Posted by Jeff Short on February 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
– Proverbs 21:12
The wording of this proverb is difficult. I understand there is no change in subject between the first and second phrase in the Hebrew. The
righteous one in the first phrase performs both actions—
considereth and
overthroweth. The most natural reading takes God, Yahweh, to be the righteous one. If so, this is the only place in Proverbs where the term is used of God. Does the meaning of the proverb justify this?
The word for considereth means to look at, or give attention to. The house of the wicked likely refers to the wicked’s prosperity. Wisdom points out the temporary prosperity of the wicked is unenviable (Proverbs 24:19-20). The word for overthroweth means ruin. The second phrase points to ultimate justice for the wicked, where their own wickedness destroys them (Proverbs 11:3-5; 13:6; 14:32). Proverbs is clear that God is the one who sees and judges the wicked (Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 16:2). This meaning is clear in a similar proverb in Proverbs 22:12. The natural and consistent meaning takes the righteous one to be God who sees and metes out final justice.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 21, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
– Proverbs 20:8
The word for
scattereth away means to toss about, or winnow. The word is used with the thought of winnowing in connection with a threshing wheel in Proverbs 20:26. Winnowing has to do with separating the chaff from the wheat. Verse 26 notes a wise king does this. The purpose of civil authority is to root evil out of the land (Proverbs 16:12). The king who is righteous is a blessing to his people and secures the conditions for flourishing for them (Proverbs 29:14). The primary purpose of civil government is to uphold and maintain justice, even as Paul wrote in the New Testament (Romans 13:1-7).
The reference to the king’s eyes here is speaking of discernment. Proverbs references the eyes of the Lord in different places in the sense of discernment (Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 16:2; 21:2; 22:12). The king is as Paul wrote, “the minister of God” (Romans 13:4). The righteous ruler is seen as doing God’s work in upholding justice for the afflicted and oppressed (Proverbs 31:4-5), and representing and relieving the poor and oppressed (Proverbs 31:8-9).
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
– Proverbs 18:10
The
name of the Lord refers to the full attributes of Yahweh. Israel was to trust in the name of the Lord to be delivered from Egypt (Exodus 3:13-15; 34:5-7). A
strong tower is an unassailable defense. The believer in Christ is here sheltered from the destruction of his enemies (Psalm 18:2; 61:3-4). The running and safety of the
righteous refers to a complete trust and rest in Yahweh (Psalm 56:3-4). Wisdom sees the strength of the unseen defense.
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Posted by Jeff Short on October 7, 2017 · Leave a Comment
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
– Proverbs 18:5
This proverb refers to the perverting of justice by showing partiality. Such miscarrying of justice is forbidden by the law and by wisdom (Deuteronomy 1:16-17; Proverbs 17:26; 28:21). Accepting bribes (Deuteronomy 16:19), showing favoritism to a class (Leviticus 19:15), and oppressing the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 24:14; Leviticus 19:33-34) can pervert Justice.
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Posted by Jeff Short on September 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
– Proverbs 17:26
The word for
just means lawful, or righteous. The word for
equity means upright, or straight, and it is used for what is right, or due. The word for
punish means to fine and the word for
strike means to beat, i.e., to flog as punishment. The proverb makes the point by juxtaposing an absurdity with a greater absurdity. Fining, or punishing, those who are doing what is right is not good in any sense. It is an abomination (Proverbs 17:15). Princes are rulers of some sort and it’s beyond absurd to envision their beating for executing their office justly. They’re being punished for not miscarrying justice through the respecting of persons (Proverbs 18:15).
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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 August 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
– Proverbs 16:31
The word for
glory means beauty and splendor. It can indicate honor and renown. The
hoary head refers to the gray head and is not only put here for old age, but a long life. A long life in the
way of righteousness is a life lived in wisdom. This proverb is another promise of the reward of long life for those who seek wisdom early and walk in it (Proverbs 3:16; 4:10).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
– Proverbs 16:15
This proverb gives the opposite perspective from the previous one. The king has great power to do much damage in his wrath, but that power can also be used for much good (Proverbs 19:12). The king is crucial to the prospering and flourishing of his nation. A wise, righteous king will lead to a productive and rejoicing people (Proverbs 11:10; 28:12, 28; 29:2, 4).
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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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Proverbs 21:12
Posted by Jeff Short on February 4, 2018 · Leave a Comment
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
The wording of this proverb is difficult. I understand there is no change in subject between the first and second phrase in the Hebrew. The righteous one in the first phrase performs both actions—considereth and overthroweth. The most natural reading takes God, Yahweh, to be the righteous one. If so, this is the only place in Proverbs where the term is used of God. Does the meaning of the proverb justify this?– Proverbs 21:12
The word for considereth means to look at, or give attention to. The house of the wicked likely refers to the wicked’s prosperity. Wisdom points out the temporary prosperity of the wicked is unenviable (Proverbs 24:19-20). The word for overthroweth means ruin. The second phrase points to ultimate justice for the wicked, where their own wickedness destroys them (Proverbs 11:3-5; 13:6; 14:32). Proverbs is clear that God is the one who sees and judges the wicked (Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; 16:2). This meaning is clear in a similar proverb in Proverbs 22:12. The natural and consistent meaning takes the righteous one to be God who sees and metes out final justice.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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