Gold for the heart - Proverbs 14-18

Proverbs 14

1 Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands. 2 He that walks in his uprightness fears/reveres the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.

How foolish not to fear someone who is smart enough and powerful enough to make the universe.
The proof of a Creator is the creation.
How ungrateful to be given the great gift of life and not be grateful but refuse to acknowledge God.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise will preserve them. 4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. 5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. 6 A scorner seeks wisdom, and does not find it: but knowledge is easy to him that understands. 7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit. 9 Fools mock at guilt: but among the righteous there is favor. 10 The heart knows his own bitterness; and a stranger does not share its joy.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

God has told us what is right

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown: but the dwelling of the upright will flourish. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the ways of death.

Deuteronomy 12:8 you are not to do what we are doing here this day, every man doing whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness. 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways: and a good man will be satisfied from himself. 15 The simple believe every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going. 16 A wise man fears, and departs from evil: but the fool rages, and is confident.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

17 He that is soon angry deals foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated. 18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. 19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous. 20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor: but the rich have many friends. 21 He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth will be to them that devise good. 23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly. 25 A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies. 26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children will have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

We fear war, poverty, illness, and bodily harm.
We fear loss; we fear death.
Should we not fear the One who is smart enough and powerful enough to create all things?
In fear of God, we lose the other fears.
When we come to know this amazing One, fear turns to respect, awe, love, and worship.
If you love your children and want them to be kept safe, fear the Lord, listen and obey Him.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honor: but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince. 29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalts folly. 30 A tranquil/relaxed heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones. 31 He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker: but he that honors him has mercy on the poor.

Psalm 14:6 You have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.

Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous has hope in his death. 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but si n is a reproach to any community. 35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causes shame.

Wouldn’t it be best to live our lives desiring the favor of the eternal King of Kings?

Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.

Revelation 19:16 And he had on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Proverbs 15

The eyes of the LORD are in every place; He is watching the evil and the good

1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly: but the mouth of fools gushes foolishness. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome/healing (from relax) tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

5 A fool despises his father’s instruction: but he that regards reproof is prudent. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge: but the heart of the foolish is not so. 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but he loves him that follows after righteousness. 10 Correction is grievous to him that forsakes the way: and he that hates reproof will die. 11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

Men’s hearts are before the Lord.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being.

12 A scorner does not love one that reproves him: neither will he go to the wise. 13 A merry heart makes a cheerful face: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 14 The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. 15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart has a continual feast. 16 Better is little with reverence for the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and with hatred. 18 A wrathful man stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.

19 The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Psalm 48:14 this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

20 A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly.

‘Destitute of wisdom’ is the Hebrew ‘void (empty) of heart.’

22 Without counsel purposes are broken: but with great counselors they are established. 23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! 24 The way of life leads upward for the wise that he may depart from hell beneath. 25 The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. 26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. 27 He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house; but he that hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous studies to answer: but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The Lord is far from the wicked; He hears the prayer of the righteous

29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart: and a good report makes the bones fat. 31 The ear that hears the reproof of life abides among the wise. 32 He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

Righteous people are not perfect people but people that seek to follow God.
The wicked follow the whispers of evil like Eve in Eden.

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Proverbs 16

1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, and the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weighs the spirits.

We plan to say one thing but something else comes out of our mouth. The answer of the tongue is from the LORD. He weighs the spirits.

The LORD has made all things for Himself

3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. 4 The LORD has made all things for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though they join forces, he will not be held innocent. 6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

God gives us peace with our enemies when our ways please Him

7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice. 9 A man’s heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps. 10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth does not transgress in judgment. 11 A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work. 12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. 13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right. 14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences.

15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding than silver! 17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keeps his way preserves his soul. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

The sooner we get over ourselves, the less pain we are going to have.
The great disease that man contracted in the Garden of Eden at the fall was self-centeredness.
Man is not the center or Source of life.
When we center our thinking on us, we are out of balance with all of creation.

20 He that handles a matter wisely will find good: and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. 21 The wise in heart will be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning. 22 Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that has it: but the instruction of fools is folly. 23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

This verse also tells us that honey in its natural form is good for man rather than bad as some attest.
Trusting the LORD leads to happiness.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is the way of death.

‘If I just do good I’ll be accepted by God,’ seems right to man.
God says that’s not good enough. His standards are higher than ours.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him not perish, but have everlasting life.

26 He that labors works for himself for his mouth craves it of him. 27 An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. 28 A perverse man sends out strife: and a whisperer separates close friends. 29 A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him into the way that is not good.

30 He shuts his eyes to devise perverse things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass. 31 The gray head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness. 32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city. 33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing of it is from the LORD.

The LORD decides the answer when the lot is cast.

Proverbs 17

God test/refiines/purifies our hearts

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of sacrifices with strife. 2 A wise servant will have rule over a son that causes shame, and will have part of the inheritance among the brothers. 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tests the hearts. 4 An evildoer listens to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue. 5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities will not be held innocent.

God teaches us to trust Him rather than ourselves with our needs.
That is one of the reasons that we have financial tests.
So therefore, to make fun of the poor is mocking a work of God in progress.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 7 Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool: much less are lying lips fitting to a prince. 8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.

‘Precious stone’ is ‘a stone of grace’ in Hebrew.

9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates close friends. 10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than a hundred whiplashes to a fool. 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

A bear can take your life, but a fool can lead your soul to eternal hell.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out. 15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, both are abomination to the LORD. 16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, when he has no sense? 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

God hates those who justify the wicked; He hates those who condemn the just.
We have no greater friend than God who sent His Son to die in our place.
We have no greater friend than Jesus who died for us so that we might be with Him always.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

18 A man lacking sense pledges and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend. 19 He loving strife loves rebellion: and he that exalts his door seeks shattering. 20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

The word ‘perverse’ means to turn away. A tongue that turns away from God falls into evil.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

21 He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones. 23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him. 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity. 27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there lacks not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 18

1 He who separates himself seeks his own desire and quarrels with all sound wisdom. 2 A fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his own mind. 3 When the wicked comes, then also comes contempt, and with dishonor comes scorn. 4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

John 7:38 He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, nor to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

The Lord is a strong tower where the righteous are safe

10 The name/person of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is set aloft. 11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is arrogant, and before honor is humility.

The righteous are those who seek Him, not the perfect since none are sinless, good, or perfect.
He provides our sinlessness, goodness, and perfection in Himself.

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, and do not become vain in robbery: if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up.

13 He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. 16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

Romans 6:23 … the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

17 He that is first in his own cause seems just; but his neighbor comes and searches him. 18 The lot puts and end to strife, and decides between mighty ones. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man’s belly will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips he will be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it will eat its fruit. 22 Whoever finds a wife finds a gift of grace, and receives an object of delight from the LORD.

God’s mate for man is a gift of grace.
This wife is not just any woman to marry. This wife is Ishah.
God took a ‘side’ from Adam and made a woman.
The word rib is an inadequate mistranslation.
The Hebrew word ‘tslalah’ is always translated ‘side.’
The man was called Ish in the Hebrew language, the woman Ishah because she was taken from the man.
What God has done for one, he does for mankind.
When a man finds the mate designed by God to fit him, then that one is grace from the Lord and an object of delight.

23 The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly. 24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

John 15:15 From now on I call you not servants; for the servant does not know what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 15:13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him not perish, but have everlasting life.

SUMMARY: Proverbs 14-18

God has told us what is right
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life
The eyes of the LORD are in every place; He is watching the evil and the good
The Lord is far from the wicked; He hears the prayer of the righteous
The LORD has made all things for Himself
God gives us peace with our enemies when our ways please Him
God test/refiines/purifies our hearts
The Lord is a strong tower where the righteous are safe