PROVERBS 10: 6-10
THE BLESSED AND THE PERVERTED [or the Blesser and the Perverter]
Here we have two characters -the wicked and the just- contrasted. They represent the two great classes of mankind. From their opposite characters, there springs an opposite way of living which leads to opposite destinies.
The righteous are blessed for they receive and obey God’s Word and therefore walk in safety and will be well remembered. The wicked bring about strife, hurt, and harm. Since they sought the downfall of others their remembrance and work will be cast down to rot in the end. The blessings or pervertings that come from man move them either to God’s blessed end or to their deserved destiny (CIT).
I. THE BLESSED RIGHTEOUS VERSES THE WICKED DECEIVER, 6-7.
II. THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE WORD VERSES THOSE WHO SPEAK THEIR WORDS, 8-10.
Verse 6 reveals that the wise good are blessed, and that the wicked are angered about it. "Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence."
The righteous man may face difficulties (John 16:33; Acts 16:22; 2 Tim. 3:12), yet he is abundantly compensated (28:20; Gen 49:26) because God pours blessings upon him. He is blessed by God and by true men, by God’s men. He is blessed in the earthly (Deut. 28:1-6; 1 Tim. 4:8) and blessed spiritually (Isa. 32:17) and blessed eternally (Ps. 3:8; Isa. 44:4-5; Mt. 5:3-12). His character is admired and his usefulness is appreciated. Heaven smiles on him. What he has he enjoys with a thankful heart. He is filled with the "peace of God which passes all understanding." He is blessed in himself and he blesses others.
Whereas a righteous person gives and receives blessings, it is different with the wicked. Violence overwhelms his mouth. [The same statement is made in verse 11.] Since the word for "overwhelms" can be translated "covers" (as it is in v. 12), the idea is either that his mouth conceals (NAS) or deceptively hides violence (niv), or that violence characterizes what he says. As Jesus stated, "The evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart" (Luke 6:45).
Verse 7 teaches that the righteous’s memory is honored, but the wicked’s is repulsive. "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot."
Speaking of blessings and the righteous (v.6), even thinking about righteous people of the past can be a source of spiritual blessing. By contrast most people want to forget the wicked. Like their character, even their names are corrupt, rotting like a corpse.
Some are remembered for good, some are remembered for evil, and some are soon forgotten. No man wishes to be forgotten. We want our name to survive our death. No one wants their legacy to stink. We want to be mentioned with joy and gratitude. The memory of the holy wise will also be a holy influence. The remembrance of their virtues will be an ever multiplying seed. Though dead, like Abel they still continue to speak.
In the mid-1800s, Texas rancher Samuel Augustus MAVERICK refused to brand his cattle. When neighboring cowboys came upon a calf without a brand, they called it a "maverick." The word entered the English language and came to refer to a person who takes an independent stand and refuses to conform.
Other names have become words that describe a person’s character and behavior: Judas and Benedict Arnold both mean "traitor." A Jezebel is a perverter, and a Jonah runs from God. An Einstein is a genius, while a Solomon is a wise man.
Few of our names will become part of a language, but they signify who we are and how we have lived - today and for generations to come. Solomon said, "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
When we think of someone we know and admire, the words we usually associate with that person’s name are character traits we’d like to have as well. Honesty, generosity, and love often head the list. We see these in our Lord Jesus Christ, who allows us as Christians to bear His name. Today, the Lord wants to work in us to make our name one that points to Him. When others think of you, do they think of Jesus?
"I’d rather die than bring disgrace
Upon my Lord, His name debase;
So I will live my life each day
To honor Christ and walk His way." -Hess
II. THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE WORD VERSES THOSE WHO SPEAK THEIR WORDS, 8-10.
Verse 8 teaches us how to be wise and what will happen if we don’t receive the Word. "The wise of heart will receive commands, But a babbling fool will be ruined."
A wise person is teachable, willing to become wiser (1:5; 9:9). He receives and applies Scripture being convinced of its Divine authority accepting them as just and good.
Receptivity is a characteristic of the new heart. The new born babe desires the sincere milk of the Word. The well broken good soil takes the good seed, while the other types of soil keep it on the surface or refuse attentiveness to it. Receptivity is the chief cause of the great difference that results.
As the thirsty ground drinks in the rain, so the wise in heart long for the Word of God. So the wise man will be made wiser and he who hath, even more shall be given. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
"Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the Word implanted, which is able to save your souls" James 1:21.
But a fool (’wîl, a coarse, hardened fool; 1:7; 10:21) does not quit chattering long enough to learn anything. They would rather hear themselves babble than learn from godly insight. In Proverbs needless talking is often associated with folly.
A babbling fool is literally "the foolish of lips." Such a person comes to ruin [- a phrase repeated only two verses later (v. 10; 13:3)]. If foolishness is chosen our speech becomes "prating" back talk which resists authority and causes a person to come to worthless ruin (see Hos. 4:14). Ruined literally is "thrust down." ["Ruin" is mentioned five times in chapter 10 (vv. 8, 10, 14-15, 29).]
[Fool is the Hebrew word "ewil" [eh VEEL] which refers to one who willfully refuses to make moral choices, neither choosing good nor rejecting evil. While the fool is primarily depicted as morally stupid, he can also be considered mentally stupid because he refuses to receive moral instruction and to learn from his mistakes (Prov 12:15). He is characterized by foolishness (’iwwelet), a moral corruption that leaves him unable to make reasonable moral judgments (Prov. 15:21).]
Verse 9 promises that those who walk before God in the land of the living will find a secure and shielded path. "He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out."
Those who receive and apply the Word develop integrity and walk in that integrity (Ps 23:4; Prov 3:23; 28:18; Isa. 33:15, 16). This upright or honest person is secure (3:23; 18:10; 28:18) in his walk (his conduct). Honesty is not only the best policy, it is the way of integrity.
But a person whose paths are crooked (lit. "twisted"), whose conduct is wicked, [in contrast with a person of integrity,] eventually will be discovered for what he truly is.
For lack of integrity many a mighty man has fallen. If you’re walking uprightly, you’re walking safely; but if you’re walking in compromise, you’ll be discovered, in God’s time.
Verse 10 deals with a man of mischief’s interpersonal relations. "He who winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will be ruined."
Winkers are deceivers. Though professing honesty by a wink they give hint to their accomplices of their real intent. Winking maliciously with one’s cohorts suggests sinful intentions (6:13; 16:30; Ps. 35:19). They say one thing but mean something else. "I think of Judas Iscariot in the Garden of Gethsemane as he kissed Jesus only to betray Him." [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson’s Application Commentary : Vol 2. Nashville, TN : Thomas Nelson, 2006, S. 203] Skillful and proud are they. They prepare to blacken reputations, create turmoil, break heart’s by innuendos, inferences and gossip.
No wonder this leads to grief on the part of the victims of their evil plans, or the victim’s loved ones. Yet a talkative fool will himself eventually get into trouble (the same line in Prov. 10:8b). He is a sham, bogus. All his artificially wise sounding reckless conversation will come back to cast them into contempt. As they say the emptiest vessels rattle the loudest. The one who despises God’s wisdom will fall victim of his own folly (1:7)
CONCLUSION
These proverbs present the inevitable cause-and-effect relationship between human behavior and its outcome. The Lord (Yahweh) has rigged the universe for righteousness. To go His way prompts reward. To go against it leads to failure and forfiet.
The importance of choice is seen in the freedom to make sound decisions. Neither wisdom nor folly is inevitable. It is a choice we make, again and again often daily. Each human has the opportunity and obligation to make that choice personally.
A man smokes 3 packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years dies of cancer and his family sues the tobacco company. A woman crashes while driving drunk, then blames her bartender. Your kids are out of control, so you blame violence on TV, lack of discipline in school or the influence of their friends. Excuses - we’ve got hundreds of them! Our parents failed us.. .our friends let US down .. Somebody gave US bad advice.. .our mate doesn’t understand us. The blame game isn’t new; We’ve been playing it since the dawn of creation. In Genesis the first couple offered God every excuse in the book to avoid responsibility for their actions. Adam actually blamed God by saying, "It was the woman you put... with me." And Eve was no better, she said, "The snake tricked me."
Solomon says, "The wise are glad to be instructed .. .fools fall flat on their faces" because the ability to accept responsibility is a measure of your character and maturity. But more importantly, God can’t forgive and restore you till you acknowledge and turn away from your sin. No where in Scripture does God ever excuse your sin because of somebody else’s behavior. In fact, when you make a habit of blaming the other guy you’ll never reach the place of honest repentance. The Bible says we’ll all "appear before Christ and take what’s coming us as a result of our actions" (2 Cor. 5:10 TM). Acknowledging your sins and shortcomings here and now frees you to receive God forgiveness and move on to maturity.
There is no better time than the present to own up to your sin and failures. Will you bow with me before the Lord God and ask Him to teach you His ways?
