Posted by Jeff Short on June 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
– Proverbs 14:32
Proverbs speaks of life and death often, but usually in the sense of life being a reward for wisdom and death being the same for folly (Proverbs 3:2; 5:23). Many commentators think the afterlife too advanced a subject for the time of the Proverbs, but this proverb is one place it is glimpsed. The word for
driven away means to be cast down. The wicked shall not stand in the judgment and riches cannot deliver them (Proverbs 11:4, 7). The contrast is the
hope, or refuge, of the
righteous in
death. Hope is had because righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4) and is the way of life (Proverbs 12:28).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on June 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
– Proverbs 14:19
This proverb addresses the humbling of the wicked. Circumstances in life often appear to favor the wicked while the righteous seem to be humbled (Psalm 73:3-11; 37:35). The wicked go on in foolishness and pride. They seem to have success but their destruction is coming (Proverbs 18:12; 29:23). Ultimately, the righteous who have wisdom will be exalted over the wicked (Psalm 37:36-40; Proverbs 14:23).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on May 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
– Proverbs 14:11
A house is a structure of some permanency, whereas a
tabernacle is a tent. Those figures suggest a subtle point of comparison between life now and the life to come. Regardless of the materials and methods of construction, the house of the
wicked will not stand but be overthrown. The wicked man’s house is cursed from within (Proverbs 3:33) and shall ultimately fall (Proverbs 21:12). The
upright are not trusting in their tents (Proverbs 11:28). They have wisdom and take the long view knowing that unjust gains are not profitable, but rather damaging (Proverbs 10:2-3).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on May 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
– Proverbs 13:25
The word for
satisfying means to be full, e.g., to have one’s hunger satisfied. The contrast is the
want, or lack, of the
belly of the wicked. Providentially, this proverb speaks of God’s governance of the universe and the reward or retribution to the righteous and the wicked respectively (Proverbs 10:3). Practically, this proverb speaks to true satisfaction. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon starts out by labeling everything under the sun as vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2) and concludes all is “vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:14). Vexation of spirit describes trying to grasp the wind. This seems contradictory to this proverb. Solomon goes on in Ecclesiastes to lament man’s plight of chasing the wind and never catching it. I don’t have time or space for a study of Ecclesiastes here, but the problem is resolved by understanding the “gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13; 5:19). The righteous can find satisfaction because they acknowledge and thank God (1 Timothy 4:3-4).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on May 8, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
– Proverbs 13:17
Relying on an unreliable messenger brings many troubles upon you. The slothful messenger is a serious irritation (Proverbs 10:26) and a foolish messenger does more harm than good, as far accomplishing your purpose is concerned (Proverbs 26:6). Here a
wicked messenger causes you trouble, or plunges you into it. The contrast is with the
faithful ambassador, or messenger. The word for
health has the idea of being curative and so, helpful. The faithful messenger is also presented as being refreshing to the one who sent him (Proverbs 25:13).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on April 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
– Proverbs 13:9
The course a person is on in life gives an expectation for their end. We might say the
righteous have a bright future. The word for
rejoiceth can include the idea of brightening. They are in the way of increasing light (Proverbs 4:18). The
lamp being
put out refers to darkness and to death. The image is a repeated warning (Proverbs 20:20; 24:20). Whatever brightness the wicked enjoy in life will be turned to darkness when their expectation dies (Proverbs 11:7).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on April 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
– Proverbs 13:6
The contrast is simple between
righteousness and
wickedness. There is a safety in righteousness, or a deliverance from certain troubles that affect the wicked. The word for
righteousness means justice and is often used in context of interpersonal relations (Leviticus 19:9-18). The word for
wickedness means wrong and is also often used in context of interpersonal relations (Ezekiel 18:27). Wickedness brings its own punishments (Proverbs 5:22; 11:3, 5-6; 21:12).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on April 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment
A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
– Proverbs 13:5
The
righteous deal in honesty. They hate, or make themselves the enemy of lying. So the righteous abominate what is false (Proverbs 6:17). The contrast is with the person of the
wicked man. The word for
loathsome means to stink and
shame means to blush. The wicked deal and trade in lies and slander and come to shame (Proverbs 3:35; 6:12-14; 16:27-28).
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Posted by Jeff Short on April 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbor: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
– Proverbs 12:26
The language of this proverb is difficult and the interpretations various. The word for
excellent means to explore, or search out. The word for
seduceth means to wander, vacillate, or go astray. The contrast is between the different effects the
righteous and the
wicked have on their neighbor. The searching out indicates a careful guidance and the wandering indicates going astray from the way of wisdom.
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
« Previous Page — Next Page »
Proverbs 14:32
Posted by Jeff Short on June 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
Proverbs speaks of life and death often, but usually in the sense of life being a reward for wisdom and death being the same for folly (Proverbs 3:2; 5:23). Many commentators think the afterlife too advanced a subject for the time of the Proverbs, but this proverb is one place it is glimpsed. The word for driven away means to be cast down. The wicked shall not stand in the judgment and riches cannot deliver them (Proverbs 11:4, 7). The contrast is the hope, or refuge, of the righteous in death. Hope is had because righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4) and is the way of life (Proverbs 12:28).– Proverbs 14:32
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
Share this:
Filed under 14, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Commentary, Death, Life, Proverbs, Righteous, Wicked