Lover Of Knowledge Or Plain Stupid. Series

Where does this difference originate? In the thoughts and counsels of the heart! Solomon in this proverb made a simple observation, but it is your privilege to learn the lesson. Righteousness or wickedness begins in the thoughts, and so you should rule all of them.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life (Pr 4:23). “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil” (Lu 6:45).

The heart is the source of emotions, but it is also the source of motives and choices, for you choose what you desire and love. Therefore, you must rule and teach your heart to love things that are right and to hate those things that are evil (Pr 8:13; Ps 119:128).

But there is a problem – a terrible problem! Because of inherited wickedness from Adam, the father of all men, your heart is corrupt and perverse (Pr 20:9). It is written, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).

The only hope you have is God’s mercy in Jesus Christ, Who gives new hearts to His elect and writes His laws in them and in their minds (Je 31:33; Heb 8:10; 10:26). Without this new creation, your heart is at war against God (Pr 28:26; Gen 6:5; Mark 7:20-23).

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. Prov.12:6

Those described as "wicked" in this passage are those who are guilty. The word means some-one in the wrong - who is guilty of an criminal offense. In the context of Scripture this word most often refers to one guilty of breaking God's Law - and thus one who has no desire to obey Him or submit to His ways. We read that the words of such a man "lie in wait for blood." A wicked and sinful man's words are harmful to others. It is so important to remember context here be-cause just one verse earlier we were told that the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. They are filled with lies. The wicked seek to destroy people with their words. And their counsel will be harmful if followed, since it is driven by the fallen nature of man.

The second part of this proverb tells us that the mouth of the upright will deliver them. This could be taken one of two ways. First it can mean that the righteous man - by speaking godly words - by speaking the Word of God - is delivered from the designs of the wicked. It can also refer to others to whom the righteous man speaks. He declares God's Word, and by doing so delivers those who are too easily duped by the words of the wicked. This reminds us of how vital it is for us to "hear God's words" every day. I say this not to encourage us to try to hear God's audible voice - but to remember that He has given us the Word of God - which are His words. If we will take the time to get into the presence of the Lord each and every day - with the purpose of hearing God speak His Word to us as we read the Bible - we will find great deliverance through this. Note here that we read that this is the mouth of the "upright." This word in Hebrew means to "be straight", "just", and "right". It refers to an ethical standard - and that standard is found in God's Word. When we learn to speak the truth to ourselves and to others, we will also see that deliverance is provided as God works in us to remind us of the truth - to warn us of danger - and to call us to holiness of life.