Guidance from Great Proverbs

GOLDEN TEXT: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what Both the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”—Micah 6:8

THE spirit of the “great proverbs”—which are cited for consideration in this week’s study—are well summed up in the Golden Text. Justice is the foundation of God’s throne, and there is no way for any of his intelligent creatures to be pleasing to him unless they recognize the rightness of the principle of justice and endeavor wholeheartedly to conform their lives thereto. The practical application of the principle of justice is set forth in the Golden Rule.

The Hebrew word translated “love” in the statement, “to love mercy,” is one that in our modern language means to be in love with, to have affection for. What a truly high standard! Are we so in love with the quality of divine mercy that we want it to be a part of our very beings? But even the quality of mercy needs to be controlled, for, as the prophet declares, the Lord also wants us to walk humbly with him; that is, to be guided by his instructions and not to be wayward and insist upon going our own way. In some respects this is the severest test of all. At times we might find it easier to exercise mercy toward others if we could only do it in our own way.

Proverbs 4:23: Here is that well-known proverb, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” The symbolic heart is the seat of our affections, our real desires. These are to be regulated, or “kept,” by heeding the instructions of the Word of God. Our hearts are to be just; they should love mercy, and be humble before God. “Out of it are the issues of life,” Solomon declares. We will not be worthy of eternal life on the basis of what we say or do, but upon the real intent, or motive, which prompts our words and actions, although our Lord says that by our words we shall be justified and by our words condemned, showing that the words are an index of our thoughts, our motives.—Matt. 12:37

Proverbs 6:16-19: This passage lists seven things which the Lord hates. It is necessary only to note them in order to understand why the Lord is opposed to them—“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.”

Regardless of one’s ability or standing, there is no excuse for being proud, for all that we have is by divine favor. We possess nothing but what we receive from the Lord. How inappropriate, then, to be proud! A lying tongue reflects dishonesty of purpose. One who is dishonest is unjust, hence displeasing to the Lord. To shed innocent blood, either literally or symbolically, is also an injustice and is not tolerated by the Creator.

A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations is far from a pure heart. Such a heart is one that has not been kept with all diligence, but has become filled with evil. The feet of one who has a wicked heart will indeed be “swift in running to mischief,” for they are but the servants of the heart that “deviseth wicked imaginations.” “A false witness that speaketh lies” is much akin to a “lying tongue.” Perhaps the difference is that a false witness speaks lies merely under stress, while a lying tongue is the servant of one who is habitually dishonest and unreliable.

The most striking of the seven things which the Lord hates is “he that soweth discord among brethren.” The “brethren” are the Lord’s own people, members of the body of Christ. They are all very precious to him, hence it is no wonder that any action which tends to injure them is displeasing to him.

Proverbs 9:10: “The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Only those who reverence the Lord and desire to know his plans will be blessed with wisdom from on high. This is a prerequisite to starting in the way of divine wisdom.

Proverbs 14:34: A true proverb, but no nation on earth has ever been righteous enough to be exalted because of it. When all nations are eventually taught of the Lord, and obey his laws, they will indeed be exalted and blessed.

Proverbs 16:18: This proverb is true concerning the Lord’s people and their standing before the Lord; but the proud among the ungodly during the reign of Satan are often prosperous. See Malachi 3:15.

Proverbs 21:3: See comments on Golden Text.

Proverbs 22:1: Shakespeare truly said, “Who steals my purse, steals trash; … but he that filches from me my good name robs me of that which enriches him not, and makes me poor indeed.”

Proverbs 27:1: In the New Testament we are instructed to say concerning future plans, “If the Lord will we shall … do this, or that.”—James 4:15

Proverbs 28:1: One of the first results of sin was fear—Adam and Eve were afraid. That has been a characteristic of sin ever since.

Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision”—no understanding of the Lord’s ways—“the people perish.” It is essential to know the plan of God in order to do his will.

James 4:17: Here the apostle reminds us that the mere knowing of God’s will is not enough—we must do it, and with all our might.

QUESTIONS:

What New Testament saying expresses the practical application of justice in the everyday affairs of life?

What does it mean to “love mercy”?

How may one know whether or not he is walking humbly before God?

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