Proverbs Chapter 21



In Jehovah's hand is here (chap. 21: 1-8) shown to be the heart, whether of the highest or of the least; then what pleases and displeases Him, with the issues, for the evil or for the good.

"The king's heart in Jehovah's hand [is] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

"Every way of a man [is] straight in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.

"To exercise justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

"A high look and a proud heart, the lamp (or, tillage) of the wicked [is] sin.

"The thoughts (or, plans) of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but every hasty one only to want.

"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a fleeting breath of them that seek death.

"The robbery of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do judgment.

"Very crooked [is] a guilty man's way; but [as for] the pure, his work [is] right." vv. 1-8.

Of all men a king's heart from his position and duty might instinctively seem reserved and inflexible, but who resisteth Him that secretly rules as He will, even in the worst of circumstances? He will reign righteously and for the largest blessing, when the world kingdom is taken. But even now the king's heart is in His hand whom he may not know, or disdain. Little as he thinks it, he subserves Him, as brooks of water the man who controls every rill for his gardens, his vineyards, or his fields. It is turned as He pleases.

It is natural to man as he is to count right every way of his, but the solemn truth for everyone is that Jehovah weighs not the acts only, but the heart. All things are naked and laid bare to His eyes with whom we have to do; let us never forget it.

Unless men be reprobate, they are apt to be religious after a sort and a measure; and their sacrifices are a resource too often for indulgence in sin. The sacrifice to God who gave Christ to suffer for our sins is a wholly different matter, the resting place of faith, and the start of holiness. To do judgment and justice flows from it, and is indeed acceptable to God if with faith; as sacrifice without faith is nauseous and presumptuous.

Haughty eyes, and a proud heart, how abhorrent to God and unbecoming in man! It is sin unequivocally; the tillage of the wicked, their business or their glory; their lamp or sinful field. The meek shall inherit the earth; Christ's time is their time. The present is the evil age.

Diligence, directed by thought or plan, tends to plenteousness, as haste destines everyone that so acts only to want; for haste leads to mistake, and mistake to loss, and loss to ruin.

On the other hand, the getting of treasure by a tongue of falsehood, even if it succeed for a while, as it may, ends in worse ruin, like the fleeting breath of those that seek death, happy neither here nor hereafter. Truly they seek death without knowing it.

Others, who are bolder than to deceive, resort to robbery in their wickedness; because they refuse to do judgment, their end is destruction. It will drag or sweep them away whence is no return. Christ is the only true and safe way; and we can now say He, the Son, is the way to the Father.

The guilty man's way is not evil only, but perverse or strange; for he does not stick at anything. The pure man, on the contrary, is upright in his work, carrying conscience with it, and pleasing God. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.

Next we have the vivid sketch of one who has to do with a helpmate whose wilful temper is the source of continual chagrin and shame. Yet the word of wisdom gives good counsel to relieve and comfort, notwithstanding such a calamity.

"Better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a contentious woman in a wide house [or, house of society].

"The soul of the wicked desireth evil, his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

`'When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

"The righteous considereth the house of the wicked; the wicked are overthrown to ruin.

"Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry and not be heard.

"A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement wrath.

"[It is] joy to the righteous to do justice, but destruction to the doers of iniquity." vv. 9-15.

A contentious woman is of necessity a trial to every member of the household, but most of all to her husband. The house may be roomy, but only jars follow her; and if visitors call, it is but to increase his pain. No better place is there for him than to find a corner in the housetop; there can quiet be found, and, for piety, access to the Highest.

The soul is the living man's centre; it is himself, the seat of his will. If this be unrenewed by grace, and therefore under the enemy's dominion, he has pleasure in evil, not only himself doing things worthy of death, but enjoying the evil of others. What room is there in such a heart for loving another, whatever his need or distress? There is no favour in his eyes, even for the nearest neighbour.

The scorner has not only no respect for what is excellent, but affects to despise it and actively hates it. When such a one meets an exemplary retribution, it is a wholesome lesson to the simple who takes warning against that wicked way. But the wise, when he is instructed, receives positive knowledge for good.

So again the righteous is not merely grieved at the house of the wicked but considers it to solemn profit. And no wonder; for the wicked are overthrown to ruin, even in this world.

Then the world is full of want, suffering, and misery. Is anyone disposed to stop his ears at the cry of the poor? God is not mocked, but resents hardness of heart; for "he also shall cry, and shall not be heard."

On the other hand, even the angry are not insensible to a gift if it be in secret. It would be resented if others saw or knew, or if the donor were prominent, or talked. It is not only bad men whose anger is thereby pacified. See the effect on David when Abigail brought to his bosom a reward that exercised his conscience.

To the righteous, it is their life and joy to do what is right, as it is a great sorrow when through any lack of care they may fail. But nothing is so uncongenial to the workers of iniquity, ever in quest of gain through wrong. And destruction must be their portion. For there is not a creature unapparent before God, but all things are naked and laid bare to His eyes.

In verses 16-23, a cluster of observations are found, of divine value for warning and wisdom in practical life.

"The man that wandereth out of the way of intelligence shall rest in the congregation of the departed (or, shades).

"He that loveth pleasure (or, mirth) [shall be] a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

"The wicked [is] a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous in the stead of the upright.

"[It is] better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and irritable woman.

"[There is] a desirable store and oil in the dwelling of the wise one; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

"He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

"A wise one scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of its confidence.

"Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue guardeth his soul from troubles."

The goodness of God leads to repentance, and the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. Christ attracts the heart the one Mediator between God and men. He is the way, the truth, and the life, always the Object of faith to the believer. Here is the way of wisdom, and the man that wanders out of that way shall abide in the congregation of the dead, far from God (v. 16).

Next, we have the man that, loving mirth or pleasure, and wasting life's time and work in that vain pursuit, must pay the penalty of indigence. Just so he that devotes himself to wine and oil, or enjoyable living, cannot acquire wealth for any worthy or legitimate end (v. 17). Present indulgence forbids future profit.

Then a still more pronounced character comes before us - a wicked person as such. Even in the then and present evil age, when the divine government is not yet in manifested power, who but the blind can fail to see in the downfall of the wicked a ransom for the righteous from destruction, and the transgressor laid in the pit he dug for the upright? Everyone acquainted with Scripture will remember how its history teems with such proofs. But outside its range, and in rather modern times (little beyond two centuries ago), take the return of the cruelly banished Waldenses, who were enabled to make their way back to their fatherland, few in number and with no external military aid, against French and Italian armies of disciplined soldiers, against the Pope, the priesthood, their Romanist countrymen, and even their own sovereign of Savoy, till he was ashamed to destroy the bravest and most loyal of his own subjects. Not that I for one defend fighting for rights; but God pities the oppressed that cry to Him, even if mistaken like most of their fellow-Christians (v. 18).

Further, we hear of the sad hindrance to peace and comfort in the home from the presence of a contentious and irritable woman. Who has not seen the misery of having to do with such a one presiding? To dwell with a termagant of this kind is worse than living in a desert land (v. 19).

Next, we are told of what is good and wise, and the advantages which ensue. The wise, as the rule, lack no good thing, even in their earthly dwelling; for they aspire not nor covet, contrary to wisdom and the fear of Jehovah. The foolish live in ease, and swallow all up; and who is to blame but themselves (v. 20)?

Again, he that pursues righteousness and mercy (that is, faithfulness in relation to Jehovah and to mankind according to their true place, as well as kindness also), finds "life, righteousness, and honour" - his own at compound interest. "His own," did I say? say rather God's excellent gift. For none can so walk without faith in God and pleasing Him (v. 21).

Nor is it only that the dwelling of the wise has a desirable treasure therein; but if danger threaten, a wise man surmounts all opposed - scales the city of the mighty, and cuts down the strength of the confidence thereof. What can force avail against wisdom (v. 22)?

Moreover, valuable a faculty as good speech is, it is wise to spare the tongue as well as the mouth. The time, the tone, the way, and the end, have all to be considered, lest a fair intention might not only fail, but provoke. As the mouth has to beware of taking in beyond what is right and good, so the tongue of letting out what is not edifying. To keep one's mouth and tongue as in God's presence is to keep the soul from troubles without end (v. 23).

We have seen that "slow to speak" is a safeguard against troubles; we now hear how evil it is to be swift to wrath and its expression (vv. 24-31).

"A proud [and] arrogant one, scorner [is] his name, dealeth in haughtiness of pride.

"The longing of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work.

"He longeth greedily all the day; but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more [when] he bringeth it with a wicked purpose!

"A false witness shall perish; but the man that heareth shall speak enduringly.

"A wicked man hardeneth his face; but the upright, he ordered (or, considereth) his way.

" [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Jehovah.

"The horse [is] prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance [is] of Jehovah."

If self-control in speech protects from many a trouble, how different is the scorner's lot and reputation! For pride and arrogance can brook no difference - haughty to superiors and disdainful where they can dare it. O what a blessed relief to learn of Him who was meek and lowly in heart! Yet He was the Son of the Highest, who bowed absolutely to His will, when despised, rejected, and loathed of men. "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight"!

Honest labour has its duty, its interests, and its satisfaction. Sloth, which shirks from the work of the hands, leaves all the more room for carking care, because of its fruitless desires, disappointed even to death.

The empty longing fills the day, in vain for the man himself and everyone else. The righteous on the contrary, with a conscience exercised in the duties of his relationship, has the means through his diligence to open both heart and hand ungrudgingly to the need around him.

Jehovah has respect to the person before his offering. If it be a wicked person, how could his sacrifice be other than an abomination? So in Isaiah 66:1-4 we read of the apostate Jews in the latter day; they may trust in the temple they build, where once the Lord of glory filled it; they may sacrifice a lamb, and offer an oblation, and present a memorial of incense; but they are no better than a dog's neck or swine's blood, or blessing an idol, in His eyes who looks for and to the afflicted and contrite that tremble at His word. Worse still it is to bring a sacrifice with wicked aim, as superstition does.

Witness-bearing is the more solemn, because done with deliberate purpose, and before God avowedly as well as man. To be false thus is indeed ruinous; but to hear the call and speak the truth is to honour God and serve man, and such a one speaks unchallenged and abidingly.

A wicked man has no shame; he acts and speaks with no restraint. Not so the upright, who looks up for the direction of his way, and considers well his steps.

No axiom so sure as that every claim to wisdom, understanding, or counsel against Jehovah, is utter folly. Only destruction can be the end of such a policy.

And vain it is to trust in ordinary means without Him. The horse may be prepared for the battle, but the victory is with neither the rider nor his horse. Deliverance is of Jehovah.