Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
This kind of eloquence is more than a “fluency of speech.” It doesn’t come from “kissing the Blarney Stone”, as the Irish jokingly affirm. It has a mysterious quality. It is a gift, not a human attainment. Wisdom and eloquence must be united to add learning to the lips and health to the bones. There is hardly an error or heresy that has not been made acceptable to many by a perverted eloquence.
The thread of “good words and the blessing they bring” runs through all these verses and gives them a “sweet” fragrance. Alexander Maclaren called these verses, “A Bundle of Proverbs.” Read them over a few times and note this sweet connection. “Religion without head is fire without wood.” We treat 21-22 today.
1. A Demonstrable Truth: Happy (How blest) is he who gives heed to instruction and to the Lord. The first part of the proverb states the Truth. He that handleth a matter wisely. The second part tells how it was done, by Trusting. Whoso trusteth in the Lord. How simply, yet clearly, are we shown the vital link between efficiency and faith! Proverbs give no encouragement to the lazy and careless in any endeavour. “He that believes God for the event, must believe Him for the means also.” If there is to be a sure harvest, you must make a sure sowing!
Nothing is more severely, and more frequently, treated in this Book, than Pride. “What more vivid exposition of these Proverbs is needed, than our own ruined condition” (Bridges). Was it because Solomon himself was so severely tempted to pride, as well he might be in view of all his accomplishments?
There are By-ways where all travel occasionally, but the Highway is the road on which a person is most commonly found. We all are travelers, pilgrims, on this Road, but in which direction are you moving, to Life or to Death?
At first sight this verse seems a repeat of others (3:14; 8:10-11, 19), but notice the phrase, How much better than. Here the obtaining of wisdom and understanding are not only better, but better beyond the greatest wealth! It suggests a wonder at the inequality of value. How few really believe that this understanding is rather to be chosen than silver! The verb to get, in both places, means to acquire, sometimes to buy, and clearly indicates that it is something requiring specific effort, and is a matter for definite choice.
Great has been the power of kings! Life and death are in their hands! The Manual for Kings can apply to military dictators or religious fanatics today. Such thrones are sitting on moral dynamite! “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled….” (Acts 24:25).
Verses 10-15 have been called A Manual for Kings and Model Monarchs. Perhaps Solomon is referring to himself, and what he knows his duty to be. If this is a general application to all kings, then, these verses set out what kings ought to be, what in fact God demands of them. It is God’s ideal for kings (Deut. 17:18-20). The Bible nowhere teaches that kings are without fault. Rather, they are peculiarly under authority (Ps. 72:1-4). Since, however, most of us have some power that can give happiness or hurt to others, these verses can apply to us ordinary mortals too!
1. God’s Riches: Better is little with righteousness, than great revenues without right. We have had this proverb, in substance, before. Treasures with trouble (15:16) have become revenues without right (16:8). The one dealt with material wellness, while this one stresses the spiritual, what is right! It seems too obvious to need much illustration. Few, however, actually possess great revenues, but that desire is still insatiable in the human breast. Every new Casino or lottery has crowds lining up to “try for the millions”. We blindly go on thinking that there will be true peace and contentment at the end of the golden rainbow. “The treasures of wickedness will be found treasures of wrath eternal,” is Bridges’ sober reminder. When will we learn this simple, yet oft repeated warning? “Far better to have little than to have much accompanied by guilt and fear” (Alden).
This is a beautiful verse, is it not? From “fear” we now move to the best of all thoughts, namely, that of a life pleasing to God. It should be easy and very pleasant to comment on such a theme. In contrast, it was quite difficult to write the previous page on the fear of the Lord, but just the same, there is a vital connection between the two verses. The man or woman who fears God aright need fear no fiend, no foe, or no falsity. Here is sweet encouragement to a life of godly fearlessness. When we consult God’s wishes, not our own or other people’s, we can gladly obey the divine will. Only when this is our Supreme Good, will we truly “please” ourselves as well (2 Cor. 4:10-12).