry at Moses (Ex 4:14). Moses was justifiably angry at Israel worshipping the golden calf (Ex 32:19). And Jesus was angry at the cruelty of religious Jews (Mark 3:5). Properly directed anger for a righteous cause is good and holy. Any other anger must be kept free from sin and ended quickly (Eph 4:26). This proverb has two different sins under consideration. Solomon’s proverbs often have two clauses comparing two things. In this case, the two clauses are connected by the coordinating conjunction “and,” indicating that the two things are of the same nature, not contrasting opposites. Sin is being compared to sin, not sin to righteousness. By comparing “soon angry” and “wicked devices,” we see two different sins. One sin is impulsive anger – the other is longer-term devising of wickedness. By comparing “foolishly” and “hated,” we see the different degrees of evil and their results. One sin is more foolish than malicious – the other has more malice, or premeditated evil, than folly. Some men have quick tempers (they are intemperate, a sin). They are infants in men’s bodies. They never grew up or learned self-discipline. They are weak and cannot rule their spirits. They usually had a parent with the same fault. When provoked, often over nothing, they quickly lose control of thoughts, emotions, words, or actions. The resulting outburst shames them as fools, costing them friends (Pr 12:16; 22:24; 25:8; 29:22). Others have black hearts that despise others and secretly harbor malice for long periods of time. They cover their hatred with fake smiles, false words, and lying kindnesses (Pr 26:24-26). This is no small sin, for it is like premeditated murder compared to involuntary manslaughter. God and men hate such malicious anger, which these monsters cultivate and harbor for a long time, while laying plans for revenge (Pr 6:16-19). Unjustified anger of either kind is sin (Matt 5:22). But weakness is one thing; willfulness is another! Rash anger is contemptible; calculated malice is abominable! The one man cannot be trusted and threatens the peace; the other man must be avoided and defended against like the devil himself (John 8:44). Moses and Aaron missed Canaan for foolish anger (Num 20:10-12), but the great God hung Haman and his ten sons for his malicious long-term strategy for Jewish genocide (Esther 3:5-15; 7:9; 9:13-14). What is the lesson? Rule your spirit – both the short and long. Why do others provoke you? You have provoked the God of heaven with infinite offences, and you continue to do so. If He ever turned his anger or hatred for sin against you, it would consume your life and cast you down to hell. Forgive your neighbor. Forgive your enemy. You are not worthy of angry self-defense. Let them defraud you instead (Matt 5:38-48; I Cor 6:7). Great men rule their spirits; their spirits do not rule them, and they are slow to get angry (Pr 14:29; 15:18; 16:32; Jas 1:19-20). These are glorious men (Pr 19:11). The actions of others do not move them. There is no honor, manliness, or strength in losing your composure or control, in spite of what selfish men think. Men that get bent out of shape, perverted and twisted by anger, are weak men, whose lives are failures (Pr 25:28; Ec 7:9).

Your family’s future depends on your character and conduct. If you live righteously, God will bless your family. If you live wickedly, God will judge your family. Here is a divine promise and warning about your family tree. Do you understand its importance? Solomon often repeated this promise and warning about character and conduct affecting you and your posterity (Pr 2:21-22; 3:33; 11:21; 12:7; 14:11; 15:25; 20:7; 21:12). You can have a profound impact on your descendants by choosing to love God and His words. Where is a family or future generations intended in this proverb? Remember, proverbs are the dark sayings of wise men (Pr 1:6; Ps 78:2). It is your job to explore, interpret, and apply them. There is definite reference here to your family tree and descendants. The two important words you must understand are “light” and “lamp.” While commentators generally say these are metaphors for gladness and prosperity, how do gladness and prosperity rejoice? There is a better interpretation, and it is discovered by comparing God’s words with God’s words, as directed by the apostle Paul (I Cor 2:13). In the Bible a man’s family is called his light or his lamp. God blessed David by these verses: “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem” (I Kgs 11:36). “Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem” (I Kgs 15:4). “Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children” (II Kgs 8:19). Again about David, God said, “There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed” (Ps 132:17). And again, “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever” (II Chr 21:7). Is this true doctrine? Indeed! “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off” (Ps 37:28). “I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Ex 20:5-6). God blesses the families of the righteous. “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed” (Ps 112:1-2). Other places teach the same truth (Nu 25:10-13; Ps 25:12-14; 34:11-22; 37:1-40; 102:28; Is 58:8-12; Jer 32:29; 35:18-19). God judges the families of the wicked. “Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee – Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men” (Ps 21:8-13). See other places (I Sam 2:27-36; I Kgs 16:1-7; 21:20-26; Job 18:16-21; 27:13-15; Ps 109:6-20; Is 14:18-23). Does God judge children for parental sins, since He hated Israel’s proverb, “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ezek 18:1-3)? He hated their proverb, because each generation has the opportunity to break the cycle from their parents. A wicked man can break the cycle of blessing from his righteous parents, and a righteous man can break the cycle of judgment from his wicked parents (Ezek 18:4-32).

Finish every job. Slothful men start projects, but they do not complete them. They may enjoy hunting, even though it is difficult and time-consuming, but they lose ambition, energy, and focus when they get home and need to dress and process the meat taken. On the other hand, a diligent and virtuous man salvages all the meat and does not rest until it is wrapped neatly in the freezer. He knows that any game taken by hunting is a blessing, and he is sure to use it to its fullest. He values any asset and all income wisely. Hunters take pains to prepare for deer hunting. They sight rifles, scout land, secure a tree stand, carefully select clothing and equipment, rise while it is still cold and dark, carry their stand deep into the woods, fix it in a tree, and wait for the deer. Having shot one, they rejoice with friends, field dress it, and drag it to their truck, where they proudly drive through town to the praise of their friends. The slothful man may seem diligent this far. But when he gets home, his energy disappears! The carcass fills him with dread – there is so much work to do! So he gives it to his neighbor with great generosity, throws it in a dumpster, leaves it to his dogs, or lets it rot in the garage. Then he orders pizza to relax after his hard day with a well-deserved meal and nap. He does not even clean his gun. What a waste! He squanders the Lord’s kind blessing on the little effort he did make. But the diligent man is different. He enjoys the hunt, but he knows it is for a purpose. He dresses, butchers, and processes every bit of meat for future use, and he neatly labels and packages it for convenient use by his wife. And he carefully cleans his gun to preserve its value. He is thankful for the gift of the deer, and he works to take full advantage of the Lord’s blessing. He takes of the day’s venison and shares it with his family for supper. What a difference between two men! The slothful man cannot finish a project to discover the profit of labor, but the diligent man sees the value in finishing every job and properly caring for each asset and all income. Sloth is foolish, wasteful, and destructive. Diligence is wise, resourceful, and productive. The diligent man shall rule (Pr 10:4; 12:24; 22:29). Reader, be careful. God and Solomon’s kind lesson here for your success is not found in most modern Bible versions. Proverbs are dark and obscure sayings (Pr 1:6; Jn 16:29), so their translators missed the lesson of wisdom about valuing and preserving your assets and income. The King James Bible, with over 400 years of spiritual fruit proving God’s blessing on it, is shown above, which clearly conveys the very valuable lesson for you. Solomon said, “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster” (Pr 18:9). A slothful man and a wasteful man are brothers in a family going to financial ruin. But the man in this proverb is both. His slothfulness caused him to waste God’s good favor. He did not even have the noble work ethic of profane Esau (Gen 27:30-31). Every man, every woman, every child, every day, faces this issue on the job, at home, at school, with numerous aspects of life. Good projects are started, but they are not always completed. Interruptions, difficulty, slothfulness, and procrastination keep them from being finished. They leave rotting carcasses in the garage, which soon stink up the home. Reader, have you started any projects you should finish today to be productive and value God’s blessings in your life? Or will you squander His goodness by leaving a task unfinished, the investment of labor partly made, but the full profit waiting for a diligent man? There is joy in a job well done – when the job is finished. Prove this wisdom. If you continue with partial efforts, the Lord will withdraw the blessing of providing a deer.

Here are two ways you can cause trouble and cost yourself dearly. You can abuse privileges, or neglect duties, in your family, and you will end up with nothing. Potential prosperity will disappear like wind through fingers. These and other foolish choices will take you down: you will end up serving those who are prudent and wise in their choices. Fathers can trouble their houses in many ways. Being greedy of gain is a clear one (Pr 15:27). They work too many hours, waste money in foolish ventures, deprive their family of personal attention, are stingy with money, compromise integrity, and are carnally minded, all in their vain pursuit of wealth. Lazy and foolish men also hurt their families by depriving them of needs and opportunities through sloth and ignorance. Fathers can also be too overbearing, harsh, critical, and domineering, which may discourage wives and children, or provoke them to wrath (Eph 6:4; Col 3:21). On the other hand, a father who avoids decisions or being a leader troubles his house. The wife and children are at sea without a captain. They lack security and direction for their lives. While fathers are mentioned here, everyone knows overbearing wives and mothers are also an evil (Pr 12:4; 19:13; 21:9,19; 25:24; 27:15-16; 30:21-23). They drive children to anger, bitterness, discouragement, frustration, and even hatred, though they whitewash their odious conduct by saying, “I was just trying to help.” They are full-time meddlers, always digging, nagging, and pressing suggestions about unimportant aspects of life. What is the punishment for these selfish persons – foolish fathers and mothers? They lose their families. The children can hardly wait for marriage to get away. Some will run away before marriage. These children only come home under duress. They want so much to escape the vexation of living with selfish or critical parents. They want peace and quiet, with affection and happiness, where love reigns; they want to escape their cruel parents. Such fools also lose the contest of life. Cream rises – prudent and wise men; dregs fall – foolish and impulsive men. These losers end up serving the wise in heart. They envy their success; they beg for charity; they borrow from them; they likely work for them. Wise men win in the game of life, and fools end up losing to them. Embrace wisdom today. Troubling your family has consequences. Foolish parents, who selfishly neglect their children or odiously interfere in their lives, will lose them. They will die lonely, even if the children visit them out of obligation. Foolish choices will cost a man his standing; the prudent man will take dominion over him. These judgments are natural and appropriate. The proverb also applies to children that do not honor their parents. They also will inherit the wind – they will lose by natural and divine judgment the benefit that could or should have been theirs. They will end up serving their siblings or others that are wise of heart. The constant lesson of Proverbs is the great benefit of righteousness and wisdom.

What will fall on you today? Blessings on your head? Or violence to shut your mouth? Either blessing or violence will fall from God upon you. What makes the difference? Either you are living the just man’s life, or you are living the world’s wicked life of sin. Are you confident you can get away with sinning? So were Noah’s neighbors! You believe God thinks like you and will not judge your sins? Listen to the answer from the sweet psalmist of Israel, “Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Ps 50:22). Reader, believe and respond to this proverb. Why the head of the just? Because the head was the place where formal blessings were bestowed (Gen 48:17; Ps 133:2; Zech 6:11; Matt 26:7). Why the mouth of the wicked? Because it is the hole from which the wicked arrogantly belch against heaven and spew malicious words against the righteous (Ps 12:3; 31:18; 59:12; 63:11; 107:42; 140:9-11). Blessings are the generous and kind favors from God and men that are directed toward good men, who live godly lives in the fear of the Lord. Just men seek in every part of their lives to be fair, good, right, and righteous. They hate sin and will not compromise with the world. They cannot be bought, pressured, seduced, or tormented to sin. There is a wonderful promise in this proverb (along with its terrible warning). If you will live a good and righteous life as defined by the Bible, God will favor your causes and plans with prosperity. From marriage to investments and from health to relationships, God can open doors and grant success like no other influence or power in the universe. Violence is the terrible things God and men do to the wicked, who do not care for Him or His ways (Ps 7:11-16). These curses and punishments include economic disaster, health problems, financial failure, professional loss, family dysfunction, mental instability, and any other trouble that the God of heaven is justified to pour out upon foolish sinners. The family tree of Canaan was cursed for Ham’s sexual sin (Gen 9:24-27). Jezebel was thrown from an upper window before Jehu trampled her under his horse (II Kgs 9:30-37). Saul who envied David was beheaded and nailed to a wall (I Sam 31:9-10). Judas was turned over to the devil for a horrific suicide (Acts 1:18). Ananias and Sapphira lied about their giving and fell down dead (Acts 5:1-11). Herod Agrippa executed James and was eaten by worms (Acts 12:21-23). The Jews crucified Jesus, and the Romans slaughtered them and their children (Luke 19:42-44). Proud and unthankful evolutionists are given reprobate minds for perversions with their own sex (Rom 1:18-28). Only fools wonder why crazed boys take guns to school and viciously shoot other students, when an infant-murder clinic is just down the street, the government allows Hollywood to sell murder and mayhem for entertainment, and the public zoo teaches evolution while outlawing the Ten Commandments. There are consequences for sin, and wise readers of this proverb are reminded of it. Fools will ignore the warning and rush forward in their greed to satisfy their lusts, never seeing the coming disaster and pain. Reader, it is not too late. If you are considering this proverb, then the blessed God has had mercy on your soul. Do not silence the voice of conscience or the exhortation of the Spirit. Humble yourself before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Just One Himself, and beg for mercy for your wickedness, and turn your steps to follow in the path of righteousness.

The world’s most desirable woman has built a palace, and you are invited to stay there free for the rest of your life. It is the perfect place to live with delightful amenities for every need and total protection from every danger. Why choose to live anywhere else? Solomon’s proverbs use beautiful and powerful language. Here is the figure of speech called personification, where the intangible thing called wisdom is presented as a noble woman offering friendship to men for safety and success. See the notes for Proverbs 8:1. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York harbor in 1886. Millions of immigrants cherished the sight, and millions more have considered the image of Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, a precious symbol of freedom and opportunity in the United States. But if the truth be told, Lady Wisdom, introduced by this proverb, offers benefits far more precious than the United States can ever provide. Even when America was greater than she is today, there was much foolishness in her, which was never true of Wisdom. Where can you find wisdom for prosperity and protection? Not in the Constitution of the United States, but rather in the written scriptures of God Jehovah and the Lord Christ. The Christian Bible is a perfect divine library offering all wisdom for time and eternity. But it can only benefit you by reading and learning it from those God calls to preach it. Lady Wisdom has built a house – one large enough to accommodate many – so you think of a palace. Here you can live a safe and long life in prosperity and pleasure, for she has designed every feature to satisfy your needs and desires. It is the paradise you seek. There are many rooms available, and she calls for guests (Pr 1:20-21; 8:1-4). To enter you only need be foolish and have a desire to be wise (Pr 9:4-5)! There is no cost (Is 55:1-3); you will never be discharged, unless you no longer want friendship with her. The hotel is supported and decorated by seven beautiful pillars, which are the permanent perfection of wisdom. Seven is the perfect number of God and wisdom (Gen 2:1-3). You need not worry about decay, for it was set up from everlasting (Pr 8:23). Admire it! Dear reader, you must choose. Would you live here the rest of your life? Or do the foolish men in the street attract you (Pr 1:10-19; 9:6)? Does the strange woman sitting at her door tempt you to stay with her (Pr 7:8; 9:13-17)? See the notes for Proverbs 9:15. Most pass by Lady Wisdom’s fine palace without any interest, for they are infatuated with the lusts of their flesh and eyes and the pride of life (I Jn 2:15-17). They do not want wisdom, for they are in love with the world’s foolishness and their own selfish thoughts. Lady Wisdom’s hotel seems boring to ignorant and depraved minds. But to those who enter and partake of the offered amenities, they will find all precious substance, pleasure, and long life (Pr 3:13-18; 8:11,18-21). Look at her preparations for you (Pr 9:2-5)! Do not neglect her invitation. Rooms are free, but rejection is very costly. If you reject her free offer of peace and prosperity, she will punish your foolish heart with calamities and trouble. She will bring you down to destruction with fear and trembling (Pr 1:24-32). She will turn to be your enemy and turn your life upside down with grief and pain. A noble man will humble himself, lift grateful thanks to heaven, and run into the hotel today. He will use the information desk and concierge to explore every opportunity and amenity it has to offer, and he will apply himself with all diligence to keep the rules of the house for a perpetual stay in health and happiness. Show Lady Wisdom your zeal!

Fornicators and adulterers think and say, “We will not get caught.” In this proverb, an adulteress enticed her victim by promising safety for a secret liaison. Lying no less than Satan to Eve, she told him no harm would come, for her husband was traveling. Lying no less than Delilah to Samson, she did not tell him that his God was not on a long journey. The older English word “goodman” means a husband. The sly Jezebel here in Solomon’s parable used this word to speak of her husband distantly and disrespectfully (Pr 2:17), to keep both consciences from thinking about her innocent husband, her lover from her youth. Adultery usually requires some degree of criticism of spouses for it to ever occur. Using male pronouns like “he” and “him” to slight her diligent husband (Pr 7:19-20), she suggested her own bed as a safe place for their tryst (Pr 7:16-17). She offered much time for great lovemaking, as he would be gone a good while (Pr 7:20). It is godly wisdom for women to practice the reverence of Sarah when thinking of their husbands (I Pet 3:5-6). She further spoke of her husband’s long journey, and implied frequent business trips by it, to solicit sympathy from the fool that she was lonely and needed his love and affection. How many adulterers have excused their heinous sin by blaming a spouse, when it is rather a lack of the fear of God and temperance to keep them content in their marriage? Sin is deceitful, but sexual sins are more deceitful than most (Pr 3:13). The short pleasure can be so great and the distant consequences so obscure, sexual sins are considered victimless as long as both parties consent. But sin does not tell you about sexual diseases, unwanted pregnancies, guilt, shame, jealous husbands or angry fathers, future sexual dysfunction, unwanted memories, confusion of love and sex, resentment, loneliness, etc. America and much of the world now entertain themselves with such sexual intrigues as this parable describes by their songs, novels, and movies. Adultery is epidemic and encouraged by the media for women to find themselves and for older women to have fun with younger men. Men think it is their prerogative and role to bed as many women as possible. But what does God and the Bible say about such heinous wickedness? Solomon’s lesson here would be a great plot for a movie or novel today, and the whore would be the heroine. All would enjoy her arts of beguiling the young man; her conquest would be celebrated as the triumph of love; the drama would conclude pleasantly; and most young men that saw or read it would desire to be so lucky. Thus fools make a mock at sin (Pr 14:9). Thus Satan sells his poison (Ps 101:3). But what does the LORD say? He condemned both parties to death (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22-24; II Sam 12:13; John 8:5). What if both were consenting? It is a sin worthy of death (Heb 13:4; Rev 21:8). A husband in Israel returning from a business trip could take his wife to the priests for the test of jealousy, with no need for circumstantial evidence. If she were guilty of sexual infidelity, her belly would swell and her genitals would rot immediately (Num 5:11-31). Business trips are often more dangerous for men, for there are many temptations in a fine hotel far from home, with much time, luxurious food and wine, and anonymity. Let every man that nameth the name of Christ limit his travels and keep his vessel (I Thess 4:1-8). To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let Joseph be your example (Gen 39:7-12). Keep your marital separations to a minimum. Separation only makes the heart grow fonder if both parties are godly and the separation necessary. Otherwise, spouses have daily lovemaking obligations, and unnecessary separations become covenant breaking and defrauding and give sexual place to Satan (I Cor 7:1-5). God knew separations would occur due to business and war, so He prohibited them for the first year (Deut 24:5).

Wisdom is worth your attention. God owns wisdom. It is His possession. He has had it from eternity. God has never existed without wisdom, and wisdom has never existed without God. He used wisdom to create the world for the use of man (Pr 8:22-31). Angels, devils, and men acquire or learn wisdom, but not the Lord. God’s greatest display of wisdom is toward men – by His creation of them, His providence toward them, His incarnation in one of them, His salvation of some of them, and His revelation to them. He exalts wisdom for your consideration by this proverb. Wisdom is worth your attention. Proverbs Chapter 8 personifies wisdom as a woman. The personal pronouns, from “her” in the first verse to “me” in the last, are Lady Wisdom (Pr 8:1,36). She introduces herself (Pr 8:1-11), describes her benefits for living (Pr 8:12-21), tells of being with God before and during creation (Pr 8:22-31), and she concludes by exhorting men to consider her great value (Pr 8:32-36). Happiness and success with God and men depend on wisdom. For this section (Pr 8:22-31), Lady Wisdom described being with God before and during creation. She spoke of Him forming mountains, oceans, heavens, clouds, and waves. But then she turned her attention from material things to the habitable part of the earth and mankind. Consider the wisdom of God that has made living on earth so very pleasant. The habitable parts of earth have features that help men enjoy life. They enjoy mountains for view and coolness, valleys for protection and lush vegetation, and oceans for beaches and water sports. They appreciate the four seasons in places away from the equator. Some climes are perfect for vineyards; other places have diamonds and gold underground. Animals, flowers, trees, terrain, and weather vary by location for almost any preferences. God’s great wisdom is also shown in other works toward man – creation, providence, incarnation, salvation, and revelation. These five works exalt wisdom very high. Consider a broad review of God’s greatest works to fully appreciate the benefit and value of wisdom used by God in mercy toward the sons of men. You should value wisdom highly. First, God created man. How? By His eternal and infinite wisdom! Look at a baby’s fingernails and eyelashes. Testosterone turns a boy into a man, and estrogen a girl into a woman, though they eat the same food. When you walk, you do something no robot can duplicate. But then watch a gymnast! Do men and women enjoy lovemaking? Do their bodies fit together well in the act? Gloriously! Man analyzes, thinks, loves, and makes decisions like no other creature on earth. Watch lovers stare into the windows of each other’s soul. Man is uniquely special. He was designed by the wisdom of God. Second, God providentially takes care of man. How? By eternal and infinite wisdom! He sends sunshine to kiss your skin and rain to prosper fields. That field can grow bread for heart health, wine for heart gladness, and oil for your face. He is the greatest matchmaker in history, arranging for you to meet your spouse. When you needed a job, He caused a firm to hire you. When you and your neighbor pray for opposite needs, He gives the perfect answer for both. He assisted the inventor and gifted the doctor long before you needed the new medical procedure to save your life. Preserved by the wisdom of God!

What is the easiest way to spot a wicked man or woman? Check their police record? Smell for drugs? Look for tattoos? No, no, no. Listen for a froward mouth. A man’s words say more about him than most other indicators. Evil speech proves an evil man. The description of naughty persons should silence those that love to wag their tongues. This proverb identifies naughty and wicked people (Pr 6:12-15). Wisdom includes discerning character. You must avoid fools and scorners; you must seek wise and good men (Pr 9:7-9; 13:20; 14:7). The world is full of bad people, and wise men will mark and avoid them. The lesson here is that a person’s speech indicates character very well. Of course, they will say, “You do not know my heart, so you cannot judge me.” They say this to justify and excuse their wicked actions. But you can see their hearts clearly, for the froward words of their mouths leak like sewer from their froward hearts (Pr 6:14). Jesus Christ taught plainly that a wicked mouth proves a wicked heart (Luke 6:45). A pure heart is known by gracious speech (Pr 22:11). Good speech does not come from an evil heart, and neither can evil speech come from a good heart. This is wisdom. Learn it. Two words in this proverb are not often used, so review their English definitions. Naughty. Characterized by moral badness or wickedness; bad, wrong, blameworthy, improper. Froward. Disposed to go counter to what is demanded or what is reasonable; perverse, difficult to deal with, hard to please; refractory, ungovernable; bad, evilly-disposed, ‘naughty’. Naughty and wicked people have bad, evil, wrong, or dangerous hearts. They are fools, scorners, or worse. Because you must avoid them, you need to learn to spot them. Their speech will be contrary, unreasonable, negative, critical, ornery, disrespectful, haughty, harsh, rebellious, or profane. They cannot always hide it, for their hearts are evil. Parents, hear and correct such speech in your children. Foolishness and wickedness can be driven out, if you use the rod and reproof early enough (Pr 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 29:15). Permissive or pampering parenting does not work and will produce naughty and wicked persons. Teach children godliness and humility instead and gracious speech at all times. When you spot a naughty person, go from him (Pr 9:7-9; 14:7; 22:10). He will snare your soul, waste your time, or bring contention and trouble. Do not fear him, for calamities are soon coming to his life. God will destroy him suddenly without remedy (Pr 6:15). Paul prayed for deliverance from unreasonable and wicked men, for he knew that only men with good hearts and faith were his object (II Thess 3:1-2). Regeneration makes this difference. Let the lesson teach you to be such a person today (Phil 2:12-13; Eph 4:24).

Do you know how to save yourself from sexual trouble? Do you know enough to teach sexual safety to others? King Solomon taught his children often about sexual sins, their powerful temptations, and their terrible consequences (Pr 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27; 9:13-18; 22:14; 23:27-28; 30:19-20; 31:3; Eccl 7:26). Pay attention. Beware, reader. Consider the context. Solomon asked his son to humbly hear his fatherly wisdom and understanding (Pr 5:1), and he called on all his children to receive his instruction and not turn away from it (Pr 5:7). What did he fear so much in their lives? The whorish woman! He knew about her flattering speech (Pr 5:3), the incredibly painful consequences of touching her (Pr 5:4-5), and how can she easily deceive and seduce most men (Pr 5:6). Fornication and adultery are nearly forgotten sins. They are glamorized and promoted in television, movies, books, magazines, and the Internet. Many of the stars of society – whether political, performing, or athletic stars – live sexually sinful lives that are seen by most as the good life. But the Bible condemns fornication and adultery, and it calls the children of God to sexual holiness (I Cor 6:12-20; 7:1-5; I Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4). Casual sex is only casual in the foolish thoughts of two sinners doing it. The trouble that certainly follows is not casual: it is painful, permanent, and pernicious. Take your pick – you will reap one or more of these results: jealousy, syphilis, divorce, herpes, ruined reputation, gonorrhea, insecurity, HIV, sexual dysfunction, vengeful father or husband, crabs, irate wife, HPV, lost virginity, guilt, unwanted pregnancy, shame, and so forth. The proverb has a clear lesson with two parts. First, the wise instruction from God and parents is to help save you from sexual sin and pain. Second, the wise instruction from God and parents is to help you save others from sexual sin and pain. Have you learned enough to save yourself? Have you learned enough to save others? Does wisdom guide your life and supply your speech for others? Your future and that of others depend on it. God has revealed wonderful wisdom to mankind (Deut 29:29). It is your duty to hear and apply those words to your own life (Ps 119:11,128). And it is your duty to hear and apply those words to others’ lives (Pr 22:17-21; Jas 5:19-20). The perpetuity of truth on earth and the prosperity and success of God’s children depend on you having sexual wisdom yourself and also communicating it to children and others to protect and prosper them. If you are a parent, have you taught and warned your children? Do you monitor their lives sufficiently to keep them from sexual sins in a generation with easy communication and transportation? If you are a pastor, do you preach against it, as Solomon did in his book of Proverbs? If you are an uncle or grandparent, you also can get involved to help those in your family tree avoid sexual sins and the evil consequences that follow them. For all persons, have you accepted the sexual instruction and warnings of parents? Pastors? Counselors? Scripture? Most do not teach it today, but you can find many and severe warnings in the Bible. Do you know God’s answers to sexual questions? Are you ready to give an answer for your faith (Pr 22:17-21)? Get ready, for you will certainly encounter those that need clear, definitive, and persuasive answers.

The lessons of wisdom are crucial for your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring prosperity and success to your life. If you find and keep them, they will bring function and vitality to your existence. You must first submit yourself to the instruction of wisdom (Pr 4:20), and then you must retain what you have been taught (Pr 4:21). You have seen lives so messed up that it is easy to think death might be a mercy. You have seen lives so dysfunctional and painful that it is easy to wonder why they were ever born. You have seen lives so distressed and troubled that it is easy to describe their lives as hell on earth. Wisdom saves men from such terrible and wasted lives. It is life to those that find it, in that wisdom teaches a person how to live joyfully and successfully. Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly think that freedom to do as they wish would bring pleasure. They are fools. What do they think will keep their neighbors from killing them for their wives and houses? They think the laws of the Bible are onerous and restrictive, yet it is by wise precepts and statutes that people live together most happily, prosperously, and securely. Most men think that eliminating laws and rules would bring happiness and success. They foolishly forget that they arrived in this world totally ignorant and messing on themselves. Without divine guidance in the form of commandments, they would not know how to treat parents, spouses, children, neighbors, magistrates, or employers. They would not know how to make marriage, family, business, church, or society work at all. Without the knowledge or restraint of wise laws, humanity might practice cannibalism, witchcraft, polyandry, incest, child sacrifice, sodomy, insect worship, necrophilia, or a host of other abominations, as has happened in many nations not having the light of God’s laws. There is glorious wisdom taught in the inspired scriptures of Jehovah! What do these profane activities do? Bring health and happiness, wealth and progress? No way! They promote war, disease, death, dysfunction, poverty, misery, and ignorance. Nations long without the Bible or its influence are typically third world. They are incredibly backward and/or morally corrupt. Light and progress are by the Word of God alone, and the nations that follow it are blessed indeed (Pr 8:12-21; Ps 33:12; 144:15). Moses told Israel, “And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it” (Deut 32:46-47). Do you see it, reader? The words of God’s law are your life. To live your life without God’s words is insanity, as moral degeneracy and degradation of much of the present world still proves so clearly. Moses told his successor, Joshua, that he could achieve success and prosperity by remembering, meditating upon, and obeying God’s law (Josh 1:7-8). Jesus came bringing even greater light than Moses, and He promised life and life more abundant for keeping His sayings (John 1:4,17; 10:10). Do you consider the Word of God more valuable than fine gold and sweeter than honey (Ps 19:11)? Why not? Do you consider His words more than your necessary food (Job 23:12)? You should. They are life and health for body and soul. Neglect His words to your own peril and pain. Instead, read and remember it for your great pleasure and profit.

Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4). Here is fabulous truth about the origin of the earth and heavens. Any science that contradicts it is false science (I Tim 6:20-21). For you to appreciate wisdom in Solomon’s Proverbs, God used it to create the universe. Most today foolishly believe the earth and heavens are the result of a cosmic explosion – they call it a big bang. They believe the incredible order, beauty, design, life, intelligence, consciousness, sexes, animal spirits, reproductive ability, and human souls, among trillions of other aspects of the universe, are the result of expansion of very dense matter. Chaos brought all things into existence by chance! Now that theory takes enormous faith – confidence in man’s speculative imagination, with no supporting evidence, and with all experience denying the remotest possibility. And the more education a person has, the more confident they are of this ridiculous hallucination. So much for higher education! Children know better. For, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen 1:1). For, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb 11:3). A child can read, memorize, and understand that the only true book declares creation. Men today are as stupid as a stone. They reason from pure speculation out of hatred and rebellion against their Creator. Wisdom reasons by faith from the visible creation and the obviously inspired revelation of the Bible. The truth is certain and sure, but only a man with faith can see it and hold it (II Thess 3:1-2). Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith. All thoughts about origins, worldviews, truth, and wisdom start with presuppositions – axioms assumed to be self-evident. God-haters, like Stephen Hawkings or Bill Nye, assume there is no God or divine revelation in order to substitute the theory of evolution for creation. Believers assume the existence of God by faith and the evidence in creation; they assume the Bible is divine revelation by faith and its internal evidence. The LORD and Solomon want you to learn wisdom and understanding (Pr 3:13,21), for the benefits of having it are numerous and glorious (Pr 3:14-18,22-26). But where did wisdom come from, and how valuable is it? You have this proverb, and its conclusion in Prov 3:20, to provoke greater appreciation for wisdom by considering its Source and use. Wisdom and understanding are from the LORD, Who has both in infinite measure. He used them to found the earth and establish the heavens. Wisdom and understanding are what guided the Creator God in the design of the universe. Are you interested in getting some? Now are you willing to listen, as Solomon teaches you the fear of the Lord? The LORD God Jehovah created the earth with its axis holding an angle of 23.5 degrees, so you have seasons and varying amounts of light and night. He made 24-hour periods of time called days, which are just the right amount of time to work, play, and sleep before the next one begins. The list could go on indefinitely. He made it all perfectly good. He established the moon to keep track of months, and the stars to guide sailors on the seas. They hold in patterns called constellations, and the sun gives just the right amount of heat within a narrow range for life on earth to prosper. The list could go on forever. Dear reader, if other descriptions of wisdom have not moved you, does the use of wisdom by God in creating the universe impress you? You may have the wisdom of God, if you will take it. The book of Proverbs was written to help you get it, so learn it today (Pr 4:7). And remember that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in the Lord Jesus, the glorious and soon-appearing Redeemer, Who created all things Himself, and by Whom all things consist, and by Whom all things are upheld (Col 1:16-17; 2:3; Heb 1:3).

The true and living God will bless your obedience – with wisdom and protection. He generously gives true and helpful wisdom to righteous men. God has all the wisdom in the universe, and He will share His treasure with good men. He will be a buckler to them as well, which shows His strong protection by using the metaphor of a battle shield. As in any writing, check the context to grasp this proverb. King Solomon, the Preacher of Israel, had listed the means for finding the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God (Pr 2:1-5). He then taught that since God is the fountain and source of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, He gives these things abundantly to faithful men or women (Pr 2:6-9). Reader, what will you do? Here are divine wisdom and protection for your life. They are available to all who will humble themselves and seek them from God Jehovah, beside Whom there is no other god. When a man chooses to follow the way of righteousness taught in the Bible, God will reveal truth and wisdom to Him (Ps 119:100; John 7:17). If you follow the world – the way of folly and sin, you will suffer the dire consequences of being blinded to wisdom (Rom 1:18-27), have God turn against you (Pr 1:20-32; Is 63:10), and then die a miserable death in ignorance and sorrow (Pr 5:11-13; 8:36). But you can also choose life and blessing, which God will give for obedience (I Pet 3:10-12). How much wisdom has God laid up for the righteous? The Bible contains more wisdom than all the educators and institutions of “higher learning” combined (Is 8:20; I Cor 1:19-20; I Tim 6:20). On any subject, the Bible provides answers that confound and shame the ignorance of men (Ps 94:11; 119:113,128). How much time do you spend reading it? God appointed Solomon Preacher in Israel to give inspired wisdom to His people (Eccl 1:1,12; 12:8-11). And He has ordained more preachers through Jesus Christ since His resurrection and ascension into heaven (Ps 68:18; Eph 4:8-16). It is your privilege to seek them out and find your wisdom from God (Jer 3:15; Mal 2:7; Col 1:28; II Tim 3:16-17). The Bible thoroughly covers every part of your life, any question of philosophy, effective policies for civil rulers, God’s role in history, what He will do in the future, how churches should function, and what they should believe and practice (II Tim 3:16-17). Just this book of Proverbs addresses finance, marriage, speech, friends, wine, religion, business, politics, relationships, risk, child training, sex, fear, discrimination, and so much more. What is a buckler? It is a shield (I Chr 5:18; Song 4:4). When listed with a shield, it is different in size, construction, or battle use (Ps 35:2). By using buckler as a metaphor, Solomon taught God’s protection for upright men (Pr 30:5; Ps 18:2,30; 84:11; 144:2). The angels of Jehovah, spirit beings superior to men by any measure, are servants for those who fear God and keep His commandments (Ps 34:7; Heb 1:13-14). “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Ps 4:8). The maximum safety you can have on earth is to walk uprightly, which is to have goals, habits, and a lifestyle of doing what is right. The eyes of Almighty God look throughout the world to show Himself strong for those with perfect hearts (II Chr 16:9). Not only will God protect the godly man during life on earth, righteous living is also the assurance and evidence that you will be safe in the Day of Judgment (Matt 7:21-23; II Pet 1:5-11).