Category: Devotions

How many calamities flow from the abuse of words? You have noted the frequent references to words or speech recurring in these proverbs. This emphasises the importance of words. In Pr. 12:23 and 13:16 the fool spouts off with nothing to say. The contrast is between the gentle stream flowing within its proper channels, the tongue of the wise, and the destruction caused by a raging flood that bursts its banks, out of control, like the mouth of fools! “The tongue shows the man. The wise commands his tongue. The fool – his tongue commands him” (Bridges).

Before we leave this proverb, there is another thought implicit here that should be brought out, especially in these days of widespread compromise among professing Christians. “Equivocation is half-way to lying, and lying is the whole way to hell!” To this Spurgeon added, “but by a carefully constructed equivocation truth is murdered.”

Proverbs 15:1, 2, 4 all deal with good and bad use of words. Proverb 15:11 is well known because often quoted. If this writer had more often heeded its advice many heartaches might never have been!

To honour the King is the duty of all subjects, as well as the command of God. To honour the King of Kings is the highest and best duty of all. The former brings temporal praise, the other eternal peace. This proverb also applies to every day life. One who pleases his master, his boss, will receive recognition now, but the one who pleases THE KING receives an hundredfold now, and in the world to come eternal life.

The meaning of this proverb requires little explanation. Preachers have often used it as a sermon text. Still, it carries an imperative warning for our day.

What is it that in the midst of fools is made known? Is it folly or wisdom? The word wisdom and both verbs are feminine. It is thus that most modern versions contradict one another, depending on which option they choose. RSV says, but it (wisdom) is not known in the heart of fools. The RSV footnote shows it followed the Greek (LXX), but adds “Heb. lacks not.” The NRSV, reflecting the very latest scholarship, still inserts not known, while adding a note that not only the Hebrew lacks not, but also Greek and Syriac versions! NASV reads, but in the bosom of fools it (wisdom) is made known. Yet, the NAV (with Apocrypha) reads, but in the bosom of fools it is unknown! Surely Bibles that contradict one another cannot be the Word of God! Since folly is also feminine (14:24), there is no problem with the verb. The simple contrast in this proverb must be between the wise person who shows wisdom, and fools, who only display their folly!

The faith that justified Abraham was the same faith that justified Paul. Likewise, the true saints under the Old Covenant, lived on the sincere milk of the Word, and were nourished thereby, whatever the measure of their grasp of the fullness of its truth was. In more recent times, many individuals boasted, and denominations claimed, that their creeds were based on the Bible alone. Sadly, their practice does not support many of those claims. What Satan began with, Yea, hath God said, is now, for many, Yea, God has not said!

Because our readings are primarily devotional, we do not often digress into strictly matters of textual criticism. Such discussions are rather technical and may seem remote for the average reader’s needs. They seem rather involved, but they show how the Words of God can be corrupted. Allow this departure on 14:32, because it does illustrate how subtle changes are introduced into God’s Word unobserved by most new version readers.

2. How Do The Righteous Die? Hopeful! They sorrow not as others (1 Thes. 4:13-18), because death is swallowed in Victory (1 Cor. 15:42-58). Calvin said, “The word ‘hope’ I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.” “Faith is the victory, that overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).

1. How Do The Wicked Die? Hopeless! It is true that God desires not the death of the wicked. Terrible must that death be! You only die once. You had better learn to do it well! Yet sinners entertain the vain notion that they have a chance of heaven, but there is no such a chance in the message of today’s proverb!