Proverbs 24

Proverbs 24:1

Consequences of Not Listening

All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her (Psalms 119:90-91). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her (Proverbs 1:24). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. Isaiah 65:2). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:25).

Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered (Proverbs 1:24a), they have ‘not paid attention” to it (Proverbs 1:24b), “neglected” it (Proverbs 1:25a) and “did not want” it (Proverbs 1:25b). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22).

After “because” of Proverbs 1:24-25 comes “I will” in Proverbs 1:26. They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter (Psalms 2:4). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about.

Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. Ezekiel 8:18). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear (Job 15:24; Daniel 5:5-6; 30). They will be destroyed by their fear (Proverbs 1:27). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”.

In Proverbs 1:28, it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men (Hosea 9:12), how much more so when it is also a time of need (1 Samuel 28:15).

Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” (Proverbs 1:29). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish.

They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them (Proverbs 1:30). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat (Proverbs 1:31). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves (Galatians 6:7-8). They will be satiated “with their own devices”.

How that happens is explained in Proverbs 1:32. The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.

Proverbs 24:2

Consequences of Not Listening

All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her (Psalms 119:90-91). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her (Proverbs 1:24). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. Isaiah 65:2). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:25).

Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered (Proverbs 1:24a), they have ‘not paid attention” to it (Proverbs 1:24b), “neglected” it (Proverbs 1:25a) and “did not want” it (Proverbs 1:25b). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22).

After “because” of Proverbs 1:24-25 comes “I will” in Proverbs 1:26. They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter (Psalms 2:4). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about.

Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. Ezekiel 8:18). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear (Job 15:24; Daniel 5:5-6; 30). They will be destroyed by their fear (Proverbs 1:27). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”.

In Proverbs 1:28, it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men (Hosea 9:12), how much more so when it is also a time of need (1 Samuel 28:15).

Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” (Proverbs 1:29). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish.

They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them (Proverbs 1:30). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat (Proverbs 1:31). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves (Galatians 6:7-8). They will be satiated “with their own devices”.

How that happens is explained in Proverbs 1:32. The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.

Proverbs 24:3

Consequences of Not Listening

All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her (Psalms 119:90-91). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her (Proverbs 1:24). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. Isaiah 65:2). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:25).

Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered (Proverbs 1:24a), they have ‘not paid attention” to it (Proverbs 1:24b), “neglected” it (Proverbs 1:25a) and “did not want” it (Proverbs 1:25b). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22).

After “because” of Proverbs 1:24-25 comes “I will” in Proverbs 1:26. They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter (Psalms 2:4). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about.

Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. Ezekiel 8:18). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear (Job 15:24; Daniel 5:5-6; 30). They will be destroyed by their fear (Proverbs 1:27). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”.

In Proverbs 1:28, it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men (Hosea 9:12), how much more so when it is also a time of need (1 Samuel 28:15).

Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” (Proverbs 1:29). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish.

They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them (Proverbs 1:30). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat (Proverbs 1:31). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves (Galatians 6:7-8). They will be satiated “with their own devices”.

How that happens is explained in Proverbs 1:32. The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.

Proverbs 24:4

Consequences of Not Listening

All works of creation stand where Wisdom has placed them and they serve Her (Psalms 119:90-91). Only the inveterate sinners refuse to respond to Wisdom’s call and take the place that befits them before Her (Proverbs 1:24). She has held out Her hand invitingly to them (cf. Isaiah 65:2). But the sinners rejected the most important counsel of all, that of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:25).

Even Her “reproof”, which serves to draw them to Herself, has no effect because they are unwilling to accept it. It is a conscious, self-willed choice against Wisdom. The sinners have “refused” everything that Wisdom has offered (Proverbs 1:24a), they have ‘not paid attention” to it (Proverbs 1:24b), “neglected” it (Proverbs 1:25a) and “did not want” it (Proverbs 1:25b). She endured them for so long, but they despised that forbearance (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22).

After “because” of Proverbs 1:24-25 comes “I will” in Proverbs 1:26. They have laughed at and mocked Wisdom. Therefore, Wisdom will laugh over them at their downfall. Her laughter is a terrible laughter (Psalms 2:4). It is a scornful laughter because now comes upon them what She has warned them about.

Wisdom called sinners, but they did not listen. Then the opposite happens (cf. Ezekiel 8:18). Wisdom will scoff when the stubborn sinners will be seized by their fear (Job 15:24; Daniel 5:5-6; 30). They will be destroyed by their fear (Proverbs 1:27). As by “a whirlwind”, they will go down in “distress and anguish”.

In Proverbs 1:28, it says in what way Wisdom gives substance to Her laughter and mockery. She distances Herself from the sinners – as if She can no longer bear them – and now speaks not to them, but about them to others. She warns those others not to follow the sinners’ example. Wisdom will not respond to the sinners’ call for help when they will call to Her in their distress, because they did not want to respond when She called Her warnings to them. It is an awful thing when God departs from men (Hosea 9:12), how much more so when it is also a time of need (1 Samuel 28:15).

Wisdom explains why She does not listen to sinners when they call to Her in distress. It is “because they hated knowledge” (Proverbs 1:29). The unwise want to remain foolish. The foolish not only prefer foolishness, but they despise knowledge. They simply do not want to be taught. It is a conscious choice not to choose the fear of the LORD. Those who are like this miss the beginning of knowledge; they cannot become wise and therefore remain foolish.

They did not want to listen to the counsel of Wisdom that She presented to them (Proverbs 1:30). All Her reproof, which served to induce them to listen, “they spurned”. Those who so stubbornly refuse to open up to Wisdom cannot be helped. They will find out when they are given the bitter fruit of their self-willed way to eat (Proverbs 1:31). They will reap what they have sown and get what they deserve and want for themselves (Galatians 6:7-8). They will be satiated “with their own devices”.

How that happens is explained in Proverbs 1:32. The word “for” indicates that. Their apostasy from the living God means their death. The fools’ love for their carefree rest is like a rocking boat floating on the river in which they are sleeping. Without their noticing, the little boat slowly but surely drifts toward the waterfall where it plunges down and crashes. The peace they embrace is the peace of death. Their stubbornness and complacency will kill and destroy them.

Proverbs 24:5

The Part of Him Who Listens

The section does not end in minor, but with a wonderful and also attractive promise for those who do listen to Wisdom. What he gets is a permanent, uninterruptible safety. In this, it is also a situation in which no threat is felt. He is “at ease from the dread of evil”.

Listening to Wisdom provides protection from evil. This is the great contrast between the false security of the wicked in the previous verse and the true and lasting peace of the righteous who listens to Wisdom in this verse. In this situation of safety and peace, every believer may already live who listens to the Word of God and applies it to all aspects of his life.

Proverbs 24:7

Introduction

In Proverbs 2 the father is speaking again. In the previous chapter, he warned his son against the sin of violence. In this second chapter he warns his son against the second great sin, that is the sin of corruption. In doing so, he emphatically presents the result of two ways or paths, that is, the way of life and the way of death. It is not only about a life style, but also what that lifestyle leads to.

The picture is of you walking on a road and coming to a fork in the road. There are two roads in front of you. One road seems attractive, sunny, easy, flat. The other road seems difficult, there are threatening clouds hanging over it, the first part goes up steeply, it is a narrow and slippery road. You can’t tell from either road where it ends, because somewhere in the distance there is a turn in the road. Now which road do you choose? Of course, it is tempting to choose the easy, sunny road. But what’s after the turn?

The father in his wisdom now tells what comes after the turn, because he knows. In the case of the easy road, that is tearing up lions and bears, and in the case of the hard road, that is a beautiful valley. The father tells his son not to choose the road that leads to the tearing beasts, but the road that leads to peace.

We live in a time when no thought is given to the future. It is about getting money easily, as in the previous chapter, and about an easy and pleasant life here and now, in this chapter. Young people do not worry about the future. Here and now and immediate enjoyment, that’s what it’s about. Let’s worry about that when we get there. It is the mentality of ‘seize the day’ and ‘let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ ‘Of course after death it’s over and done with. Should there possibly be something, we’ll then see.’

The structure of this chapter is clear and remarkable: 1. In Proverbs 2:1-4 the father holds out some conditions to his son. The conditions begin with the word “if”. 2. If he meets those conditions, the result will be blessings. Those blessings begin with the word “then” in Proverbs 2:5; 9. 3. In Proverbs 2:12; 16 the father tells of the two dangers from which his son will be saved if he listens to his advice. 4. The ultimate purpose is mentioned in Proverbs 2:20, as evidenced by the word “so” with which the verse begins.

In Hebrew, this chapter is one long sentence that can be divided into six parts: 1. If you listen to the Wisdom and seek Her (Proverbs 2:1-4), 2. then the LORD will give you wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-8), 3. and you will enjoy and live out the knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11), 4. you will be preserved from the evil path, from those who enjoy the evil (Proverbs 2:12-15), 5. and you will be kept from the temptation of easy sex (Proverbs 2:16-19), 6. with the result that you will walk on the way of life, while the wicked walk on the path down, to death (Proverbs 2:20-22).

The content of this chapter can be summarized in the word ‘preservation’ or ‘protection’.

If …, Then …

We can warn our children for certain matters in several ways or recommend them in several ways to pursue certain matters. It depends on our personal conviction with regard to those matters. If we ourselves are convinced, it will resonate in our voice. If we speak without conviction, it will also be noticed. We see here with the father, when he again speaks to his son, that he speaks with full conviction. He is even more motivated after Wisdom’s earnest words in the previous chapter to impress upon his son the value of wisdom.

His words contain an urgent call upon the mind and effort of his son to acquire wisdom. It is hereby important that the son has a mind which “receives his words” without any resistance and “treasures” his “commandments” within him (Proverbs 2:1). The words of the father have the authority of commandments. They are not merely recommendations or noncommittal advice, but commands.

‘Receive’ and ‘treasure’ mean that the words and commandments are accepted and treasured for later use (cf. Luke 2:19; 51; Psalms 119:11). Treasure is stronger than receive and means to learn by heart. It cannot stop at receiving. The father may offer and command, but the son must receive and treasure. If he doesn’t receive and treasure the words and commandments he hears from his father, he will hopelessly perish in the labyrinth of the world that is full of violence and corruption.

The father does not say that he has all the answers to life’s questions, but he does point out to his son where he can find those answers, and that is with “wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2). In that way he refers to the Lord Jesus. That also applies to us, with regard to God’s Word. The Word of God is the Word of Christ. It is important that we receive God’s words and commandments and treasure them in our hearts. Then our faith will not suffer shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

To receive and treasure the words and commandments, an open ear and a receptive heart are needed. The son must heed wisdom with his ear, which means that he listens to it attentively. The heart is the inner being, from which his whole person is governed. The heart must be desirous of “understanding”, that is, possessing the ability to discern between good and evil and then make the choice for the good. This understanding can be acquired by reading and treasuring this book in the heart.

After the right attitude or mindset has been presented to the son, the father says to him to cry out “for discernment” and lift his voice “for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3). He prefaces that order with an empowering “yes”. It is essential that the son does this. It means that he must pray for it and do so vigorously. ‘To lift one’s voice’ is a reinforcing form of calling. It is calling with a loud voice. The son will certainly do so if he sees the value of wisdom.

Then the son is not supposed to hang around waiting for an answer to his prayer with his arms crossed. He must get to work himself. The father exhorts him to ‘seek’ and ‘search for’ (Proverbs 2:4). This is the essential condition for gaining wisdom. It does not come to him by chance. He must be like a treasure hunter who shuns no effort in his search for “silver” and “hidden treasures”. In relation to wisdom, we must be treasure hunters.

The effort to find wisdom is what we can call ‘discipline for the purpose of godliness’ (1 Timothy 4:7b). That is worth a lot more than bodily discipline (1 Timothy 4:8). The latter is something into which many people put a lot of time because they want so badly to stay healthy. But the health of the spiritual life is much more important. And it is precisely in this that so little is invested. If the search for wisdom is our greatest joy, it is not an arduous task, but a task that we gladly undertake.

The word “then” with which Proverbs 2:5 begins, is the answer to the conditional “if” of the previous verses. If the son does what is said in the previous verses, then he will receive what is said in this verse. He will then “discern the fear of the LORD”, that is, gain the understanding into it, understand what it means, that it is about living to God’s honor.

He will also “discover the knowledge of God”, meaning that he will possess it, learning to know God’s will and acting accordingly. He will know how to express his reverence for the LORD in everyday life. The promise of discovering in this verse is linked to seeking in Proverbs 2:4, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:8

Introduction

In Proverbs 2 the father is speaking again. In the previous chapter, he warned his son against the sin of violence. In this second chapter he warns his son against the second great sin, that is the sin of corruption. In doing so, he emphatically presents the result of two ways or paths, that is, the way of life and the way of death. It is not only about a life style, but also what that lifestyle leads to.

The picture is of you walking on a road and coming to a fork in the road. There are two roads in front of you. One road seems attractive, sunny, easy, flat. The other road seems difficult, there are threatening clouds hanging over it, the first part goes up steeply, it is a narrow and slippery road. You can’t tell from either road where it ends, because somewhere in the distance there is a turn in the road. Now which road do you choose? Of course, it is tempting to choose the easy, sunny road. But what’s after the turn?

The father in his wisdom now tells what comes after the turn, because he knows. In the case of the easy road, that is tearing up lions and bears, and in the case of the hard road, that is a beautiful valley. The father tells his son not to choose the road that leads to the tearing beasts, but the road that leads to peace.

We live in a time when no thought is given to the future. It is about getting money easily, as in the previous chapter, and about an easy and pleasant life here and now, in this chapter. Young people do not worry about the future. Here and now and immediate enjoyment, that’s what it’s about. Let’s worry about that when we get there. It is the mentality of ‘seize the day’ and ‘let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ ‘Of course after death it’s over and done with. Should there possibly be something, we’ll then see.’

The structure of this chapter is clear and remarkable: 1. In Proverbs 2:1-4 the father holds out some conditions to his son. The conditions begin with the word “if”. 2. If he meets those conditions, the result will be blessings. Those blessings begin with the word “then” in Proverbs 2:5; 9. 3. In Proverbs 2:12; 16 the father tells of the two dangers from which his son will be saved if he listens to his advice. 4. The ultimate purpose is mentioned in Proverbs 2:20, as evidenced by the word “so” with which the verse begins.

In Hebrew, this chapter is one long sentence that can be divided into six parts: 1. If you listen to the Wisdom and seek Her (Proverbs 2:1-4), 2. then the LORD will give you wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-8), 3. and you will enjoy and live out the knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11), 4. you will be preserved from the evil path, from those who enjoy the evil (Proverbs 2:12-15), 5. and you will be kept from the temptation of easy sex (Proverbs 2:16-19), 6. with the result that you will walk on the way of life, while the wicked walk on the path down, to death (Proverbs 2:20-22).

The content of this chapter can be summarized in the word ‘preservation’ or ‘protection’.

If …, Then …

We can warn our children for certain matters in several ways or recommend them in several ways to pursue certain matters. It depends on our personal conviction with regard to those matters. If we ourselves are convinced, it will resonate in our voice. If we speak without conviction, it will also be noticed. We see here with the father, when he again speaks to his son, that he speaks with full conviction. He is even more motivated after Wisdom’s earnest words in the previous chapter to impress upon his son the value of wisdom.

His words contain an urgent call upon the mind and effort of his son to acquire wisdom. It is hereby important that the son has a mind which “receives his words” without any resistance and “treasures” his “commandments” within him (Proverbs 2:1). The words of the father have the authority of commandments. They are not merely recommendations or noncommittal advice, but commands.

‘Receive’ and ‘treasure’ mean that the words and commandments are accepted and treasured for later use (cf. Luke 2:19; 51; Psalms 119:11). Treasure is stronger than receive and means to learn by heart. It cannot stop at receiving. The father may offer and command, but the son must receive and treasure. If he doesn’t receive and treasure the words and commandments he hears from his father, he will hopelessly perish in the labyrinth of the world that is full of violence and corruption.

The father does not say that he has all the answers to life’s questions, but he does point out to his son where he can find those answers, and that is with “wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2). In that way he refers to the Lord Jesus. That also applies to us, with regard to God’s Word. The Word of God is the Word of Christ. It is important that we receive God’s words and commandments and treasure them in our hearts. Then our faith will not suffer shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

To receive and treasure the words and commandments, an open ear and a receptive heart are needed. The son must heed wisdom with his ear, which means that he listens to it attentively. The heart is the inner being, from which his whole person is governed. The heart must be desirous of “understanding”, that is, possessing the ability to discern between good and evil and then make the choice for the good. This understanding can be acquired by reading and treasuring this book in the heart.

After the right attitude or mindset has been presented to the son, the father says to him to cry out “for discernment” and lift his voice “for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3). He prefaces that order with an empowering “yes”. It is essential that the son does this. It means that he must pray for it and do so vigorously. ‘To lift one’s voice’ is a reinforcing form of calling. It is calling with a loud voice. The son will certainly do so if he sees the value of wisdom.

Then the son is not supposed to hang around waiting for an answer to his prayer with his arms crossed. He must get to work himself. The father exhorts him to ‘seek’ and ‘search for’ (Proverbs 2:4). This is the essential condition for gaining wisdom. It does not come to him by chance. He must be like a treasure hunter who shuns no effort in his search for “silver” and “hidden treasures”. In relation to wisdom, we must be treasure hunters.

The effort to find wisdom is what we can call ‘discipline for the purpose of godliness’ (1 Timothy 4:7b). That is worth a lot more than bodily discipline (1 Timothy 4:8). The latter is something into which many people put a lot of time because they want so badly to stay healthy. But the health of the spiritual life is much more important. And it is precisely in this that so little is invested. If the search for wisdom is our greatest joy, it is not an arduous task, but a task that we gladly undertake.

The word “then” with which Proverbs 2:5 begins, is the answer to the conditional “if” of the previous verses. If the son does what is said in the previous verses, then he will receive what is said in this verse. He will then “discern the fear of the LORD”, that is, gain the understanding into it, understand what it means, that it is about living to God’s honor.

He will also “discover the knowledge of God”, meaning that he will possess it, learning to know God’s will and acting accordingly. He will know how to express his reverence for the LORD in everyday life. The promise of discovering in this verse is linked to seeking in Proverbs 2:4, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:9

Introduction

In Proverbs 2 the father is speaking again. In the previous chapter, he warned his son against the sin of violence. In this second chapter he warns his son against the second great sin, that is the sin of corruption. In doing so, he emphatically presents the result of two ways or paths, that is, the way of life and the way of death. It is not only about a life style, but also what that lifestyle leads to.

The picture is of you walking on a road and coming to a fork in the road. There are two roads in front of you. One road seems attractive, sunny, easy, flat. The other road seems difficult, there are threatening clouds hanging over it, the first part goes up steeply, it is a narrow and slippery road. You can’t tell from either road where it ends, because somewhere in the distance there is a turn in the road. Now which road do you choose? Of course, it is tempting to choose the easy, sunny road. But what’s after the turn?

The father in his wisdom now tells what comes after the turn, because he knows. In the case of the easy road, that is tearing up lions and bears, and in the case of the hard road, that is a beautiful valley. The father tells his son not to choose the road that leads to the tearing beasts, but the road that leads to peace.

We live in a time when no thought is given to the future. It is about getting money easily, as in the previous chapter, and about an easy and pleasant life here and now, in this chapter. Young people do not worry about the future. Here and now and immediate enjoyment, that’s what it’s about. Let’s worry about that when we get there. It is the mentality of ‘seize the day’ and ‘let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ ‘Of course after death it’s over and done with. Should there possibly be something, we’ll then see.’

The structure of this chapter is clear and remarkable: 1. In Proverbs 2:1-4 the father holds out some conditions to his son. The conditions begin with the word “if”. 2. If he meets those conditions, the result will be blessings. Those blessings begin with the word “then” in Proverbs 2:5; 9. 3. In Proverbs 2:12; 16 the father tells of the two dangers from which his son will be saved if he listens to his advice. 4. The ultimate purpose is mentioned in Proverbs 2:20, as evidenced by the word “so” with which the verse begins.

In Hebrew, this chapter is one long sentence that can be divided into six parts: 1. If you listen to the Wisdom and seek Her (Proverbs 2:1-4), 2. then the LORD will give you wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-8), 3. and you will enjoy and live out the knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11), 4. you will be preserved from the evil path, from those who enjoy the evil (Proverbs 2:12-15), 5. and you will be kept from the temptation of easy sex (Proverbs 2:16-19), 6. with the result that you will walk on the way of life, while the wicked walk on the path down, to death (Proverbs 2:20-22).

The content of this chapter can be summarized in the word ‘preservation’ or ‘protection’.

If …, Then …

We can warn our children for certain matters in several ways or recommend them in several ways to pursue certain matters. It depends on our personal conviction with regard to those matters. If we ourselves are convinced, it will resonate in our voice. If we speak without conviction, it will also be noticed. We see here with the father, when he again speaks to his son, that he speaks with full conviction. He is even more motivated after Wisdom’s earnest words in the previous chapter to impress upon his son the value of wisdom.

His words contain an urgent call upon the mind and effort of his son to acquire wisdom. It is hereby important that the son has a mind which “receives his words” without any resistance and “treasures” his “commandments” within him (Proverbs 2:1). The words of the father have the authority of commandments. They are not merely recommendations or noncommittal advice, but commands.

‘Receive’ and ‘treasure’ mean that the words and commandments are accepted and treasured for later use (cf. Luke 2:19; 51; Psalms 119:11). Treasure is stronger than receive and means to learn by heart. It cannot stop at receiving. The father may offer and command, but the son must receive and treasure. If he doesn’t receive and treasure the words and commandments he hears from his father, he will hopelessly perish in the labyrinth of the world that is full of violence and corruption.

The father does not say that he has all the answers to life’s questions, but he does point out to his son where he can find those answers, and that is with “wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2). In that way he refers to the Lord Jesus. That also applies to us, with regard to God’s Word. The Word of God is the Word of Christ. It is important that we receive God’s words and commandments and treasure them in our hearts. Then our faith will not suffer shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

To receive and treasure the words and commandments, an open ear and a receptive heart are needed. The son must heed wisdom with his ear, which means that he listens to it attentively. The heart is the inner being, from which his whole person is governed. The heart must be desirous of “understanding”, that is, possessing the ability to discern between good and evil and then make the choice for the good. This understanding can be acquired by reading and treasuring this book in the heart.

After the right attitude or mindset has been presented to the son, the father says to him to cry out “for discernment” and lift his voice “for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3). He prefaces that order with an empowering “yes”. It is essential that the son does this. It means that he must pray for it and do so vigorously. ‘To lift one’s voice’ is a reinforcing form of calling. It is calling with a loud voice. The son will certainly do so if he sees the value of wisdom.

Then the son is not supposed to hang around waiting for an answer to his prayer with his arms crossed. He must get to work himself. The father exhorts him to ‘seek’ and ‘search for’ (Proverbs 2:4). This is the essential condition for gaining wisdom. It does not come to him by chance. He must be like a treasure hunter who shuns no effort in his search for “silver” and “hidden treasures”. In relation to wisdom, we must be treasure hunters.

The effort to find wisdom is what we can call ‘discipline for the purpose of godliness’ (1 Timothy 4:7b). That is worth a lot more than bodily discipline (1 Timothy 4:8). The latter is something into which many people put a lot of time because they want so badly to stay healthy. But the health of the spiritual life is much more important. And it is precisely in this that so little is invested. If the search for wisdom is our greatest joy, it is not an arduous task, but a task that we gladly undertake.

The word “then” with which Proverbs 2:5 begins, is the answer to the conditional “if” of the previous verses. If the son does what is said in the previous verses, then he will receive what is said in this verse. He will then “discern the fear of the LORD”, that is, gain the understanding into it, understand what it means, that it is about living to God’s honor.

He will also “discover the knowledge of God”, meaning that he will possess it, learning to know God’s will and acting accordingly. He will know how to express his reverence for the LORD in everyday life. The promise of discovering in this verse is linked to seeking in Proverbs 2:4, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:10

Introduction

In Proverbs 2 the father is speaking again. In the previous chapter, he warned his son against the sin of violence. In this second chapter he warns his son against the second great sin, that is the sin of corruption. In doing so, he emphatically presents the result of two ways or paths, that is, the way of life and the way of death. It is not only about a life style, but also what that lifestyle leads to.

The picture is of you walking on a road and coming to a fork in the road. There are two roads in front of you. One road seems attractive, sunny, easy, flat. The other road seems difficult, there are threatening clouds hanging over it, the first part goes up steeply, it is a narrow and slippery road. You can’t tell from either road where it ends, because somewhere in the distance there is a turn in the road. Now which road do you choose? Of course, it is tempting to choose the easy, sunny road. But what’s after the turn?

The father in his wisdom now tells what comes after the turn, because he knows. In the case of the easy road, that is tearing up lions and bears, and in the case of the hard road, that is a beautiful valley. The father tells his son not to choose the road that leads to the tearing beasts, but the road that leads to peace.

We live in a time when no thought is given to the future. It is about getting money easily, as in the previous chapter, and about an easy and pleasant life here and now, in this chapter. Young people do not worry about the future. Here and now and immediate enjoyment, that’s what it’s about. Let’s worry about that when we get there. It is the mentality of ‘seize the day’ and ‘let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ ‘Of course after death it’s over and done with. Should there possibly be something, we’ll then see.’

The structure of this chapter is clear and remarkable: 1. In Proverbs 2:1-4 the father holds out some conditions to his son. The conditions begin with the word “if”. 2. If he meets those conditions, the result will be blessings. Those blessings begin with the word “then” in Proverbs 2:5; 9. 3. In Proverbs 2:12; 16 the father tells of the two dangers from which his son will be saved if he listens to his advice. 4. The ultimate purpose is mentioned in Proverbs 2:20, as evidenced by the word “so” with which the verse begins.

In Hebrew, this chapter is one long sentence that can be divided into six parts: 1. If you listen to the Wisdom and seek Her (Proverbs 2:1-4), 2. then the LORD will give you wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-8), 3. and you will enjoy and live out the knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11), 4. you will be preserved from the evil path, from those who enjoy the evil (Proverbs 2:12-15), 5. and you will be kept from the temptation of easy sex (Proverbs 2:16-19), 6. with the result that you will walk on the way of life, while the wicked walk on the path down, to death (Proverbs 2:20-22).

The content of this chapter can be summarized in the word ‘preservation’ or ‘protection’.

If …, Then …

We can warn our children for certain matters in several ways or recommend them in several ways to pursue certain matters. It depends on our personal conviction with regard to those matters. If we ourselves are convinced, it will resonate in our voice. If we speak without conviction, it will also be noticed. We see here with the father, when he again speaks to his son, that he speaks with full conviction. He is even more motivated after Wisdom’s earnest words in the previous chapter to impress upon his son the value of wisdom.

His words contain an urgent call upon the mind and effort of his son to acquire wisdom. It is hereby important that the son has a mind which “receives his words” without any resistance and “treasures” his “commandments” within him (Proverbs 2:1). The words of the father have the authority of commandments. They are not merely recommendations or noncommittal advice, but commands.

‘Receive’ and ‘treasure’ mean that the words and commandments are accepted and treasured for later use (cf. Luke 2:19; 51; Psalms 119:11). Treasure is stronger than receive and means to learn by heart. It cannot stop at receiving. The father may offer and command, but the son must receive and treasure. If he doesn’t receive and treasure the words and commandments he hears from his father, he will hopelessly perish in the labyrinth of the world that is full of violence and corruption.

The father does not say that he has all the answers to life’s questions, but he does point out to his son where he can find those answers, and that is with “wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2). In that way he refers to the Lord Jesus. That also applies to us, with regard to God’s Word. The Word of God is the Word of Christ. It is important that we receive God’s words and commandments and treasure them in our hearts. Then our faith will not suffer shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

To receive and treasure the words and commandments, an open ear and a receptive heart are needed. The son must heed wisdom with his ear, which means that he listens to it attentively. The heart is the inner being, from which his whole person is governed. The heart must be desirous of “understanding”, that is, possessing the ability to discern between good and evil and then make the choice for the good. This understanding can be acquired by reading and treasuring this book in the heart.

After the right attitude or mindset has been presented to the son, the father says to him to cry out “for discernment” and lift his voice “for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3). He prefaces that order with an empowering “yes”. It is essential that the son does this. It means that he must pray for it and do so vigorously. ‘To lift one’s voice’ is a reinforcing form of calling. It is calling with a loud voice. The son will certainly do so if he sees the value of wisdom.

Then the son is not supposed to hang around waiting for an answer to his prayer with his arms crossed. He must get to work himself. The father exhorts him to ‘seek’ and ‘search for’ (Proverbs 2:4). This is the essential condition for gaining wisdom. It does not come to him by chance. He must be like a treasure hunter who shuns no effort in his search for “silver” and “hidden treasures”. In relation to wisdom, we must be treasure hunters.

The effort to find wisdom is what we can call ‘discipline for the purpose of godliness’ (1 Timothy 4:7b). That is worth a lot more than bodily discipline (1 Timothy 4:8). The latter is something into which many people put a lot of time because they want so badly to stay healthy. But the health of the spiritual life is much more important. And it is precisely in this that so little is invested. If the search for wisdom is our greatest joy, it is not an arduous task, but a task that we gladly undertake.

The word “then” with which Proverbs 2:5 begins, is the answer to the conditional “if” of the previous verses. If the son does what is said in the previous verses, then he will receive what is said in this verse. He will then “discern the fear of the LORD”, that is, gain the understanding into it, understand what it means, that it is about living to God’s honor.

He will also “discover the knowledge of God”, meaning that he will possess it, learning to know God’s will and acting accordingly. He will know how to express his reverence for the LORD in everyday life. The promise of discovering in this verse is linked to seeking in Proverbs 2:4, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:11

Introduction

In Proverbs 2 the father is speaking again. In the previous chapter, he warned his son against the sin of violence. In this second chapter he warns his son against the second great sin, that is the sin of corruption. In doing so, he emphatically presents the result of two ways or paths, that is, the way of life and the way of death. It is not only about a life style, but also what that lifestyle leads to.

The picture is of you walking on a road and coming to a fork in the road. There are two roads in front of you. One road seems attractive, sunny, easy, flat. The other road seems difficult, there are threatening clouds hanging over it, the first part goes up steeply, it is a narrow and slippery road. You can’t tell from either road where it ends, because somewhere in the distance there is a turn in the road. Now which road do you choose? Of course, it is tempting to choose the easy, sunny road. But what’s after the turn?

The father in his wisdom now tells what comes after the turn, because he knows. In the case of the easy road, that is tearing up lions and bears, and in the case of the hard road, that is a beautiful valley. The father tells his son not to choose the road that leads to the tearing beasts, but the road that leads to peace.

We live in a time when no thought is given to the future. It is about getting money easily, as in the previous chapter, and about an easy and pleasant life here and now, in this chapter. Young people do not worry about the future. Here and now and immediate enjoyment, that’s what it’s about. Let’s worry about that when we get there. It is the mentality of ‘seize the day’ and ‘let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’ ‘Of course after death it’s over and done with. Should there possibly be something, we’ll then see.’

The structure of this chapter is clear and remarkable: 1. In Proverbs 2:1-4 the father holds out some conditions to his son. The conditions begin with the word “if”. 2. If he meets those conditions, the result will be blessings. Those blessings begin with the word “then” in Proverbs 2:5; 9. 3. In Proverbs 2:12; 16 the father tells of the two dangers from which his son will be saved if he listens to his advice. 4. The ultimate purpose is mentioned in Proverbs 2:20, as evidenced by the word “so” with which the verse begins.

In Hebrew, this chapter is one long sentence that can be divided into six parts: 1. If you listen to the Wisdom and seek Her (Proverbs 2:1-4), 2. then the LORD will give you wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-8), 3. and you will enjoy and live out the knowledge (Proverbs 2:9-11), 4. you will be preserved from the evil path, from those who enjoy the evil (Proverbs 2:12-15), 5. and you will be kept from the temptation of easy sex (Proverbs 2:16-19), 6. with the result that you will walk on the way of life, while the wicked walk on the path down, to death (Proverbs 2:20-22).

The content of this chapter can be summarized in the word ‘preservation’ or ‘protection’.

If …, Then …

We can warn our children for certain matters in several ways or recommend them in several ways to pursue certain matters. It depends on our personal conviction with regard to those matters. If we ourselves are convinced, it will resonate in our voice. If we speak without conviction, it will also be noticed. We see here with the father, when he again speaks to his son, that he speaks with full conviction. He is even more motivated after Wisdom’s earnest words in the previous chapter to impress upon his son the value of wisdom.

His words contain an urgent call upon the mind and effort of his son to acquire wisdom. It is hereby important that the son has a mind which “receives his words” without any resistance and “treasures” his “commandments” within him (Proverbs 2:1). The words of the father have the authority of commandments. They are not merely recommendations or noncommittal advice, but commands.

‘Receive’ and ‘treasure’ mean that the words and commandments are accepted and treasured for later use (cf. Luke 2:19; 51; Psalms 119:11). Treasure is stronger than receive and means to learn by heart. It cannot stop at receiving. The father may offer and command, but the son must receive and treasure. If he doesn’t receive and treasure the words and commandments he hears from his father, he will hopelessly perish in the labyrinth of the world that is full of violence and corruption.

The father does not say that he has all the answers to life’s questions, but he does point out to his son where he can find those answers, and that is with “wisdom” (Proverbs 2:2). In that way he refers to the Lord Jesus. That also applies to us, with regard to God’s Word. The Word of God is the Word of Christ. It is important that we receive God’s words and commandments and treasure them in our hearts. Then our faith will not suffer shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:19).

To receive and treasure the words and commandments, an open ear and a receptive heart are needed. The son must heed wisdom with his ear, which means that he listens to it attentively. The heart is the inner being, from which his whole person is governed. The heart must be desirous of “understanding”, that is, possessing the ability to discern between good and evil and then make the choice for the good. This understanding can be acquired by reading and treasuring this book in the heart.

After the right attitude or mindset has been presented to the son, the father says to him to cry out “for discernment” and lift his voice “for understanding” (Proverbs 2:3). He prefaces that order with an empowering “yes”. It is essential that the son does this. It means that he must pray for it and do so vigorously. ‘To lift one’s voice’ is a reinforcing form of calling. It is calling with a loud voice. The son will certainly do so if he sees the value of wisdom.

Then the son is not supposed to hang around waiting for an answer to his prayer with his arms crossed. He must get to work himself. The father exhorts him to ‘seek’ and ‘search for’ (Proverbs 2:4). This is the essential condition for gaining wisdom. It does not come to him by chance. He must be like a treasure hunter who shuns no effort in his search for “silver” and “hidden treasures”. In relation to wisdom, we must be treasure hunters.

The effort to find wisdom is what we can call ‘discipline for the purpose of godliness’ (1 Timothy 4:7b). That is worth a lot more than bodily discipline (1 Timothy 4:8). The latter is something into which many people put a lot of time because they want so badly to stay healthy. But the health of the spiritual life is much more important. And it is precisely in this that so little is invested. If the search for wisdom is our greatest joy, it is not an arduous task, but a task that we gladly undertake.

The word “then” with which Proverbs 2:5 begins, is the answer to the conditional “if” of the previous verses. If the son does what is said in the previous verses, then he will receive what is said in this verse. He will then “discern the fear of the LORD”, that is, gain the understanding into it, understand what it means, that it is about living to God’s honor.

He will also “discover the knowledge of God”, meaning that he will possess it, learning to know God’s will and acting accordingly. He will know how to express his reverence for the LORD in everyday life. The promise of discovering in this verse is linked to seeking in Proverbs 2:4, according to the word of the Lord Jesus: “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).

Proverbs 24:12

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:13

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:14

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:15

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:16

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:17

Wisdom That Protects

In the previous verses, the father has urged his son to seek wisdom. Now he says that the LORD gives it (Proverbs 2:6). God is the source of wisdom. The search for wisdom leads to the LORD Himself. “For” all wisdom comes from Him. Outside of Him there is no wisdom. When we listen to the words He speaks, we hear “knowledge and understanding”, for they come from His mouth. To listen to wisdom is to listen to Him.

We are responsible to seek God’s wisdom in Christ. When we do so with a longing heart, God will give it. Here we find both the side of our responsibility and the side of God. If we seek, God will give (Matthew 7:7). It comes down to seeking wisdom in the Word of God, which is in the words He has spoken and recorded. Outside the Word of God, apart from it, there is no wisdom to be found.

He has wisdom in store waiting which He keeps for everyone who is upright and asks Him for it (Proverbs 2:7). He is “a shield” (Genesis 15:1; Deuteronomy 33:29) for those who walk in integrity. He is their Protector. We first see the mind here (being upright) and then the practice that goes with that mind (walking in integrity).

He guards them with the purpose that the paths which they walk “are of justice” (Proverbs 2:8). God wants His own to act in accordance with justice, with what is just to Him. If they do so, it will also have the result that He will preserve their way. This He does with “His godly ones”, which are the faithful of His people, who are faithful to Him and honor Him in their life.

The results are beneficial. The son will develop intellectual ability and spiritual understanding to discern “righteousness and justice” and “equity” (Proverbs 2:9; Proverbs 1:3). ‘To discern righteousness’ means that the son understands that he must give God what He is entitled to as well as those around him what they are entitled to. ‘To discern justice’ means that he understands that he must do the right thing. If he does the right or good thing, he is just. ‘Equity’ refers more to the inner self. It is the uprightness of heart and from there acting according to honor and conscience. If these characteristics are present in him, he will choose the right path and stay on it. “Every good course” is both the good lifestyle and doing what leads to the good.

Proverbs 2:10-11 explain why the son can go the right path of the previous verses. It is because wisdom will take up residence in his “heart”, in the inner life (Proverbs 2:10). When wisdom dwells in the ‘boardroom’ of life, the right choices will be made and the right track is always chosen on which to live by the standards of righteousness, justice and equity (Proverbs 2:9).

Knowledge will be pleasing to the “soul”, which refers more to the emotional life. If a person has wisdom in his heart, it directly affects what is pleasant for the soul. In the soul there is a great desire to grow in the knowledge of God, to know and do His will. There is a desire for the pure milk of God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2) because the taste of it is so pleasant.

If there is wisdom in the heart and knowledge is pleasant for the soul, “discretion” and “understanding” or the ability to discern can fulfill their protecting role (Proverbs 2:11; Proverbs 1:4-5). The power of these virtues is guarding and protecting. He who is discrete and has understanding, will be kept from going the wrong way or being tempted to sin. Spontaneity is qualified as a virtue in our days, but often this trait is a source of misery. Discretion is different from reluctance or hesitation. It involves consulting with the Lord and others, then acting with conviction.

The father tells his son in the following verses what the wrong way is (Proverbs 2:12-15) and how the temptation to sin comes to him (Proverbs 2:16-19).

Proverbs 24:18

Wisdom Delivers From the Way of Evil

In Proverbs 2:12 the father gives the first example of protection from evil. His son will not get on “the way of evil” if he is guided by ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’ (Proverbs 2:11). The way of evil is a wrong, sinful walk of life.

The second line of the verse indicates where the evil lies and that is listening to “the man who speaks perverse things”. That man is just as perverse as the things that he speaks. He comes to the youngster with false, distorted words, lies. He and what he speaks contrast with what is just and pure.

This man presents the son the easy, sunny path. But if wisdom has entered the heart of the son and knowledge is pleasant to his soul, he will not succumb to the temptation of that easy path. True wisdom expressed in discretion and understanding, is the protection against listening to the fake wisdom of the man with his fancy talking.

Proverbs 2:13-15 give a further description of this evil man and all evil men who speak perverse things. What kind of people they are is shown in the way they go. You see that they “leave the right way” (Proverbs 2:13). He who speaks perverse things is not going the right paths, the paths of the good, the paths of God.

They consciously choose to “go on the paths of darkness”. Their ways lack light. They do not know God and do not want to know Him. Therefore, they do not walk in the light, but in the darkness of sin. At the same time, this also marks where they will end up, in eternal darkness.

They love to do evil, to sin (Proverbs 2:14). They take “pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). It is so strong that they applaud when they see perverse things happen. We see this more and more today. Evil is glorified. The vilest, dirtiest drawings and the most debauched texts should be allowed to be published. Freedom of speech is the highest good. The right to it must never be given up, even if God and all His commandments are mocked in the most horrible way. The masses run screaming after this. The father warns his son about this mass hysteria.

Proverbs 2:15 describes their corrupt ways in various terms. These arch villains are cunning and false in the paths that they walk. Here it also regards their whole behavior. They continually ignore the right paths. The way they live is not in any way coherent with the right paths. Nothing is in line with the path of God. If you follow their path, you will walk in darkness and you will end up in darkness. They follow the path of destruction, they leave behind them a trail of destruction, and they end up in the eternal destruction.

The son needs wisdom to protect himself from these men. They turn the ways of the Lord upside down and try to draw others in it They do this by creating chaos regarding what is good or evil. This is how man without God likes it. But the son who is guided by discretion and understanding keeps far from these men and their talk.

Proverbs 24:19

Wisdom Delivers From the Way of Evil

In Proverbs 2:12 the father gives the first example of protection from evil. His son will not get on “the way of evil” if he is guided by ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’ (Proverbs 2:11). The way of evil is a wrong, sinful walk of life.

The second line of the verse indicates where the evil lies and that is listening to “the man who speaks perverse things”. That man is just as perverse as the things that he speaks. He comes to the youngster with false, distorted words, lies. He and what he speaks contrast with what is just and pure.

This man presents the son the easy, sunny path. But if wisdom has entered the heart of the son and knowledge is pleasant to his soul, he will not succumb to the temptation of that easy path. True wisdom expressed in discretion and understanding, is the protection against listening to the fake wisdom of the man with his fancy talking.

Proverbs 2:13-15 give a further description of this evil man and all evil men who speak perverse things. What kind of people they are is shown in the way they go. You see that they “leave the right way” (Proverbs 2:13). He who speaks perverse things is not going the right paths, the paths of the good, the paths of God.

They consciously choose to “go on the paths of darkness”. Their ways lack light. They do not know God and do not want to know Him. Therefore, they do not walk in the light, but in the darkness of sin. At the same time, this also marks where they will end up, in eternal darkness.

They love to do evil, to sin (Proverbs 2:14). They take “pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). It is so strong that they applaud when they see perverse things happen. We see this more and more today. Evil is glorified. The vilest, dirtiest drawings and the most debauched texts should be allowed to be published. Freedom of speech is the highest good. The right to it must never be given up, even if God and all His commandments are mocked in the most horrible way. The masses run screaming after this. The father warns his son about this mass hysteria.

Proverbs 2:15 describes their corrupt ways in various terms. These arch villains are cunning and false in the paths that they walk. Here it also regards their whole behavior. They continually ignore the right paths. The way they live is not in any way coherent with the right paths. Nothing is in line with the path of God. If you follow their path, you will walk in darkness and you will end up in darkness. They follow the path of destruction, they leave behind them a trail of destruction, and they end up in the eternal destruction.

The son needs wisdom to protect himself from these men. They turn the ways of the Lord upside down and try to draw others in it They do this by creating chaos regarding what is good or evil. This is how man without God likes it. But the son who is guided by discretion and understanding keeps far from these men and their talk.

Proverbs 24:20

Wisdom Delivers From the Way of Evil

In Proverbs 2:12 the father gives the first example of protection from evil. His son will not get on “the way of evil” if he is guided by ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’ (Proverbs 2:11). The way of evil is a wrong, sinful walk of life.

The second line of the verse indicates where the evil lies and that is listening to “the man who speaks perverse things”. That man is just as perverse as the things that he speaks. He comes to the youngster with false, distorted words, lies. He and what he speaks contrast with what is just and pure.

This man presents the son the easy, sunny path. But if wisdom has entered the heart of the son and knowledge is pleasant to his soul, he will not succumb to the temptation of that easy path. True wisdom expressed in discretion and understanding, is the protection against listening to the fake wisdom of the man with his fancy talking.

Proverbs 2:13-15 give a further description of this evil man and all evil men who speak perverse things. What kind of people they are is shown in the way they go. You see that they “leave the right way” (Proverbs 2:13). He who speaks perverse things is not going the right paths, the paths of the good, the paths of God.

They consciously choose to “go on the paths of darkness”. Their ways lack light. They do not know God and do not want to know Him. Therefore, they do not walk in the light, but in the darkness of sin. At the same time, this also marks where they will end up, in eternal darkness.

They love to do evil, to sin (Proverbs 2:14). They take “pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). It is so strong that they applaud when they see perverse things happen. We see this more and more today. Evil is glorified. The vilest, dirtiest drawings and the most debauched texts should be allowed to be published. Freedom of speech is the highest good. The right to it must never be given up, even if God and all His commandments are mocked in the most horrible way. The masses run screaming after this. The father warns his son about this mass hysteria.

Proverbs 2:15 describes their corrupt ways in various terms. These arch villains are cunning and false in the paths that they walk. Here it also regards their whole behavior. They continually ignore the right paths. The way they live is not in any way coherent with the right paths. Nothing is in line with the path of God. If you follow their path, you will walk in darkness and you will end up in darkness. They follow the path of destruction, they leave behind them a trail of destruction, and they end up in the eternal destruction.

The son needs wisdom to protect himself from these men. They turn the ways of the Lord upside down and try to draw others in it They do this by creating chaos regarding what is good or evil. This is how man without God likes it. But the son who is guided by discretion and understanding keeps far from these men and their talk.

Proverbs 24:21

Wisdom Delivers From the Way of Evil

In Proverbs 2:12 the father gives the first example of protection from evil. His son will not get on “the way of evil” if he is guided by ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’ (Proverbs 2:11). The way of evil is a wrong, sinful walk of life.

The second line of the verse indicates where the evil lies and that is listening to “the man who speaks perverse things”. That man is just as perverse as the things that he speaks. He comes to the youngster with false, distorted words, lies. He and what he speaks contrast with what is just and pure.

This man presents the son the easy, sunny path. But if wisdom has entered the heart of the son and knowledge is pleasant to his soul, he will not succumb to the temptation of that easy path. True wisdom expressed in discretion and understanding, is the protection against listening to the fake wisdom of the man with his fancy talking.

Proverbs 2:13-15 give a further description of this evil man and all evil men who speak perverse things. What kind of people they are is shown in the way they go. You see that they “leave the right way” (Proverbs 2:13). He who speaks perverse things is not going the right paths, the paths of the good, the paths of God.

They consciously choose to “go on the paths of darkness”. Their ways lack light. They do not know God and do not want to know Him. Therefore, they do not walk in the light, but in the darkness of sin. At the same time, this also marks where they will end up, in eternal darkness.

They love to do evil, to sin (Proverbs 2:14). They take “pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:12). It is so strong that they applaud when they see perverse things happen. We see this more and more today. Evil is glorified. The vilest, dirtiest drawings and the most debauched texts should be allowed to be published. Freedom of speech is the highest good. The right to it must never be given up, even if God and all His commandments are mocked in the most horrible way. The masses run screaming after this. The father warns his son about this mass hysteria.

Proverbs 2:15 describes their corrupt ways in various terms. These arch villains are cunning and false in the paths that they walk. Here it also regards their whole behavior. They continually ignore the right paths. The way they live is not in any way coherent with the right paths. Nothing is in line with the path of God. If you follow their path, you will walk in darkness and you will end up in darkness. They follow the path of destruction, they leave behind them a trail of destruction, and they end up in the eternal destruction.

The son needs wisdom to protect himself from these men. They turn the ways of the Lord upside down and try to draw others in it They do this by creating chaos regarding what is good or evil. This is how man without God likes it. But the son who is guided by discretion and understanding keeps far from these men and their talk.

Proverbs 24:22

Wisdom Delivers From the Strange Woman

In Proverbs 2:16-19 we encounter the second class of evil persons from whom wisdom delivers or saves, and that is the “strange woman”. The evil man of whom the father speaks in Proverbs 2:12-15 brings perversion; the evil woman, by sneaky seduction, causes life to become a ruin. First is described what kind of woman the lawless woman is (Proverbs 2:16-17). Then, as a warning, her ruin is shown as well as the ruin of those who submit to her (Proverbs 2:18-19).

In the following chapters we will encounter the strange woman more often. The word “strange” here means what is forbidden, what should be strange to us. The strange woman is a woman who is forbidden to us. She lives outside the covenant of God, not according to the thoughts of God. It is about an adulterous woman, who is “strange” to the person with whom she commits adultery. That the father speaks about this with his son, may mean that this son is no longer a child, but someone of about seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The temptation to and committing of adultery has always been and remains a great danger to every man. Any woman other than one’s own must be ‘strange’ in sexual terms. If we think of ‘our’ Christian youth, the danger is not primarily that of committing violent crimes such as murder and robbery. But the other danger, that of fornication and adultery, is enormous. It is becoming increasingly exceptional in Christian circles for a young couple to enter marriage clean, that is, they have not yet had sex with each other (or with anyone else). And what about looking at pornography on the Internet? That too is a form of harlotry.

The wisdom that has entered the heart and the knowledge in which the soul rejoices (Proverbs 2:10) also saves from the temptation of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:16). Like the wrong man, she begins with words. The evil man uses pernicious words, the evil woman uses flattering words which, of course, are also pernicious. Flattery is not communicating but manipulating. She offers pleasure and that is the pleasure of easy sex.

The woman is unfaithful to “the covenant of her God” with her husband. Her husband is “the companion of her youth” to whom she is married (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14). Marriage is a covenant before God, it is His covenant. He instituted the covenant of marriage. Whoever tramples that covenant despises “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). Whoever despises the covenant of marriage despises its Giver. The adulterous woman forsakes both God and her husband and sins against both God and her husband by blatantly breaking her marriage vow.

The father holds up to his son why he should not let himself be carried away by her flattering words. This is because then he will enter her house, “for” that house is a house that sinks down to death (Proverbs 2:18). Her house is a house that facing death; it is an entrance gate to death. Therefore he plays with his life when he gets involved with her. He gets the opposite of the happy life she portrays to him. The traces of the life she leads lead to the place where “the dead” are.

Whoever enters her house and comes to her is completely in her power (Proverbs 2:19). She plays her dark, demonic game with him and does not let him go. Anyone who enters her house, will never get out of it. Perhaps he may literally go out the door again, but there is a snare wrapped around his soul that links him to death. The paths of the living, that is, the paths that lead to life and on which life is enjoyed, are cut off for him and can no longer be reached by him. This gruesome end can only be avoided when the son lets himself be guided on his path of life by the two sentinels of Pro 2:11 who are named ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’.

The sin of adultery and fornication is presented here in its ultimate consequence. It is the law of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Whoever goes this way must count on it. The grace of God is not spoken of here. It is good to point this out too. God can intervene in His grace when someone confesses and forsakes his sins. God is a God of grace and able to deliver from the deepest darkness. Any person who goes to God with sincere repentance for his or her sins may surely count on that. However, it must be kept in mind that God does not always remove all consequences. If there is ‘consequential damage’ from a wrong path, He does help to bear it.

Proverbs 24:23

Wisdom Delivers From the Strange Woman

In Proverbs 2:16-19 we encounter the second class of evil persons from whom wisdom delivers or saves, and that is the “strange woman”. The evil man of whom the father speaks in Proverbs 2:12-15 brings perversion; the evil woman, by sneaky seduction, causes life to become a ruin. First is described what kind of woman the lawless woman is (Proverbs 2:16-17). Then, as a warning, her ruin is shown as well as the ruin of those who submit to her (Proverbs 2:18-19).

In the following chapters we will encounter the strange woman more often. The word “strange” here means what is forbidden, what should be strange to us. The strange woman is a woman who is forbidden to us. She lives outside the covenant of God, not according to the thoughts of God. It is about an adulterous woman, who is “strange” to the person with whom she commits adultery. That the father speaks about this with his son, may mean that this son is no longer a child, but someone of about seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The temptation to and committing of adultery has always been and remains a great danger to every man. Any woman other than one’s own must be ‘strange’ in sexual terms. If we think of ‘our’ Christian youth, the danger is not primarily that of committing violent crimes such as murder and robbery. But the other danger, that of fornication and adultery, is enormous. It is becoming increasingly exceptional in Christian circles for a young couple to enter marriage clean, that is, they have not yet had sex with each other (or with anyone else). And what about looking at pornography on the Internet? That too is a form of harlotry.

The wisdom that has entered the heart and the knowledge in which the soul rejoices (Proverbs 2:10) also saves from the temptation of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:16). Like the wrong man, she begins with words. The evil man uses pernicious words, the evil woman uses flattering words which, of course, are also pernicious. Flattery is not communicating but manipulating. She offers pleasure and that is the pleasure of easy sex.

The woman is unfaithful to “the covenant of her God” with her husband. Her husband is “the companion of her youth” to whom she is married (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14). Marriage is a covenant before God, it is His covenant. He instituted the covenant of marriage. Whoever tramples that covenant despises “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). Whoever despises the covenant of marriage despises its Giver. The adulterous woman forsakes both God and her husband and sins against both God and her husband by blatantly breaking her marriage vow.

The father holds up to his son why he should not let himself be carried away by her flattering words. This is because then he will enter her house, “for” that house is a house that sinks down to death (Proverbs 2:18). Her house is a house that facing death; it is an entrance gate to death. Therefore he plays with his life when he gets involved with her. He gets the opposite of the happy life she portrays to him. The traces of the life she leads lead to the place where “the dead” are.

Whoever enters her house and comes to her is completely in her power (Proverbs 2:19). She plays her dark, demonic game with him and does not let him go. Anyone who enters her house, will never get out of it. Perhaps he may literally go out the door again, but there is a snare wrapped around his soul that links him to death. The paths of the living, that is, the paths that lead to life and on which life is enjoyed, are cut off for him and can no longer be reached by him. This gruesome end can only be avoided when the son lets himself be guided on his path of life by the two sentinels of Pro 2:11 who are named ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’.

The sin of adultery and fornication is presented here in its ultimate consequence. It is the law of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Whoever goes this way must count on it. The grace of God is not spoken of here. It is good to point this out too. God can intervene in His grace when someone confesses and forsakes his sins. God is a God of grace and able to deliver from the deepest darkness. Any person who goes to God with sincere repentance for his or her sins may surely count on that. However, it must be kept in mind that God does not always remove all consequences. If there is ‘consequential damage’ from a wrong path, He does help to bear it.

Proverbs 24:24

Wisdom Delivers From the Strange Woman

In Proverbs 2:16-19 we encounter the second class of evil persons from whom wisdom delivers or saves, and that is the “strange woman”. The evil man of whom the father speaks in Proverbs 2:12-15 brings perversion; the evil woman, by sneaky seduction, causes life to become a ruin. First is described what kind of woman the lawless woman is (Proverbs 2:16-17). Then, as a warning, her ruin is shown as well as the ruin of those who submit to her (Proverbs 2:18-19).

In the following chapters we will encounter the strange woman more often. The word “strange” here means what is forbidden, what should be strange to us. The strange woman is a woman who is forbidden to us. She lives outside the covenant of God, not according to the thoughts of God. It is about an adulterous woman, who is “strange” to the person with whom she commits adultery. That the father speaks about this with his son, may mean that this son is no longer a child, but someone of about seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The temptation to and committing of adultery has always been and remains a great danger to every man. Any woman other than one’s own must be ‘strange’ in sexual terms. If we think of ‘our’ Christian youth, the danger is not primarily that of committing violent crimes such as murder and robbery. But the other danger, that of fornication and adultery, is enormous. It is becoming increasingly exceptional in Christian circles for a young couple to enter marriage clean, that is, they have not yet had sex with each other (or with anyone else). And what about looking at pornography on the Internet? That too is a form of harlotry.

The wisdom that has entered the heart and the knowledge in which the soul rejoices (Proverbs 2:10) also saves from the temptation of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:16). Like the wrong man, she begins with words. The evil man uses pernicious words, the evil woman uses flattering words which, of course, are also pernicious. Flattery is not communicating but manipulating. She offers pleasure and that is the pleasure of easy sex.

The woman is unfaithful to “the covenant of her God” with her husband. Her husband is “the companion of her youth” to whom she is married (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14). Marriage is a covenant before God, it is His covenant. He instituted the covenant of marriage. Whoever tramples that covenant despises “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). Whoever despises the covenant of marriage despises its Giver. The adulterous woman forsakes both God and her husband and sins against both God and her husband by blatantly breaking her marriage vow.

The father holds up to his son why he should not let himself be carried away by her flattering words. This is because then he will enter her house, “for” that house is a house that sinks down to death (Proverbs 2:18). Her house is a house that facing death; it is an entrance gate to death. Therefore he plays with his life when he gets involved with her. He gets the opposite of the happy life she portrays to him. The traces of the life she leads lead to the place where “the dead” are.

Whoever enters her house and comes to her is completely in her power (Proverbs 2:19). She plays her dark, demonic game with him and does not let him go. Anyone who enters her house, will never get out of it. Perhaps he may literally go out the door again, but there is a snare wrapped around his soul that links him to death. The paths of the living, that is, the paths that lead to life and on which life is enjoyed, are cut off for him and can no longer be reached by him. This gruesome end can only be avoided when the son lets himself be guided on his path of life by the two sentinels of Pro 2:11 who are named ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’.

The sin of adultery and fornication is presented here in its ultimate consequence. It is the law of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Whoever goes this way must count on it. The grace of God is not spoken of here. It is good to point this out too. God can intervene in His grace when someone confesses and forsakes his sins. God is a God of grace and able to deliver from the deepest darkness. Any person who goes to God with sincere repentance for his or her sins may surely count on that. However, it must be kept in mind that God does not always remove all consequences. If there is ‘consequential damage’ from a wrong path, He does help to bear it.

Proverbs 24:25

Wisdom Delivers From the Strange Woman

In Proverbs 2:16-19 we encounter the second class of evil persons from whom wisdom delivers or saves, and that is the “strange woman”. The evil man of whom the father speaks in Proverbs 2:12-15 brings perversion; the evil woman, by sneaky seduction, causes life to become a ruin. First is described what kind of woman the lawless woman is (Proverbs 2:16-17). Then, as a warning, her ruin is shown as well as the ruin of those who submit to her (Proverbs 2:18-19).

In the following chapters we will encounter the strange woman more often. The word “strange” here means what is forbidden, what should be strange to us. The strange woman is a woman who is forbidden to us. She lives outside the covenant of God, not according to the thoughts of God. It is about an adulterous woman, who is “strange” to the person with whom she commits adultery. That the father speaks about this with his son, may mean that this son is no longer a child, but someone of about seventeen or eighteen years of age.

The temptation to and committing of adultery has always been and remains a great danger to every man. Any woman other than one’s own must be ‘strange’ in sexual terms. If we think of ‘our’ Christian youth, the danger is not primarily that of committing violent crimes such as murder and robbery. But the other danger, that of fornication and adultery, is enormous. It is becoming increasingly exceptional in Christian circles for a young couple to enter marriage clean, that is, they have not yet had sex with each other (or with anyone else). And what about looking at pornography on the Internet? That too is a form of harlotry.

The wisdom that has entered the heart and the knowledge in which the soul rejoices (Proverbs 2:10) also saves from the temptation of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:16). Like the wrong man, she begins with words. The evil man uses pernicious words, the evil woman uses flattering words which, of course, are also pernicious. Flattery is not communicating but manipulating. She offers pleasure and that is the pleasure of easy sex.

The woman is unfaithful to “the covenant of her God” with her husband. Her husband is “the companion of her youth” to whom she is married (Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14). Marriage is a covenant before God, it is His covenant. He instituted the covenant of marriage. Whoever tramples that covenant despises “what God has joined together” (Matthew 19:6). Whoever despises the covenant of marriage despises its Giver. The adulterous woman forsakes both God and her husband and sins against both God and her husband by blatantly breaking her marriage vow.

The father holds up to his son why he should not let himself be carried away by her flattering words. This is because then he will enter her house, “for” that house is a house that sinks down to death (Proverbs 2:18). Her house is a house that facing death; it is an entrance gate to death. Therefore he plays with his life when he gets involved with her. He gets the opposite of the happy life she portrays to him. The traces of the life she leads lead to the place where “the dead” are.

Whoever enters her house and comes to her is completely in her power (Proverbs 2:19). She plays her dark, demonic game with him and does not let him go. Anyone who enters her house, will never get out of it. Perhaps he may literally go out the door again, but there is a snare wrapped around his soul that links him to death. The paths of the living, that is, the paths that lead to life and on which life is enjoyed, are cut off for him and can no longer be reached by him. This gruesome end can only be avoided when the son lets himself be guided on his path of life by the two sentinels of Pro 2:11 who are named ‘discretion’ and ‘understanding’.

The sin of adultery and fornication is presented here in its ultimate consequence. It is the law of reaping what you sow (Galatians 6:7-8). Whoever goes this way must count on it. The grace of God is not spoken of here. It is good to point this out too. God can intervene in His grace when someone confesses and forsakes his sins. God is a God of grace and able to deliver from the deepest darkness. Any person who goes to God with sincere repentance for his or her sins may surely count on that. However, it must be kept in mind that God does not always remove all consequences. If there is ‘consequential damage’ from a wrong path, He does help to bear it.

Proverbs 24:26

Wisdom Brings in the Way of Good Men

Wisdom saves from the evil man and the evil woman, it saves from the road to death and the dead. But it should not stop there. After distancing oneself from evil, rapprochement must be made with good. That is what Wisdom does next. She leads to the way of good and righteous men (Proverbs 2:20).

About these two sides, that of rejecting evil and joining good, we also read in the New Testament. First the call sounds to all who call on the Name of the Lord to withdraw from iniquity; then follows the exhortation to join all who have already done so (2 Timothy 2:19-22). Thus, the son must not only stay out of the hands of the wrong men, but also associate with good men.

When the son joins the company “of the good men” and “of the righteous”, he is also one of “the upright” who will “live in the land” (Proverbs 2:21). Here the father points to a certain, future, blessing (“for”). We have here a prophetic statement regarding the kingdom of peace. In that time of blessing under the government of the Messiah, the upright, that is, the God-fearing people, will live in the land. Then the kingdom of peace has come and the earth is their home, where they will live in peace and righteousness (cf. Matthew 5:5).

In Proverbs 2:22, as a contrast – indicated by the word “but” – the part of the wicked is presented. Now they are still in charge on earth. They still enjoy sin now. But they will have no part in the blessing in the kingdom of peace. When Messiah returns to earth to establish the kingdom of peace, first “the wicked will be cut off from the land”. They have never reckoned with God and have no part in the kingdom of peace.

They have been outwardly connected to God, but have become unfaithful to Him, they have become apostate from Him. Their part is that they will be “uprooted, which indicates that it happens with great force”, from the land, which they have claimed for themselves.

This last verse is an extra warning for the son not to get involved with wicked and unfaithful people. Surely he will not want to share in their fate and forfeit the blessing of wisdom, will he?

Proverbs 24:27

Wisdom Brings in the Way of Good Men

Wisdom saves from the evil man and the evil woman, it saves from the road to death and the dead. But it should not stop there. After distancing oneself from evil, rapprochement must be made with good. That is what Wisdom does next. She leads to the way of good and righteous men (Proverbs 2:20).

About these two sides, that of rejecting evil and joining good, we also read in the New Testament. First the call sounds to all who call on the Name of the Lord to withdraw from iniquity; then follows the exhortation to join all who have already done so (2 Timothy 2:19-22). Thus, the son must not only stay out of the hands of the wrong men, but also associate with good men.

When the son joins the company “of the good men” and “of the righteous”, he is also one of “the upright” who will “live in the land” (Proverbs 2:21). Here the father points to a certain, future, blessing (“for”). We have here a prophetic statement regarding the kingdom of peace. In that time of blessing under the government of the Messiah, the upright, that is, the God-fearing people, will live in the land. Then the kingdom of peace has come and the earth is their home, where they will live in peace and righteousness (cf. Matthew 5:5).

In Proverbs 2:22, as a contrast – indicated by the word “but” – the part of the wicked is presented. Now they are still in charge on earth. They still enjoy sin now. But they will have no part in the blessing in the kingdom of peace. When Messiah returns to earth to establish the kingdom of peace, first “the wicked will be cut off from the land”. They have never reckoned with God and have no part in the kingdom of peace.

They have been outwardly connected to God, but have become unfaithful to Him, they have become apostate from Him. Their part is that they will be “uprooted, which indicates that it happens with great force”, from the land, which they have claimed for themselves.

This last verse is an extra warning for the son not to get involved with wicked and unfaithful people. Surely he will not want to share in their fate and forfeit the blessing of wisdom, will he?

Proverbs 24:28

Wisdom Brings in the Way of Good Men

Wisdom saves from the evil man and the evil woman, it saves from the road to death and the dead. But it should not stop there. After distancing oneself from evil, rapprochement must be made with good. That is what Wisdom does next. She leads to the way of good and righteous men (Proverbs 2:20).

About these two sides, that of rejecting evil and joining good, we also read in the New Testament. First the call sounds to all who call on the Name of the Lord to withdraw from iniquity; then follows the exhortation to join all who have already done so (2 Timothy 2:19-22). Thus, the son must not only stay out of the hands of the wrong men, but also associate with good men.

When the son joins the company “of the good men” and “of the righteous”, he is also one of “the upright” who will “live in the land” (Proverbs 2:21). Here the father points to a certain, future, blessing (“for”). We have here a prophetic statement regarding the kingdom of peace. In that time of blessing under the government of the Messiah, the upright, that is, the God-fearing people, will live in the land. Then the kingdom of peace has come and the earth is their home, where they will live in peace and righteousness (cf. Matthew 5:5).

In Proverbs 2:22, as a contrast – indicated by the word “but” – the part of the wicked is presented. Now they are still in charge on earth. They still enjoy sin now. But they will have no part in the blessing in the kingdom of peace. When Messiah returns to earth to establish the kingdom of peace, first “the wicked will be cut off from the land”. They have never reckoned with God and have no part in the kingdom of peace.

They have been outwardly connected to God, but have become unfaithful to Him, they have become apostate from Him. Their part is that they will be “uprooted, which indicates that it happens with great force”, from the land, which they have claimed for themselves.

This last verse is an extra warning for the son not to get involved with wicked and unfaithful people. Surely he will not want to share in their fate and forfeit the blessing of wisdom, will he?

Proverbs 24:30

Introduction

Giving up an advantage can sometimes seem like throwing away an opportunity for joy. But Proverbs 3 assures us that this is not the case. The path of wisdom is the path of life, even when the path of wisdom seems to conflict with common sense.

In Proverbs 3:1-10 we have five advice from the father to his son, each time followed by a promise of blessing if he takes the advice to heart. 1. In Proverbs 3:1 the advice, in Proverbs 3:2 the promise of blessing. 2. In Proverbs 3:3 the advice, in Proverbs 3:4 the promise of blessing. 3. In Proverbs 3:5-6 the advice, in Proverbs 3:6b the promise of blessing. 4. In Proverbs 3:7 the advice, in Proverbs 3:8 the promise of blessing. 5. In Proverbs 3:9 the advice, in Proverbs 3:10 the promise of blessing.

Here we must remember that these are promises that will certainly be fulfilled, but not always already during life on earth. It is also possible that they will be fulfilled in the future. We may trust that God will fulfill His promises of blessing in His time and in His way if we do from our hearts what He asks of us, even if in this life the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer.

Do Not Forget the Teaching

The first advice the father gives to his son is not to forget his “teaching” (Proverbs 3:1). “Teaching” is the translation of the word torah. That word is used for the law of God, but it has multiple meanings. Here it refers to what we might call homeschooling. The father has passed on his knowledge in teaching his son at home. It is an indication to fathers to teach their children from Scripture at home and not leave that to others, for example, those who give Bible lessons or Bible studies.

The father reminds his son not to forget what he learned at home, in his upbringing. Forgetting here is not so much a weakness of memory as the deliberate neglect and disregard of the father’s teaching. For us, there is in this the warning that we can lose what we learned in our young years from the Word of God. The teaching will not be forgotten if the commandments are kept in the heart. By the way, a person can obey commandments outwardly, that is, without the heart being involved. That is not what the father wants, nor is it what God wants.

The heart is the storehouse for the commandments, just as the law was laid in the ark (Deuteronomy 10:6). In the kingdom of peace, God will write His law in the hearts of His people (Hebrews 8:10). The heart indicates the mind. If the commandments are observed in the heart, the deeds, which, after all, spring from the heart (Proverbs 4:23), will be consistent with it. Then the deeds will not be sinful deeds (Psalms 119:11). Above all, then there will not be compulsive, but joyful obedience.

The blessing attached to this advice is a long and good life (Proverbs 3:2). “Length of days” (cf. Psalms 91:16) refers to reaching old age after a ‘long parade of days’. “Years of life and peace” refers more to content (“life”) and quality (“peace”). It is a full and rich life worth living to the fullest. The word “peace” is the translation of the word shalom and implies more than just the absence of war. It is victory, success in what is undertaken, perfect harmony, prosperity, health, happiness, salvation, a long life.

In the kingdom of peace, the teaching and the commandments will not be forgotten, but kept in the heart (Hebrews 8:10b). Therefore, during that time the years of enjoying life and peace will be multiplied instead of being taken away at some point. The latter has happened time and again in Israel’s history because the people have not kept the teaching and the commandments of God’s Word.

It does not mean that everyone who keeps the commandments in his heart in this day and age will consequently live long. Consider believers who have been and are persecuted, tortured and killed precisely because of their faithfulness to God’s Word, and often in the prime of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-38). Faithful prophets who had God’s Word in their heart and brought it were put to death (Matthew 23:34; 37). And what happened to the Lord Jesus Who listened to His Father in every way and perfectly fulfilled the advice of Pro 3:1? He was killed in the midst of His days. So, what about the promise of long life and peace?

The promise of a long life and peace will be fully fulfilled in the future. Life and peace are enjoyed in their fullness and length in the millennial kingdom of peace. God fulfills all His promises, but not always already here and now. That we live in faith that the promises are fulfilled, we show by continuing to believe even when it seems that the promises are not fulfilled. That faith, that faith trust, characterized all Old Testament believers. That trust in God was perfectly present with the Lord Jesus. That trust may also characterize us.

Proverbs 24:31

Introduction

Giving up an advantage can sometimes seem like throwing away an opportunity for joy. But Proverbs 3 assures us that this is not the case. The path of wisdom is the path of life, even when the path of wisdom seems to conflict with common sense.

In Proverbs 3:1-10 we have five advice from the father to his son, each time followed by a promise of blessing if he takes the advice to heart. 1. In Proverbs 3:1 the advice, in Proverbs 3:2 the promise of blessing. 2. In Proverbs 3:3 the advice, in Proverbs 3:4 the promise of blessing. 3. In Proverbs 3:5-6 the advice, in Proverbs 3:6b the promise of blessing. 4. In Proverbs 3:7 the advice, in Proverbs 3:8 the promise of blessing. 5. In Proverbs 3:9 the advice, in Proverbs 3:10 the promise of blessing.

Here we must remember that these are promises that will certainly be fulfilled, but not always already during life on earth. It is also possible that they will be fulfilled in the future. We may trust that God will fulfill His promises of blessing in His time and in His way if we do from our hearts what He asks of us, even if in this life the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer.

Do Not Forget the Teaching

The first advice the father gives to his son is not to forget his “teaching” (Proverbs 3:1). “Teaching” is the translation of the word torah. That word is used for the law of God, but it has multiple meanings. Here it refers to what we might call homeschooling. The father has passed on his knowledge in teaching his son at home. It is an indication to fathers to teach their children from Scripture at home and not leave that to others, for example, those who give Bible lessons or Bible studies.

The father reminds his son not to forget what he learned at home, in his upbringing. Forgetting here is not so much a weakness of memory as the deliberate neglect and disregard of the father’s teaching. For us, there is in this the warning that we can lose what we learned in our young years from the Word of God. The teaching will not be forgotten if the commandments are kept in the heart. By the way, a person can obey commandments outwardly, that is, without the heart being involved. That is not what the father wants, nor is it what God wants.

The heart is the storehouse for the commandments, just as the law was laid in the ark (Deuteronomy 10:6). In the kingdom of peace, God will write His law in the hearts of His people (Hebrews 8:10). The heart indicates the mind. If the commandments are observed in the heart, the deeds, which, after all, spring from the heart (Proverbs 4:23), will be consistent with it. Then the deeds will not be sinful deeds (Psalms 119:11). Above all, then there will not be compulsive, but joyful obedience.

The blessing attached to this advice is a long and good life (Proverbs 3:2). “Length of days” (cf. Psalms 91:16) refers to reaching old age after a ‘long parade of days’. “Years of life and peace” refers more to content (“life”) and quality (“peace”). It is a full and rich life worth living to the fullest. The word “peace” is the translation of the word shalom and implies more than just the absence of war. It is victory, success in what is undertaken, perfect harmony, prosperity, health, happiness, salvation, a long life.

In the kingdom of peace, the teaching and the commandments will not be forgotten, but kept in the heart (Hebrews 8:10b). Therefore, during that time the years of enjoying life and peace will be multiplied instead of being taken away at some point. The latter has happened time and again in Israel’s history because the people have not kept the teaching and the commandments of God’s Word.

It does not mean that everyone who keeps the commandments in his heart in this day and age will consequently live long. Consider believers who have been and are persecuted, tortured and killed precisely because of their faithfulness to God’s Word, and often in the prime of their lives (Hebrews 11:36-38). Faithful prophets who had God’s Word in their heart and brought it were put to death (Matthew 23:34; 37). And what happened to the Lord Jesus Who listened to His Father in every way and perfectly fulfilled the advice of Pro 3:1? He was killed in the midst of His days. So, what about the promise of long life and peace?

The promise of a long life and peace will be fully fulfilled in the future. Life and peace are enjoyed in their fullness and length in the millennial kingdom of peace. God fulfills all His promises, but not always already here and now. That we live in faith that the promises are fulfilled, we show by continuing to believe even when it seems that the promises are not fulfilled. That faith, that faith trust, characterized all Old Testament believers. That trust in God was perfectly present with the Lord Jesus. That trust may also characterize us.

Proverbs 24:32

Kindness and Truth

Not forgetting teaching and keeping the commandments in Proverbs 3:1 is not a static thing. Teaching and commandments work something out, for they form the character of the believer. To this, Proverbs 3:3 connects. Through teaching and commandments the characteristics of the new life are formed. Two of them are “kindness and truth”.

They are two of God’s many impressive attributes (Psalms 117:2). They are seen perfectly in the life of the Lord Jesus. It was a joy for God to notice those attributes in His Son. It is also a joy to His heart when He can notice them in us. God has proven and continues to prove kindness and truth to the believer. Of this the believer should remain impressed, he should never forget it, the thought of it should never leave him. However, God has not only proved kindness and truth, but He has also given them to the believer, for they belong to the new life he has received.

What could not happen to the Lord Jesus can happen to us, and that is that we forget God’s kindness and truth that He has shown us, that they leave us. As a result, these attributes do not become visible in our life and they also leave us in that sense. This is why the father tells his son – and every believer – to make sure that “kindness and truth” do not leave him”.

The father tells him how to do it. He should bind them around his neck like an ornament. The neck indicates self-will. A word like “stiff-necked” indicates that. If “kindness and truth” are bound around the neck like an ornament, it means that one’s own will is not followed, but that these characteristics govern life. He must also write both these characteristics on the tablet of his heart (cf. Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Deuteronomy 6:8-9). As a result, they will be the motives from which he acts. He thereby submits himself to the will of God.

“Kindness” is goodness shown to another and excludes all forms of selfishness and hatred. “Truth” is being trustworthy, being reliable; it excludes all hypocrisy. We can therefore say that kindness and truth are parallel to grace and truth.

This pair, grace and truth, is united in perfect harmony in Christ: “Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ” ( John 1:17). We see this above all on the cross. On the basis of this pair, God was able to accept us. The eternal life that is our portion shows this pair in our life. Both aspects must be in harmony. There may not be love at the expense of truth, and there may not be truth without love (cf. 2 John 1:1-13; 3 John 1:1-15). This is elaborated in the following verses: in Proverbs 3:5-6 live in the love of God and in Proverbs 3:7-8 live in the truth, which means separation from evil.

The first blessing of listening to wisdom, as we saw in Proverbs 3:2, concerns the God-fearing person’s own life. The second blessing has to do with relationships (Proverbs 3:4). If the advice of Pro 3:3 is followed, the son will find “favor and good repute in the sight of God and man”. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. He lived in kindness and truth, and found what is written here (Luke 2:52). We also see it in the life of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26; cf. 2 Corinthians 8:21).

“Favor” is free goodness; it is something that cannot be claimed. When we find favor with people, it is not a merit of our own; we cannot claim it as a right, but will receive it if we show kindness and truth. Although Joseph was a prisoner, he found favor or grace in the eyes of Potiphar (Genesis 39:4). Those who show kindness and truth conspicuous in a favorable sense. It is heeded, looked upon and appreciated, both by God and people. If we listen to the advice of this father, we will experience the same.

Proverbs 24:33

Kindness and Truth

Not forgetting teaching and keeping the commandments in Proverbs 3:1 is not a static thing. Teaching and commandments work something out, for they form the character of the believer. To this, Proverbs 3:3 connects. Through teaching and commandments the characteristics of the new life are formed. Two of them are “kindness and truth”.

They are two of God’s many impressive attributes (Psalms 117:2). They are seen perfectly in the life of the Lord Jesus. It was a joy for God to notice those attributes in His Son. It is also a joy to His heart when He can notice them in us. God has proven and continues to prove kindness and truth to the believer. Of this the believer should remain impressed, he should never forget it, the thought of it should never leave him. However, God has not only proved kindness and truth, but He has also given them to the believer, for they belong to the new life he has received.

What could not happen to the Lord Jesus can happen to us, and that is that we forget God’s kindness and truth that He has shown us, that they leave us. As a result, these attributes do not become visible in our life and they also leave us in that sense. This is why the father tells his son – and every believer – to make sure that “kindness and truth” do not leave him”.

The father tells him how to do it. He should bind them around his neck like an ornament. The neck indicates self-will. A word like “stiff-necked” indicates that. If “kindness and truth” are bound around the neck like an ornament, it means that one’s own will is not followed, but that these characteristics govern life. He must also write both these characteristics on the tablet of his heart (cf. Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Deuteronomy 6:8-9). As a result, they will be the motives from which he acts. He thereby submits himself to the will of God.

“Kindness” is goodness shown to another and excludes all forms of selfishness and hatred. “Truth” is being trustworthy, being reliable; it excludes all hypocrisy. We can therefore say that kindness and truth are parallel to grace and truth.

This pair, grace and truth, is united in perfect harmony in Christ: “Grace and truth came to be through Jesus Christ” ( John 1:17). We see this above all on the cross. On the basis of this pair, God was able to accept us. The eternal life that is our portion shows this pair in our life. Both aspects must be in harmony. There may not be love at the expense of truth, and there may not be truth without love (cf. 2 John 1:1-13; 3 John 1:1-15). This is elaborated in the following verses: in Proverbs 3:5-6 live in the love of God and in Proverbs 3:7-8 live in the truth, which means separation from evil.

The first blessing of listening to wisdom, as we saw in Proverbs 3:2, concerns the God-fearing person’s own life. The second blessing has to do with relationships (Proverbs 3:4). If the advice of Pro 3:3 is followed, the son will find “favor and good repute in the sight of God and man”. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus. He lived in kindness and truth, and found what is written here (Luke 2:52). We also see it in the life of Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26; cf. 2 Corinthians 8:21).

“Favor” is free goodness; it is something that cannot be claimed. When we find favor with people, it is not a merit of our own; we cannot claim it as a right, but will receive it if we show kindness and truth. Although Joseph was a prisoner, he found favor or grace in the eyes of Potiphar (Genesis 39:4). Those who show kindness and truth conspicuous in a favorable sense. It is heeded, looked upon and appreciated, both by God and people. If we listen to the advice of this father, we will experience the same.

Proverbs 24:34

Trust in the LORD

The third advice is to trust in the LORD with the whole heart and expect nothing from our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Trusting with the whole heart is focusing the whole inner life – the whole will, feeling and understanding – on God. It is about actively trusting in Him. It applies to every minute of our life, wherever we are – at home, in society, at school or work, in the church – and in whatever we do.

One should not want to lean on a creature or anything from the possession or abilities of a creature, not even on anything from ourselves (cf. 2 Chronicles 14:11). This is not a contradiction between the heart on the one hand and understanding on the other, but between one’s own understanding and the Lord. We must trust in the Lord and not in ourselves.

The father also advises his son to know God in all his ways (Proverbs 3:6). “All your ways” means everything he plans, everything he says, all his doings. It does not just refer to moments of crisis, when big and important decisions must be made. If we involve Him in all daily things, we will also automatically go to Him with the big things. To know Him in all our ways means that we begin everything with Him, walk with Him in it and also complete it with Him. This requires obedience and surrender in every area of our lives.

It also means that He does not dictate and impose His thoughts and plans on us. He allows us to take the initiative and plan a route. Then He invites us to discuss our plans with Him so that we are kept from plotting a route that leads to death (cf. James 4:15; Acts 18:21). We do not know the path. We don’t have to if we know Him, that is, if we live in fellowship with Him Who knows the way.

Knowing Him means that we include Him in everything, always looking to Him, always having Him before our attention, thinking of Him as the One Who is always with us. We do this by consulting His Word in all our plans and letting it be our counselor (Psalms 119:24). This includes walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).

It is about total dedication, all our heart and all our ways. If we trust in Him with our whole heart and know Him in all our ways, He promises to make our paths straight. He will lead us straight to the goal we have determined in consultation with Him. That goal is ultimately He Himself. The straight paths are contrasted with the winding paths that man goes without knowing Him in them. No man can make his own path straight (Jeremiah 10:23).

It does not say that the paths are easy and straight in our eyes. From our perspective, it may be a winding and difficult path. But we may know that all the twists and turns in it are provided by the Lord as part of the process of His work in us. His goal is for us to walk a path that culminates in our conformity to Christ. For Him, and therefore also for us, that is the straight path.

This, like so many other proverbs in this book, is a general truth, not something that is always true without exception. For example, when we use the saying ‘an apple every day, keeps the doctor away’, it does not mean that we stay healthy if we eat an apple every day, but that an apple is healthy food. It is not a saying that guarantees that we will never get sick if we eat apples. Proverbs are pieces from life that show how life usually is, without saying that it is always and everywhere like that. In fact, there may be factors involved that delay immediate fulfillment. Those factors are not always known to us, but God knows them and uses them for His plan with our life.

Proverbs are not promises from God for here and now that we can stand on. If we think so, we draw wrong conclusions. Proverbs are statements of observations that will prove their truth over time.