Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl—Proverbs 19:25-29 Dealing With Fools II

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Proverbs 19:25–29

[25] Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

[26] He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and reproach.

[27] Cease to hear instruction, my son,

and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

[28] A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

[29] Condemnation is ready for scoffers,

and beating for the backs of fools. (ESV)

Dealing With Fools II

v.25 Correction of error can have a salutary effect not only for the one being corrected but for those who see him being corrected. The scoffer may not learn anything from his mistakes, even when they are pointed out or punished. The simple person who has yet to become rigid in his foolishness may well take the scoffer's unenviable position to heart and learn not to follow the same path. Contrasted with the scoffer and the simple is the wise man of understanding, who does not need physical punishment to draw his attention to foolish behavior—a verbal warning is enough for him. This proverb became a part of the English language through the Latin verbum sat sapienti, “a word to the wise.”

v.26 The fourth commandment: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” We say in Proverbs 15:20 how shameful it is to despise Godly parents. Here we see the ultimate breaking of this commandment—physical violence against one’s parents. In the Old Testament, such action was punishable by death (Exodus 21:15).

v.27 Why do we need to hear the Word of God frequently and repetitively? Human nature does not want to listen to the truth. This proverb warns the son of a Wise father that if you stop learning God's ways, you will stray away from them. We are not to have contempt for God's discipline since He does it as a loving parent: "For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and he flogs every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:6 Legacy Standard Bible. See also Hebrews 12:9-10.

v.28 This proverb deals with the eighth commandment “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Wicked people who maliciously break this commandment feed on evil, creating more of it to feed their hunger for chaos and pain.

v.29 This proverb shows us that one who cannot accept correction given for the purpose of changing their attitude and actions can only have their behavior curbed through punishment. This is not only true in the temporal realm, but ultimately punishments for unbelievers have been prepared for them on judgment day. Jesus said,

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (ESV).