Proverbs 12-13

Proverbs 12 

Proverbs 12 is not just about good vs. evil or good vs. foolish, but about God’s ways vs. self and the world’s ways. (1 John 2:16) 

Proverbs 12:1 We grow in virtue and self-discipline through many individual intentions and choices.

Proverbs 12:4 reference to a wife of noble character is further explained in 31:10-31.

There are several implicit references to the Pentateuch.

Proverbs 12:6 Lying in wait for blood refers to Cain ambushing Abel. (Genesis 4:8) 

Proverbs 12:10 Care for animals’ needs refers to the charge given Adam (Genesis 1:29).

Proverbs 12:11 Working the land for food reference to God’s provision for Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:29, 3:17-19) 

Proverbs 12:17 Bearing false witness refers back to the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16)

Proverbs 12:28 Immortality would have been the result of eating the fruit of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22) 

Speech is addressed is several verses in Proverbs 12:

• 12: 6  The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright  will deliver them.
• 13  An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
• 14  A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,
• 17 He who speaks truth tells what is right, but a false witness, deceit.
• 18  There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• 19  Truthful lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment.
• 22  Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
• 25  Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. 

There seem to be two major themes in these verses. (1) There are both earthly and spiritual consequences for lying and evil words - failure on earth and judgment by God. (2) Good words and  uplifting truth result in both earthly blessing (healing, gladness, satisfaction) and eternal blessing, for preaching the truth of gospel.

Do fools reject evidence plus logic because they don’t understand, or because they don’t care? (12:15) In other words, is being foolish a condition of the mind, an inability to follow and grasp propositional content, or a condition of the heart, a predisposition to self-centeredness with disregard for eternal or moral values? Two people can see the same circumstances, with one seeing God at work and the other seeing meaningless, random events. For example, in the problem of pain, the  godly person sees divine intervention to bring discipline or revelation (as in Job), while another questions how a good and loving God could allow such things to happen. Questioning does not make a person a fool, but deciding God doesn’t exist does.  (Isaiah 22:13,  56:12;  1 Corinthians 15:32)

Proverbs 13

Proverbs 13:2-12  touches on the consequences of a lack of self-control

Proverbs 13:13-25 deals with actions and consequences.

Is Proverbs descriptive or prescriptive? Is being wise, righteous, foolish, or evil something one simply is, or one chooses to be? If the latter, and one wants to choose a character attribute that defines them, Proverbs simply says to do certain things. It is not a matter of putting on an act. If we do these things, we become what they are the fruit of. It might seem the reverse of a tree bearing fruit, it is the (admittedly absurd) picture of gathering apples together, and slowly an apple tree is built. Except that an apple tree does sprout from apple seeds, so it is not so absurd after all. Although Proverbs describes what a wise person or fool does, one can become that kind of person by doing these things. It goes both ways. A wise person who does things that are foolish eventually becomes a fool. But a wicked person who turns to the Lord can become righteous and do righteous acts, especially in the New Testament. Jesus offers not just forgiveness of sins, but redemption and a whole new life. The fruit of that new life is described herein.

Proverbs 13:1,10,13-16,18,20 deal with wisdom and how we respond to it. Respecting and receiving counsel or discipline from parent, others (as one ages), or the word of God brings life, favor, and wisdom. The fountain of (eternal) life is ultimately in God (Psalm …), but in practical terms, wisdom brings life-giving advice.

Proverbs 13:1,16, 19, 20. The fool in one of these dimensions ultimately pays the price for not listening. His life is hard. Fools will not listen to rebuke, but display their folly for all to see, because to them turning away from evil is a horrible thought. And those who hang around them will also suffer harm.

Proverbs 13:5, 6, 9, 22, 25 contrast the righteous to the wicked. Wickedness is not described in great detail, just that a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully, in contrast to hating falsehood. (13:5) The fruit of wickedness is described in his lamp going out, most likely meaning he does not rejoice. (13:9) And he lacks basic necessities and has nothing to leave his children. What is the difference between fools and the wicked?  We might think fools are just ignorant while the wicked are evil by decision. But in the end, fools ignore wisdom, righteousness, advice, discipline, and ultimately God’s dealing in their life, so the outcome is the same. Either could repent and turn to the Lord. Perhaps the one difference is that the wicked have made a determined decision not to, while fools have not made that decision yet, but that is the road they are on.

Proverbs 13:1, 18, 24  Verses dealing with discipline & children’s training parallel 3:11-12.  (See also Hebrews 12:4-13.). It is wise to accept discipline and learn from it. Fathers are admonished to discipline their sons diligently.

Food for thought 

Proverbs 13:23 God provides food for the poor via unplowed, fallow ground, presumably through His spiritual touch, but the wicked who practice injustice steal even this provision from them. What awaits them in eternity?