Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Words Have Consequences, Proverbs 12:5-9

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Proverbs 12:5–9

[5] The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

[6] The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

[7] The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

[8] A man is commended according to his good sense,

but one of twisted mind is despised.

[9] Better to be lowly and have a servant

than to play the great man and lack bread. (ESV)

Words Have Consequences

Verses five through seven are linked by the words "wicked people." These three proverbs begin by describing the nature of the words of the wicked and the righteous, progressing to the effect of their words, to their final condition, either in everlasting paradise or hell.

v.5 Advice can be either righteous or deceptive. When one receives counsel, it is up to the one being counseled to weigh the advice given to discern if it is righteous or wicked. One of the most important criteria when weighing advice is whether the counsel given comes from Godly or sinful motives. The best scale upon which to weigh advice is the Word of God, especially the inspired book of Proverbs, which is a manual of righteousness in practice.

v.6 This verse describes the “why” to verse five’s “who.” Counsel originating from a wicked source with sinful intent are words that float about looking for ears to make bleed. Such advice is to be avoided because it is an ambush waiting to deceive the righteous into falling into its snare by following it. Conversely, the advice of a righteous person serves others with Godly counsel. Not only this, but the mouth of the upright also serves its master well—his own wise words can save him from a perilous situation. The Christian will be remembered for his good counsel and will escape the punishment awaiting those who used their words for malicious or self-serving intent.

v.7 In this concluding verse concerning righteous and wicked words, it is once more noted that wicked people have no eternal security (review Proverbs 12:3). The righteous, however, can depend on the eternal blessings of God for themselves and their posterity. Recall the words of Jesus near the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27 ESV). The house of the righteous, built on the solid foundation of Christ, will stand. The one whose words are upright teaches his family with the same sage counsel, building their family estate on the bedrock of Christ, thus passing down God's Wisdom.

v.8 One receives praise or a bad reputation based on the content of his character, as evidenced by what comes out of his mouth. Only God knows what is in the heart. Yet humans can form a good judgment about a person's character by what that person says.

v.9 This verse begins another trio, this time dealing with the concerns of the working class. Verse nine is a proverb against hypocrisy. Our human egos can be self-destructive, even to the point of depriving one of the simple basic needs of life, like bread.