Posted by Jeff Short on January 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
– Proverbs 10:3
Proverbs are pithy and not lengthy explanations. Nuances and qualifications are limited in the form. The general trend of this proverb contrasts the righteous and the wicked in their life provisions. The wise live justly and refuse gains by wickedness. This seems to put them at disadvantage, but Yahweh is merciful to them that they do not starve. The wicked use all means to secure wealth, but it’s often short lived. The point of the proverb is that there is higher justice than the court of men and he sorts the good from the bad (Psalms 27:16-20, 25-26).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
– Proverbs 10:2
The first phrase refers to wealth gotten through immoral or unethical means. Worldly wealth is always a temporary possession no matter how it is acquired (Proverbs 23:5). Such wealth can do no more than provide some temporary enjoyment. It cannot deliver (Psalm 49:6-10). The contrast is with true righteousness. The word indicates a just and upright life. Wisdom knows the true righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone (Philippians 3:9) and it leads to true life, eternal life (Romans 5:21).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Chapter 10 begins the second major section in the book of Proverbs and also begins what we think of as proper proverbs. It is a collection of wise sayings in memorable form, usually a two-line, parallel structure. Chapters 10-22 are the “Proverbs of Solomon,” containing 375 proverbs and they divide into two major divisions. Chapters 10-15 have an antithetical parallel structure, meaning they are formed by two lines that contrast. They often contrast the good and the bad. There are 185 proverbs in these chapters. Chapters 16-22 contain 190 proverbs that have a synthetic parallel structure, meaning the two lines compare similar things or the second line continues the first. These proverbs often compare the good with the better or the bad with the worse.
There is no obvious order or topical arrangement to the proverbs in this collection. These proverbs speak to various subjects, such as speech, ethics, learning, wealth, relationships, etc. The change in style between the two sections is discernible, indicating a deliberate arrangement, but there is no further structure apparent. These proverbs are inspired sayings of Divine wisdom that apply the law to the individual person.
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son in the heaviness of his mother.
– Proverbs 10:1
The first phrase is the title, or heading, of this section. This first proverb is a two-line contrast. The first line has a wise son and a glad father. The second line has a foolish son and a grieved mother, as heaviness indicates. This proverb also illustrates the multi-layered meaning of proverbs in general. The more we meditate on them as we go through life, the richer they become to us.
The obvious teaching on the face of the proverb is that a wise child is a blessing and cause of joy to his parents. The contrast is that a foolish child brings shame and grief to his parents. There is instruction both to children and to parents. The proverb gives encouragement and warning to children to keep the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12), which is the first with promise (Ephesians 6:1-3). The proverb also gives the same to parents, because it is the responsibility of parents to properly instruct their children and in so doing or neglecting they will bring themselves blessing or grief (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 22:6; 23:15-16, 24-25).
This proverb is also one sample, or type, of the broader category of human relationships. We are connected to others and the choices we make and the way we go affects others in our sphere. Though each individual has to seek wisdom and to keep the wisdom they find, that doesn’t happen in a vacuum without any connection to others around us. Whether we pursue wisdom or not will affect husbands, wives, parents, children, extended family, neighbors, co-workers, etc.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
– Proverbs 9:18
This makes the fourth time Solomon has reached this conclusion in his warnings (Proverbs 2:18-19; 5:5; 7:26-27; 9:18). We have already noted the general trend in Proverbs that wisdom tends to life and folly tends to death. The various aspects of death in Proverbs call for a much larger treatment than in the brief comments here. The ancient Semitic worldview in the Old Testament viewed death more in terms of a realm than a single event that ends life. They thought in terms of a conflict between the realm of the living and the unseen realm of the dead. The foolish guests of the foolish woman have entered in the way of death and consort with that realm as the words for
the dead and
the depths of hell indicate. The fools do not understand that going that way means they are unlikely to be recovered (Proverbs 2:19; 7:25-27).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
– Proverbs 9:17
The invitation is laid bare here for its foolishness, and yet it is still appealing to the simple. The stolen and secret aspects give an artificial tinge of taste and excitement. It is not lasting and the end is far worse (Proverbs 20:17). In contrast to the well prepared feast of wisdom, folly only offers what is common and bland dressed up with a false covering to seem sweet for a little while.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
– Proverbs 9:16
Folly’s invitation is like wisdom’s in the beginning of the chapter. This is deliberate and deceptive. The
simple are gullible and easily led astray (Romans 16:18). She targets the simple and uninformed as a prey. Wisdom appeals to them to help them. The invitation is to
turn in, and so leave one path for another. It is wise to recognize that many voices call out and commend their own way, but there is only one way that leads to life and peace (John 14:6).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 15, 2017 · Leave a Comment
To call passengers who go right on their ways:
– Proverbs 9:15
The foolish woman sits in a prominent place so as to call to all who pass by, as
passengers signifies. She spreads her net wide and indiscriminately to catch all she can. The word for
right means straight and some have supposed the intent is to speak of moral straightness. This would mean folly is particularly looking to ensnare those who are in a good way. That idea artificially limits the scope and does not agree with the next verse, which describes them as
simple and wanting
understanding. The meaning is that the passersby are going about their own business and not looking for folly’s feast, but she tries to entice and catch them. Wisdom would teach us to be wary.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 14, 2017 · Leave a Comment
For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city.
– Proverbs 9:14
Folly imitates wisdom and the unwary discern little difference. Everything about wisdom was high and noble, from her seven-pillared house to her maidens to her expertly prepared feast. Everything about folly is common and ill-prepared. There is nothing about her preparations for a feast, which fits with the character of fools and their empty talk (Proverbs 14:23). She sits and calls whereas wisdom stands (Proverbs 8:2).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on January 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
– Proverbs 9:13
Verses 13-18 finish this chapter with the foolish woman and her feast of sweets that lead to the grave. The foolish woman’s despicable character is drawn against that of the lady Wisdom. The word for clamorous means roaring like the Niagra River going over the falls. It indicates a high volume in both loudness and quantity of spoken words. Solomon elsewhere marked the character of the fool as “full of words” (Ecclesiastes 10:14). To put it indelicately in modern speech, she is mouthy. Fools are known for emptying five gallon buckets of words (Proverbs 15:2) and they rather enjoy it (Proverbs 18:2). She is
foolish,
simple, and
knoweth nothing. She is no better in terms of wisdom than the foolish simpletons she calls out to.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
« Previous Page — Next Page »
Proverbs 10:3
Posted by Jeff Short on January 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
Proverbs are pithy and not lengthy explanations. Nuances and qualifications are limited in the form. The general trend of this proverb contrasts the righteous and the wicked in their life provisions. The wise live justly and refuse gains by wickedness. This seems to put them at disadvantage, but Yahweh is merciful to them that they do not starve. The wicked use all means to secure wealth, but it’s often short lived. The point of the proverb is that there is higher justice than the court of men and he sorts the good from the bad (Psalms 27:16-20, 25-26).– Proverbs 10:3
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Share this:
Filed under 10, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Hunger, Proverbs, RIches, Righteous, Wicked