Posted by Jeff Short on August 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
– Proverbs 16:17
The word for
highway means a road or course and is used figuratively for course of life. Departing from
evil has a moral overtone and sums to more than simply avoiding pitfalls (Proverbs 16:6). The word for
upright means straight and the way is obviously a straight and righteous way (Proverbs 11:3). The word for
preserveth means to hedge about, or to guard. The second phrase is more than security in the sense of walking safely (Proverbs 10:9). By guarding his way, the upright man is guarding his soul (Proverbs 19:16).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 9, 2017 · Leave a Comment
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
– Proverbs 16:16
Verse 16 starts a new group of proverbs themed around general wisdom. This group goes through verse 30 and touches on general wisdom topics, e.g., wealth, speech, work, etc. The word for
better means good in its root form and is used here comparatively. The second phrase of this proverb is likewise comparative in choosing to
get understanding over
silver. Comparison is common in the Proverbs and it means the things compared are not antithetical. So here, wisdom and wealth are compared, but not shown to be opposites. The proverb states it’s
better, or more important, to seek and acquire
wisdom than
gold and
silver.
Proverbs mentions many things better than wealth: righteousness or justice (Proverbs 15:27; 16:8); family love (Proverbs 15:17; 17:1); and honesty and integrity (Proverbs 19:1, 22). Proverbs emphatically teaches wisdom is better than wealth (Proverbs 3:15-18; 8:10-11, 19). Choose wisdom above all, whether wealth comes or not (Proverbs 4:7).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
– Proverbs 16:15
This proverb gives the opposite perspective from the previous one. The king has great power to do much damage in his wrath, but that power can also be used for much good (Proverbs 19:12). The king is crucial to the prospering and flourishing of his nation. A wise, righteous king will lead to a productive and rejoicing people (Proverbs 11:10; 28:12, 28; 29:2, 4).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
– Proverbs 16:14
A king is in a position of power, which means he has great power to do good or evil (Proverbs 19:12). It is unwise then to provoke a king or powerful leader (Proverbs 20:2). This power can give way to a tyrant using it for his own whims and purposes. The word for
pacify is a word used for atonement, or covering. The
wise man seeks to cover, or alleviate the
wrath of a king. Wisdom seeks peace rather than inciting strife (Proverbs 25:15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
– Proverbs 16:13
The word for
righteous means justice and
righteous lips is put for honest speech. A wise king delights, or takes pleasure in truthfulness rather than flattery and bribes (Proverbs 15:27; 28:16; 29:4). The word for
right means straight. Kings and those in authority with any wisdom value honesty in their counselors (Proverbs 14:35; 22:11). By the previous proverb, such kings know that righteousness in their rule establishes their throne and wickedness overthrows it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
– Proverbs 16:12
The level of authority and responsibility a person has magnifies the severity of their sins (Luke 12:47-48). On the one hand, even good works can become abominable when mixed with the embrace of folly (Proverbs 28:9). Kings are in a special place of responsibility and accountability before God. They must be careful not to follow the counsel of the ungodly (Proverbs 20:18; 25:5). The word for
righteousness means justice and is explained as “faithfully judgeth the poor” in a similar proverb (Proverbs 29:14). Bearing authority with wisdom means upholding justice (Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:19; Proverbs 24:23; 28:21).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
– Proverbs 16:11
This proverb speaks of honesty and equity in trade and business. In broader terms, it is about justice and rulers have a responsibility for maintaining standards of justice. 2 Samuel 14:26 refers to the “king’s weight,” which referred to weights and measures standardized by the king’s authority. This proverb refers the standard further upward as “all weights of the bag” are “the Lord’s.” This is the standard of the law as well (Leviticus 19:36). Cheating and trimming in trade is further condemned as abominable to the Lord (Proverbs 11:1; 20:10, 23).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 3, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
– Proverbs 16:10
Verses 10-15 touch on kings and bearing authority. The word for
divine sentence can mean divination, such as is forbidden in Leviticus 19:26. It can also mean the speaking of an oracle in a good sense, and so here refers to the authority of the king’s words. The second phrase is a warning to kings to speak in righteousness in light of the authority of their words. The king is not to speak contrary to wisdom and justice (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 2, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
– Proverbs 16:9
The word for
deviseth means to plait, or weave, like a rug. The first phrase speaks of a man planning and plotting his course in his
heart, i.e., mind. The word for
directeth in the second phrase means to set upright, or to establish. The second phrase means that regardless of what man plans or attempts, what actually happens is established by God. It is more advanced theology concerning the sovereignty of God and providential governance of the creation. What man does and what he means by what he does is subjugated to God’s will and God’s intent of all that comes to pass (Genesis 50:20; Proverbs 16:1; 20:24; 21:30).
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Proverbs 16:17
Posted by Jeff Short on August 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
The word for highway means a road or course and is used figuratively for course of life. Departing from evil has a moral overtone and sums to more than simply avoiding pitfalls (Proverbs 16:6). The word for upright means straight and the way is obviously a straight and righteous way (Proverbs 11:3). The word for preserveth means to hedge about, or to guard. The second phrase is more than security in the sense of walking safely (Proverbs 10:9). By guarding his way, the upright man is guarding his soul (Proverbs 19:16).– Proverbs 16:17
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