Proverbs 16-17

Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16:1-7 Seven truths about our relationship with Jesus. What is our response to these truths?

16:1 He gives us correct words to speak, especially to answer accusations. (Mark 13:11)

16:2 He looks at our hearts, not just our actions.  (Luke 9:47)

16:3 He will honor and bless plans that are fully committed to Him. (3:6;  Colossians 3:17)

16:4 He will bring everything to a just and fitting conclusion.  (Revelation 20:4,12-13)

16:5 He opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (Isaiah 13:11, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5)

16:6 He demonstrated His love for us by dying to atone for our sins. (Romans 5:8) 

16:7 He goes beyond bringing peace, He blesses peacemakers. (1 Chronicles 22:9; Matthew 5:9)

Proverbs 16:10-15 Six truths about the King of kings, and good human kings.

• He is perfectly just, thus every word He speaks is also.
• Since honesty in commerce belongs to Him, He enforces it.
• His throne is established based on righteousness, and He detests it when we do wrong (not us, but our wrong actions).
• Since He is Truth incarnate, he places high value on humans who speak His truths.
• Although there is a day of judgment coming, the wise will receive His grace.
• His presence brings eternal life, and His grace waters and nourishes our earthly lives.

Proverbs 16:16 is echoed in Psalm 19:10, part of a song extolling the wonders of God’s ways. 

The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;

In keeping them there is great reward.

Proverbs 16:17 echoes 15:19. This is the way, walk ye in it, a theme occurring frequently. (Mark 16:12) 16:20 echoes 3:5-6. Straight paths result in blessing. Trusting in the Lord means giving heed to His instructions. There is blessing in the fruit of obedience to Him, but more than that, the blessing is the closeness to Jesus that we experience when we hear His voice and pay attention to what He says, because He loves us so deeply.

Proverbs 16:18-19 contrasts the fruit of pride and humility.  Why is it better to be of humble spirit with the lowly? The proud may divide the spoils, but they will ultimately fall, and it is very hard to hit the ground at high speed. Things shatter. Bones are broken. One of the leading causes of death among the elderly is broken bones that result from falls. Not all of these falls are due to pride, and the young can heal, but why sign up for it? The humble are low in their own estimation, that is, they have a realistic appraisal of their station in life. If th

ey are tripped up, they will not fall because they already understand their value in the Lord’s eyes. (See also Luke 14:8-11)

Proverbs 16:23-24 The heart is what makes ones’ words prudent, and these gracious words bring healing to body and soul.  Connection through conversation is one of the key elements of a healthy life. Gracious words are the fruit of a heart of love, and when received, Jesus provides a fountain of life. Don’t underestimate the impact of words.

Proverbs 16:25 Being deceived unto death is both an Old and New Testament theme. (Deuteronomy 11:16; 2 Corinthians 11:3) How does one discern truth from deception? There are several indicators of deception: consistency with Scripture; conviction of the Holy Spirit; conscience; the mouths of many witnesses. How were Adam and Eve first deceived? They were tempted by the desires of the body, they disregarded God’s words, and they didn’t take time to talk to the Lord about the serpent’s statement about Him. Whether their conscience or the Holy Spirit spoke to them is not recorded. But perhaps there is this implicit warning, that anything that prioritizes the bodily or earthly over the spiritual or the heavenly is suspect and should not be taken at face value. 

Proverbs 16:28 One probably doesn’t need Scripture to understand the perversity of troublemakers, and the sour fruit that gossip yields. (Romans 1:29) Some internet quotes: Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. Gossip is the devil’s radio.  No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues. 

Proverbs 16:33 is probably what the apostles had in mind when they cast lots to select the replacement for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:26). However, the word of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are better guides to decisions. 

Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17:3 The Lord tests hearts. (Deuteronomy 8:12, 13:3; Psalm 26:2) Is it for His assessment? He already knows. He tests our hearts so that we will know ourselves.

Proverbs 17:8,15,23 contrast two views of justice. Fairness and rightness, vs. a commodity to be bought. Social order and peace cannot be built on bribes. Innocence and guilt cannot be sold to the highest bidder. People know this and accept bribes in secret. How does this relate to the world of modern business? Although goods and services may be sold to the highest bidder, these are not verdicts of rightness or fairness. Treating the poor fairly and rightly means not taking advantage of them by bribing officials, judges, or even corporate employees.

Proverbs 17:9 says that covering an offense fosters love. How far does this go? Hiding sin does no one any favors. However, there is a process with the church for handling offenses.  (Matthew 15:15-17) This proverb most likely points to the restoration of a fellow believer - only the minimum exposure unless there is brazen defiance, enabling restoration for those who repent.

Proverbs 17:13 perhaps overstates the duration of the consequences of evil, by saying it will never leave the house of the one who repays evil for good. According to the law of Moses, God visits the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third or fourth generation. (Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9)

Proverbs 17:16 asks a rhetorical question. Money can buy counselors and mentoring, but the fool cannot grasp what he gets from them. He just recognizes their product as a tool for success. But see 17:28.

Proverbs 17:17 The friend who loves at all times is of course Jesus. (Ephesians 2:13)

Proverbs 17:19 seems puzzling at first. Why would building a high gate  invite destruction? Two thoughts. First, perhaps it advertises something of value, inviting attack. More likely, in the context of quarreling, it means that someone who cannot be reasoned with but only continually argues  and fights, and does not accept correction or the truths of God that others bring (I.e., a fool), will ultimately reap destruction.

Proverbs 17:24 A fool looks for something other than the wisdom God offers, and will search the entire earth to find something that satisfies. They won’t find it, either in earthly treasure or other religions or philosophies. What they will find  instead is that God is there as well. (Job 28:20-24)

Proverbs 17:28 Why would a fool want to be thought wise and discerning? There is a hint that he is not totally foolish if he perceives advantage in being so perceived by others. Not that he is suddenly wise, but maybe there is hope he will thus turn.