Babble

"On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin" (Proverbs 10:13-14).

In this particular contrast between wisdom and foolishness, the focus is on what is and isn't said. For those who have wisdom, they speak from great understanding, though they may speak very few words. The fool is the one who lacks sense and thus faces certain ruin if they don't respond to the rod applied to their backside.

I have seen it happen to others as well as to myself. We talk too much about things we know very little about. Doing that gets us into a lot of trouble. We are told that those who are wise "lay up knowledge." This means they hold it in until the right moment. They don't spout off, all at once, everything they know .

Those who have wisdom speak wisely while those who lack wisdom speak foolishly. We find that the wise are prudent with their words and thus their reward is sweet. The fool lacks sense and so he babbles. We are told that his punishment (opposite of reward) is a rod across the back.

As we grow in knowledge and understanding, let's be careful not to "spout off" about we know or "babble" about what we don't know. Let's be prudent with our words; speaking only about what we really know and have experienced. If we find ourselves being the babbling fool, let's be ready to take that which we deserve; a rod across the back.

Overwhelming Love

"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses" (Proverbs 10:12).

We have all seen the havoc that is brought on by those who hate each other. There is no cooperation, camaraderie, or compassion in the midst of their hatred. There is only strife when hatred is present. But not so with love. Love leads to peace.

When there is hatred instead of love, there is dissension and distrust. People who can't stand one another can't work or play together. Hatred trumps the humility needed to be united together in a viable relationship. That is why we are called to love one another. Relationships can only flourish if love is allowed to trump hatred. Love trumps all things offensive.

Love leads to unity and camaraderie because love covers (forgives) the failings of others. Love leads to the forgiveness of all things offensive because love does not focus on the faults of others. Remember that "cover" is translated "overwhelmed" in Proverbs 10:6. Just as hateful words overwhelm relationships with violence, love overwhelms relationships with grace and forgiveness. If we are to overwhelm people, we are to overwhelm them with love.

Next time you have a chance to overwhelm someone, choose to do so with the love that God has shown you. We are told of God's overwhelming love in John 3:16 as we see a God who gives forgiveness through the gift of His Son who died of our sin. That love brings peace between God and those who believe in His Son.

Hatred cannot bring peace. Hatred does nothing but stir up the negative feelings brought on by rivalry, resentment, and rancor. Love covers over all things offensive by offering the grace of God. If you find someone who has been overwhelmed with hatred, pray that God will allow you to overwhelm them with love. For it is love which covers all offenses.

Winks And Words

"Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence" (Proverbs 10:10-11).

In life, there is such a thing as a playful wink and a malicious wink. Today's passage is about the latter. A person doesn't maliciously wink to an accomplice without being up to something. The kind of wink our passage mentions today causes trouble between people.

However, trouble from a wink of the eye is not all we must be careful of. The fool who babbles away with his mouth brings trouble as well. His words will doom him to ruin. In contrast, the words of the righteous are as refreshing as a water fountain in the heat of the day. The words of the righteous are a "fountain of life."

As stated earlier in Proverbs 10:6, the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The word "conceal" is translated "overwhelm" which tells us that the words of the wicked characterize their life which is overwhelmed by evil. Though they try to hide their evil intentions, they are always found out.

Whether it is the wink of the eye or the words of the mouth, we must all be very careful. The wink of the eye brings trouble and the words of the babbling fool bring ruin. It takes great wisdom to avoid both pitfalls. It takes a godly heart to use our winks and our words for good, not harm.

Without Wax

"The wise in heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (Proverbs 10:8-9).

You and I will either listen to wise counsel and obey the commands we are given by God or we won't. There is such a thing as a babbling fool who won't keep his mouth shut long enough to listen. The end result for such a fool is ruin. Proverbs warns against this so many times, it is hard to keep count.

If we are truly wise, we will keep our mouths shut and our ears open. We will listen to what the Lord tells us about life and take it to heart. Once we do that, we start walking through life with amazing integrity. To have integrity, one must be sincere. The Greek word for "sincere" means "without wax." It has to do with pottery makers who sell pots without cracks in them. Sometimes, if a pot had a small crack in it, the potter would fill it with wax to conceal it. If you bought a pot "without wax" you were buying a pot that had integrity.

The fool who will not keep quiet long enough to grow wise has to fill in the cracks of his life with "wax." He, we are told, will be found out sooner or later.

The fact of the matter is simple; we are all cracked pots. The wise person is the one who will listen to the teaching of the Lord while obeying His commands. It is through the grace of God, leading to his obedience, that a person finds healing. It is through ignoring the grace of God, leading to his disobedience, that a person finds ruin. He has no other option than to try to fill the cracks of his life with "wax." This, we are told, will lead to disaster.

Rain Or Shine

"Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot" (Proverbs 10:6-7).

The contrast between the righteous and the wicked continues with a description of what results from both lifestyles. For the righteous, the ability to acknowledge blessing is the result. For the wicked, being overwhelmed is the result.

Godly men and women all over the world speak openly about how blessed they are by the Lord. They tell of how wonderful it is to walk with Him daily, to serve Him with their time, talent, and treasure. In contrast, out of the mouth of the wicked comes violence and rot.

The strong faith of believers keeps them faithful in their journey with Him whether life is easy or difficult on any given day. Their loyalty to Christ is not dependent on whether or not the sun is shining the day they have a family picnic planned. They speak of God's faithfulness and blessing while they are going through chemotherapy. They sing God's praises while changing flat tires, folding laundry, sitting in traffic, battling the flu, or even arranging a funeral for a loved one they know they will desperately miss. The righteous experience God's blessings in the midst of life's brokenness.

Not so with the wicked. The wicked are overwhelmed by the brokenness of life. The Hebrew word for "concealed" can be translated "overwhelmed" or "covered." Those who do not walk through life with the Lord can only be overwhelmed by the rottenness of life's brokenness.

The righteous and the wicked are both hit by the junk of life. Both experience diseases, flat tires, dirty laundry, horrific traffic, loss of loved ones, and even rained out picnics. The righteous acknowledge the blessings of the Lord in the midst of life while the wicked are simply overwhelmed.

Verse 7 tells us that just remembering the life of righteous people brings blessing while most people want to forget the wicked. "The name of the wicked will rot" simply means their life was not remarkable enough to remember. Those who walk with the Lord through thick or thin, rain or shine, in sickness or in health, in riches or in poverty, are the ones who tell of the blessings of the Lord. The wicked are simply overwhelmed and then soon forgotten.

Hard Work Pays Off

"The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame" (Proverbs 10:3-5).

There is a huge difference between a person who works hard and one who hardly works. The person who works hard accumulates wealth while the sloth goes without. Diligence has its rewards. Today's passage contrasts diligence with laziness. The bottom line is that one pays huge dividends while the other doesn't.

Satisfaction in life is realized only through the goodness of the Lord. While our appetites are satisfied by the hand of the Lord, this does not mean our own hands can be slack. It is clearly stated in today's passage that "a slack hand causes poverty." This means the slacker will go without. We are taught here that diligence leads to wealth and laziness leads to poverty. This does not mean that all those who are impoverished are lazy; it is not that simple. Our passage simply states that laziness is a negative character trait and that laziness doesn't pay.

The son who is industrious is contrasted with the son who sleeps the day away. The hard working son is thinking ahead to the winter when he is going to need food. He is up early each morning gathering his crops in the summer time, way before he needs them. The lazy son who slept through the harvest is left with nothing to eat in the winter. This, we are told, is a shameful thing.

When will we learn that hard work is better than laziness, wealth is better than poverty, wisdom is better than shame, and righteousness is better than wickedness? Those who love the Lord and are wisely walking with Him daily are provided for by His generous and gracious hand. Those who live their lives by way of wicked cravings end up shamefully impoverished.

It is clearly stated in today's passage that hard work pays off. So the question needs to be asked, "Are you working hard or hardly working?" One pays huge dividends from the hand of the Lord while the other offers nothing from the slack hand of the "cravings of the wicked."

On The Take

"Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death" (Proverbs 10:2).

The treasures that profit a person are the ones that are gained in the proper way. This passage does not say that treasures are of no value. It tells us that ill-gotten treasures are of no value. They do nothing to profit a person's life the way righteousness does. To gain wealth through deceit or corruption adds no real value to life. Being "on the take" is not how we are to live our lives.

By mentioning that righteousness delivers people from death, this proverb is telling us that ill-gotten gain does not bring us real or lasting life. Life comes from walking in the Lord's righteousness. The fullness of life we seek is not found in earthly treasures that fade away. Especially if those treasures become ours due to shady practices.

Consider another proverb: "Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it" (Proverbs 13:11). To try and get rich quickly through deceitful scheming or unjust practices will not forestall death. Neither will it bring a person a deep and satisfying life.

Let's allow today's proverb to guide us toward earthly treasure that is gained righteously yet not allowed to take the place of God in our lives. Not only does life come from the hand of the Lord, but so do the blessings we experience in life. Being "on the take" does not bring real blessing. Treasure gained by shady deals or outright deception may bring temporary pleasure to one's life, but it adds no real or lasting value. Only righteousness brings us life.

Bringing Joy

"A wise son make a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother" (Proverbs 10:1).

We are entering a long stretch of Proverbs (chapters 10-15) which contrast the life of the wicked and the life of the righteous. These proverbs show us the reality of living wisely as well as living foolishly. Our lives will have impact; the question is whether the impact will be positive or negative; whether we will bring joy or grief to our parents.

Today's passage tells us that the life of the son will either bring joy or grief to his parents. To mention the father in one line and the mother in the other is very common in proverbial literature. The point of today's proverb is to affirm the joy a wise son brings his parents in contrast with the grief the foolish son brings.

I would think that all of us, if we were to be totally honest with ourselves, would say that we want to bring our parents joy. Those of us who are parents definitely want our children learning from our teaching and advice. We feel the joy the proverb mentions when we see that our children listen to us. We also feel the painful grief brought on by their foolish behavior.

This translates well in regards to our relationship with God. As His children, a great motivation is to see Him experience joy over how we live our lives rather than the grief that comes from seeing us live foolishly. When all is said and done, I want to bring joy to my earthly parents as well as my heavenly Father. The same is true for my children. I want them to know how thrilled I am when their life is lived well and how grieved I am when they miss the mark.

Children can bring either joy or grief to their parents. Knowing this, I would hope children everywhere, us grown-ups included, will make wise decisions about life. I hope our motivation is always to bring joy and not grief.

Folly's Lie

"The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' And to him who lacks sense she says, 'Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.' But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol" (Proverbs 9:13-18).

The woman Folly is described as boisterous and seductive yet ignorant. She has the looks and the volume but has no understanding when it comes to real life. All she can do is lure people into a disappointing life with her lie.

In contrast to Lady Wisdom who spends time preparing the banquet and inviting everyone to enjoy the long term benefits of her feast, woman Folly offers instant gratification to the passer by. She mimics Lady Wisdom by also standing on the high place of the city but what she offers is death rather than life. All she can offer people is the lie that "stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

The metaphor of drinking from one's own fountain is about enjoying sex inside a marriage relationship. To steal water is to have sex with someone other than your spouse. We are not to believe woman Folly when she tells us that immorality is as sweet as godliness. She is not to be believed when she tells us that a secret life is no problem.

All who have believed her lie have stepped into her deadly trap. They have found themselves in the pit of despair known as the "depths of Sheol." Let the "water" you drink be yours alone and when you eat "bread," be sure it is bread you eat at Wisdom's table, not Folly's.

Knowing God

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it" (Proverbs 9:10-12).

Of all the benefits we have read about in association with the gaining of wisdom, personally knowing God tops them all. The ultimate benefit of wisdom is "knowledge of the Holy One." This personal knowledge leads to great insight into not just life, but into God Himself.

When someone personally knows the Creator who is Holy, they know the One true God. They know His love, grace, patience, compassion, desires, strength, and so much more. Knowing God is so different than knowing about God. The difference between the two is experience. To really know God's love is to have experienced His love. To experience His compassion is to personally know His compassion.

One of the great benefits of knowing God is found in the length of days that follow. This is not just a numbering of days here on earth but rather a numbering of days in eternity. (If our days in eternity are even counted).

Those who gain wisdom gain a knowledge of God that is personal and intimate. Their life lasts forever starting the day they come to know the Holy One. Those who spend their life mocking wisdom end up experiencing ruin. Proverbs gives this warning so many times, there will be no excuses the day they are translated into eternity, with or without the Holy One.

R.S.V.P. Wisely

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning" (Proverbs 9:7-9).

This passage is strategically placed between Wisdom's invitation and the invitation offered by the woman "Folly" (see Proverbs 9:13-18). Both Wisdom and Folly cry out in the streets with an invitation to feast at their table. Today's passage describes the consequences of accepting either invitation.

To accept wisdom's invitation is to accept correction and reproof. To do so means you are wise. To do so puts you in a loving relationship with wisdom. To scoff at wisdom's invitation to enjoy her banquet delights is to R.S.V.P with hateful abuse. Scoffers hate wisdom's reproof and correction and they will make that hatred known.

When instruction is given to a wise man, he only gets wiser. The righteous man who listens to wisdom's instruction flourishes in life. Wisdom brings more life to the one who is alive while folly only brings more bitterness to the one who is perishing.

"Lady Wisdom" has lots of experience when it comes to being hated and abused. She offers herself to anyone who will have her. The wise truly get wiser when she is in their life. The scoffer only gets more abusive and hateful.

Consider your response to the person who may correct of reprove you today. Allow your spirit to respond well to wisdom's instruction in your life. If you find yourself abusive and hateful to the one who offers insight and instruction, you may be heading down the wrong path. You may be listening to Folly's invitation rather than Wisdom's.

Wisdom's Invitation

"She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in town, 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' To him who lacks sense she says, 'Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live and walk in the way of insight'" (Proverbs 9:3-6).

After the hostess prepared the banquet room and the food, she then sent her servants into town to invite the guests. Instructing them to call out from the most elevated spot in town shows that she wants everyone to hear her invitation. "Lady Wisdom" knows that there is a very vulnerable group of people in town who need her and she makes sure they have a chance to attend her dinner.

The most vulnerable of us all are the "simple" and the ones who lack "sense." These are the ones who are naive about life and who tend to be gullible. Their judgment of things right and wrong is poor. They need a lot of help life because life contains lots of confusing alternatives. Hope is found in the fact that a place at "Lady Wisdom's" table is reserved just for them.

To sit at her table and enjoy the meat, bread, and wine she has prepared is a metaphor for acquiring and enjoying wisdom. Wisdom assists the naive in their quest for life and godliness. Wisdom gives sound judgement to those who are lacking in that area. Wisdom turns those who are "simple" into those who are amazingly mature.

Remember that the invitation has gone out to everyone. There is a place set at "Lady Wisdom's" table for all who will attend the banquet. I hope you hear her invitation and are ready to take your place at her banquet.

Wisdom's Banquet

"Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table" (Proverbs 9:1-2).

Before the invitations go out to all those in need of wisdom's delights, "Lady Wisdom" sets the scene as well as the table. The scene is a spacious house evidenced by seven pillars. Some Bible scholars have tried to guess the meaning of seven pillars by attributing the number seven to the six days of creation followed by one day of rest. Others have wondered if the seven refers to the sun, moon, and the five planets that were known at that time. When all is said and done, those are just guesses. The seven pillars probably just indicate that wisdom builds a big spacious house.

And yet the house is not meant to be empty. People are invited in. In the next set of verses we will study, we will find that everyone is invited to sit at wisdom's banquet in wisdom's spacious house. She has prepared the meat as well as the wine. The mixing of wine may have something to do with the practice of putting spices in it to enhance the flavor. Psalm 75:8 and Isaiah 5:22 make reference to this practice.

We are encouraged to realize that wisdom's banquet is filling and tasty. The meat of her banquet gives life and the wine gives that life a spicy flavor. If you find you are starving for real food and the spice of life only the Lord offers, be ready to accept "Lady Wisdom's" invitation to her banquet. Her house is large enough for a crowd. She desires you to be one of the many folks who sit at her table.

Neglect

"And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, by he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:32-36).

It is now wisdom who addresses the sons. She connects listening and blessing three times in alternating order. You are blessed if you listen and if you listen you are blessed. Her plea for the sons to listen is followed by significant promises.

To neglect her plea is to forego the promises being made. To neglect anything leads to its ultimate demise and so wisdom calls on us to avoid the demise of our lives that comes by neglecting her words.

If blessing comes from really hearing and following through with what we are taught by wisdom, we are foolish not to listen. She promises that to listen to her leads us to life as well as to God's favor. Life and favor can be ours if we do not neglect wisdom's words. The Hebrew word for "favor" means "acceptance, goodwill, or approval." It means that the life lived wisely is pleasing to the Lord.

If you truly desire the fullness of life God offers; a life that is pleasing to God, do not neglect wisdom's words. There still remain only two options when it comes to this. We will either enjoy the wonderful way of life that comes to us because we have listened to wisdom, or we will experience the folly of death brought on by neglect. Choose wisely!