A Silver Tongue

For Friday June 17, 2005
Proverb 10:20

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Our last proverb we observed that when words are in abundant supply, the value of them decreases, and in fact, there is more likelihood of foolish and sinful speech which devalues the whole.

When the righteous are called to speak, what they say is of great worth. They have learned wisdom, and learned when a 'word fitly spoken' is called for. Their wisdom will be sought after.

We can think of valuable advice, but we can also consider words of comfort and encouragement. Words of comfort are hard to find in our trials. We offer to the dying and those who have lost so many cliches and aphorisms that rarely offer true comfort. Even our citation of Scripture may be of little value if we have not had our hearts deep in the wisdom and values of God expressed in his Word.

Wise to be dumb

For Thursday, June 16, 2005
Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Lies, hatefull words, misstatements, blasphemies, vanities, vulgarities, curses, backtalk, evasions, gossip, slurs, coarse jokes, pointless arguments, arguments over words, yelling, muttering, murmuring, bad advice, enticements, seductions, heresies, flatteries, confusion, equivocation, boasting, and scoffing. If even our idle words will be called into account, much more the words from the evil in our hearts.

When Jesus was before his accusers, he gave no answer to them. Even when he had all the justification in the world, and was entirely in the right, he knew it was best to keep quiet, and what his accusers would say of him would bring their own condemnation.

When confronted with temptations to sin sexually, we are reminded to flee the source of the temptation. When the temptation is found in our own lips, it is our lips we must flee.

The Slanderer in Secret

For Wednesday June 15, 2005
Proverbs 10:18

And for the one who conceals hatred with lying lips
And who publishes an injurious report, he is a fool

Slander functions most effectively when it comes out of concealment. Secret sources, details of personal conversations and reports of unnamed witnesses lend an air of secrecy and mystery to a matter that can make it all the more compelling.

A later proverb (18:8) warns of the destructive effect gossip has on the recipient. Even though you might think you can reserve judgment on an uncorroborated report, the very nature of the gossip will color your relations with the one slandered. This is the intention of the slanderer, to injure and destroy the reputation of another.

It always seems like there are grey areas involved with speech and gossip. We can shade the truth in ways that are deceptive, and there are deceptions that seem to be necessary for getting along in the world. As always, the intentions of the heart are key. If we harbor hatred in our heart, we are willing to entertain all manner of claims about the object of our hatred unfounded or not, and we justify our passing them on even if its really none of our business.

(translation from Bruce Waltke Book Of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15 (NICOT))

Who Kept the Instructions?

For Tuesday, June 17, 2005
Proverbs 10:17

Whoever keeps instruction is a path to life
but whoever abandons correction leads astray

One of the great blessings of life in covenant with God is that each generation trains and nurtures the next. We're not set loose in the world to make our own way, but receive the instruction and teaching of those who have gone before us, and have committed themselves to following God.

Sanctification proceeds within an individuals life, as he lives out more and more the definitive death and break with sin he has received by faith. But as he does so, he also can instruct his children from a position of progressive sanctification. In this way generations and nations may receive the promises of discipleship and sanctification in a way analogous to that of individuals.

But we model our rebellions and downfalls to the subsequent generations as well. None keep God's instruction pure, and generations will be led astray in some ways, though perhaps not others.

Jesus, though, learned from not only his sinful mother and adopted father, but from his heavenly Father. He modeled his life on the instruction he received though the scriptures, observing the work his Father had wrought in Israel as much as he observed Joseph working at his carpentry. He fulfilled them faithfully as none had ever fulfilled them before. In so doing, he becomes a path of life for his disciples who have received his teaching along with his whole way of life. As he learned obedience though the things he suffered, we fix our eyes on him, the author and finisher of our faith.

(translation from Bruce Waltke Book Of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15 (NICOT))

The earnings-to-death ratio

For Monday, June 13, 2005
Proverbs 10:16

The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.

Many times we feel like the psalmist who observes the easy life of the wicked and wonders about the justice of God. We question the inverted moral order we see where the wicked so often dominate over faithful people, living a trouble-free life of ease.

This proverb contrasts the righteous life and the wicked life in a similar way. The reward of a righteous life is describes as 'wages'. Here the word has overtones of that which is the reward for difficult or strenuous labor.

By contrast, the wicked accumulate 'earnings' or revenue. They are on easy street, and they have their money working for them. They have a get-rich-quick scheme that seems to actually work.

Flaring up in anger is the easy path to take, and seems to have an immediate pay-off. But this easy money is deceptive. Though it may be produced with little effort, there is a terrible consequence. The fullness of life offered to the righteous is nowhere to be found, but the death of relationships, and spiritual and physical death in the end.

When we follow the path of wisdom we find that, though it may seem arduous and uncomfortable, the fruit borne from the labor is life-giving, and brings its own joy to the laborer.