PROVERBS LESSON 13
We will begin this lesson in Proverbs 10:18 "He that hideth
hatred [with] lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, [is] a
fool."
What really is a "fool"?. Really, a fool is someone who has
undeniable proof before them and still will not believe. They are not
able to determine truth but will prefer to believe a lie. Once in the
Canadian Rockies, we were in a spot surrounded on every side by the
most fantastic snow covered mountains that I had ever seen. No two of
them were alike in color or shape, and my brother said, "only a fool
could look at this and say there is no God". You see, a fool has no
understanding at all. Lying is having no understanding of why we must
tell the truth. A person who tells something untrue about someone else
and tears down their good name has no understanding and is therefore a
fool.
Proverbs 10:19 "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin:
but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise."
The person who listens learns. Talking too much leads to sin. A
loose tongued person is boring and noisy and really not very likely to
learn anything new. When you are talking, you cannot listen.
Proverbs 10:20 "The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the
heart of the wicked [is] little worth."
As we have said in all these studies, silver is symbolic of
redemption. A person, (Christian) who is just and upright, uses his
tongue to tell others about the salvation of Jesus. As we have said
before, the source of all that we are, good or bad, is in the heart. A
person with a wicked heart is continually doing evil.
Proverbs 10:21 "The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools
die for want of wisdom."
The type of food that this is speaking of is spiritual food. In
Matthew chapter 4 verse 4 we read in Jesus' own word, "It is written
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God". The word of God proceeding from the lips of
the righteous feed them Spiritually. This is speaking of the salvation
message. As we said, in the lesson above, a fool has no understanding
and dosen't want any. He will die in sin.
Proverbs 10:22 "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he
addeth no sorrow with it."
Abraham was blessed of God because of his great faith. We see
that God will pour out His blessings (not only spiritual, but physical
as well) on those that love Him and walk in His ways. In our Genesis
study, we saw this of Abraham. I will quote just one verse here to
prove the point. Genesis chapter 13 verse 2, "and Abram was very rich
in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Abram (Abraham) had length of
days, and a son in his old age (Isaac) because he had faith in God. He
had no curse (sorrow) from God only blessings, because he walked
uprightly before God.
Proverbs 10:23 "[It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a
man of understanding hath wisdom."
A fool (someone who lacks understanding) finds pleasure in sin.
He is not only happy in the sin, he does evil to others as well. This
just contrasted to someone who understands there is a better way.
Proverbs 10:24 "The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him:
but the desire of the righteous shall be granted."
In James chapter 5 verse 16 We read that God answers the prayer
of the righteous. James 5:16 "Confess [your] faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent
prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Fear is not of God, those
who are continually wicked fear judgement and punishment, because they
know they deserve to die.
Proverbs 10:25 "As the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no
[more]: but the righteous [is] an everlasting foundation."
A "whirlwind" comes up in a hurry, and is gone in a hurry and
that is the end of someone evil, as well. They may appear to prosper
quickly, but it is soon gone. The righteous is solid as a rock. In
fact, they are lively stones building the foundation of Christianity
on the earth. We read in I Peter 2:4 "To whom coming, [as unto] a
living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and]
precious," I Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."
Proverbs 10:26 "As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the
eyes, so [is] the sluggard to them that send him."
If you send someone out to do a job, You do not want him lazying
around (sluggard). If you have someone this lazy working for you, it
is painful to you just like it is painful to put pure vinegar on your
teeth. It makes them burn. Smoke in your eyes causes you to cry, and I
believe that is what is meant here. Truly someone who is supposed to
do a job and won't will bring you tears. You can imagine how God feels
when He calls us to do a job for him and we are too lazy to carry it
out.
Proverbs 10:27 "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the
years of the wicked shall be shortened."
In Ecclesiastes 7:17 "Be not over much wicked, neither be thou
foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?" You see, good lives
lived for God sometimes bring long life. One of the commandments to
honor father and mother, promises long life. It is pretty easy to see
how someone who lives the evil life is certainly in danger of early
death. They visit places where killing and cheating is going on
(such as beer parlors and gambling places). Fear of God keeps us
walking a holy path.
Proverbs 10:28 "The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness:
but the expectation of the wicked shall perish."
In 1 Thessalonians, we see the blessed hope of the believer which
brings gladness, because we will live with Jesus; but the wicked have
no hope of resurrection to eternal life. 1 Thessalonians chapter four
verse 13 through 18 we read of the rapture. I Thessalonians 4:13 "But
I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
I Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
him." I Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of
the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the
Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." I Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:" I Thessalonians 4:17 "Then we which are
alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord." I Thessalonians 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one another with these
words."
Proverbs 10:29 "The way of the LORD [is] strength to the upright:
but destruction [shall be] to the workers of iniquity."
The blessings of God are for those who walk in the way of the
Lord. Jesus calls himself the Way. The Way of the Lord is the path of
the Light on which each Christian can walk uprightly and not stumble
and fall. God's blessings are for those who obey him and walk in his
commandments. The curses (destruction) are for those who work
iniquity; who live after the flesh and not after the spirit.
Proverbs 10:30 "The righteous shall never be removed: but the
wicked shall not inhabit the earth."
In the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5,
"Blessed are the meek for: they shall inherit the earth. those who are
in right standing with God are to reign with Christ. The wicked not
only cannot expect good things now but certainly have no future to
look to. They are doomed to hell.
Proverbs 10:31 "The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but
the froward tongue shall be cut out." Proverbs 10:32 "The lips of the
righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked
[speaketh] frowardness."
We read in Romans chapter 3 of the evil mouth, tongues and
throat. Romans 3:13 "Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their
tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps [is] under their
lips:" Romans 3:14 "Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:"
You see this is describing an evil mouth. This mouth is an opening
where the issues of the heart come forth. This person has an evil
heart. The message from the heart is in the mouth. We also read in
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the
dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation."
Proverbs Questions 13
1. How is a fool described in V-18?
2. What is a fool, really?
3. What is better than speaking a multitude of words?
4. The tongue of the just is as choice _________.
5. The source of all that we are good or bad is where?
6. What is meant by "the lips of the righteous feed many?
7. What did Jesus tell us in Matthew 4:4 about food?
8. Why was Abraham blessed of God?
9. What three things was Abram rich in?
10. A fool thinks mischief is what?
11. Who is a fool?
12. What does James 5:16 tell us about the prayers of the righteous?
13. What do those who continually sin fear?
14. In V-25, the wicked are compared to what?
15. What are the righteous compared to?
16. Who is the cornerstone?
17. What is a sluggard?
18. What does V-26 mean when it says "as vinegar to the teeth?
19. What is indicated by "smoke to the eyes"?
20. In V-27, what prolongs years?
21. Why would you expect the sinful man to die early?
22. What blessed hope in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 do we see?
23. What is 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 through 18 commonly
called today?
24. The blessings of God is for whom?
25. Curses are for whom?
26. In the "Sermon on the mount" what are the meek promised?
27. Romans chapter 3 verse 13 tells us what about the evil mouth?
28. What does Romans chapter 10 verses 9 and 10 teach us about the
mouth?
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