Bible study of Proverbs chapter 15, verses 28 to 33. Aided with Matthew Henry Commentary.
28 28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. (Proverbs 15:28) (NKJV)
28 28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. (Proverbs 15:28) (RSV)
28 28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28) (MIV)
The righteous person is wise and has good understanding. He will think before answering, think before speaking. He is not only slow to anger, he is also slow to answer so that he weighs the various options of answer, and select a most appropriate answer. In crisis situation, he can remain calms and give out good answers, share good plans on how to mitigate the crisis. In situation of contenion with angry customer, he is calm to think of a good answer to pacify the anger, and solve the problem.
On the contrary, the wicked person speaks forth vanity and foul speech. He is fast to respond and answer. When facing an angry customer, he may just refuse to entertain the customer complaint, and say something rash that increase the customer's anger further. In dispute, he will inappropriate things that will fuel the dispute among various disputing parties.
29 29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29) (NKJV)
The Lord loves the righteous person, and listens to the prayer and supplication of the righteous. God is a fair, yet biased. God is fair because he blesses the righteous and chastise the wicked. God is also biased for the same reason, he is positively biased toward the righteous and pour blessings upon the righteous. For the wicked, God will be negatively biased having punishment in store for the wicked.
God sets himself at a distance from those that set him at defiance: The wicked say to the Almighty, Depart from us, and he is, accordingly, far fromthem; he does not manifest himself to them, has no communion with them, will not hear them, will not help them, no, not in the time of their need. They shall be for ever banished from his presence and he will behold them afar off. Depart from me, you cursed. He will draw nigh to those in a way of mercy who draw nigh to him in a way of duty: He hears the prayer of the righteous, accepts it, is well pleased with it, and will grant an answer of peace to it. It is the prayer of a righteous man that avails much.
30 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones healthy.[e] (Proverbs 15:30) (NKJV)
30 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes[c] the bones. (Proverbs 15:30) (RSV)
30
30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15:30) (NIV)
Good things that we see with our eyes will bring joy to the heart. Example: parents seeing the children coming back for the family reunion. Example: seeing one's favorite singer, actor or actress. Example: seeing the letter of promotion and salary increase. Example: seeing the new car or dream car.
Similarly, hearing good news also brings joy and gladness. Hearing the news of children doing well in exam. Hearing news of best friend getting married. These are some examples of good news which would bring joy.
31 31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life
Will abide among the wise.
32 32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,
But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
33 33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility. (Proverbs 15:31-33) (NKJV)
31 31 He whose ear heeds wholesome admonition
will abide among the wise.
32 32 He who ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who heeds admonition gains understanding.
33 33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honor. (Proverbs 15:31-33) (RSV)
Characteristics of the wise person:
1) Be in company of other wise friends.
2) Listens to rebuke, reproof and correction.
3) Humble for knowledge and learning, and also a general attitude of humility.
4) Fear the Lord, love God and obey God's commands.
5) Take heed of instruction and teaching.
It is the character of a wise man that he is very willing to be reproved, and therefore chooses to converse with those that, both by their words and example, will show him what is amiss in him: The ear that can take the reproofwill love the reprover. Faithful friendly reproofs are here called the reproofs of life, not only because they are to be given in a lively manner, and with a prudent zeal.
Those that are so wise as to bear reproof well will hereby bemade wiser (Prov. 9:9), and come at length to be numbered among the wise men of the age, and will have both ability and authority to reprove and instruct others. Those that learn well, and obey well, are likely in time to teach well and rule well.
The wisdom of those that are willing, not only to be taught, but to be reproved: He that hears reproof, and amends the faults he is reproved for, gets understanding, by which his soul is secured from bad ways and directed in good ways.
Saturday, Feb 15, 2014.
Michael Yeap.
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=NIV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=RSV
nkjv: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2015&version=NKJV
Commentaries:
27) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.28
28) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.29
29) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.30
30) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.31
31) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.32
32) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.15.33
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