Read Proverbs 19:8–12
Questions from the Scripture text: What may a man get (Proverbs 19:8a)? What does the man who gets this love? What may a man keep (verse 8b)? What does he find? What must happen to whom (Proverbs 19:9a)? What else will happen to whom else (verse 9b)? Who is not being fitted for luxury (Proverbs 19:10a)? Who is not being fitted to rule over princes (verse 10b)? What shows man’s discretion (Proverbs 19:11a)? And what displays his glory (verse 11b)? Whose wrath is like what (Proverbs 19:12a)? But what is his favor like (verse 12b)?
How does God prepare people do be fruitful and effective? Proverbs 19:8–12 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God prepares us for future service by shaping our hearts with Scripture.
This section on the importance of gaining wisdom is parallel to the previous section on the importance of gaining the right friends. As the last section began with the blessedness of gaining a wife (cf. Proverbs 18:22), this one begins with the blessedness of gaining wisdom (Proverbs 19:8). Literally, it's “he who gets heart,”—he who obtains the ability to have his thoughts and affections and desires and decisions governed well.
Why do we need a Scripture-controlled heart? What was true in Proverbs 19:5, against the oppressor, is true also as a warning against us in Proverbs 19:9. So, it is vitally important that you would have a heart that is controlled by the Bible, so that you do not end up being this false witness and this speaker of lies.
Another reason we need a Scripture-controlled heart is that it prepares us to be honored and honorable and useful. If you are a fool, you are fit to be a servant, rather than being prepared for, or fit for nobility (Proverbs 19:10a) or authority (verse 10b).
This is especially the case with one who is being prepared for the throne. One of the areas that is most important for having control over your heart is your anger that you would not be quick to anger (Proverbs 19:11a). Even if you're not a king, it is a very honorable and glorious, a noble and kingly, thing to do to overlook a transgression (verse 11b). And so, what a blessing it is to have this scripture-shaped heart where the Bible is forming your thoughts and your affections, your desires and your decisions—such that, when someone transgresses against you, by God's grace having shaped your heart, you are able to overlook that transgression!
This is a most important quality if you are a king, because the king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion (Proverbs 19:12a). Scripture often refers to the wrath of God as the roaring of a lion. Similarly, the king’s wrath should not be something that is out of control, or unmeasured, or coming in inappropriate times or displays. It is Christ-like, it is a proper imitation of God, for the king to exercise his wrath judiciously, selectively, effectively, when it is necessary. The king should be seeking to give favor, refreshing like dew on the grass (verse 12b).
And so, we need to have these scripture-shaped hearts. Few will be king in this life, but all believers will reign with the Lord Jesus forever and ever (cf. Revelation 5:10). And yet, it is the scripture-shaped heart that equips us for all of those good things for which the Lord is preparing us in the rest of our life. You don't know what God is preparing you for, but you do know how He prepares you for it: a Bible-shaped heart.
By the definition here, do you love your soul? How are you preparing your heart with Scripture? Based on how you are preparing, for what are you being fitted? When have you had opportunity to be kingly by overlooking transgression?
Sample prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word. We pray that You would give us Scripture-shaped hearts, that we might be prepared for whatever honor or service lies before us in Your providence. So we entrust ourselves to You and ask for the help of Your spirit in the Name of Your Son. Amen.
Suggested Songs: ARP11 “My Trust is in the Lord” or TPH456 “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!”
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