Read Proverbs 22:10–16
Questions from the Scripture text: What does casting out a scoffer accomplish (Proverbs 22:10)? What does the man in Proverbs 22:11a love? What is on his lips (verse 11b)? What will happen to him (verse 11c)? What do the eyes of YHWH do (Proverbs 22:12a)? And what does He overthrow (verse 12b)? What types of things does the lazy man say (Proverbs 22:13)? To what does Proverbs 22:14a compare the mouth of an immoral woman? Who falls into it (verse 14b)? What is bound up where (Proverbs 22:15a)? What will drive it far from him (verse 15b)? What two things might a man do to increase himself (Proverbs 22:16)? What will come of him (verse 16b)?
Why do we need the rod of correction? Proverbs 22:10–16 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God blesses His discipline and instruction unto our deliverance from folly.
Proverbs 22:17 introduces the next section as “words of the wise.” This passage draws this large section of Proverbs draws to a close. And it does so with some warnings against the folly with which youth come into this world (Proverbs 22:15a).
The folly of graceless speech, Proverbs 22:10-12. Authorities are charged with maintaining peace. The fool doesn’t watch against contentious speech, but the authority does, and he casts the fool out (Proverbs 22:10). Even more, YHWH, the King of kings, will overthrow words that don’t come from the fear of God (Proverbs 22:12b).
On the other hand, when the heart has been transformed, so that it loves purity (Proverbs 22:11a), this flows from the lips with gracious words (verse 11b). The authority (in this case, the king) will be such a man’s friend (verse 11c). Even more, YHWH, the King of kings, will preserve him and his knowledge (Proverbs 22:12a). We need discipline and instruction to deliver us from the folly of graceless speech.
The folly of laziness and excuse-making, Proverbs 22:13. There is a great irony in Proverbs 22:13. We have already seen, several times, that laziness kills the lazy man. But the man in verse 13 adds the folly of excuse-making to the folly of his laziness. He can’t face his folly, so he comes up with an explanation in which his suicidal laziness is supposedly saving his life. We need discipline and instruction to deliver us from the follies of laziness and excuse-making.
The folly of indulging our desires, Proverbs 22:14-15. Falling for the strange/unauthorized (NKJ “immoral”) woman is a judgment from YHWH. The foolish man in Proverbs 22:14a goes in for the forbidden kiss, but the mouth opens wider and wider, and he falls in, plummeting to his death. It is an act of enmity to let someone get swallowed up (literally) by his sin. It is an act of love, however, to give that which is necessary to deliver a child from the folly that has bound his heart (Proverbs 22:15). We need discipline and instruction to deliver us from the folly of indulging our impulses and desires, and indeed from all other follies.
The folly of easy wealth, Proverbs 22:16. It may seem like the fastest way to increase yourself, to oppress the poor and favor the rich (Proverbs 22:16). But this is to show partiality and be judges with evil thoughts (cf. James 2:4). He who does this can be sure that judgment will be without mercy to him (cf. James 2:1–13). He will surely come to poverty (Proverbs 22:16b). We need discipline and instruction to deliver us from the folly of greed for easy wealth.
Of course, it is God Who delivers us. But, we can see from Proverbs 22:15, and the lead up to Proverbs 22:17, that He has appointed His discipline and instruction as means by which He delivers us—and especially our children—from the folly that is bound up in the heart (cf. Ephesians 6:4).
In what circumstances are you must susceptible to graceless speech? About what do you tend to make excuses? What desires are you tempted to carelessly indulge? How have you tried to take shortcuts to accumulate wealth? What has the Lord provided for your chastening? What has the Lord provided for your instruction? How are you providing your children with the rod of correction? How are you providing your children with the words of the wise?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving us the discipline and instruction that we need, in order to be delivered from our folly. Please make us faithful to provide our children with the discipline and instruction of the Lord. And, attend that discipline and instruction with Your grace, by Your Spirit, to grow them by the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP119I “According to Your Word, O LORD” or TPH119I “You Treated Your Servant with Grace”
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