Wisdom in a Proverb*

      

     Scripture reveals the wisdom of God, and this is especially so in the Book of Proverbs. As we read the Proverbs, we will compare these verses with other verses in scripture to get the understanding that we need to have, especially in these times.    

     Beginning in Proverbs 16:1 it is written: "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD." God created the tongue in man, and He will use it as He pleases. Psalm 37:30 says: "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment (mispat - judgment, right, lawful, worthy, justice, rectitude)." The righteous are supposed to speak with wisdom and justice. In Luke 6:45, Jesus said: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."  Jesus confirmed the wisdom of the scriptures in connecting that heart, the mouth, and what comes out of both - either good or evil. 

     Again from Proverbs 16, verse 2 says: "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits." How God views us is based upon the content of our hearts. Man may consider himself to be good, but God sees the things inside us that no one can see, in the spirit and heart of a man. (see also Prov. 21:2). Proverbs 30:12-13 confirms this: "There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness...O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up." We see pride and arrogance on every hand, but the LORD sees the hidden truth within us.

     Proverbs 16:3-7 excerpt, says: "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD (see also Prov. 6:16-18, Prov. 8:13, James 4:6)...By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil...When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Psalm 37 also says: "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of the heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." (v. 4-5). Trust in the LORD to establish you, and not your own understanding or will. We also read in these verses noted above that God gives grace to the humble, rather than the proud and arrogant.

     Here is deep wisdom from Proverbs 16:4: "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." God made the wicked for His own purposes. We see a confirmation in Ps. 17:13, where the Psalmist calls the wicked "God's sword", and in Isa. 13:5-6, the armies of kingdoms and nations are used as "the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land." Even those who were purposefully assembled by God against Jesus Christ, including Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were to fulfill the purpose of God: "For to do whatsoever thy (God's) hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 4:26-28). What God had determined to be done was the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, and the wicked were used as tools to fulfill this divine plan. Does this change how we may view the wicked? Can we forgive the wicked when they are being used by God? This is what Jesus did from the cross when He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

     In Proverbs 16:9, scripture says: "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps."  Psalm 37 also says: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." (v. 23). The LORD directs the steps of one who delights in Him. We see the connection again between what is in a man's heart and how the LORD can guide him.

     "A divine sentence (kesem - a divine sentence in the good sense of the word, but witchcraft and divination in the evil sense) is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment", as written in Proverbs 16:10. We are called to be a nation of kings. The judgments that we speak are to be true. When those judgments are false, then it is witchcraft and divination. The prophet Jeremiah wrote of how the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests use their own means and the people love it that way. (see Jer. 5:30-31). What should have been divine and just speech in the mouths of rulers had instead become corrupted into falsehood by their own desires. Exodus 23:2 says: "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment." Proverbs 16:12 also says of kings: "It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." Proverbs 25:5, and 29:2, 4, and 12, also speak of the need for righteousness in kings and for the removal of the wicked from closeness to the king in order to establish the throne in righteousness. A king under the influence of wickedness can overthrow his own land. We see a world full of unrighteous kings and rulers, which is also a sign of Christ's soon return. Our kingship, however, as received from Christ, is to be a kingship of righteousness.

     Proverbs 16:16 says that wisdom from God is better than riches: "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!" The wisdom of God supersedes all of the false wisdom of the world. Proverbs 31 also compares the finding of a virtuous woman as a wife to be better than worldly riches, "far above rubies." Why? Because: "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and her tongue is the law of kindness." (v. 10 and 26). In scripture, wisdom is often identified as being feminine.

     There is a highway for the upright who depart from evil, Proverbs says. When one keeps this way, he is preserving his own soul. (see Proverbs 16:17). Isaiah called it the Highway of Holiness (Isa. 35:8), and Jesus called it the narrow way that leads to life, although few find it. Jesus said for us to enter this way. On the other hand, the way to destruction, Jesus said, is broad and many take that road. (see Mt. 7:13-18).  Proverbs 16:25 says: "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Our desire and choice is to stay upon the Highway of Holiness, the narrow way that leads to life, It is the wisdom of the Word of God and the Spirit of God, rather than our own understanding, that directs us to the narrow road of Jesus Christ. We have all sinned, but through Jesus Christ, we are being transformed into His image of righteousness rather than being conformed to this world.

     Those who believe God's Word are often mocked and even martyred for their belief, which is as prophesied in these end times. However, the wisdom of God prevails as the Book of Proverbs says, and His plans will be fulfilled.

 

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1/11/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.