2025.08.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 16:16–19

Read Proverbs 16:16–19

Questions from the Scripture text: What is better than getting gold (Proverbs 16:16a)? What is better to choose than getting silver (verse 16b)? What safe route do the upright take (Proverbs 16:17a)? How does one preserve his soul (verse 17b)? What leads to destruction (Proverbs 16:18a)? What goes before a fall (verse 18b)? What sort of spirit is it better to have, with whom (Proverbs 16:19a)? What is it worse to do, with whom (verse 19b)? 

What are the prerequisites for godly speech? Proverbs 16:16–19 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that wisdom, uprightness, and humility are the prerequisites for godly speech.

This passage serves as an introduction to sections on good speech (Proverbs 16:20-24) and bad speech (Proverbs 16:25-30). Wisdom, uprightness, and humility are what produce good speech. 

Wisdom. Gold (Proverbs 16:16a) and silver (verse 16b) cannot purchase godliness or the skill of edifying speech. Producing such speech is, however, just one of the many blessings that wisdom and understanding can obtain. One may only come into proper use of his mouth by the fear of God, by the knowledge of the One Who made his mouth, and for Whom his mouth was made.

Uprightness. The highway was the level, straight, safe way. The upright always knows the path to take, because it is the path that is according to God’s character, God’s law, thus departing from evil (Proverbs 16:17a). In our sinfulness, it often seems to us like we might preserve ourselves through some deception, some manipulation, some wickedness. But this is not how to preserve our soul; the way to preserve our soul is to keep our way according to God’s Word (verse 17b). 

Humility. The lowliness here is both of heart and habit. One must have a humble spirit (Proverbs 16:19a), not a haughty one (Proverbs 16:18b). But this is more than just an inward disposition. It is expressed in the company that one keeps—with the lowly (Proverbs 16:19a), rather than with the proud (verse 19b). The world loves to be groupies of the proud. The wise, upright, godly ones prefer the company of the lowly. Thus, the godly escape the destruction that awaits the proud (Proverbs 16:18). 

Which do you work harder to obtain—financial wealth or the knowledge of God? When calculating what to do, do you focus on what’s right more than what seems like it might get results? How is it evident that you value a humble spirit, over those who seem to be better than others?

Sample prayer:  Lord, grant to us to know You, to live according to Your Word, and to Humble ourselves both before You and in our interactions with others, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP14 “Within His Heart the Fool Speaks” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”