Posted by Jeff Short on June 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
– Proverbs 24:21
Verses 21-22 form the last saying in this set of the “Words of the Wise.” The last saying teaches fear, or respect, of authority. We reverence the civil authority as God’s appointed authority (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17). The word for
meddle means to braid. The word for
given to change means to alter. Wisdom teaches not to be mixed up with rebels and agitators. Peter gave similar warning (1 Peter 4:15). This saying starts with the fear of Yahweh, which is the beginning of wisdom and the ground for respect of authority.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 8, 2018 · Leave a Comment
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
– Proverbs 24:20
This verse gives the explanation for the warning in the previous verse and takes a deathly serious turn. Commentators vary as to how much the afterlife is in view in Proverbs. Wisdom in Proverbs is concerned with the long view and the end of ways, so it is expected that the end of life, and what’s after, is in view. The word for
reward means after part, or end. It is most often translated “end” in this book (Proverbs 5:4; 14:12-13; 16:25; 19:20; 20:21; 23:18; 25:8). Those verses reflect the meaning of outcome, and in many instances it is the outcome of life. When taken with the last phrase, it is plain this verse is talking about death and the loss of expectation or hope for the wicked. The imagery of the
candle being
put out for the
wicked is used consistently to indicate the forfeiture of any good expectation at the death of the wicked (Proverbs 13:9; 20:20).
The saying is a sober warning to realize the end of the wicked and therefore not to envy or begrudge their successes. The prosperity of evil men is temporary, though it may seem to last their entire earthly lives. This warning is echoed throughout Proverbs (Proverbs 5:23; 8:36; 9:18; 11:7; 23:13-14).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
– Proverbs 24:19
Verses 19-20 form the next saying concerning envying the wicked. This saying focuses on the inner attitude. The word for
fret means become angry, and the word for
envious means to be jealous. Wisdom teaches neither to be angry with the success of the
wicked, nor to be jealous of their prosperity. The saying echoes previous sayings (Proverbs 23:17; 24:1).
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
– Proverbs 24:18
Verse 18 provides a surprising explanation for the warning in verse 17. Gloating over the downfall of your adversaries is displeasing to the Lord. It doesn’t seem ultimate, divine judgment is in view, but rather the calamities that befall those who oppose you. Wisdom here seems to be along the lines of the words of Jesus when we warned about misinterpreting providential events in Luke 13:1-5. In other words, we don’t know the providence behind a calamity that comes on one. We should not assume such a calamity is a justification of ourselves and a condemnation of those we don’t get along with.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 2, 2018 · Leave a Comment
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
– Proverbs 24:17
Verses 17-18 form a saying warning against taking pleasure in the adversities of your enemy. The word for
enemy means a foe, or adversary. It is expressed in terms of a personal enemy. Falling and stumbling refer to falling down and tottering, but they figuratively express the experience of calamity or adversity. The word for
rejoice means to brighten and the word for
glad means to rejoice, or cheer up. The first part of this saying warns against gloating over your opponent, or taking delight in their downfalls. The traditional rabbinical teaching was to love your neighbor but hate your enemy (Matthew 5:43). Of course, Jesus corrected this wrong interpretation of the law (Matthew 5:44-48).
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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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Proverbs 24:21
Posted by Jeff Short on June 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Verses 21-22 form the last saying in this set of the “Words of the Wise.” The last saying teaches fear, or respect, of authority. We reverence the civil authority as God’s appointed authority (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:17). The word for meddle means to braid. The word for given to change means to alter. Wisdom teaches not to be mixed up with rebels and agitators. Peter gave similar warning (1 Peter 4:15). This saying starts with the fear of Yahweh, which is the beginning of wisdom and the ground for respect of authority.– Proverbs 24:21
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