Questions from the Scripture text: What do who inherit (Proverbs 14:18a)? With what are whom crowned (verse 18b)? Who will be made to bow before whom (Proverbs 14:19a)? And where (verse 19b)? Who is hated by whom (Proverbs 14:20a)? But who has many friends (verse 20b)? What does the despiser of the neighbor do (Proverbs 14:21a)? But who is the happy one in verse 21b? Who go astray (Proverbs 14:22a)? To whom do covenant love and faithfulness belong (verse 22b)? To what does labor lead (Proverbs 14:23a)? To what does idle chatter lead (verse 23b)? Who are crowned with what (Proverbs 14:24a)? But who are publicly known in what way (verse 24b)?
Why is it dangerous to seek the favor of men? Proverbs 14:18–24 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that men do not reward what pleases God, so we must aim only at pleasing Him and not them.
The crowning of the wise (Proverbs 14:18-19; Proverbs 14:23-24). Wisdom makes one truly royal/noble. The evil/wicked will be made to bow (Proverbs 14:19) before those careful thinkers who are crowned with knowledge (Proverbs 14:18). And the folly of fools will dress them in shameful poverty (Proverbs 14:23) before those diligently laboring wise who are crowned with riches (Proverbs 14:24).
But the ultimately true reality of Proverbs 14:18-19/Proverbs 14:23-24 is often, temporarily contradicted in this sinful world. Proverbs 14:21a makes sure that we know that Proverbs 14:20 is describing sin, rather than commending people for being rich. We must live by faith, because the wicked are not yet bowing. For now, the world tends to respond not to wisdom but to wealth.
But Proverbs 14:21b is true, regardless of how the world currently acts. Blessedness, happiness, comes to the merciful, because we are before the face of God. “Mercy and truth” in Proverbs 14:22b is “ḳessed and emmet,” the two attributes that often summarize the whole of the glorious and good character of God. With the merciful, God is merciful (cf. Psalm 18:25; Matthew 5:7). What do you spend your thoughts devising? What the flesh desires (Proverbs 14:22a), or what God directs (verse 22b)?
We must not live by how men respond to us, but by how the Scripture tells us that God responds to us. Prudence, mercy, devising good, diligence… these are attributes of those who are not trying to curry favor with men, but rather aiming to please God.
What is your decision-making process for exercising prudence? To what poor do you show mercy? What do you spend your thoughts figuring out how to do? Where do your habits fall, on the scale from diligent labor to idle chatter?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word, which reminds us that You Yourself are the rewarder of those who seek You. Keep us from seeking the favor of men, and by Your, Spirit, give us to live by that wisdom that receives its crown from You at the last, we ask through Christ, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”
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