Proverbs 16:13-16 (16)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
but a wise man will appease it.
15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
to choose understanding rather than silver!
Biblical Wisdom properly defined is when we “see things from God’s perspective.â€Â The problem is identified in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus demonstrates in practical terms what Biblical Wisdom is all about. Strangely enough the human reaction appears normally to be the direct opposite of the Divine desire. Proverbs 2:10-15 gives an “if-then†statement of promise. “When (if) wisdom enters into your heart, and (if) knowledge is pleasant to your soul; (then) discretion shall preserve you, (and then) understanding shall keep you.â€
In Phuket, Thailand, a sign hangs outside a doctor’s office. The words in Thai are followed by an English translation, which proudly proclaims: FAIRLY RELIABLE DOCTOR. Although this interpretation probably does not convey the intent of the doctor it does describe our human endeavors that lack godly wisdom. When our life’s intent is to see things from God’s perspective we can then be assured that the results will be different. They may be confusing to the world but they will be pleasing to God.
James’ admonition is encouraging. James 1:5 tells us that if we discover that we look at things only from a human perspective that we should ask God to help us to learn how to look at things from His view point. When we ask, James says we can be sure of two things: 1) God will generously bestow this ability upon us, and 2) He will not scold us for our spiritual sluggishness that causes us to be slow to make this request.
Dr. Gayle Woods
Proverbs 19:1-8, 17; 22:16-23
Proverbs 19:3 has a number of choice words which give a graphic picture of what often happens in the lives of people who ruin their own lives but yet are too blind to see what is taking place. Again and again they reject the way of the Lord while planning a life of pleasure and self-indulgence. When their waywardness takes its toll they are left with the shell of a life and point their trembling feeble finger toward God in accusation. Consider the meaning of these words in order to get a better grasp of this sentence.
`iwwelet – folly, foolishness – Twelve times this word is associated with kesil which we studied in the last lesson. The foolish person makes a choice. It is a choice of moral insolence. He determines his own way. He draws his own map for life. Although he does not want to take the responsibility, this kind of way is his own fault, not Gods. He perverts his own way.
salap – distort, twist, pervert, ruin. The foolish determination to live a life of sin distorts that which could have been beautiful into that which is undesirable and distasteful. Evil so twists the sinful and foolish man that his way becomes perverted. The life which could have been profitable now lies in ruin.
za’ap – The root of the verb, means to storm or rage aginst. It suggests one who is bitter and dejected. This is a person who is enraged within himself. Inside a storm rages while on the outside people see a sad and troubled countenance. The same word is used to describe Asa when he was rebuked by the prophet Hanani. His inner rage led him to commit terrible atrocities. He was hardened in heart and when four years later he was diseased he still refused to call upon God.
The modern versions of this verse bring out thought of this verse. God often gets blamed for what we bring on ourselves. The wise man is saying that it is mans own foolishness that causes the problem. His folly destroys his lifes course. Even though he has fabricated his own ruin, he rages against God with spiteful accusations saying that it is Gods fault that his life did not turn out differently. (Keil and Delitzsch) (Tyndale Commentary – Proverbs) (Theological Wordbook of the OT)
Dr. Gayle Woods
