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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Posted by Jeff Short on August 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
– Proverbs 16:8
Proverbs doesn’t denounce wealth in itself, just as the rest of Scripture, though wealth is never exalted as a goal or the ultimate mark of God’s favor. This proverb highlights wealth in relation to ethics and approaching legality. The terms,
righteousness and
right, refer to justice. The contrast is between having
little or
great revenues, or income. The proverb does not exalt poverty, for
little is what we would call a modest income. The point of interest is how the
little or the
great is obtained. It is better to be just in whatever we have, whether
little or
great (Proverbs 15:16; 21:6-7).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 31, 2017 · Leave a Comment
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
– Proverbs 16:7
This proverb is in the group themed on God’s sovereignty and it’s best to take it that way. In this light, the proverb encourages trust in the Lord rather than being moved by fear of man (Proverbs 21:1; 29:25). On another level, the proverb presents a general truism because walking in wisdom means a man reconciles broken relationships and doesn’t unnecessarily stir up strife (Proverbs 15:1, 4, 18; 25:21-22).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
– Proverbs 16:6
The word for
purged means covered, i.e., atonement. It is the word often used in the law for expiation of sin. At first blush, the first statement could seem to speak of a justification by works, but that would contradict other Scripture and miss the point of the proverb badly. The phrase
mercy and truth is paralleled with the
fear of the Lord. The first phrase is most often used of God and expresses his covenant faithfulness (Psalm 85:10). The second indicates the beginning of wisdom and so refers to the way of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Both result in
iniquity is purged and
depart from evil. The point of the proverb is not the outward rites or works, but rather the inward truth and genuineness, as in Proverbs 15:8. The thought is similar with other proverbs (Proverbs 14:16, 27; 15:27).
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Proverbs 16:14
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.
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).– Proverbs 16:14
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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