Every act in our lives has consequences. I guess this is one of the first lessons that a child learns, or at least, one of the first lessons a parent endeavours to teach their children. We’ve all heard those words haven’t we, as our parents say, “Don’t touch that or you will burn yourself.” Or positively, “Do your homework and you will get good results in your exams.”
So far in Proverbs we have seen similar lessons given, and now in 10:6-32, among other themes, there is this theme of future consequences of actions and attitudes – either rewards or punishment, blessings or cursings.
As noted previously, there are seemingly some interchangeable words in Proverbs. They are the righteous or the wise, and there are the wicked or the fools. Proverbs spells out clearly the contrasting consequences of these two groups of people and their actions.
Consider the following:
6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
Blessings – “In wisdom thinking this may refer to the direct blessing of God or the natural outcome of wise living.” (# 53)
7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
Names in Eastern culture are very important, and when a son/daughter brings disgrace to the family it brings their name into disrepute, and no one wants their name to be remembered in such a negative way.
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
If you have ever told a lie (and who hasn’t) then you will realize that the longer it goes on, the harder it is to feel secure in that lie, particularly when you realize that eventually you will be found out! On the other hand, the truth (as much as others may not believe you) is a much more comfortable place to dwell in. Integrity in our actions and words leads to a greater security.
10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Beware the “malicious winker” and the “chattering fool”!! Trouble makers, both of them, bringing grief and ruin.
12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
Writing on the subject of love, the Apostle John says We should love one another… Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. (1 John 3:11, 15) Hatred “desires the elimination of all relationships, thus fragmenting society.” On the other hand, love wants “the best for others [and it] is the greatest expression of ordered relationships. It will overlook matters which cause friction so as to promote harmony in relationships (see James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8).” (# 53)
16 The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
In this case, the author does not appear to be meaning the financial aspect of wages or earnings, for it is not them that lead to life or death. Rather it is the outcome or reward (wages or earnings) of living either a righteous life or a wicked life. Remember the words of Romans 6:23 which says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Concerning the Lord’s discipline see Proverbs 3:11—12 and Hebrews 12:7-11. Also covered in my Post # 408 Proverbs 3:1-12 The benefits of discipline. One leads to life the other leads astray!
24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
“The implicit meaning seems to be that God’s righteous judgement is inevitable.” (# 53) But on the other hand, Psalm 37:3-4 says Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. I know what I want!
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
I wonder if Jesus was thinking of this verse when he told the story in Matthew 7:24-27? The story of “the wise and foolish builders.” Is your life built upon the Rock (Jesus) which will stand firm forever or the sand (anything else) which will eventually be swept away?
27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
The Proverbs tend to speak of quality of life and length of life and of “remaining in the land” as the blessings of a wise and righteous life, but as we discover from Jesus there is more. “Life after death has yet to be revealed as the sphere of ultimate rewards.” (# 53) In John’s Gospel we read: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
That is the JOY (v. 28) that the righteous (those who have repented and believed in Jesus) can experience now and also have to look forward to in eternity.
Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:9-11)
May you, like Nehemiah, be able to say today that the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 