Commentary on Proverbs 6:16-19

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“16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NASB)

Introduction: Proverbs 6:16-19 is presented amid a section of Proverbs intended by Solomon to provide examples of prudence (Constable 25). According to Constable, “A prudent person can foresee the consequences of possible actions and behaves accordingly” (Constable 25). There is little doubt that this passage connects the inward condition of one’s heart to their outward behavior. For the original audience, it would have been clear according to the context that to foster and nurture a soiled heart results in “sins that displease the Lord” (Steveson 77). Of course, the modern reader is privy to the full revelation of Jesus Christ and understands that even the worst heart can be washed clean by the blood of Christ.

Verse 16: Dr. Thomas Constable writes, “The phrase ‘six … yes, seven’ implies that this list is not exhaustive of what God hates, though it is explicit” (Constable 26). Verse 16 is an example of what Longman refers to as numerical parallelism as it follows an x, x+1 pattern. Longman writes, “Such a device is a way of saying there are a number of different examples of the phenomenon, only a few of which are given” (Longman 45). For the original hearer of this Proverb, as well as the modern reader, it must be understood that there are more things than just the seven items on the following list that are an abomination to God. However, each item on this list must be taken seriously. According to Strong’s dictionary, these “abominations” are things that are particularly disgusting and abhorrent in the sight of God (Strong). As such, the reader will do well to avoid each of the following items.

 

Verse 17: The first three items on the list are presented in this verse: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. It does not seem to be a coincidence that these three items each represent an action that is first birthed in the heart and then acted upon with a part of the body: eyes, tongue, and hands. Steveson writes, “… the eyes serve as a mirror of the soul” (84). The outward actions of pride, lying, and even murder reflect an inward condition of sin. In his commentary, Matthew Henry writes, “These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others (Henry). The disciple of Christ must learn to recognize these inward sins before they are birthed into action. Inward sin left unaddressed will inevitably spill over into our actions.

 

Verse 18: Verse 18 echoes the sentiment of verse 17. “A heart that devises wicked schemes” and “feet that run rapidly to evil”. Again, these two concepts do not seem to be mutually exclusive. The astute reader cannot help but notice the parallelism present in this verse. In reference to parallelism, Longman writes, “… the second part [of the verse] sharpens and intensifies the thought of the first part” (Longman 39). This is certainly the case in this verse. It is evitable that a man whose heart devises wicked schemes will eventually run rapidly to evil. This is in direct contradiction to the admonition Paul gave Timothy, “But flee from these things [godlessness and depravity], you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11 NASB emphasis mine). A person who allows his or her heart to remain sinful and to devise wicked schemes will ultimately run into sinful acts if given the opportunity. Our actions will inevitably mirror our inward condition. We may wonder at times how a man is capable of heinous sin. According to this passage, the answer is clear – he has practiced it many times over in his heart.

 

Verse 19:  Again, the astute reader will notice the parallelism present in this verse. Solomon offers two suggestions of how a sinful heart may spill over to impact those closest to us. A sinful person may utter lies and those lies will inevitably spread strife among brothers. The modern reader will inevitably read the New Testament back into this passage and understand that lies will cause strife in the local church. Brothers will turn on brothers and chaos will result. More than one local church has split because of such conditions.  

 

Conclusions: Certainly, a prudent man will learn how to recognize the sin in his heart before it spills over into actions. A wise person will understand the ramifications of their actions before they commit to them. Constable writes that this passage speaks to our “attitude, thought, speech, actions, and influence” (Constable 26). In other words, they speak to the totality of our being. Our heart as well as the actions of our tongues, eyes, and hands. The person who desires to gain control over his or her sinful actions will begin with the sinful nature of his or her heart.

 

Sources

 

Constable, Thomas. “Notes on Proverbs.” SonicLight.com. Retrieved from http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/proverbs.pdf. Web. 24 May 2013.

Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. ChristNotes,org. Retrieved from http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=20&c=6. Web. 12 June 2013.

Longman, Trempor. How to Read the Proverbs. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Steveson, Peter. A Commentary on the Book of Proverbs. Greenville, South Carolina: Bob Jones University Press, 2001.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance with Greek and Hebrew Definitions. Electronic source included in the E-Sword Bible software. Downloaded from www.e-sword.net

 

 

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Biblical Wisdom

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Merriam-Webster defines wisdom as knowledge, insight, judgment, generally accepted beliefs and “the teachings of ancient wise men” (Merriam-Webster.com). This post, however, concerns itself with the Biblical definition of wisdom and will make the argument there is no wisdom apart from God. This post will attempt to clearly articulate the Biblical definition of wisdom as it is presented generally throughout the Bible, with a special focus on how wisdom is presented in the Book of Proverbs. After clearly defining Biblical wisdom, this paper will attempt to examine how wisdom should affect the believer’s personal spiritual formation and to answer the question, “What place should it (the pursuit of wisdom) have in the believer’s life?”

 

Before an adequate definition of wisdom can be articulated it must first be acknowledged that wisdom cannot be separated from God. James 1:5 clearly states that wisdom is a gift from God, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). The author of Proverbs also connects wisdom to God when he writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7) and “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Scripture suggests it is this reverential fear of God that allows one to accept His gift of wisdom.  Dr. Thomas Constable argues, “If a person is open to God and teachable, he will become wise, but if he does not accept this instruction and closes his mind, he becomes a fool” (Constable 31). It has been demonstrated that, according to Scripture wisdom is a gift from God and a reverential fear of God opens our heart to receive said gift. However, the question remains, what is wisdom exactly?

 

Any exact definition of wisdom must derive from the Book of Proverbs. Steveson calls Proverbs “the wisdom book of the Bible” (p. vii). In fact, it is through a study of Proverbs that a definition of wisdom begins to come into focus. The first nine chapters of Proverbs develop a metaphor that contributes greatly to an understanding of wisdom. The metaphor is that of two paths. One is a path of foolishness that leads to ruin. The second is a path of life in the fullest that includes a relationship with God. Longman writes, “the dark path [of foolishness] represents one’s behavior in life, it does not lead to life at all but rather to death” (Longman 26). It only stands to reason then that the path of wisdom represents one’s behavior in life that leads to better and more abundant life. Wisdom can be defined then as the ability to live life with skill. Longman puts it this way, “… wisdom is the skill of living … it is a practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and how to speak in different situations” (Longman 14). Wisdom then can be seen as a gift from God than can only be accepted by one with a reverential fear of God that gives one the ability to live life skillfully.

 

Having accepted this definition of wisdom the believer must then determine how it should affect their personal spiritual formation and answer the question, “What place should it (the pursuit of wisdom) have in my life?” The priority a believer should give the pursuit of wisdom is quite evident once it is placed in the proper context. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective … But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord” (1 Cor. 26-31). It is none other than Jesus Christ Himself who epitomizes God-given wisdom. It is in His life that we find the perfect example of One who lives life skillfully. Christians are called to abandon their sinful lives and to be more like their Savior. If Christ is wisdom, than pursuing wisdom must be a top priority. Landis writes, “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God’s wisdom and this wisdom is displayed in us and through us as righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (Landis Loc. 168). This is true, however, only if the believer understands it is imperative he humbles himself before God and endeavors to be more like Christ.

 

It has been demonstrated that there is no wisdom apart from God. Wisdom is a gift from God and is only available to those who have a reverential fear of Him. Wisdom was defined as the ability to live life skillfully. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the epitome of God-given wisdom. Christ and wisdom are intertwined. It is imperative for the believer who desires to be more like Christ to endeavor in a pursuit of wisdom. Proverbs makes it clear that there are only two paths – one with God and one without. To live without God is foolishness and leads us to death. The Christian who is pursuing Christ and wisdom, however, has chosen a path that leads to life more abundant. Therefore a pursuit of wisdom must be a top priority for all believers. God has gifted us with wisdom and provided an example to follow in Christ. We must choose the path of life.

 

Works Cited

 

 Constable, Thomas. “Notes on Proverbs.” SonicLight.com. Retrieved from http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/proverbs.pdf. Web. 24 May 2013.

Landis, B.L. Wisdom is a Heart Thing. B.L. Landis, 2012. Digital.

Longman, Trempor. How to Read the Proverbs. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

Steveson, Peter. A Commentary on the Book of Proverbs. Greenville, South Carolina: Bob Jones University Press, 2001.

“Wisdom.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2013. Web. 24 May 2013.

 

 

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What Can We Learn From Jacob’s Wrestling Match with God?

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Jacob wrestiling with God

Jacob Wrestling the Angel – Léon Bonnat

Frederick Buechner’s Secrets in the Dark contains a sermon he preached titled ‘The Magnificent Defeat’ that details the story of Jacob’s all-night wrestling match with God:

22 Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.

24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” 31 Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. (Genesis 32:22-31)

If I’m being honest, I’ve always had a little trouble grasping this passage. Buechner’s take on it, however, is beautiful and spoke to me a great deal. Jacob is a man who has always gotten ahead by being just a little crafty and devious. If you recall, he caught his brother Esau in a moment of weakness and essentially tricked him into trading his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:29-34). He then set about with the help of his mother to trick his father into granting him a blessing that was intended for Esau (Genesis 27:1-29). Jacob was a little devious … and here’s the hard part to understand – his deviousness worked for him.

Jacob got ahead as a result of his trickery. He gained his brother’s birthright and blessing and, although he had to flee before Esau exacted revenge, he enjoyed the benefits of his deviousness. Buechner writes:

… the shrewd and ambitious man who is strong on guts and weak on conscious, who knows very well what he wants and directs all his energies toward getting it, the Jacobs of this world, all do pretty well.

 

Jacob is the guy at your workplace who gets ahead on the backs of his coworkers. The guy who isn’t afraid to sacrifice others on his way to the top. But it is essential for us to remember that such trickery will only get us so far. Look again at Jacob’s wrestling match with God. The battle goes on for the entire night. Though Jacob struggles in all his might he is unable to get the advantage. He battles and battles until God finally reaches out and cripples him by simply touching the socket of his thigh. One can only wonder why God didn’t do this from the beginning. Why did God allow the wrestling match to wage for the entire night when He could win so easily. Perhaps there was a greater lesson for Jacob to learn.

Once crippled, Jacob grows desperate. He grabs on to God and begs, “I will not let go unless you bless me!” Jacob knows he is losing the wrestling match. He is crippled. God can’t be taken advantage of like Esau or duped like his father Isaac. Buechner writes:

[God's blessing] is not a blessing that he can have now by the strength of his cunning or the force of his will, but a blessing that he can only have as a gift.

Once Jacob gets desperate, God extends His grace, “So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28 He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.’ 29 Then Jacob asked him and said, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there” (Genesis 32:27-29). 

God’s blessings are a gift and they reach a crescendo in Jesus Christ “… that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We can not trick, demand, or force our way into eternal life – we must humble ourselves and accept the free gift of Jesus Christ.

Not in our strength, but His.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Books Read in 2013: No. 5 – Culture Shift by Albert Mohler

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cultureshift

Title: Culture Shift
Author: Albert Mohler
Date Completed: April 3, 2013

How should our Christian faith impact our lives within the context of the culture we live in? This is the question Mohler addresses in this short book. Essentially, this is a collection of short essays addressing topics, such as politics, education, terrorism, and abortion. As such, the book is relevant and needed. I love to read Mohler’s commentary as I have always found him to be concise and too the point. I must admit, however, that I was slightly disappointed that this book didn’t address each topic in more depth. Some chapters were approached with much more care than others which left the book seeming a little unbalanced to me, however, it is still a great. I appreciated Mohler’s take on the subject of abortion a great deal and would recommend this book to anyone who struggles to discern how their faith should play out in their daily lives.

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