UPON THE INTENT (8.34)
Blessed is the man that heareth me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
Another trait of those who “hear” wisdom’s call in the highest sense is that they are intent upon hearing it. They hear it intentionally, with purpose and desire, showing earnest and eager attention.1
This commendable spirit is here described metaphorically as “watching daily at [wisdom’s] gates” and “waiting at the posts of [wisdom’s] doors.” An alternative translation reads, “Happy are those who listen to me, who are present every day at my door and who keep vigil at the entrance of my house.”2
[This includes] something much more than allowing ourselves by force of custom to be found where wisdom is discoursed, “putting in an appearance” at the sanctuary. It implies an earnest heedfulness of spirit; a diligent, intelligent, patient inquiry of the soul; a hungering of the heart for the saving truth of the living God.3
If we have no heart for instruction when opening our Bibles in private or gathering with our family or in front of a pulpit, how can we imagine that we are truly saved, and that God’s blessing rests upon us?
UPON THE COMPASSIONATE (14.21)
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth:
But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Relatively few people would admit to despising or hating their neighbors, even while they do nothing to inquire of their well-being or to relieve their distress. The Hebrew poetic parallelism of this verse suggests that a total absence of practical benevolence toward our fellow man, especially in the most needy cases, marks one as wicked. It is not just that he “sinneth” (AV), but that he “is a sinner” (ESV). The same term in the same grammatical form is used five times in Proverbs and is contrasted with a just or righteous man (e.g., 11.31; 13.22).
To have “mercy on the poor” is to give them what they need, supplying “the necessities of life.” “Blessed is he who is generous to the poor” (14.21 ESV). The Hebrew verb can be translated literally, “is kind” or “shows compassion.”4 “Compassion” (from the Latin, to suffer with) is a sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a [sincere] desire to alleviate it.5 This trait is highly praised throughout the Bible (Deut 15.7-11; Prov 19.17; Acts 20.35; 1 John 3.17).
The compassionate man, freed from selfishness and greed, and ruled by a sincere love and concern for his fellow, is here assured of God’s favor. Has grace made you deeply compassionate? How can you excel practically in this part of godliness? Does it thrill your heart to anticipate the day when you will be moved, always and only, by perfect and unselfish love?
UPON THE BELIEVING (16.20)
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Some interpreters understand this couplet as a contrast (e.g., Matthew Henry). Spurgeon and I disagree and take it as a poetic complimentary parallel (suggested by “and”). The first line is a statement; the second, an explanation. In the last part of each line, finding good and happiness (having the Lord’s benediction) amount to the same thing; it is to be blessed now and for eternity.
We can draw a conclusion from this interpretation concerning the first part of each line. Handling a matter wisely is linked somehow with trusting in the LORD. While in some biblical contexts, “wisdom” may mean nothing more than skilled craftsmanship, in Proverbs it has the connotation of skill in godly living. This makes the relationship clear. Spurgeon says succinctly, “The true way to handle a matter wisely is to trust in the Lord.”6
Unconverted men of worldly success, though universally praised in this life for their intelligence, foresight, and talent, will be seen on Judgment Day to have managed their affairs most foolishly after all (Luke 12.16-21).
“Thou fool,” God said to the man who decided to retire because he had become independently wealthy, but he was “not rich towards God.”
Without faith, luxurious indulgence may seem very appealing. The covetous, unbelieving man rationalizes, “I earned it; it is mine. What is wrong with my spending it all on myself and my own pleasure?” Surely this is how very many Americans think about their retirement years.
This is not how faith speaks. “See how God has enabled me to work, and look how much He has blessed my labors! My Master has entrusted me with so much! How can I continue serving Him and investing His treasures where they might most glorify Him and help people?” That is to handle matters wisely, and we think and live like this only by trusting in the Lord. Again, Judgment Day will show the true value of each man’s life. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in,” etc. (Matt 12.34-35).
UPON THE CONSISTENT (20.7)
The just man walketh in his integrity:
His children are blessed after him.
The previous verse (20.6) observes that most people have quite a good opinion about themselves and are not ashamed to say so, but the ones who are truly faithful are scarce.
That rare man is further characterized here as “just” or righteous. By definition he is one who “walketh in his integrity,” a figurative expression for habitually, consistently doing the right thing. The literal sense of the Hebrew word translated “integrity” is completeness.7 Here it has the sense of “innocence, i.e., a state or condition of moral goodness in a life, blamelessness, with a focus of not having guilt or sin.”8 While there is no absolutely sinless man on earth (Prov 7.20), there are blameless men of integrity who stand out from others (Psa 7.8; Luke 1.6; 1 Tim 3.1-2, etc.).
Technically, the benediction is pronounced upon his children who come after him, or the sense may be, who follow him (LEB), that is, follow his godly example. Clearly this implies that he is blessed, too.
Integrity means being as righteous on the inside as you are on the outside, and conducting yourself by the same moral standards in private as you do in public.
A pastor preached a sermon on honesty one Sunday. On Monday morning he took the bus to get to his office. He paid the fare, and the bus driver gave him back too much change. During the rest of the journey, the pastor was rationalizing how God had provided him with some extra money he needed for the week. But he just could not live with himself, and before he got off the bus he said to the driver, “You have made a mistake. You’ve given me too much change.” And he proceeded to give him back the extra money. The driver smiled and said, “There was no mistake. I was at your church yesterday and heard you preach on honesty. So I decided9 to put you to a test this morning.”
UPON THE CAUTIOUS (28.14)
Happy is the man that feareth alway:
But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Surprisingly, this seventh statement of benediction in Proverbs praises a certain kind of fear—a fear of sinning. This is especially praiseworthy as a constant part of a man’s character, to be “in the fear of the Lord all day long” (23.17). True and strong faith makes a man God-conscious, continually in awe of the divine scrutiny, and afraid of His disapproval and the chastening rod (Prov 5.21; cf. Gen 39.9).
This is contrasted with the sinner’s corresponding disregard of God’s revealed will and the pangs of conscience. Deep down a fool may sense that he is about to do something very wrong, but instead of yielding to the painful reflection and turning back, he “hardens his heart” and does it anyway—a very troubling sign.
Do you remember teenager Billy Flynn who confessed in court to shooting Greg Smart in the head with a .38 caliber pistol in a conspiracy with Pam (Greg’s wife and Billy’s teacher) and a few high school buddies in Derry, New Hampshire? His disgusting irreverence in the 1990 murder made an indelible impression on my soul.
In Billy’s riveting testimony as he knelt before the jury, showing them the way that it happened with Greg that night, he said, “I cocked the hammer back and pointed the gun at his head,” he said, nearly whispering, his head bowed. “I just stood there . . . for a hundred years, it seemed like.” “I said, ‘God, forgive me.’ . . . I10 pulled the trigger.”
When deliberate sinning becomes a habit, even in outrageous instances of immorality, the conscience becomes seared, God’s patience eventually expires, and the reprobate finally goes to his well-deserved ruin.
It is no wonder that the consistently God-fearing man is declared happy! He is in the highway of holiness and the pathway of true prosperity.
So what kind of a man are you, spiritually, morally, practically? Wise, faithful, intent upon becoming more wise, compassionate, trusting in the Lord enough to do things His way? Do you live circumspectly, consistently cautious to avoid offending God, and trying hard to please Him in everything you think, say and do? The benediction of Proverbs rests upon this kind of man, and no other. May we have grace to be so blessed, and to excel in these virtues, to the glory of God. Amen.
Notes:
1 Concise Oxford English Dictionary.
2 FRCL quoted in UBS handbook on Proverbs.
3 The Pulpit Commentary, in loc.
4 Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible.
5 COED.
6 Morning and Evening, Evening, May 5.
7 BDB Lexicon.
8 DBL Hebrew, #9448.
9 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, “Integrity.”
10 http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/family/smart/15.html, accessed 14 Nov 2012.
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