This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Cornerstone." Acts 4:11
Volume 12 * Number 2* January 8, 2012
Fear of Jehovah is The Beginning of Wisdom
(Taking a Close Look at Proverbs 6)
by B.J. Wilson
A proverb is a short, effective saying or statement, expressing practical wisdom in language such as: “a wise son makes a glad father.” Quite short, directly to the point and immediately understood with a lasting effect on all who hear or read it. King Solomon stair-stepped Proverbs in small groups, to connect, one-to-another, from the least to the greatest, eventually fulfilling and slightly changing the subject to a naturally following group.
Solomon begins the sixth chapter of Proverbs with an attack on co-signing for another’s debts. . . “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger” He makes it abundantly clear that co-signing a debt, either written or oral is a bad practice. If the lender demands a second-party surety the debtor’s ability to pay is either unknown or exceptionally poor. Solomon suggests, if the act has already finalized, do not put it off or sleep on it. Humble thyself. Go plead or beg to be free of the obligation as the young deer—roe--fled from the hunter or the bird from the fowler. –(Proverbs 6:1-5)
King Solomon, casually changing the subject from debt to inertia, uses the next six verses to decry laziness, laying in bed, over-sleeping; a habit that probably could be responsible for needing a co-signer. The father refers to his son as a sleeping sluggard, a quite distasteful term. He insists the common ant is an opposite comparison. The ant works without a chief or overseer; the ant knows when to begin to work and when to quit. Conversely, the sloth encourages others that indulge in it to such vices as are next enumerated. The sluggard may develop into a deceitful man, if that does not happen, the characteristics of the two are nearly allied, and their end is much the same.—(Proverbs 6:6-12)
Paul, writing to Timothy in his First Epistle, observes this same combination of character, and remarks that idlers are "tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not"
(see 1 Timothy 6:13).
Proverbs 6:12 begins with ‘A worthless person, a man of iniquity’, is he that walks with a perverse mouth. Here he refers to a man without a trade or occupation . . . worthless to God . . . worthless to mankind . . . worthless to self. A wicked man—habitual idleness—walks with a froward mouth, works with a slack hand. He subjoins the opposite fault, busybody, being reluctant of heart and mouth, which is often the effect of the former, because idleness is the mother of mischief. "Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness" were the source of Sodom's "iniquity" (Ezek 16:49). So it is with this man. . . . He pretends to be wise . . . fills his life with unimportant sayings and actions. . . speaks with his feet. . . teaches with his fingers . . . makes secret sign . . . to gain attention for himself; undercutting the rightful speaker . . . the mark of a deceitful and malignant man . . . winks with the eyes. A sign of craft, malice, complicity . . . a preverse mouth . . . Erring . . . obstinate in being wrong; cannot be relied on to tell the truth. Broken without remedy indicates deadly illness without any possibility of healing . . . death at a young age.—(Proverbs 6:12-15)
Proverbs 6:16-19, King Solomon uses much stronger language in relation to sin. God may love the world, yet there are things that God hates. These six/seven sins appear to be thoroughly repulsive to the Almighty God: Yes, seven are an abomination to Him. . . Haughty eyes are mentioned first . . . contemptuously proud, arrogant, showing great pride in self. . . . A lying tongue,--not only by speech--unbelievable, deceitful, without reason. Hands that shed innocent blood, . . . a court of law today would immediately name this the greater sin. Why not now? Because we are looking for salvation and any un-forgiven sin is guilt. . . . A heart that devises wicked plans, . . . a sin most prejudicial to man. . . . Feet that are swift in running to evil, . . . we see this frequently in court of law: out of the frying pan into the fire. . . . A false witness who speaks lies, can’t tell the truth even under oath. . . . And one who sows discord among brethren. . . . we have experienced this discord sin . . . Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. –(Proverbs 6:16-19)
The writer continues to encourage obedience to parents through verses 20 through 23. My son, keep your father's command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. Two immediate ancestors who want you to be successful even above themselves. . . the people you always go in time of trial . . . these two have lived through those teen years themselves and their early 20’s. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. 6:22 When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. . . . Even bad parents generally instruct their sons to do right; but good parents are chiefly meant (1 Sam 10:12). . . . The thought of Proverbs 3:3 is carried step further. The law of obedience, shall give safety to the traveler, when he sleeps or when he wakes—(Proverbs 6:20-23). . . . Children obey your parents in the law for this is right --(Ephesians 6:1)
King Solomon goes even further—Proverbs 6:23--with his obedience discourse as he mentions: the commandment is a lamp and the law is a light. The lamp is a source of light to a precise area, while a light may be compared to daylight; an all area light. This is intended to further separate sin and darkness from obedience. When you roam they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you. The words of Solomon plus the coaching of father and mother anticipate ladies of the night, painted and tainted and charming. He needs a warning, both day and night, against these temptations.
In Proverbs 6:30 King Solomon brings into view the difference between adultery and a much lesser crime, thievery; the case of a man who steals to satisfy his hunger. How can we know it is the sons? Because in verse 24 he mentions, ‘to keep you from the evil woman and her flattering voice, her fluttering eyelids. . . . He then gives a sample of what the harlot can and will do to the unsuspecting. . . . A harlot will reduce a man to a crust of bread. . . Solomon then begins to reason by asking a question . . . can a man walk on hot coals and not be seared? So is he that goes in to his neighbor’s wife . . . who walks upon live coals is burned thereby; so sure he that seduces his neighbor's wife shall be guilty. That is, he shall be punished. … Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. . . . King Solomon put a necessity rider to the sin . . . when he is hungry. A thief that steals due to hunger if caught he must repay sevenfold. An adulterer, conversely is never free of his sin. . . . How much more shall the adulterer not escape who gratuitously, and without any necessity of nature, violates his neighbors wife! For the remainder of the chapter we are told of the punishment. . . . He who does so lacks understanding . . . destroys his own soul . . . wounds and dishonor he will get . . . jealousy is a husbands fury . . . he will not spare vengeance . . accept no recompense . . . nor be appeased.
The Cornerstone
Published to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia
