Posted by Jeff Short on June 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
– Proverbs 24:16
Verse 16 continues from verse 15 and provides explanation for the warning in that verse. The warning was against plotting against the righteous. Falling
seven times is a figure implying strength or resiliency. Such falling would seem to be final, but the righteous will not ultimately fall, but rise. The wicked’s plots may seem to succeed in the short term, but will ultimately fail. The success of the wicked will be short lived as they will finally
fall into mischief, or evil. This contrast is consistently thematic throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 4:18-19; 10:28; 11:7, 23; 28:18).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 31, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
– Proverbs 24:15
Verses 14-15 form the next saying, which speaks to the futility of plotting against the righteous. The
dwelling of the righteous and his
resting place are figures of the full life of the
righteous. The plotting of the
wicked is not just an effort to steal money or goods, but an attack on the whole way of life of the righteous. Lying in wait and spoiling reminds of the warnings earlier in the fatherly addresses (Proverbs 1:11; 7:12). This warning, though, is aimed at the
wicked.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment
So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
– Proverbs 24:14
The figure of eating honey is now applied to the acquiring of wisdom. Just as honey is pleasant to the taste and wholesome to the body, getting wisdom is both pleasant and life-giving to the soul (Proverbs 2:1-5, 10; 3:13-18; 22:18). The last phrase highlights wisdom is its own reward and the benefit of wisdom extends beyond this life (Proverbs 8:35; 10:16; 11:7; 12:28; 14:32; 23:18). The word for
reward means end or after part. It would be like us saying, “There’s a future in it.” Commentators vary on how much Proverbs speaks of the afterlife, but this verse at least alludes to it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 29, 2018 · Leave a Comment
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
– Proverbs 24:13
Verses 13-14 form a saying on the pleasant benefits of wisdom. Verse 13 uses
honey as a figure, which is obvious from the point of the whole saying and the comparison to wisdom in verse 14. Honey as a figure stands for pleasure (Psalm 119:103; Proverbs 16:24; Song of Solomon 4:11; 5:1; Ezekiel 3:3). Honey as a substance itself is sweet and enjoyable, and it can be abused. Wisdom warns of the necessity of moderation (Proverbs 25:16, 27). However, honey as a substance is not the point of this Proverb. As a figure of good pleasure, the saying urges its consumption.
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 28, 2018 · Leave a Comment
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works?
– Proverbs 24:12
Proverbs doesn’t often refer cases upward, but verses like this one bring us back to the deeply theological realities of wisdom. We know that justice, or righteousness, is the context of this saying. Walking wisdom means walking in the way of justice, and that may not be the way of momentary successes. If we consider proverbs such as Proverbs 18:16 and Proverbs 17:23, we righteousness is more important than wealth. Additionally, religious acts will not make up for the lack of doing righteousness (Proverbs 15:8; 16:6; 21:27; 28:9, 13). The first phrase is a feigned ignorance and the rest of the verse dismisses this with the sovereign omniscience of Yahweh. Wisdom understands Yahweh knows us inside and out (Proverbs 5:3, 11, 21; 16:2; 17:3; 20:12; 21:2), and shall reward us according the reality of ways (Proverbs 3:32-33; 11:4, 19, 21; 12:14; 15:9; 16:4; 17:5; 19:5; 28:20).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and that are ready to be slain;
– Proverbs 24:11
These next two verses illustrate the failure of verse 10 and end with God’s sovereign judgment as strong incentive to live righteously. Commentators vary on the specific application of those who are
drawn unto death and
ready to be slain. At least, the phrases refer to those in mortal dangers, and most likely due to some form of unjust oppression. The word for
deliver means rescue and the condemnation here is failure to rescue. The general tenor comports with the teaching of wisdom, which requires eschewing the way of the wicked and doing righteousness (Proverbs 31:8-9).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 26, 2018 · Leave a Comment
If thou faint in the day of adversity, they strength is small.
– Proverbs 24:10
Verses 10-12 form the next saying, which deals with perseverance in the face of difficulty. The word for
faint means to slacken and the word for
adversity means to tighten. There may be a play on the words there. Adversities are all sorts of distresses and troubles. Wisdom knows adversities test and reveal character, as the second phrase shows the faint has
small strength. Wisdom requires us to quit the way and counsels of foolishness and to act wisely in the time of trouble (Proverbs 31:8-9).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 25, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
– Proverbs 24:9
The word for
thought means plan, and usually refers to bad plans. The word for
foolishness means silliness, or folly. The first phrase refers to scheming, which is decidedly not according to wisdom. Such folly refuses instruction, embraces death, and goes woefully astray (Proverbs 5:21-23). Through such folly a woman destroys her own home (Proverbs 14:1), a hot headed man is exposed (Proverbs 14:17, 29), the character of a fool is known by the foolishness poured out of his mouth (Proverbs 12:23; 15:2, 14), and a man’s whole way is corrupted (Proverbs 19:3). Therefore, his love of folly and planning foolishness is
sin.
The scorner, or scoffer, then, becomes an abomination to men. He becomes disgusting, or detestable, even in the eyes of men. The scorner is fixed in his evil ways because he will not receive correction (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12). He is odious to men because he is a meddler and bringer of problems (Proverbs 21:24; 22:10; 29:8). Wisdom teaches us judgment is “prepared for scorners” (Proverbs 19:19), and he shall receive tooth for tooth (Proverbs 3:32-35).
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Posted by Jeff Short on May 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
– Proverbs 24:8
Verses 8-9 form a saying on the general disapproval of scheming men. The word for
deviseth means to plait, or weave, like a basket or rug. The word is used of Joseph’s brother for the evil they “thought” against him (Genesis 50:20). It literally refers to weaving strands together but is used more figuratively to speak of a plan or contrivance. The word for
mischievous means a plan, or a scheme, and usually an evil one. The word for
called is to call out by name, and so an evil planner comes to be known as a schemer. The wicked in Proverbs are characterized as always thinking about and planning evil things (Proverbs 6:14, 18; 14:22; 24:2).
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Proverbs 24:16
Posted by Jeff Short on June 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Verse 16 continues from verse 15 and provides explanation for the warning in that verse. The warning was against plotting against the righteous. Falling seven times is a figure implying strength or resiliency. Such falling would seem to be final, but the righteous will not ultimately fall, but rise. The wicked’s plots may seem to succeed in the short term, but will ultimately fail. The success of the wicked will be short lived as they will finally fall into mischief, or evil. This contrast is consistently thematic throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 4:18-19; 10:28; 11:7, 23; 28:18).– Proverbs 24:16
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