Read Proverbs 11
The Lord detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him.
but with humility comes wisdom.
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
but righteousness delivers from death.
but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
and it falls on the wicked instead.
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
but victory is won through many advisers.
but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
but ruthless men gain only wealth.
but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
but whoever pursues evil finds death.
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
but those who are righteous will go free.
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
but they pray God’s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
but evil comes to one who searches for it.
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
and the one who is wise saves lives.
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Go Deeper
Proverbs 11 is a continuation in Solomon’s study of contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. Like a metronome clicking back and forth, the two opposite paths are described. What becomes clear is that wickedness is unlimited in its ability to bring destruction wherever it is fed. While the wicked man may find short term gains, ultimately “he who pursues evil will bring about his own death”. In other words, those who pursue evil will find themselves pursued by evil. The traps set for others will ensnare their own feet. Righteous or wicked, you get whatever you put into the world.
This idea could easily be conflated with the concept of karma–that those who do good will receive what is good, and those who do bad will receive what is bad. Yet, this Proverb is more so an observation in practicalities. Wickedness is a poison wherever it appears, whether that be in families (v. 29), business (v. 6), neighborhoods (v. 9), leadership (v. 14), or any other area of our lives. Wickedness is a destroyer, and thus brings destruction to whoever wields it. This proverb, like many others that we will read in the days to come, is trying to paint us a full picture of what the righteous life (and the wicked life) really looks like.
In the same way, the one who walks upright with the Lord brings life wherever he goes. The choice seems obvious, but the reality is that living righteously is frustrating and difficult. Like the metronome, we click back and forth between living as the righteous and the wicked. We feel caught between what the Spirit is calling us to do and what our flesh is pulling us towards. We are not alone in this struggle. Paul wrote in Romans, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Therefore, we must rely on Christ daily to guide us into wisdom and righteousness.
Questions
- As you read through the contrasts, which ones do you identify with the most at this time in life?
- Re-read verses 19-20. How does God view the righteous and the wicked?
- Consider verse 22. Does this feel out of place? How does it connect to the rest of the ideas in this chapter?
A Quote
Pastor and author Tim Keller says this about the righteous and the wicked in Proverbs 11:
“The righteous in the book of Proverbs are by definition those who are willing to disadvantage themselves for the community while the wicked are those who put their own economic, social, and personal needs ahead of the needs of the community.”
4 responses to “Proverbs 11”
Interesting point in the commentary about the metronome!
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
This verse caught my attention. Rejoicing for the righteous’ prospering and shouting for joy at the perishing of the wicked. In both cases, there’s jubilation!
V30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
This looks like a glimpse to the Gospel. We are made righteous through Christ which enables us to inherit eternal life. Our natural response should be to tell others about Jesus to save more lives for eternity with Him.
There is so much wisdom in these words. Praise God!
Choices
Life is full of them. Right choices, good choices or wrong choices. Even when or even if we see the choice we make or made was wrong and we change our course or path, there will most likely still be consequences to our actions. This chapter as with a lot of the proverbs tells us how our choices reap consequences.
Jesus talks about two paths, a narrow one that leads to life and a broad on that leads to destruction. Mat 7:13-14. We are also known by our fruit, Mat 7:16-20. Our righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ (justification) and our transformation is revealed through our fruit.
I want people to, as Nate said on Sunday, to remember me as a Christ follower, who loved(loves)God with all my heart soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself. To be that person I need to walk with honesty, integrity, humility, and have a teachable spirit. I also need to give generously, serving others, building them up, pursuing spiritual fruit and wisdom from God’s Word.
God thank You for a teachable spirit within me. Help me to rightly divide Your Word and make it my own. Show me Your truth, not man’s thoughts but the truth and accuracy of Your Word. God thank You for this day, and these minutes of this day to love my neighbor, to walk with honesty and humility. God help me to walk that narrow path that leads to more of life with You. God I am so grateful, thankful and blessed beyond comprehension. Thank You for this day, these minutes that I glorify and honor You in all I say and do in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (v25).
In a culture that encourages self gratification, Solomon alludes to generosity being a pathway to ultimate fulfillment. Yet another example of the upside down kingdom that Christ ushered in.