Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: More Proverbs of Wise Living, Proverbs 15:11-17

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Proverbs 15:11–17

[11] Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;

how much more the hearts of the children of man!

[12] A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

[13] A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

[14] The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

[15] All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

[16] Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

[17] Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it. (ESV)

More Proverbs of Wise Living

v.11 “Abaddon" is a proper noun meaning "destruction." "Sheol" is the Jewish underworld and represents death and the grave. Abaddon is often paired with death and the grave in Scripture. This is a proverb dealing with the theme of the end of temporal life and what lies beyond it. These things are an open book to God, which humans can only know by what He has chosen to reveal to us in His Word. This shows us God's perfect knowledge of all things (omniscience). Since God knows all these things, He also knows the condition of the human heart. Thinking of God's knowledge of what is in our hearts and his knowledge of what lies beyond death makes us think about the final judgment when the contents of those hearts are exposed. A believer's heart has been cleansed and renewed by the Holy Spirit; therefore, he need not fear the last day.

v.12 Why do scoffers not like to be corrected? Why do mockers not consult wise people? Because they hold Divine Wisdom in contempt and know that the Wise will attempt to correct their behavior and save them from destruction. To the Wise, this seems foolish, and it is! This is the definition of being hard of heart.

v.13-15 Verses 13-15 are tied together by the word "heart," while verses 15-17 are connected by the word "good." In verses 13-15, truths about the inward state of a person and how they affect his intellectual and emotional life are stated. Having a good disposition makes one cheerful. The heart of an intelligent God-fearing person seeks knowledge. A cheerful heart, that is to say, a heart that has spiritual joy because of God's grace toward him has a bounty upon which to feast. Contrast this with a depressed person who is crushed by the weight of his sorrow and those who are oppressed and retain bitterness inside. The fool, who alienates his heart from Wisdom, grazes upon his own stupidity as well as feeds upon the stupidity of others. For a literal illustration of this, read about the madness of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. Contrast this with the bounty with which God feeds the Wise. In the Old Testament, God provided literal feast days for the worshiping congregation: Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Booths. God also provides the believer with continuous sustenance, our “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), an overflowing cup (Psalm 23:5), and the very body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-32; John 6; Revelation 19:6-9).

v.16-17 These verses build upon the last line of the previous verse. Prosperity can be a mixed blessing. Those with much can have much trouble without God in their lives – either now but especially the potential for eternal damnation. It is better to be poor in material wealth and rich in a relationship with God by grace. Material wealth is temporary, but the love of God is eternal.