Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: More Proverbs of Deceit and Faith, Proverbs 12:18-22

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Proverbs 12:18-22

[18] There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

[19] Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

[20] Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.

[21] No ill befalls the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

[22] Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,

but those who act faithfully are his delight. (ESV)

More Proverbs of Deceit and Faith

v.18 Verses eighteen and nineteen provide two more proverbs of the tongue. This verse connects to previous proverbs, warning us to think before we speak, considering the consequences of our words before we set them free to harm our neighbor or ourselves. Rash talk can cause harm even when our words are not intentionally evil or foolish, hence the admonition to listen to our internal voice before exercising our physical tongues. The words of the Wise, those who know God’s grace, bring healing rather than harm. Healing comes by the power of the Gospel through the Holy Spirit’s work, bringing healing and life to the troubled conscience through the forgiveness of sins (Proverbs 4:24l 15:4). The same Hebrew word for healing is used in prophecy of the promise and coming of the Messiah (Malachi 3:20). Jesus could heal simply by speaking (Matthew 8:8-9, 13; John 4:50-53; 11:43-44). Indeed, the universe was created by His speech (Genesis 1:1-31; John 1:1-4).

v.19 Continue the theme of wise tongues; this proverb places emphasis on the endurance of those who speak the truth. The purpose is to endure in a long-term perspective, focused on the life of the world to come rather than mere short-term worldly gains.

v.20 The word evil in this verse is translated in English as "trouble" in the next verse, connecting them. Here deceitfulness in the heart is contrasted with joy. The location of joy is left unsaid. Is it the joy of the heart of those who plan peace? Or is it joy in the hearts of your neighbor as a result of your peacemaking? Likely, it is both. Our peacemaking benefits our neighbor now, and our outward expression of love is a light to others of our hope in eternal life and salvation, which creates peacemaking. Jesus' incarnation and salvific work on the cross have brought peace to us, reconciling humanity to God (Luke 2:14, 29; 19:38; Romans 5:1, 10).

v.21 Literally, "complete disaster will not happen," often misleadingly translated as "no harm befalls a righteous person." Harm certainly falls upon believers and unbelievers alike in our broken, sin-filled world. The difference is the believer is robed in Christ's righteousness, and He promises "they will never perish" (John 10:27-28). God guards the faithful wise against the ultimate disaster of hell, which is everlasting separation from God and His grace. The wicked are not so and will face this unfathomable punishment for eternity.

v. 22 This is a proverb of encouragement to avoid that which is an abomination (literally "disgusting") to the Lord. Such proverbs are designed to discourage behavior that is often difficult for us to monitor in our lives. Some lies can be detected, but the crafty scoundrel can conceal them with great skill, and the lie can remain hidden indefinitely. So, we cannot always know who is telling the truth. God, who can see through all such wicked speech, promises His favor to the honest and truthful, even when mere mortals cannot recognize their honesty.