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Review of proverbs 12 Prov.12 [1] Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. [2] A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. [3] A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. [4] A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. [5] The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. [6] The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. [7] The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand. [8] A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. [9] He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. [10] A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. [11] He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding. [12] The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. [13] The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. [14] A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. [15] The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. [16] A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. [17] He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. [18] There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. [19] The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. [20] Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellers of peace is joy. [21] There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief. [22] Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. [23] A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. [24] The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute. [25] Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. [26] The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them. [27] The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. [28] In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death This chapter of proverbs puts an emphasis on the right way. The concluding verse 28 alludes to paths of righteousness where there is only life, and even eternal life. There is a danger of being seduced by the wicked ways and its influences, even for the righteous, temptation could still exist as is stressed in verse 26. Verse 25 speaks of heaviness of heart, something that after a while becomes a burden that affects one even physically, and that can be the litmus test to where someone is going to far or so far in their worries that it affects their stature and physical being to a noticeable degree. Prayer to the Lord on something like this can specify that the problem or problems are becoming burdensome and ask the Lord to lighten the specific problem. Verse 22 says that truth is important to the Lord. There might be a natural tendency to lie when backed into the corner or sometimes the truth itself can be fuzzy. One can ask the Lord to lead you according to truth. Verse 24 talks as it does throughout the proverbs of being diligent. Of course, there is a fine line on being diligent and needing to let go. But some diligence is needed. Opportunities may adorn but efforts need to be extended towards these possible opportunities. What can be lost in this idea though is that sheer effort is what something is all about. You need to see what the efforts are bringing about as well. You might also be paddling in the wrong direction. Verse 21 is saying the righteous can indeed avoid many troubles that would otherwise be upon them had they followed the ways of the wicked. Verse 20 talks of imagining evil. It is a bit hazy how much of the imagination is under the control of the will but certainly there is a degree of control of the imaginings of the heart. There is an expression that it is hard to imagine this. It might be hard to imagine some things that do happen, and you wonder how much of those that do execute evil acts did ponder these acts in their imaginings. Verse 20 speaks of the association of peace and joy. These can be closely related concepts in prayer. Where I might find my peace I would also find my joy. There is an emphasis on words and the importance of speech in this chapter of proverbs. Verse 18 shows that damage that words can inflict, compared to the piercing of a sword. Words can be revealing of true character even if the person subsequently backtracks. Verse 19 seems to be saying the lies will not last, and might evaporate rather quickly. There is enough wisdom out there that lies might quickly get caught. But lies about important things especially to those vulnerable or those led astray by them, are dangerous territory according to verse 22 where he speaks of them as an abomination to the Lord. Verse 14 by contrast speaks of the good fruit of the mouth, and we can believe from the Bible that the Lord is watching what is being said and even what is being written. All words are known to the Lord. Some will classify according to this chapter of proverbs as good fruit. The wording in verse 13, speaks of the just getting out of trouble. This indicates that even the just can be on the precipices of trouble but the way out is from the Lord’s provision. Someone caught in the ongoing tide of trouble needs to seek the Lord’s way out in prayer. It is also important to acknowledge trouble, and name it as such. If someone has something in their shoe, it is better to get it out then continue to walk with it and not admit that it is a problem that needs correction. Verse 8 speaks of the importance of being kind to animals. Verse 9 speaks of the importance of making practical efforts, but how there will be fantasies of grandeur out there, and there will be at times the need to discern gimmicks and the like for what they are and how they don’t have staying power. Verse 7 speaks of the wicked getting ousted and losing maybe everything. It also speaks to the dangers of evil, how it can maybe ruin many other good efforts or take away everything that could have remained in place or increased had this evil been avoided. True establishment is not going to come to the wicked according to verse 4. There is a natural tendency to want to be all set with things. If this is obtained through wicked means, it will fall. Something to meditate on is what is going to stand up and what will eventually be found wanting for the good and fall down and away. Verse 15 says that good counsel is out there and it is wise to seek it and the tendency to justify your own actions isn’t always enough to ensure that you are on the right side of the equation and good counsel and its wings are something to be sought after. Verse 9 talks of those caught in pretensions when they don’t have the basics that they really need. Perhaps this is indication of giving importance to your own needs, especially is they are basic. The concern should be put on needs before worrying about the glamour. This verse indicates that people might be bypassing what they really need for other things that becoming overriding concerns yet interfere with keeping what is needed in focus. Verse 6 again gives emphasis to speech. Underlying motivations of the wicked may be outright violence or they certainly may not stop at that. It is the speech of the righteous that rescues them and this could also be the words of intercessory prayer that rescue the innocent. Verse 4 talks of the importance of the relationship between a man and a woman and the direct affect it can have on their spirits, for better or for in some cases for worse. Verse 1 speaks of instruction as involving a knowing or knowledge that is accepted for the purposes of correction and better understanding. Every obtainable view isn’t always there right away and something to ask for in prayer is the correct knowledge for the situation.
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