Lover of knowledge or plain stupid.
Prov. 12:1-10
The topic of wisdom comes up over and over again throughout the pages of Scripture. In fact one whole book (Proverbs) is devoted to the topic . Wisdom seems hard to obtain. Wisdom is different than having knowledge. Knowledge is defined as having information through experience, reasoning or acquaintance. Whereas wisdom is the ability to discern or judge what is true.
God wants us to have more than knowledge about Him. He wants us to have wisdom. Scripture tells us that knowing the facts is not enough. James says (2:19) “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Simply put, it is not enough to know the facts but we all have a choice to know about God and believing in His word. I pray that you gain wisdom and understanding as you search for the truth about Jesus Christ.
Proverb 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. . Let’s take a closer look at what this means.
To grow in knowledge, someone must teach you. You must submit your mind and will to them. You admit their superiority in knowledge. You must also admit your inferiority. This requires humility, which most of us do not have. Only noble souls can willingly submit and be taught by another person. In order to love knowledge, you must love to be taught by others.
To grow in knowledge, you must also admit ignorance or error. For either you did not know the truth about a subject, or you held a false position on that topic.
To grow in knowledge, you must change. Progress requires change, but change is humbling and difficult. Change means letting others see you were wrong; change means altering long-established habits; change means explaining your new actions to others.
If you do not like to be taught, you are like an animal. If you chafe under correction, you are like a beast. If you resent being told you are wrong, you are an irrational brute.
Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes Proverbs 12:2.
God can raise beggars out of a sewer and put them on the throne of glory, and He can put the greatest monarch in world history to behave like an animal - (II Sam 7:8; Dan 4:27-33). The true God rewards your conduct in this life – think of David and Nebuchadnezzar; and He rewards it in the next life – think Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).
But His condemnation is a horrible thing. What makes this difference – the great distances be-tween God’s responses?. That is right! Your choices today will either be good in His sight, or they will be wicked. You think you can do what you want? You think you have a right to your own life? You think you can protect yourself from Him? You think you can avoid the consequences of your sin? You think He does not see? Does not care? Guess again.
A good man is made good by God’s grace (Ps 14:1-3; Gal 5:22-23), but God’s grace must be used to be the good man here (I Cor 15:10; II Cor 6:1). A good man finds the favour of God by laying hold of wisdom and obeying it (Pr 8:35). A foolish man rejects wisdom and by doing so wrongs his own soul and chooses death instead (Pr 8:36).
The defining difference between the two persons is how they treat wisdom – God’s instructions for living found in the Bible. Reader, do you tremble before the words of God yet? Will you even take enough time to read and consider the warning of this proverb? Will you do anything about it? What will you do to obey God better?
The difference in His response is enormous; it is immeasurable. Do you see it clearly? He can bless so abundantly and so kindly, and He can destroy so horribly and so painfully.
Did the Lord's favour make a difference in Joseph’s life? An incredible difference! How about Abraham? Ruth? Esther? Job? David? Daniel? Mary Magdalene?
Did the Lord's condemnation make a difference in Saul’s life? What tormenting misery! How about Cain? Lot? Eli? Nabal? Jehoram? Uzziah? Judas? Herod?
Dear reader, it would do you good to read Hannah’s prayer of praise (I Sam 2:1-10). She knew the LORD was a God of knowledge and that He weighed the actions of men. She praised Him for His great work of putting one person up and putting another down. He made a great difference between her and her adversary (I Sam 1:4-8,17-20; 2:18-21,26).
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (Jas 4:10). There is precious favour to be obtained from the LORD God. Some men walked with Him as their Friend, a few walked straight into heaven without dying, and yet others had His benevolent care and protection around and upon them wherever they went and whatever they did. Humble yourself before the Lord and you will love life and see good days (I Pet 3:10-12)!
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Prov.12:3
Life is full of change. Little is fixed and stable. Change can be disruptive and fearful. But godly men have deep roots to secure their family tree for the future. Wicked living is popular, but it will not work for long, since God will destroy such men and their families.
The lesson is simple: godly men and their families will outlast the wicked . It may not seem so for a time, but it will soon be true. Proverbs gives you a rule as true as gravity, and it is repeated for emphasis (Pr 2:21-22; 10:25,30; 12:19; 24:3).
Abraham and Lot made choices. Lot chose financial advantage over holiness by pitching his tent toward Sodom. Abraham chose the leftovers. But what happened? Lot lost everything and ended up in a cave with two pregnant daughters; Abraham ended up as the rich father of Israel What a difference!
This very proverb has a wonderful parallel in the New Testament in the sermon on the mount. The parable of the foundations deals with how the man who built his house on the sand, having no foundation except on sand, had his house fall. The man who set his house on the rock,, stood against all the storms and winds that beat upon it.
The man who seeks to be established on wickedness is kidding himself. He won't know any kind of firmness or foundation. The word here means to be firm or fixed, to be steadfast and deeply founded. The picture is of a house that has deep moorings into the ground and as a result is very stable and strong. There is no promise of this for the man who wants to dig his roots into wickedness. He won't know stability - he won't have strength that will last. When troubles and trials, storms and winds come upon his life - he will fall flat.
“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who shames him is as rottenness in his bones Proverbs 12:4
What a precious proverb! A virtuous woman is a noble, gracious, diligent, and loving woman. She faithfully honors and pleases her husband. He is thankful and rejoices in God’s goodness to him through her. But an odious woman shames her husband and slowly kills him on the inside by selfishness, stubbornness, foolishness, or unfaithfulness.
The word crown here is a simple metaphor. A crown honors a person. Kings wear crowns for the honor of their office, and athletes were crowned to honor sporting achievements. A great wife honors her husband by the pleasure and esteem she brings him, and she also crowns his authority by her own submission and that which she requires of her children. A crown is a grand piece of jewelry, and a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband!
Rottenness in his bones is a simple simile, a comparison that gives itself away by using the word “as.” Bones are the support of your anatomy, and rottenness in your bones is fatal trouble for your body. Ask anyone with advanced leukemia. An odious wife causes horrible grief to a man’s mind and distress to his soul. In public he is ashamed he is married to her, and in private he is deeply wounded in his heart. It is a painful affliction. A woman can hardly understand it, for she was made for him, not he for her (I Cor 11:9).
The character and conduct that make a woman virtuous are as visible to others as her appearance. A truly gracious woman is highly respected by all others at all times (Pr 11:16). But the stench of the odious woman cannot be hid, no matter what she thinks of herself (Pr 27:15-16). Most people only see the hairy and smelly pig, when told that it has a nose ring of 24k gold (Pr 11:22). Humble yourself! Let Solomon teach you something.
This idea of a wife enhancing her husband's reputation is echoed in the famous Proverbs 31 text where it reads, "Her husband is known in the gates" (Proverbs 31:23). Sitting among the elders in the city gates of the ancient world could be equivalent to serving on the city council or a prominent board.
The thoughts of the righteous are just, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. Proverbs 12:5
Why is it far more wise to deal with a righteous man than with someone whom the Bible would refer to as wicked? That is what is set before us today in Proverbs.
The first thing we see here is that the very thoughts of the righteous are described for us The word means the actions and deeds that spring from the thoughts that fill someone's mind. These thoughts that lead to actions are described as "just." These thoughts are governed by the justice and the rightness of God. The righteous man has as his guide and has his governing principles the Word of God. As the Spirit of God uses the Word to guide him - the righteous man wants to do what is just in God's sight - and thus is most likely to do that which is truly just and right in any situation. That is why you definitely want to do business and to be in the counsel of a righteous man. He is not governed by his lusts and by wicked desires. Things like dishonesty and stealing are just wrong to him. Therefore you can trust him to do what is right at all times and in all situations.
The counsels of the wicked on the other hand - are deceitful. You do not want to do business with a man the Bible describes as wicked - because of the issue of character. The counsels here are the advice and the counsel that this wicked man follows. They are consistent with his character, which by the way is seriously lacking. His counsels are deceitful. He may promise something, but in the end he will not deliver on it. He is out for his own good and does not even blink at lying to someone if he can gain from it. He is not trustworthy - and therefore any commitment and any decision he makes is not worth the paper it is printed upon.
What do you think about? Your thoughts prove your real character. Others may not know your thoughts, but God does (Heb 4:12), and He will treat you accordingly. Are you righteous or wicked in your thoughts? Even the thought of foolishness is sin (Pr 24:9).
The difference between the righteous and wicked is enormous – with great consequences for this life and the next (Pr 3:33; 10:7; 11:31; 12:21; 14:11; 15:8,29; 24:19-20; Ps 58:1-11; 112:1-10; Matt 25:31-46). You are one or the other: you make the choice every day.
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.
An interesting lesson is presented here for us. The wicked want our blood - God wants our deliverance. The godless have a plot against our lives by their deceitful counsel and wicked words. The upright speak what will deliver us. May God give us wisdom to see these things for what they are - a warning to us to hear God's Word - not just once a week, but every day as we meet with the Lord.
The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But the house of the righteous will stand. – Proverbs 12:7
The book of Daniel relates the story of King Darius's high officials who despised Daniel and tried to destroy him. They persuaded Darius to pass a law that forbade everyone from requesting anything of any god or man for thirty days except of Darius. The penalty for breaking this law was death by hungry lions. Daniel broke the law by praying to the true God. He was subsequently thrown into a den of lions. However, the Lord protected Daniel, and Darius brought him out of the den. He then commanded that Daniel's accusers be tossed to the lions. "The lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces" (Daniel 6:24). As for righteous Daniel, he prospered (Daniel 6:28).
Ultimately, the wicked will be consigned to hell (Revelation 20:11–15), but the righteous will en-joy eternal bliss in heaven (Revelation 21:1–4).
Where people stand before God makes all the difference in this life and the next, this proverb seems to be stressing. The people who reject God and His ways, who go about their business with no regard of Him, are said here to be overthrown completely. They have no sure future, no way. What surety do they have if God can call them to account at anytime? No one knows the hour of their death, and there is only judgment awaiting the lost.
The righteous household has no fear of dangers that might befall it. The righteous person’s surety is in God, and they will stand regardless of whatever happens.
While there is an appearance of all people getting hurt and sick or dying at seemingly random times, the point is that the righteous will find safety in God and the wicked have no such promise.
–Proverbs 12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a per-verse heart shall be despised.
What good men think about you is important. It is a better measure than what you think. Wisdom will bring you honor. Folly will cause them to despise you. It is a daily choice. How much praise do good men give you for your wisdom? That is how much you deserve. Or do they despise you for a foolish approach to life? That is what you deserve.
Praise by good men is good, and it should be sought (Pr 3:3-4; 22:1; 27:2). The sure way to earn their praise is by wisdom – the ability of good judgment based on God's word But a per-verse person, who thinks, speaks, and acts wrongly, will be despised. The choice is yours.
Which are you? Which will you be? Commended or despised? You can change your reputation.
You do not care what others think? Not even good men? Then you are a fool! God’s word strictly teaches that good men will identify and praise wise persons, and they will identify and despise persons with perverse hearts. You cannot be wise and hide it from good men, and you cannot be perverse and hide it either (Pr 14:7; 27:15-16; Eccl 10:3).
What is wisdom? It is the power of right judgment based on the word of God – the ability to know what to do in a variety of conditions. A man with it sees a situation and responds in the godly way God expects and defines in the Bible. He has knowledge and understanding; he is discreet and prudent; he is foresightful and circumspect; he is fair and kind; he exalts mercy and truth.
What is a perverse heart? It is the motives in a man that neither fears nor loves God; he has no desire or regard for godliness or holiness. Proud and selfish thinking causes him to choose contrary, unreasonable, and wrong courses of action. He is ignorant of wisdom; he is obstinate, foolish, impulsive, irritating, and offensive. He is obnoxious to good men.
Intelligence is not the issue. Education does not matter. Good men do not care if you befriend them, do them favors, flatter them, give gifts, or have exceptional abilities. All that matters to them is wisdom. How do you get it? It starts by fearing GOD , and then you add His commandments and hatred of evil (Pr 1:7; 8:13; 9:10; 16:6). Simple! Avoid even a little folly, for it can quickly cause your wisdom to stink (Ec 10:1).
Proverbs 12:9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.
These strange words teach wisdom – your image is worth little. In a world crazy about image over substance, perception over reality, pretense over character, and words over performance, this proverb is very relevant. Concern about what others think is the pride of life. Living godly and comfortably is wisdom and success (Eccl 9:8-10; I Tim 6:6).
Two people are portrayed for us in this proverb. We are told it is better to be one than the other. The areas where they are being compared for our benefit could be described as pride and provision.
The first of our examples is a person who is lightly esteemed. The word used here means a person who is of little account to the world around him. He is socially unimportant, and in some instances even somewhat despised by public opinion. Basically, this person is relatively unimportant and unknown on the social ladder. But, we do learn that even though he is a social no-body, he does have enough in life to have a servant who attends to him and helps him in the daily burdens of life.
Our second person is one to whom honor and esteem mean everything. We do not know much about him in this regard except for the fact that he does find it necessary to honor himself (so that others know he is worthy of honor too). This man’s financial situation is far worse than the first man though. He is not financially secure – he even struggles with daily food . He is a legend in his own mind – but outside of his own mind – he’s little more than a passing, unheard comment. The honor that he thinks he has is honor he gives himself. What we have here is some-one who thinks very highly of himself – but no one else joins him in this estimation. His true value is so low that he cannot even provide daily bread for himself.
But if we understand the Bible – the ultimate day of honor is not when a group of our peers gather to honor us. It is the day when God will offer the only esteem worthy of receiving. That is the day when men and women will receive the “good and faithful servant” award. On that day we will learn that all the awards and prizes men have given and won, amount to little more than self-imposed esteem that has no value in eternity. They have plenty of prideful esteem they’ve given to themselves – but no bread. But the one who sought first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – the one who took up the cross the world despises, and followed Him – the one who loved God rather than the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life – that one will be blessed. That one will know the only social register that will mean anything in that day - the Lamb’s book of life. Humble yourself and live for this esteem - His esteem. Living for your own esteem or the esteem of others is a dead end – literally.
Proverbs 12:10 states, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, / but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” This verse specifically links righteousness to the humane treatment of animals.
This proverb states in the second half, “The kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” In other words, even the most compassionate works of a wicked person are bad—the wicked are always cruel. In contrast, a godly person is always kind, and that kindness extends to the animals under his care. The righteous person cares about all life, including animal life.
This principle has important applications for today’s Christian. While Scripture expresses a clear priority for human life over animal life (see Luke 12:7), animals are part of God’s creation and are to be shown proper care and humane treatment. Animal cruelty or mistreatment has no place in the life of a Christian.
Jesus asked in Matthew 12:11, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?” As He made a broader point about Sabbath-keeping, Jesus appealed to His audience’s care of their livestock. If they had an animal in trouble, they would help. That is good and proper. Jesus used the analogy to highlight the necessity of helping people, too: “How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!” (verse 12).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of the great care God has for animal life, including each bird that flies in the sky (Matthew 6:26). One of the psalms expresses God’s oversight of all the animals He has made: “The lions roar for their prey / and seek their food from God. . . . All creatures look to you / to give them their food at the proper time. / When you give it to them, / they gather it up; / when you open your hand, / they are satisfied with good things” (Psalm 104:21, 27–28). God cares for the needs of His animals, and God’s people should do the same.
Two important accounts in the Old Testament also reveal God’s care for animal life. In the ac-count of Noah and the flood, God went to great lengths to make sure every kind of animal would survive on the ark. And in Jonah’s story, part of God’s explanation of holding back His destruction of Nineveh was the importance of the animals of the city. God said, “Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11).
God cares greatly for the animals He has created. Those who seek to follow His ways will also care about His creation, including animal life. Animal cruelty, the neglect of pets, and the wanton destruction of a species are sin. Christians are called to care for animals, expressing the same attitude toward animal life as our Creator has.
This verse sets an important perspective for a biblical view of animal rights. While God created all animals for the use of mankind (Genesis 1:28; 9:3), He also expects us to respect and care for those resources, not to abuse them. In fact, Solomon connects a person's righteousness to their treatment of animals. The point is not that those who love God must be vegetarians nor is this giving an idolized sense of animal values. The message is that a godly perspective on creation naturally leads to respect for all creatures. The God-fearing (Proverbs 1:7) person will treat them kindly, feed them properly, and care for them when they hurt.
In contrast to godly attitudes, a wicked person's approach to animals can't be anything more than cruelty. Even their "mercy," in such a case, is relatively harsh and abusive. Cruelty to animals is seen today in staged dog fights, in starving animals, in animal beatings, in neglecting proper care of pets, and in abandoning helpless animals. Believers need to be careful not to elevate animals to equal human beings (Genesis 1:26–27). However, preventing animal cruelty and rescuing abused animals both reflect a godly attitude towards creation.
