The Book of Proverbs teaches us that we cannot deceive God. We cannot camouflage that which is abhorrent in the eyes of our Maker. All things are visible to him and, therefore, all things are known: “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings . . . his own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins ” . . he shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”
The Bible has the answer to successful living. The formula for a profitable life has been offered by God to man in Eden and since. God knows what is best for his creatures, and we have this revealed to us in the Scripture. God wants man to exercise his conscience and his mind in accordance with the laws that he has formulated for the guidance of the human race.
We are directed to the realm of nature that we might learn something of diligence. We are enjoined to witness the energy and industry of the ant. In all this there is a lesson to be learned: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise . . . which having no guide, overseer, or ruler . . . provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”
Slothfulness has no place in the plan of God. Laziness and indifference is a sign of decadence and is to be condemned. The proverb puts it well: “How long wilt thou sleep, 0 sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? . . . yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep . . . so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”
The book records seven things which are an abomination in the sight of God. They are listed in Chapter 6: “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood . . . an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief . . . a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” No explanation is necessary except to say that they alienate us from God and should not be found among the followers of Christ”
There are true riches to be found in the Word of God, riches that cannot be found in the world around us: “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.” The knowledge that is provided by God’s Word cannot be purchased with this world’s goods, because this wisdom is imperishable: “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
There must be a complete change of heart in the process of transformation. Certain evil propensities must be conquered: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.”
God’s wisdom has been from the beginning, being the strength and sustainer of all things: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.” Wisdom goes back to the commencement of all things, to the start of time itself: “I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” The Proverbs makes this point quite clear, staggering the mind with the timelessness and omnipotence of God: “While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. . . ” When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.”
The unwise and uncaring of this world cannot hope to fit into the pattern that God has prepared. The unbeliever and scorner bring condemnation upon themselves: “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death””
The wise man responds well to instruction and it is this readiness to become educated in the things of God that finds favour in the eyes of the Almighty: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.- It is the voluntary act of willingness to learn that opens up a whole new field of study for the person who searches for a successful and satisfying plan for living. Final achievement and success in life can only come through the cleansing and refining process of God’s Word. It is only by the operation of Scripture teaching upon the mind that we can grow in grace and “lay hold on eternal life”.
All the material gain in this life has no lasting benefit or purpose. All through the ages a man’s possessions have commanded a great deal of his time and effort, being almost an object of worship. Society has created artificial patterns for itself. A man’s social standing is determined by his degree of affluence and power. With God it is different. Thus the Bible tells us that “treasures of wickedness profit nothing”. Temporal achievement and social standing are of no significance in the sight of God. The future age will be given to the person who renders unto God the things that are God’s: “Righteousness delivereth from death.”
The moral theme is woven strongly into all the chapters of Proverbs. The Apostle Paul quotes from them when he says, “Their feet are swift to shed blood”, in writing to the Romans. Then, again in his letter to the Romans, he quotes from Proverbs when declaring, “Be not wise in your own conceits”. The epistles of James and Peter also make use of the Proverbs in presenting the Christian ethic.
The life and character of a righteous person is not soon forgotten by God. In our contemporary life men and women achieve positions of eminence, run their course, die, and are soon forgotten. With God it is not so, and we are encouraged in this respect by the Bible declaration: “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” With God there is no variableness, and the good life is sure to be rewarded with the saints at the last day.
In this life we all tend to look for security in employment and other matters, but the only security and permanence that we will ever really find will be in God’s revealed Word. All else is passing and soon forgotten: “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.”
The Proverbs should have a sobering effect upon men and women because nowhere else are the vital issues of life and death so graphically portrayed: -The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.” The words of Scripture allow no dubiety or misunderstanding, for they have a plainness and directness found nowhere else in the realm of literature. Always we find the contrast between good and evil: “The righteous shall never be removed; but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.”
God abhors pride, and yet it is such a force in national, international and individual life. Pride, like conceit, is inflated self-esteem, and make us unreceptive to religious instruction: “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
The Book of Proverbs exposes deception and fraud as being an abomination in the sight of God: “A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” The Bible is forthright in its condemnation of trickery and subterfuge. The true believer can have no part in these things. The influence of the world is strong and must be resisted if the good seed is to be fruitful.
Every right thinking person with a Christian conscience must have uppermost in his mind the desire to be pleasing to God. The first duty of man is to acknowledge God in his life. To find favour in the sight of God is surely of great price: “A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.”
Anger is something we can ‘witness in the world at large. It leads to violence and bloodshed, and rebels against the law of God. The Proverbs show anger and wrath to be against the Christian gospel” Wrath corrupts because it goes to extremes, whereas forebearance and humility reveal the man who has learnt of Christ.
Time and time again the Book of Proverbs shows righteousness as the way to life everlasting: “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” The Book abounds with similar references showing the infallibility of the promises of God. The Bible alone can offer salvation. It is to the Bible that men and women must turn if they want to know God’s plan for man in the future age.
The danger of getting into wrong company is stressed in Proverbs: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” The Bible is insistent that we must make our friendships with those who share our beliefs and enthusiasm for the Word. Where there is an identity of belief and a common reverence for God then there is a good basis for happy and enduring friendships in the Lord.
The Book of Proverbs leaves us in no doubt as to the rearing of children, a problem in this day and generation. It is vitally important that the issue be faced fairly and squarely. There are times when children must be corrected and punished. This accords with the teaching of Scripture: “He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes””
It is said that a contributory factor in juvenile delinquency is the lack of proper parental control and correction. Proverbs once again insists that there be proper correction: “Withold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.” And then again we read: “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
One of the common failings in human nature is that we think that we know what is best for us. This tendency is brought to light in Proverbs: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Self-satisfaction, self-will and obstinacy are obstacles which alienate men and women from God. They leave no place for the humility that God requires.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay