11 Even a child is known by his
doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The hearing
ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13 Love not
sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied
with bread. 14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is
gone his way, then he boasteth. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of
rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his
garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange
woman. 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth
shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is established by counsel:
and with good advice make war. 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer
revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in
obscure darkness. (Prov 20:11-20)
The keeper of the orchard is focused more upon the development of the young
trees than he is the maintenance of the older ones. Why is this so? It is
because the old tree has matured and grown to its fullest. It will not easily
change in its fruitfulness or its stature; but a young tree is yet tender and
will be affected greatly by weather phenomena such as winds and water erosion.
It will also be more susceptible to parasitic infection. But if the wind blows
the young twig so much that is no longer vertical, that bend in its character
will remain throughout its growth if not quickly corrected by the keeper of the
orchard. Sometimes, too, a young tree will put forth what the keeper of the
orchard calls a ‘runner’. This is a secondary growth that emerges near the host
and from the same root of the host tree. If allowed to remain, the runner will
produce no fruit, but it will deprive the fruitful parent of needed sap to
produce its fruit. The young man or woman needs prompt correction when the
winds of social depravity blow against their tender branches. If some secondary
interest develops (as a runner) which will not profit them but rather lead to a
fruitless life, it must be removed from the living root. “11 Even
a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be
right.” Early in life, a child exhibits traits and characteristics
that will mark their adult character later in life. If some behavior appears
that is undesirable, it is much easier to address that unwanted behavior early
and thoroughly. If left to grow, it may sap the strength from the young person
and result in their becoming moral runts. But once a child, or a tree, has
grown to maturity, there is no question or doubt as to their nature to either
produce good fruit, or no fruit at all. If no fruit is produced, the orchard
keeper will cut it down.
“12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even
both of them.” It is true that these two organs of the senses are
the most beneficial of all for learning. But suppose the ear does not hear, or
the eye does not see? That would be an unfortunate tragedy. Unfortunately, many
ears are dumb by choice of the owner to the things of God; and many eyes are
blind to the wonders of His creation and truth. “Having
eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?” (Mark 8:18)
Of what purpose is a piano that doesn’t play and a light that does not shine?
The most important purpose for which the ear can be employed is in hearing the
Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.” (Romans 10:17) How can we fully appreciate the majesty and
beauty of God without seeing His righteousness outlined in His Law? Open
thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
(Psalms 119:18) Should we not be at least as alert to God as the pagan prophet,
Balaam: “And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he
went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face
toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding
in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the
man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of
God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having
his eyes open.” (Numbers 24:1-4)
Many men’s ears and eyes are open to that which is outwardly rewarding in the
way of morality and decency, but completely deaf and blind to the greater needs
of the soul spoken through the Voice of Mercy and Grace. They are like
spiritual statues.
“13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes,
and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” Sleep is a pleasure and a
necessity that must be balanced for good effect. Eight hours of sleep seems to
be a happy norm though many can only endure 4 hours per night (Napoleon, for
example). But those who exceed 8 hours sleep often discover that they are
drowsier throughout the day than after nights of less sleep. Laziness is
infectious. There is a spiritual as well as physical application of this verse.
If we open our eyes and ears to God’s Word in diligent study, and to prove all
things thereby, it will become the very Bread of Heaven to our hearts and
souls. There is a necessary and Godly rest, but also a slovenly sleep that is
excessive. The sleep God gives should be spent as money – not wasted. “It
is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:
for so he giveth his beloved sleep.” (Psalms 127:2)
“14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is
gone his way, then he boasteth.” We are ready and willing to lie to
get a bargain and, then, more than willing to brag of our clever dealings with
the seller. I was once invited to a dinner party in Esfahan, Iran, by a friend
whose wife was Iranian. Another American guest inquired about a lamp the
hostess had on a night stand. He commented that he had purchased an identical
lamp with cut-glass shade at the bazaar only yesterday. He boasted of his
knowledge of the Iranian custom of bargaining. The merchant wanted 2500 rial
(about $40) for the lamp. But he lingered with the merchant over tea and pita
bread. He left the merchant and returned again after 30 minutes. He was finally
able to get the merchant to come down on his price to 1500 rial. He commented
that the merchant “had tears in his eyes” when the guest had purchased the lamp
at such a bargain. He then asked the Iranian hostess what she had paid for her
lamp? His face changed a bit when she responded, “300 rial!”
“15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of
knowledge are a precious jewel.” The thoughts of man are not the
thoughts of God. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways my ways, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8) Though the lips of
knowledge are accounted the choice currency in heaven, in the world they are
not valued at all in comparison with gold and rubies. Men are eager to deceive
and defraud to gain the currency the world values to the detriment of their
souls. “Augustine mentions a somewhat ludicrous, but significant, story. A
mountebank published in the full theatre, that in the next entertainment he
would show to every man present what was in his heart. An immense concourse
attended, and the man redeemed his pledge to the vast assembly by a single
sentence—‘Vili vultis emere, et caro vendere’—‘You all wish to buy cheap, and
to sell dear’—a sentence generally applauded: everyone, even the most trifling
(as Augustine observes) finding the confirming witness in their own conscience.”
De Trin. Lib. xiii. c. 111. If the conscience has not been “seared
as with a hot iron’” it will be always a silent witness to the voice of
God within our souls. Unfortunately, we often file that Voice so remotely that
it is not easily evoked.
“16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a
pledge of him for a strange woman.” It is not wise to lend to a
stranger without collateral property. And a man who is prone to immoral
living must pledge his freedom to get money to finance that life-style. We
should be aware that “the love of our neighbor does not involve the
forgetting of our own security that wisdom has taught us. The path of godly
prudence is the safest for all parties. It never can be wise to assist, where
kindness only gives advantage to hurry on to ruin. The refusal may be an
exercise of self-denial. It is well that it should be so. Let it be clearly
seen to be the sacrifice, not the indulgence, of self-prudence, not
selfishness. This grace is one of the combined perfections of Immanuel. Let it
not be wanting in the profession of his people. It is necessary to the completeness
of the Christian profession, and to avoid many occasions of offence to the
Gospel.” Charles Bridges.
“17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth
shall be filled with gravel.” The most convenient place of
separating the chaff from the wheat may not be the most profitable to taste.
The platform must be clean and smooth. If the winnowing is conducted on a sandy
or gravelly surface, the bread product may have a sweet taste, but the gravel
will break the teeth. The devil makes his counterfeit look delicious, but its
constitution is not good for the soul of man. For every profound truth of God,
Satan has a profound counterfeit. So, how can you tell the difference? You do
so by studying the genuine – not the counterfeit. Being perfectly familiar with
the true currency of God’s Word, you will immediately detect the counterfeit.
“18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice
make war.” When making important decisions, do not rely upon your
own limited knowledge. The rope is stronger that has many cords twisted
together. Seek advice from all friends who may have had some different
experience in the matter. Certainly, nations should not go to war without
considering every possible aspect of the necessity and outcome. Hitler
made a great miscalculation in following the Napoleonic example of the invasion
of Russia. History is prologue.
The Overture of 1812, by Peter Tchaikovsky, was written to celebrate the
consecration of St Katherine’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 1879 (I believe).
The lilting opening notes suggest a mixture of the French Marseilles intermixed
with the Holy Russian anthem, “Save us O God.” The Russians were
ill-trained and poorly equipped to resist such a formidable army as that of
Napoleon – numbering more than half a million. So they could only depend upon
God for their salvation. After a dearly purchased victory at Borodino (outside
the perimeter of Moscow) Napoleon proudly marched into the city to take
possession. It was the bleak cold of a Russian winter and Napoleon needed the
resources he would gain in the city to feed his troops and war horses.
Unfortunately, all provender and shelter had been burned or evacuated. Napoleon
was stuck in a cold, desolate Moscow with no hope of staying. Not only did he
need to withdraw back across the vast and frozen Russian frontier for practical
reasons, but to save himself. In the Overture, it is at the point of Napoleon’s
retreat that the Church Bells are wrung in celebration and the live cannon fire
is introduced to convey the total victory of Russia (with God’s help) over a
tyrannical invader. Napoleon arrived back in France with only 10,000 of
his 500,000 man army. Napoleon did not consider the diligence of the
Russian people nor their reliance upon a merciful and just God. “….with
good advice make war.” There is no better advice than that which
comes through the wisdom of God’s Word. The spiritual war is far more intense
than the physical. Satan never withdraws completely from the field. But the
Captain of our line is Christ and He never loses. "Blessed be the
Lord, my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight!"
(Ps. 144:1)
“19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” If we
will remember that all interactions in life with others must be based in love,
we will be better people. Even the rebuke of Christ to the Pharisees was out of
a greater love of their souls than any regard for their outward appearance. One
person you may always depend upon as being shallow and unreliable is the
flatterer. His flatteries and devotion are always to the stronger hand or the
most opportune climate. Those who carry rumors and gossip about your enemy will
also carry tales about you to that enemy. The gossip knows no loyalties. His
whole body is subjugated to a lying tongue.
“20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put
out in obscure darkness.” If the punishment for such behavior is
darkness, perhaps darkness is also the cause of his sin. Nature itself offers
strong counsel against such ingratitude of a sibling against a parent who has
been the author and preserver of his existence. Any offense at all against a
parent is a curse. If we owe such reverence for them when they are dead, how
much more so while they are living? The sons of the Rechabites set the standard
for the honor due parents even in death: “And I set before the sons of
the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them,
Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son
of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye,
nor your sons for ever: Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor
plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that
ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. Thus have we
obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath
charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our
daughters; Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we
vineyard, nor field, nor seed: But we have dwelt in tents, and have
obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.”
(Jer 35:5-10) Do thou likewise.
