Practical Principles From Proverbs (Part 4)
The Fate of a Nation
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Pr. 14:34). Solomon seems to be referring to any nation, but the truth of this statement can be seen in the subsequent history of Israel. In fact, Solomon’s words on this subject rather prophetically apply to himself. The kingdom split after Solomon’s death, thus weakening the nation and often pitting the southern kingdom (Judah) against the northern one (Israel or Ephraim). But the reason for this division involved the actions of Solomon as leader over the nation.
What did he do? Because of all his foreign wives, he did evil in the sight of the Lord (1 Kings 11:4-6). He built high places for Chemosh and Molech, the gods of Moab and Ammon (v. 7). That was just the beginning; he did the same for all his foreign wives (v. 8). God told him that because of this emphasis on false gods (a violation of the first two of the ten commandments), as well as his breaking the covenant God had made with him (1 Kings 3:14), He would tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give it to his servant (Jeroboam) (1 Kings 11:11).
Jeroboam was told by Ahijah the prophet that he would be given ten of the twelve tribes to rule over. The reason was that Solomon and Judah had forsaken Jehovah “and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon….” Furthermore, they had not walked in God’s ways or kept His statutes (1 Kings 11:33). Righteousness had exalted the nation to a time of peace and prosperity, but Solomon led the way in bringing sin and idolatry into the nation; therefore, God punished them.
From this point on, both nations had ups and downs before being taken captive in 721 B.C. (for Israel) and 586 B.C. (for Judah). Few were the bright spots in Israel’s history. Judah’s obedience to God constantly fluctuated. God was patient for decades, but eventually He brought about their destruction.
What about other countries? History is filled with the rise and fall of many nations. What about us (U.S.)? We suffered greatly during the Civil War, but the sin of slavery was finally eradicated. However, we are plagued with many more evils that have been championed by the enemies of God. Abortion remains a blight on the land; innocent blood continues to be shed. How long will God tolerate this abomination (Pr. 6:17)?
Couples living in fornication prior to marriage is the norm for today’s singles. Divorces continue to be a popular phenomenon. Adultery scarcely surprises anyone any more. Homosexuality has a 65% approval rating among the public, we are told. Alcoholics continue to number in the millions. Crude language dots many conversations, and gambling is on the rise.
What all these observations tell us is that we should not be surprised if God reproaches this sinful nation. The only way such can be avoided is by repentance and a turning away from these sins. It is always possible, but is it likely? We must restore righteousness again.
A Soft Answer Versus a Harsh Word (Pr. 15:1)
Ironically, a husband-wife team furnish an excellent example of this principle, and Solomon probably had heard the story, which concerned Nabal and Abigail. David and his men had, at times, protected Nabal’s sheep and property. At the time of the sheering of the sheep, David asked for some provisions for his men. Nabal not only turned him down, he insulted him:
“Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” (1 Sam. 25: 10-11).
All Israel knew who David was, since he had a reputation as a giant-killer. Nabal probably knew that David had married Saul’s daughter. But he slanted all of the facts concerning David to make it look as though he were a hunted criminal. The fact is that he was just selfish. One cannot help but compare him to the rich fool from Luke 12:15-21. Consider how many times Nabal uses the first person; he refers to himself seven times in one sentence. So, he harshly refuses David’s request.
Did those grievous words stir up anger? When they were relayed to David, he responds in such a way that his intent cannot be doubted: “Every man gird on his sword” (1 Sam. 25:13). David was so riled up that he swore: “May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light” (v. 22). Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was “a woman of good understanding” (v. 3). She rode out to meet David with a soft answer—and food (v. 18).
Abigail spoke softly but very effectively. By the time she finished her apology for her “foolish” husband, David relented. He told her: “And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand” (v. 33-34). Had it not been for a soft answer, however, his wrath would not have been turned away, and he would have killed Nabal himself. As it turns out, God later smote Nabal.
This account should be remembered when provoked. Few of us would gird on a sword and strive to kill someone when treated harshly, but we might seek to damage the guilty party. We should recall, “’Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).
Omniscience
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Pr. 15:3). This is a familiar theme in Proverbs, as well as the entire Bible. Just eight verses later Solomon writes: “Hell and destruction are before the Lord; so how much more the hearts of the sons of men?” (v. 11). In other words, if God can know what’s happening in the “unseen” world (sheol), how much easier is it to see what’s happening on earth?
Previously, Solomon wrote: “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths” (Pr. 5:21). Solomon may also have been aware of what his father wrote in Psalm 139:11-12:
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.
How could “God bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil,” as Solomon would later write (Ecc. 12:14), if He could not see everything done in the light or in the darkness? The New Testament proclaims the same message: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:13). Men may pull the wool over the eyes of other men, but God knows all.
“Slow to Anger”
This phrase appears eight times in the Bible—all in the Old Testament. Five times God is praised for being slow to anger. Once, He is criticized for being slow to anger—by Jonah, who did not want Nineveh spared (Jonah 4:2). The other two times occur in Proverbs. The more familiar one is 16:32: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” It is easier to conquer others than to rule oneself.
The lesser-known verse is 15:18: “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention” (consider also James 1:19). What kind of spirit does a person have? Is he (or she) on edge, ready to provoke and to be provoked? Is he like the neighbor your congenial editor once knew, who bragged, “I was willing to fight at the drop of a hat—and I’d drop the hat”? He reminded one of what was written about Ishmael: “He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him” (Gen. 16:12a-c).
This man will always be involved in controversies; on the other hand, there is the one who allays contention. The Hebrew word translated “allays” mean “to be at peace, to be quiet.” In other words, he is not spoiling for a fight; he prefers tranquility. He is not cowardly, but sees no value in senseless wrangling and contention. “It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel” (Pr. 20:3). We must avoid or stop strife.
“The Sacrifice of the Wicked”
It is commonly thought that engaging in certain positive things will make up for the evil that people participate in, but Solomon made it clear that such was not the case. He wrote: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Pr. 15:8). In connection with this idea, he writes a few verses later: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous” (15:29).
The man who was born blind may have had this verse in mind when he said to Jesus’ accusers: “Now we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, him He hears” (John 9:31). To say that God delights in the prayer of the upright means that He is happy to answer that person’s request— unless it runs contrary to His will or our own best interests. This truth is of great comfort to those who are trying to please the Lord.
On the other hand, those who are living as they see fit should not think that they will receive good blessings from God. They are only fooling themselves. As Israelites, they might bring animal sacrifices to God for their sin offerings—but they have no intention of quitting the sins they are making an offering for. God knows their thoughts and intentions, and He is insulted by the fact that they think they should have forgiveness anyway. Even at the very moment their animal is being sacrificed, they are planning their next transgression.
Such an attitude makes a mockery of religion, the law, and the God who gave mankind a means of redemption. An abomination refers to something disgusting. It nauseates God. He asked His people in Isaiah 1:11, 13-14:
“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.”
“Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.”
“Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.”
In other words, God hates hypocrisy. He cannot be bribed. What does mankind expect—that He should feel good about being “paid off” with sacrifices while man is planning to charge full speed ahead with his wicked plans? Some have the idea that God is as corrupt as man is—that He is just like us (Ps. 50:21). All who think that way should think again. God is, among other things, holy. He never sins (for which mankind ought to feel most grateful), and He cannot tolerate sin in us, which is the reason He sent Jesus to redeem us from our sins. Walking in the light is also a condition of our forgiveness.