Posted by Jeff Short on September 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
– Proverbs 17:19
To love
strife is to exhibit folly and to invite trouble to oneself (Proverbs 17:14; 20:3; 26:17; 29:9, 22). The phrase
exalteth his gate has been understood variously, but the parallel here best supports the idea of arrogant boasting. Exalting oneself is pursuing a fall (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). This proverb aligns with others that warn of the consequences of such a rejection of wisdom (Proverbs 1:29-32; 8:36; 22:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
– Proverbs 17:18
The word for
surety means a security, or guaranty. The phrase
striketh hands refers to entering into an obligation to pay the debt of another, hence putting up the security, or collateral. The phrase
void of understanding could be put more homely as, without a brain. Solomon touched on this in one of his addresses in Proverbs 6:1-5. It is generally portrayed as foolish in Proverbs to become surety and usually comes with negative consequences (Proverbs 11:15).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
– Proverbs 17:17
The word for
adversity means straits, or tightness. It describes troubles of all kinds. Adversity tries men’s hearts and the relationships we have with one another. Adversity proves the worth of family relations and true friends (Proverbs 19:6-7). Friends can be fickle (Proverbs 14:20; 19:4), but can also be true (Proverbs 18:24). That last reference also hints at a proverbial form of the golden rule (Luke 6:31). So, if you seek loyal, loving friendships, be a loyal, loving friend (Proverbs 27:10).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
– Proverbs 17:16
Proverbs repeatedly emphasizes the value of wisdom surpassing silver and gold (Proverbs 2:4; 3:14; 8:10, 19; 16:16; et al). Wisdom’s value surpasses that of fine gold and, therefore, cannot be obtained by silver and gold. The fool doesn’t understand wisdom and thinks it can be bought and had quickly. The fool is far too distracted to patiently pursue wisdom (Proverbs 17:24). The word for
heart usually means mind, but it can refer to will and emotions. Sometimes all these are included. This is probably one of those instances where all the meaning is comprehended and so states the
fool has no mind, will, or desire for wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
– Proverbs 17:15
Injustice is a two-way street that runs to abomination at both ends. Justifying the wicked means to declare innocent one who is guilty. Whether the crime appears victimless or not, it is an injustice. The first phrase comes under the respect of persons and is abhorrent to the righteous Judge of all the earth (Proverbs 24:23-24). The second abomination is the reverse of the first. It is to declare guilty one who is innocent. The Lord abhors and the prophet Isaiah condemned Judah for it (Isaiah 5:20-23). It is one of the ways of calling “evil good, and good evil.”
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
– Proverbs 17:14
This proverb warns of the consequences of starting and stirring
strife. The image is like the opening of a flood gate. Perhaps it is more like one who continually picks at a hole in a dam until it finally busts loose. The foolish wicked are those continually stirring strife (Proverbs 17:19; 26:21; 29:22). Rather than causing
contention, wisdom will
leave off, appease, and prevent (Proverbs 13:10; 14:29; 15:1; 16:32; 19:11; 20:3; 25:8).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
– Proverbs 17:13
This proverb also relies on the principle of sowing and reaping. Rewarding
evil for good is to be ungrateful and churlish (1 Samuel 25:21). The reaping is given in the second phrase. The word for
evil can be moral or natural. Either way, the evil done comes home to roost (Proverbs 13:21). Wisdom and faith teach the opposite behavior (Proverbs 3:30; 20:22; 1 Peter 3:9). Jesus taught to repay good for evil (Matthew 5:43-48).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
– Proverbs 17:12
Meeting such a
bear would be alarming and threatening, but the proverb shows it’s more dangerous to meet a
fool in his folly. A
bear robbed of her whelps is a figure in Scripture to express brute strength and terror (2 Samuel 17:8; Hosea 13:8). The proverb doesn’t necessarily liken the fool’s rage to the bear’s. Such a bear cannot be reasoned with, is consumed with venting, and cannot easily be stopped. So it is with a fool in his folly (Proverbs 17:10; 10:23; 18:6; 29:11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
– Proverbs 17:11
This proverb emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping, so seeking
rebellion will find a
cruel messenger. The word for
messenger can include the idea of a deputy. In this sense, the messenger is sent from the king with avenging authority (Proverbs 16:14). In the broader theme of sowing and reaping in the Proverbs, it is clear that those who pursue evil will find it upon themselves (Proverbs 1:18; 5:22-23).
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Proverbs 17:19
Posted by Jeff Short on September 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
To love strife is to exhibit folly and to invite trouble to oneself (Proverbs 17:14; 20:3; 26:17; 29:9, 22). The phrase exalteth his gate has been understood variously, but the parallel here best supports the idea of arrogant boasting. Exalting oneself is pursuing a fall (Proverbs 16:18; 18:12). This proverb aligns with others that warn of the consequences of such a rejection of wisdom (Proverbs 1:29-32; 8:36; 22:8).– Proverbs 17:19
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Filed under 17, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Arrogance, Boasting, Commentary, Destruction, Proverbs, Strife