We continue in the Proverbs of Solomon today (Solomon is the author until chapter 30, and there may only be one new section heading between now and then).  A [son] who loves [his father's] discipline loves [his father's] knowledge.  Discipline is one of the ways in which we learn from our parents, and hopefully we learn those lessons early so that we don't have to learn by harsher methods used by those in authority over us as adults (beatings, fines, or imprisonment, or even the death penalty).  A [son] who hates [his father's] correction is stupid.  I have a feeling this is Solomon saying this directly to his son that he has in mind, which is why I took some liberty with the parts that you see in brackets--making it speak directly of the relationship between Solomon as father and his son Rehoboam (who this was probably written to, as he was the one that was presumed to be heir to the throne of David).

Once again, we see the general principle that right living leads to peace with God and God's favor and blessings being poured out on you.  However, the evil man is condemned, is not at peace, cannot rest well, and is afflicted by both himself (his own conscience) and the LORD.

Solomon says that no one has a sure and steady foundation that they have built upon wickedness.  Such a man is like the man who built his house on the sand in Jesus' parable of the two foundations.  It is the righteous man who built his house on the Rock, and when the rains came and winds blew and waves crashed against that house, the house of the wicked man fell with a great crash, but the house of the wise and righteous man stood firm on the foundation.  It was built on the Rock (that is Christ).

What seems like a change of topic here, Solomon tells his son that if he is wise, he will find a good wife for himself.  I think Solomon has in mind all the wives and concubines that he married that were a source of temptation for him and led him into all kinds of evil.  This was foolish.  Solomon knows that the heart of his son will also be vulnerable to the influences of the one that he marries (and Solomon is telling him to only marry one woman here).  Make sure that person is a good and godly woman who will help lead you into righteousness and not wickedness, that will encourage you to be wise, and not foolish.  Such a woman is like a crown that adorns the head of a king for the man who desires to lead his household according to God's plan.  However, if his wife acts in ways that are shameful and deplorable it will make everything that seemed good about him feel like it is rotting from the inside out (and probably will "stink" like rottenness and dead man's bones too).

The wicked man speaks of being excited for their next "kill" whether that is to physically draw blood or to assassinate someone's character and reputation.  They brag about such things like it is a feather in their cap or a notch in their belt.  The mouth of the upright delivers them.  I know that is true, but it is one of those things that doesn't make sense.  The evil people plot to do harm with all kinds of violence and weapons, yet it is the prayers and praises of God's people that defend them.  Just look at Paul and Silas when they were beaten and then thrown in jail without a trial in Phillipi.  The LORD came and shook the prison and opened all the cell doors in the midst of their singing praises to God and praying to Him.  It was unmistakable that the LORD saved them and led to all the prisoners staying in their cells even after the doors were flung open by the shaking that the LORD sent.

The wicked man loses power or influence or dies and is usually forgotten. Since this doesn't always happen in this life, I think this points to a greater truth in the coming kingdom that God will cause all the wicked people and their wicked deeds (and even the failures of the righteous) to be forgotten so that we only remember Him and His perfect creation of the New Heavens and the New Earth.  This happens from time to time in this earth, but we know plenty of wicked people who have had monuments built to encourage people to be like them, though people look at them to remember what to avoid--Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and other evil men come to mind.  They are not forgotten, but, one day, they will be.  In that day, only the deeds of the LORD will be retold throughout all time.  It is His "house" that He has established that will stand forever and ever.

​A wise man acts in a way that leads to commendation, but a foolish man acts in such a way that his name and actions are despised.  People often won't even speak the name of the wicked person, yet a good man need not sing his own praises, for everyone else will speak well of him to everyone else.

It is foolish to think too highly of oneself, even if you are in the position like Solomon of king of the largest, richest, and most powerful empire in the world at the time.  It is better to view yourself as God's humble servant as your Master will fully take care of your provision and protection than to imagine yourself as your own master and to be shown by God that you cannot provide for yourself or take care of your own problems.  There was a direct connection at the time of Solomon (and there still should be today) that the righteous were taken care of by God, and if there was any need within their community, they took care of each other.  The others who were cast out of that community because of their wickedness went hungry and had no social safety net because it was God's hope that their empty stomachs would encourage them to repent and turn back to both faith and obedience.

​The righteous man is kind to the innocent, including animals.  However, the wicked man is cruel to defenseless people and animals.  This is not talking about hunting for food, but instead probably speaks of the psychopathic person who "enjoys" abusing animals as much as they can "enjoy" anything as the pleasure-center of their brain is usually broken and they feel "numb," feeling neither pain nor pleasure.  They then move on to abusing other victims--children, women, and maybe even graduating to be serial rapists and serial killers.  Often such people are described as "pure evil" or "evil incarnate" and may even be described as "soulless" by some.  It is as if they have no conscience Maybe this is an extreme example, but I think it's probably what Solomon has in mind here.  Those who abuse animals, children, women, the disabled, the elderly, and other such innocent, defenseless people are wicked and evil.

The diligent worker should receive enough from his work to feed himself and his family, and then some to share with others.  The example here is given of a society that is agrarian where each man works his own land to feed himself and his family.  The wicked man is a sloth and a sluggard who doesn't even provide from himself, let alone his family, and tries to leech off of everyone else who had worked hard for what they have.  This man has usually wasted all of his money on what Solomon calls "worthless pursuits" (gambling, drugs, alcohol, women, and other fleeting moments of pleasure).  In the end, Solomon will later call this type of foolish behavior like trying to grasp and hold onto the wind.  There is nothing there to hold onto.  The wicked man then covets what the prudent man has and has worked hard for.  The fool feels entitled to it even though he has done nothing to work for it or earn it.  This often leads the lazy fool to turn to a life of stealing or living off of "government welfare" which in many ways is just legalized theft which takes from those who have worked to earn for themselves and their families and gives it to people who have not worked for it.  (Note that I'm not talking about charities where people willingly give out of the abundance that God gave them to help those with actual needs in times of crisis and might actually work to help promote the gospel in doing so--I'm talking about forced taxation and redistribution of wealth in a way that is godless, and I think Solomon would call it wicked).  And, no, I'm not saying all taxation is theft--there are plenty of places in the Bible where God commands His people to pay taxes or similar financial obligations like the required tithes and offerings that were paid in the theocratic Old Testament system that acted much like a system of taxes (though different).  That's another topic for another day, and probably lends itself to a Faith and Culture blog at some point where I can elaborate more on why charity is good, but in most cases a "welfare system" is bad.

We end this chapter with Solomon encouraging his son to seek good instead of searching for evil.  People almost always claim that evil just pops up out of nowhere and gets them by surprise, but their actions betray them (even if they don't realize it).  Next some advice from the wealthiest man who ever lived--don't put your trust and hope in your riches.  They will certainly fail you, even if you had all the money in all the world, it would not be enough to solve life's biggest problems that only God can fix.  The righteous man who puts his hope and trust in God can rest well and flourish because he knows God is big enough, strong enough, and good enough to handle everything.

Be a blessing to those in your household.  I would assume this is speaking to a son that worries his mother and father.  I think the picture here is that someone who is irresponsible with money and given into loose and wild living (which would bring trouble to the parents and other family members as they would always need to bail that person out of trouble) should expect no inheritance as the parents would be wise to not give money to such a person that would waste it on foolish choices, but also because that person probably drained the fortunes of various family members dry while they were alive.  For this reason, Solomon will say that the foolish person will end up the servant of the one who is wise.  The one who can't hold onto money will always be indebted to the one who has money that they can borrow from (assuming here that the rich person is rich because he is wise and manages his own money well).

The righteous will eat from the Tree of Life (that is Christ who gives us eternal life).  See the end of the book of Revelation where the Tree of Life and the River of Life await all those who are in Christ.  Whoever captures souls who were on their way to hell but helps them know how they can be saved and have eternal life is truly wise.  Investment in the eternal state of people is something worth the return on investment every single time.  It will never depreciate in value, and no one can steal that treasure away.  We do this not for ourselves, but because we are ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven, and we love to help people become citizens of the kingdom of heaven.

Last is a warning that we see the LORD give some rewards to the righteous here and now.  We don't have to wait to get our reward in heaven (though much of it is coming then).  If that's the case for us as righteous people, God certainly also knows those who are the wicked who refuse to repent and why should we think that all of their punishment and condemnation will come in hell and the lake of fire? Isn't it also possible that God will start judging them for some of their evil deeds in the here and now? It is more than possible.  Note that Solomon doesn't say that only good things happen to the righteous or that we should even expect good things to happen to the righteous.  We just shouldn't be surprised when the LORD shows favor to His children.  We also shouldn't be surprised when He shows even the smallest part of His wrath to His enemies.  It is your choice whether you want to be a part of the king's family or if you want to be part of the army that is fighting against Him.  To fight against Him is a losing proposition.  A wise person would surrender their lives to Him now and become a citizen of His kingdom and come under His favor and protection.

I doubt I need to remind you that pigs were the most unclean animals to the Jewish readers of these proverbs, and I would imagine that everyone else who read this understood that the Jewish people were not to come into contact with pigs.  So, it is the image of a pig that Solomon uses to talk about a woman without discretion.  You can put a ring in the pig's nose to make it look fancy, but it is still a pig.  In the same way, a person can dress themselves up however they want on the outside, but if their heart is ugly, they will lack true beauty--this goes for both men and women, though the text here is warning Solomon's son about women who do everything to make themselves look pretty on the outside but inside they are ugly.

The righteous man desires things that are not only for his own good, but also for the good of others.  If you know a good man or woman, listen to his or her vision because the LORD will give them vision that will be helpful to everyone.  However, those who follow after the wicked person are following them into the wrath that is prepared for them.  It is your choice whether God's blessings that spill out from the righteous person onto those around him or her, or if the curses of God spill over from the unrighteous person to those around him or her.

God's economy doesn't make sense to us.  It seems like those who are generous with God's money in the same way that God would be generous with it are entrusted with more of His money to be generous with, but those who are stingy and act like whatever they are stewards of belongs to them--even that will be taken from them.  See the parable of the talents and the parable of the minas that both teach this principle.  The stingy and selfish person will never have enough to be satisfied either.  That too is a curse.

You reap what you sow.  If you are a blessing to others, more than likely they will be a blessing to you in your time of need (though maybe not in the same quantity or quality, but the community as a whole will probably gather around you to support you if you have supported the community).  A person who is stingy often has no one to turn to in their time of need other than maybe to government entitlement programs, and that's not nearly the same.  Charity that comes from a heart that wants to help is very different than someone giving you money because you are entitled to that service.  There is blessing that comes both from giving and receiving charitable contributions.

If you have in abundance and hold back what your neighbor needs, you will rightly be called a "monster" or something worse.  While they don't have a right to covet your property and it doesn't belong to them by any stretch of the imagination, we're talking in this part of Proverbs about something that is a necessity--food.  If they are literally dying of hunger and thirst and you have food and water and you have the means to help them and won't, then you will probably be held accountable by both the courts on this earth and by the court of heaven for your depraved indifference.  However, Solomon says that if you have an abundance of grain (food), there is nothing wrong with selling it to make money.  Don't hoard it all, but don't also assume that you have to give away for free what cost you something.  Determine a fair price that person in need can pay (maybe you even barter with them in some way so that they feel like they are doing something useful, because that is good for their emotional and mental health too).  Do what is right and leave the rest up to God.  I think that's a general principle here.

There's not really a single thread to connect all these verses today, but we are going to talk about the connection between money and wisdom a couple of times.  First, Solomon discourages wise men from cosigning a loan or giving the collateral for a neighbor's loan.  It's not your loan and you end up on the hook if they default.  Also, if they can't afford to put down the collateral for the loan, they more than likely can't afford the loan.  It doesn't mean that you shouldn't help them, but don't put them in a situation where they are indebted, and you know they can't pay you back.  The person who hates even shaking hands in a pledge (I think we are still talking about borrowing money) will be more secure as he won't be enslaved to the one that he owes money to.

Solomon contrasts a gracious woman who gains honor and juxtaposes that with a violent man who has no honor but gains riches.  It is better to be less rich and to have honor than to be rich and have none.  Inner beauty that comes from good character for outshines a person with ugly character that is adorned with all kinds of riches.  Similarly, men should be kind (even though that is normally not thought of as a masculine trait).  Such a man benefits himself because in being kind to others, they will likely be kind to him in return and will watch out for him.  A cruel man however does himself harm because no one will look for the opportunity to be kind to him, and some (maybe many) will instead be looking for the change to "settle the score" and "get even."  You reap what you sow, greater than you sow and later than you sow.

On that line of thought, the wicked man earns deceptive wages.  That could mean that he lies, cheats and steals to earn it, but it could also mean that he thinks he has the money, but it's all going to disappear quickly because the LORD will not allow him to hold onto his ill-gotten gain.  The one who sows righteously has a sure reward (ultimately their reward is in heaven, and no one can steal that away).  Where are you laying up treasure for yourself?  Is it on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, or is your treasure laid up in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal?  Jesus asks this question to His disciples and then says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  It's not bad to make money here and now, but don't treasure the things of this world like the foolish worldly men that only live for this world.  All of that will one day be destroyed.

Those who are steadfast in righteousness (because the Spirit keeps them so) will inherit eternal life, but the one who practices and pursues evil will die.  This gets back to the fact that there are two kingdoms, two roads, two gates, and two destinations.  You can be a citizen of the kingdom of this world or a citizen of the kingdom of God.  You can't have dual citizenship and have a foot in each kingdom.  Your eternal life depends on your choice of which kingdom you belong to.  Those who are crooked are an abomination to the LORD (He hates their crooked actions) and they will face His judgment, but the blameless (they are blameless because He has made them that way) are His delight.  Certainly, no wicked or evil person will go unpunished, but those who are children of God and have been declared righteous will be delivered from the coming judgment and condemnation that we all know is coming and which is foretold by the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament authors.

The righteous man's wisdom is good for the entire community.  They all celebrate together when things go well for him.  The wicked man however should be a burden on the community of God's people (remember these words are written to the nation of Israel, they may not seem to ring true for Gentile nations and rulers), therefore, the congregation of God's people will rejoice when the wicked man dies and faces the LORD's judgment.  I wish we could look at the world today and say that we still see this proverb to be true, but it has turned on its head since the hearts of the rulers and the people in general seem to have been inverted.  Now the people rejoice when the righteous are kills, and they rejoice in the exploits of the wicked men that lead terrorist organizations.  That is a sad commentary on today's society that calls evil good and good evil.

It's still true though that the actions of one righteous man can exalt and bless an entire city or community.  Even an entire nation can be blessed by the wisdom and right living of one great man of God that walks and talks unlike those around him.  However, the wicked man's mouth will often bring about his own downfall and destruction.

Solomon now focuses in on the things that a wicked man says that leads to his ruin.  He belittles his neighbor, but the righteous man keeps silent.  Think of the saying, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."  That's basically what Solomon is going for here.  The wicked man also uses his mouth to slander and to gossip.  The wicked man can't keep a secret that was told to him in confidence, especially if sharing it will make someone else look bad.  The righteous man knows how to be someone people can trust and knows how to keep things secret.

Last, but not least in this section, Solomon speaks to the need for an abundance of wise counselors for the people and especially for their leaders.  Where there is no one to give wise counsel, the people will stumble and fall (maybe even perish), but there should be safety in an abundance of counselors as they should all be telling you the wisdom of the LORD and you can't ignore it when they all tell you the same truth, even if that truth is hard and not something you want to hear.  Don't be like the kings of Israel that sought "yes-men" for their counselors and to be their prophets.  Look for people that will tell you what God thinks and will give you good and wise advice.  This is the best thing for the leaders and the people they lead.

These verses will contrast the way of righteousness (those who are blameless) with the path taken by the wicked.  The blameless man keeps his way straight, but the wicked man falls by his own wickedness.  We've talked about that in the past whether that is him falling into the traps that he has set for others, or those he makes friends with turn against him, or those he plots evil against fight back, or the LORD Himself destroys the wicked man to get justice for his victims.

The LORD delivers and saves the righteous.  I read this for so many years before I tied this together with the fact that none of us are righteous on our own accord.  We are all the wicked person in the book of Proverbs until God transforms us and clothes us in the righteousness of Christ through the blook of Jesus.  The wicked man (called treacherous here) will be a slave who is captive to his own evil lusts and desires.  While it is true that the righteous are slaves to Christ as well, there is freedom from sin in Christ, but the wicked is a slave to sin.

​There is no hope for the wicked man when he dies.  His judgment and condemnation are sure.  Not even his wealth will remain as it will be given to another that will waste it and not appreciate it.  His wealth cannot save Him from God's justice.  None of us will be able to bribe the LORD (He would not take our bribes anyways).  Justice and judgment will come.  The righteous are delivered by the LORD to eternal life and all the eternal riches that belong to Christ will also belong to us.  We will be co-heirs with Him and reign with Him.  There is nothing that can take that hope and certainty of salvation away from us, because it is based off of the righteousness of Christ, and not our own righteousness that we are found acceptable and rewarded.

​The LORD doesn't just save us from trouble for eternal life, but He saves us in the here-and-now too.  He even keeps us from walking into temptation.  The wicked man however runs towards evil.  Just think of the Lord's Prayer here, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (or the evil one)."  That is not just something future, but something in the here and now that we are supposed to be praying for.

The godless, wicked man uses his words to destroy his neighbor, but it is through knowledge and wisdom that the righteous are delivered (remember that both knowledge and wisdom belong to the LORD).  There is a hidden contrast there that the righteous man does not use his words to harm his neighbor, but to edify him.  "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, My Rock and my Redeemer."

Chapter 11 continues the Proverbs of Solomon that started in Chapter 10.  Today, I'll just look at verses 1-4, which talk about integrity in our business dealings and other interactions with people.  Solomon first reminds his listeners and readers that the LORD hates dishonest gain that comes by way of people cheating their customers and neighbors.  In that time, they would use a balance where someone would tell you how much they wanted to buy of something by weight, and you as the shopkeeper had weights that you would put on one side of the balance and then you would let the grain or whatever else they were purchasing balance out with the weights.  However, the shopkeepers often had two different sets of weights--one that was true and accurate, and one that was meant for ripping their customers off, or they might have had two different sets of weights that were both to their advantage--one to rip off their suppliers and the other to rip off their customers.  The LORD hates dishonest weights and measures not just in business, but in all areas of life too, but we'll make that connection later when those situations come up in Proverbs and in the Prophets.

The next thing that Solomon reminds the people of is that pride is also an abomination to the LORD.  It is the character trait of the devil, not God.  The LORD opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and those who are proud will be humiliated by God, but those who humble themselves will be exalted by Him.  Jesus is the best example of this as He humbled Himself and will one day be highly exalted by the Father because His name will be above every other name that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue in heaven and on earth and under the earth will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  Jesus had all the reason to boast because He accomplished everything, but He simply said His job was to do the will of His Father who was in heaven.  He did not glorify Himself, but instead chose to glorify the Father.  We refuse to glorify ourselves and instead glorify the Father, Son, and Spirit.

Walking with integrity and being blameless in the eyes of both God and men is generally a great protection because you don't have look over your shoulder to wonder if you are going to get caught or if you are going to accidently rip the wrong person off.  If you treat everyone right to begin with then those who hate you will have to make up lies about you (like they did with Daniel and Joseph) and no one should believe them because you will be above reproach.  As we've seen with Joseph and Daniel, it doesn't always work out this way, and we have to trust the LORD to protect us from the schemes of wicked men when we have walked with integrity.  The wicked and crooked man that lies, cheats, steals and swindles people will one day get caught and it will lead to his own destruction.  Either someone will rip him off, he will get sued and have to pay a hefty fine and/or go to jail, or his life may be taken from him by those he made enemies with or by the state, depending on where he lives and if theft is a capital offense (it still is in certain parts of the world).  

No one can take his wealth with him when he dies, and no one will be able to bribe God with his material wealth.  Everything from this world will be destroyed by fire as we read about in 2 Peter 3:12--everything will melt with fervent heat.  All the unrighteous will stand before the LORD with nothing to hide who they are and what they have done.  The books will be opened up and the evidence will be presented.  No one will be able to argue with the one who is both Prosecutor and Judge.  The decision is already made, but everyone will have their day in court to hear the charges and the verdict.  However, the righteous man who has been declared righteous only because He has trusted in the completed work of Christ will be saved from death and condemnation.  We will receive all the good things that were meant as an inheritance for Jesus, but we will freely receive them as His Bride who gets an equal share of the infinite riches that are His.  Those who are foolish live for themselves and die an eternal death.  Those who are wise die to self, live for Christ and gain eternal and abundant life.  The choice is yours and is freely offered to you during the term of your natural life (no one knows exactly how long you have other than God).  Today, if He is calling to you, "Today is the day of salvation."  Do not reject the Spirit's call if he is calling to you.