15 The
way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is
wise. 16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man
covereth shame. 17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth
righteousness: but a false witness deceit. 18 There is that
speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The
lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a
moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to
the counsellors of peace is joy. 21 There shall no evil happen to
the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 22 Lying
lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. 23 A
prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth
foolishness. (Prov 12:15-23)
This chapter of Proverbs is loosely divided into four parts: 1) verses 1-14
argues character matters; 2) verses 15-16 teach wisdom graces the ways of the
righteous while the fool will only use that pitiful knowledge that is the
meager crumbs of his own heart; 3) verses 17-23 tell us words have consequences
and can be used as wounding swords or comforting oils; and 4) verses 24-28
demonstrate the victorious life of the wise laborer. Today, we will discuss
verses 15-23.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes How is this so? Remember, a fool does
not listen to counsel, nor does he seek after knowledge. He is left with the
paltry provisions of his own thoughts which are wild and unrefined by wisdom.
Since he listens to no instruction, his only frame of reference is his own
experiences and his own selfish thoughts. The fool can see no deficiency behind
his own eyes, but only those before those eyes. To the hopeless fool, everyone
else appears the fool. Not listening to the counsel of others, he has not the
benefit of any other viewpoint but his own eyes. “… but he that
hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. See how different
the wise. The wise man realizes the smallness of his own mind. He seeks to
enlarge his own thoughts with those of others of learning and seniority. What
field commander would lead his army into combat without having scouts survey
the enemy lines for depth and width? The wise fellow will consider all
possibilities in solving a problem. Many minds are better than one mind closed
in darkness.
A fool's wrath is presently known See how easily the
ignorant and foolish are worked up to a feverish emotionalism by mob mentality.
One of the great achievements (?) of Islam is that they keep their followers in
wanton ignorance so that they may control them more easily. A fool, not being
able to rationally consider other view points, is quickly angered by the
slightest perceived provocation. Our jails are full of such fellows. “. . . but
a prudent man covereth shame.” There is no greater
fool than one who runs immediately to his or her friends the moment a
disagreement in the home arises. He may spread quickly bad rumors of wife or
husband for revenge, only to regret later the sorry reputation he has made for
himself. The wise person conceals personal misgivings about his friends and
family for he knows that any slight on the name of a loved one or friend is a
slight against his own good character and discretion.
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness A good,
old truth here. Out of the mouth come the treasures of the heart – be they of
gold or of swamp water. Truth is always pure and clean, and of great value to
the hearer. The truth from the mouth of a man is a direct reflection on his
righteousness. “ . . . but a false witness deceit.”
Since deceit is in his heart, the fool speaks from that abundance of
wickedness. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the
mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those
things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they
defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are
the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a
man. (Matt 15:17-20)
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword Do we
not know some others whose every word is like a stone against a friend. They
see no good thing about their neighbors or associates. Instead of compliments
to the lady of the house for a diligently prepared meal, they find the food too
salty, or the salad too stale. When we see such a one coming, we quickly try to
go another way. Their words wound and hurt. “ . . . but the tongue of
the wise is health.” In my many years of instructing
military pilots, there is one principle of teaching I never neglected: at the
end of a period of instruction, always begin the debriefing by complimenting
the student on something that was performed well – then proceed with critical
comments if applicable. If a lady’s face is in ruins, you may at least
compliment her on her choice of dress. Find good things that are true to speak
rather than injurious.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever. Contrary
to modern philosophy, truth is immutable and unchanging. It is the mark of
distinction of our glorious Savior. He spoke only truth, and He, too, is
unchanging – the same yesterday, today, and forever! The mouth of
the speaker of truth will be heard behind the gates of New Jerusalem. “ . . . but
a lying tongue is but for a moment.” If truth is
eternal, a lie is the opposite – very brief. In fact, it does not even survive
the mouth of its propagator.
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil The
good Seed of the Gospel fall into the heart and bear good fruit. The
opposite is true of the seeds of briars and weeds of wickedness in the heart of
the wicked. The seed of weeds can only produce more and multiple numbers of
weeds. A heart filled with wickedness can only operate on the fuel of evil. “ .
. . but to the counsellors of peace is joy.”
Those who advocate truth and peace have no snares of deceit of which to worry
about tripping upon. The conscience of such counselors is full of comfort at
duty well performed and faithfully executed. A good conscience is theirs, and
that good conscience is a healing balm to their souls.
There shall no evil happen to the just. Perhaps you are
remembering some tragic event that has occurred in the life of a good and
Christian friend. You may say, “Well, that fellow was not protected from evil.”
You have no basis to make such a determination due to the brevity and limits of
your vision. That which may appear as tragic to us may result in the greatest
good imaginable if we could only see the unseen hand of God working behind the
veil of life. And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8:28) “ . . . but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.”
That mischief is INTERNAL as well as external. The wicked take years of good
health from their lives by the fevers of greed and hate they entertain in their
hearts.
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: The
sins God calls an ‘abomination’ are few due to their utter egregiousness.
Homosexuality is called an abomination before God because it disputes the
Creative Model of God at Eden. It violates the very first Commandment God gave
to mankind: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them,
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it (Gen 1:27-28) So,
too, are lying lips an abomination because they refute the sound truth and
doctrine provided in God’s Holy Word of unblemished Truth. “ . . . but
they that deal truly are his delight.” Truth speakers
are in tune with God’s spiritual, and natural, law. An apple tree never lies by
producing peaches. A chestnut never falls up when it is released by the branch.
God loves truth, and His heart is warmed by hearing His people speaking only
truth.
A prudent man concealeth knowledge. Would it be wise for a
nation at war to publicly announce its troop movements and shipping routes? The
wise will only trade in that knowledge that will be a timely benefit and never
a creator of weakness. “ . . . but the heart of fools proclaimeth
foolishness.” What else is available to the fool to proclaim? He
has rejected knowledge and counsel of others; therefore he has nothing but
foolishness in his heart to share. He never stumbles upon a wise and prudent
thought even by accident.
Have you sought after wisdom and sound counsel? Have you stored these in your
heart as treasures to be shared at the time of need?
