Heavenly Father, we know from our experience that people flourish under good leaders, but languish under bad ones.
And today, we ask that you will teach us to be a people who are in glad submission to your leadership, to your good management.
That we might live with the fear of the Lord, with carefulness in all the spheres of our lives.
Speak to us as you always do.
We incline our hearts, our ears, toward you now.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Proverbs chapter 14, starting in verse 15, going to Proverbs 15 verse 4.
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life that one may turn away from the snares of death.
In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without people a prince is ruined.
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
The wicked is overthrown through his evil doing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.
Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commands knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
This is God's holy and authoritative word.
There are some things that people only do because they know no one is watching.
And after a dozen or so cases of mail package theft at our condo, our condo association is now talking about installing a security camera in the lobby.
Because we know that if there is a security camera, people know that they will be seen.
People know that they will be caught if they steal, and so they don't.
Similarly, parents who are perhaps berating their kids in public in a harsh way will moderate their tone as soon as they recognize that there are people watching them.
Dog walkers, right, who are not going to bother picking up that poo on the neighbor's lawn.
As soon as they see the eyes peering through the window, will quickly pick up that poo, right?
That's what we call accountability.
When we know that we will be held accountable, we modify our behavior and speech accordingly.
And Proverbs, this passage that we read, 14, 15, 15, 4, teaches that this is a key to wise living, to live under the watchful eyes of God.
And knowing that we are accountable to God for all our actions and speech constrains our behavior and speech, helps us to live wisely.
And the main point is that by living carefully under the watchful eyes of God, the wise find life for themselves and give life to others.
That's what happens when you live under the watchful eyes of God.
In verses 15 to 18 of chapter 14, we see the teachings about personal carefulness, what this looks like in your own life, in your own decisions.
And chapter 14, verses 19 to 24, speak of kind of socioeconomic carefulness, what this looks like,
what being living under the watchful eyes of God as you relate to others in a socioeconomical sense.
And then finally, chapter 14, verse 25 to chapter 15, verse 4, speak of kind of a political legal carefulness,
what that looks like in politics, in the court, when you live under the watchful eyes of God.
So let's first look at personal carefulness in verses 15 to 18 together.
This subunit is bracketed by the contrast of the simple and the prudent.
Verse 15 says,
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Similarly, verse 18 says,
So the simple is, the term simple, as we have seen throughout Proverbs, is not a positive designation in the book of Proverbs,
although there is something to be commended for godly simplicity.
This is referring to people who are gullible or naive, people who are thoughtless and careless in their life.
And because of this, the simple are especially vulnerable to being duped by evildoers.
And throughout Proverbs, these simple people are exhorted to heed instruction and learn prudence or shrewdness.
Because if and only when they learn that prudence will they stop being simple.
And this reminds us again that the world is full of competing ideologies and worldviews and even moral principles.
And people are driven by various competing interests and influences.
And for these reasons, it is foolish to believe everything.
Instead, we must give thought to our steps.
When we walk through a bridge that has gaps in it, we give thought to our steps, lest we step into the void and fall.
And likewise, the world is beset with many false steps that can be taken.
And so we must give thought to our steps.
Verse 18 continues that same contrast between the simple and the full.
It says,
This is an ironic statement because usually when we think of inheritance, it's something that is desirable.
Something you look forward to getting.
You inherit something that benefits you.
However, in this verse, it says,
The simple inherit folly.
Before they were only simple, naive, or gullible.
But now they are full-blown fools.
Their careless simplicity is rewarded with folly.
And in contrast, the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
They were already shrewd.
They were already knowledgeable.
Yet they're crowned with further knowledge because of their discernment.
Because they have been knowledgeable and careful.
And these two verses, a bracket, verses 16 to 17 in the middle,
which together expound on the folly of the simple.
Verse 16 says,
One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil.
But a fool is reckless and careless.
So the phrase,
One who is wise is cautious.
So if you're looking at the English Standard Version,
there's probably a footnote right next to that phrase.
If you follow that phrase down,
it tells you that it could be translated,
One who is wise fears.
That's what it literally says.
One who is wise fears.
And some of the translators took that to mean,
meaning you're fearful or cautious of other things.
But I think that actually means something a little more literal.
I think that's an example of ellipsis,
where one or two words,
one or more words are omitted from a sentence and assumed.
So you're supposed to supply that to get a complete meaning.
I think that means this verse is saying,
One who is wise fears the Lord.
I think that's the assumption.
One who is wise fears the Lord.
That's exactly how the NIV, for example, translates it.
And this is all the more likely,
because there are other verses in Proverbs that say exactly that.
Proverbs chapter 3 verse 7 says,
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 16 verse 6 says,
By the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
So the wise then, if that's the right interpretation,
the wise are not cautious,
merely in that they fear the things that might go wrong
and therefore act carefully.
That's not what being wise looks like in a biblical sense.
They are cautious primarily because they fear the Lord.
That's the fear that constrains them,
the fear of the Lord,
because they know that they are accountable to God.
And that's why they turn away from evil.
Not because they fear the circumstances
or are anxious for what might happen,
but because they fear the Lord.
In contrast, the fool is reckless and careless.
The word reckless literally means to overstep or transgress something.
And the word careless literally means to trip and fall.
So this is a very vivid image here.
The fool has no fear of God.
He's complacent.
He's secure in himself.
And so he confidently oversteps God-given boundaries.
And as they do that,
in ignoring the no trespassing sign,
he transgresses things.
He falls.
He trips and falls headlong into trouble.
And then verse 17 continues
to fill out that picture of the simple person.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
Now this verse combines two various kind of aspects of fools,
yet denounces them all the same
in the same category of foolishness.
So first, it talks about a man of quick temper.
A man of quick temper acts foolishly.
This person has a short temper, a short fuse.
He is unrestrained and explodes onto others.
And in doing so,
they do incalculable damage to others and themselves.
Jewish rabbis often use the image of a kettle,
a boiling kettle,
to explain the way anger inflicts damage to oneself.
They said,
when the kettle boils over,
it overflows its own size.
So likewise,
a man of quick temper acts
not only maliciously toward others,
but also foolishly because he hurts himself in the end.
And the short tempered person is one type of fool.
The second type of foolishness is seen here
is a man of evil devices.
It's a contrast really from the short tempered person
because a man of evil devices is self-restrained.
He keeps a tight rein on his temper.
But for the purpose of doing evil,
for the purpose of manipulating others,
for the purpose of getting his way,
he is the cold-blooded killer.
And he is a schemer.
He is cunning.
And that's to be contrasted with the wise who is shrewd and prudent.
Being shrewd and being a schemer are not the same.
Both the short tempered person and the schemer,
though they behave very differently,
Bible says they're both foolish
because neither of them lives carefully under the watchful eyes of God.
So that's what personal carefulness looks like.
Let's look at then verses 19 to 24,
which focus specifically on what the life under God's watchful eyes look like
socially and economically,
socioeconomic carefulness.
It might seem for a little while
like the man of evil devices
who take advantage of others
and will rise through the ranks in society.
And that does happen as Proverbs itself admits.
But verse 19 says,
So this is speaking of ultimate divine justice.
The evil men who seek to make others bow down to them
will end up bowing down before the good.
The wicked who sought to rule over others and judge others
will themselves be instead ruled and judged at the gates of the righteous.
So even though this might not be immediately true in your experience,
it will ultimately true in God's perfect timing
is what this proverb reminds us.
A morally upside down universe that we live in at times
will be made right, right side up again.
But in the meanwhile,
sometimes the wicked do prosper.
They do gain prominence by their prosperity.
And so verse 20 says this,
This is a very realistic observation
about human nature and relationships.
The poor in view here are not those who are impoverished
due to God's judgment for their wickedness.
And as I've said several times throughout our series in Proverbs,
the word poverty is used consistently in a negative way
as God's judgment on the wicked.
However, the word poor is used consistently in a positive way
to refer to those who are poor
because of circumstances outside of their control,
because of injustice.
And on those people, God shows special care and compassion.
And so that's the poor that is in view here.
So even though they are not morally reprehensible,
it says the poor is disliked even by his neighbor.
This neighbor, this person who lives nearby,
who should, of all people, like the poor man,
should be able to relate to this poor man,
should be able to care for this poor man
because he is his neighbor.
Even he despises the poor man.
And the implication is that the poor person
is disliked by his neighbor because he is poor.
Lack of money leads to lack of friends.
In contrast, the rich has many friends.
We use the term gold digger, right,
to describe friends like this.
When a woman marries a rich man
for no other reason than his wealth,
when a man befriends another
in order to benefit from his wealth and privilege,
we call them gold diggers.
Their so-called relationships are not relational,
but transactional.
It's about the money in the end.
And because of people like this,
the rich,
even when they are morally reprehensible,
has many friends.
This is a descriptive,
not a prescriptive proverb.
It's describing what's the reality,
what happens.
It's not telling us to snub the poor
and cozy up to the rich.
Lest we misunderstand it that way,
Solomon adds a qualifying proverb in verse 21.
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
This proverb is structured as an incomplete parallel.
So the first half speaks of despising one's neighbor,
but the second half speaks of being generous to the poor.
So it's not exactly the parallel.
It's what they call incomplete parallelism.
And when you come across that kind of parallel structure,
we have to use the content of each half
to kind of balance and fill out the picture of the other.
And because scripture often uses that method
to say a lot more poetically
than what's actually written on the page.
So if we use each half to fill in the details of the other half,
verse 21 says,
Whoever despises his neighbor because he is poor is a sinner.
But blessed is he who is generous to the poor
because he is his neighbor.
That's how you fill out that parallel structure.
So if we despise a neighbor because he is poor,
we sin because we are not loving our neighbor as ourselves,
as scripture commands.
Our poor neighbor might not be able to return any of our favors.
He may not benefit us in any tangible way.
He may have no clout in society
and therefore may be the object of people's scorn.
And because they are powerless,
they may have no recourse
and they may not be able to retaliate
when we take advantage of him.
And yet we must not take advantage of him.
We must not despise our neighbor.
Further theological rationale for this is given later in verse 31.
But for now, scripture calls us to be generous to the poor
by the simple reason that he is our neighbor.
God has placed us near them to see their plight and suffering.
God has placed us near them and provided for us
so that we might supply their need.
And that poor person doesn't need to be
especially deserving of our generosity.
He doesn't have to have a squeaky clean background.
He doesn't have to be well-dressed and well-spoken.
That he is our neighbor is enough
according to this proverb.
Verses 22 to 24 add further motivation
to be generous toward our poor neighbor.
Verse 22 says,
Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
The word devise is repeated twice in this verse
to emphasize the importance of intentionality,
of deliberation, planning.
The word devise is sometimes translated in grave or forge
and it refers to kind of the work of artisans and craftsmen.
And so it's very much a word that implies care
and careful planning.
There are of course some evil and some good
that people do without deliberate planning.
But there are some evil deeds and some good deeds
that only happen after premeditation
that require careful planning.
So it's telling us we have to make concrete plans
for doing good.
Those who despise the poor are devising evil.
They have already made up their mind
that the poor neighbor is not worth their time
and money and effort.
They are devising evil.
On the other hand,
those who are generous with the poor neighbor devise good.
They have made plans to befriend the poor neighbor.
They have made plans
and they have resolved to supply their need.
They have made plans to do so.
They have brainstormed ways
to most constructively and lovingly provide for their needs.
Being generous to the poor neighbor
requires planning and work.
But it's still worthwhile
because those who devise evil
will stray from the blessed path of God.
But those who devise good
will stay on God's path
and therefore meet steadfast love and faithfulness.
Those are two attributes
that throughout scripture
are most often attributed to God.
In Exodus 34 verses 5 to 7
when God reveals himself to Moses
and God's Moses in Israel
he says that he is abounding
in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Steadfast love, loving kindness.
It's referring to God,
the unmarried, its favor
and the unchanging commitment
that God shows toward his chosen people.
The word faithfulness
refers to God's reliability,
the firmness of his character
that he never changes.
He's always true to himself.
And so then both words,
steadfast love and faithfulness
highlight God's unchanging loyalty
toward his people.
And so then those who kindly meet
the needs of the poor
on his path of life
will be met by the steadfast love
and faithfulness of God
on that same path.
And in verses 23-24
Solomon elaborates on this
on the importance of making concrete plans
and following through.
It says in verses 23-24
So toiling is hard
but there is in the end profit, right?
The wise who do honest hard work
will be crowned with wealth
in the end
in the normal working of things.
In contrast,
those who engage in mere talk
and spew out folly
will end up in poverty.
So he's using an economic
Solomon is using an economic proverb here
to tell us to put our money
where our mouth is.
It's a rebuke to people
who are all talk and no action.
Merely saying that
you intend to do good
to your poor neighbor
isn't enough.
You must devise good,
make concrete plans
and take action
in being generous to the poor.
In the same way
that hard work
is met with profit
so likewise
being generous to the poor
will be met
with steadfast love
and faithfulness
of the Lord.
And verse 24
matches verse 18
and together bracket
this subunit.
Verse 18
said,
The simple inherit folly
but the prudent
are crowned with knowledge.
Verse 24
is that the crown
of the wise
is their wealth
but the folly of fools
brings folly.
That's what it looks like
to have socioeconomic carefulness
living under the watchful eyes
of God.
And then starting
in verse 25
and going through
chapter 15
verse 4
Solomon expounds
on what godly carefulness
looks like
in the political
and legal realms.
And he says
in verse 25
A truthful witness
saves lies
but one who breathes
out lies
is deceitful.
In the court of law
truth telling
is a matter
of life and death.
A witness
who tells the truth
can ensure
that the innocent person
is not condemned
and that the guilty
person is condemned
only
and that the guilty
person is condemned.
But if one lies
it is deceitful
and it is treacherous
because instead of
saving lives
you can in fact
destroy lives.
It's not a trivial matter
to lie in court
because it's not
an abstract decision
rather it's
a decision
that has consequences
in the real lives
and livelihoods
of people.
And so
then even when
it is to their
disadvantage
to tell the truth
even when it makes
that person look bad
the witness
a good witness
a true witness
is to speak
truthfully.
Even when the witness
knows that he is
more credible
than the person
on trial
by the virtue
of their social standing
or people's biases
the truthful witness
will courageously
and conscientiously
tell the truth
because they live
carefully under
the watchful eyes
of God
and in doing so
they save lives.
And so then
the way we act
and speak in life
is not a drill
is what Proverbs
is telling us
it's a matter
of life and death
which this passage
keeps on emphasizing.
So verses 26 to 27
continue that thought
in the fear of the Lord
one has strong confidence
and his children
will have a refuge.
The fear of the Lord
is a fountain of life
that one may turn away
from the snares of death.
So the fear of the Lord
that's another way
to put living carefully
under the watchful eyes
of God
one personally
gains a strong confidence
he finds life
for himself
secures a safety
for himself
but not only that
he says he will provide
refuge for his children
living carefully
under watchful eyes
of God
has generational consequences
and then
on top of that
in general
he says
the fear of the Lord
is a fountain of life
it provides life
not only to oneself
to others
like a fountain
that bubbles forth
with water
life-giving water
it nourishes others
with life-giving wisdom
and then
in an interesting turn
verse 28
Solomon addresses
rulers
specifically
and in doing so
leaders generally
of the particular
responsibility
that rests on them
to be this
life-giving fountain
for others
and verse 28
says
in a multitude
of people
is the glory
of a king
but without people
a prince
is ruined
so by definition
a king
is someone
who rules
over others
since without people
he would have no kingdom
and he would be ruined
he would not be a king
and in order to ensure
that he has a multitude
of people
he must become
a fountain of life
by living carefully
under the watchful eyes
of God
now this truth
is confirmed
by verse 29
it says
whoever is slow to anger
has great understanding
but he who has
a hasty temper
exalts folly
the word great
in great understanding
and the word multitude
in multitude of people
they are
the translations
of the same Hebrew word
and so it connects
those two verses
28 and 29
so if you were to
play on that more
obviously
it says
in the numerousness
or in the greatness
of people
is the glory
of a king
and whoever
is slow to anger
has great understanding
so the implication
is this
do you want to
gather people
around you
instead of scattering them
do you want to be
a great leader
do you want to
rule over a great people
will then gain
great understanding
which is found
in living carefully
under the watchful eyes
of God
Greek philosopher
Aristotle once said
he who has never
learned to obey
cannot be
a good commander
there are people
who want to lead
want to teach
want to exercise
authority
and rule over others
but who have not
learned humility
who are incapable
of submitting to
and following others
because they think
too highly of themselves
they are always
dissatisfied
under other people's
authority
because they always
believe they could
do better
they squirm
impatiently
when others
are teaching
but beam excitedly
when they themselves
are teaching
such people
cannot lead
because they will
lead selfishly
and for vain glory
rather than
the good of the people
that are under their charge
such people
can't lead
because they are
incapable of listening
and therefore
will not heed
wise counsel
from others
they will not
benefit from
perspectives
that differ
from their own
because they think
too highly
of their own
opinions
and this principle
is especially
important
when it comes
to following
and submitting
to God
only those
who display
great understanding
of the fear
of the Lord
only those
who live
under the
watchful eyes
of God
are fit
to rule
over a multitude
of people
a great people
a good ruler
understands
that he is
first and foremost
under authority
accountable to God
and under his authority
and this great understanding
is what makes
a person
more patient
it says in verse 29
whoever is slow
to anger
has great understanding
but he who has
a hasty temper
exalts folly
when we live
carefully
under the watchful
eyes of God
we recognize
that there is
someone in charge
above us
and because of that
we don't need
to panic
and act hastily
we have self-control
because we know
that God
really is
in control
so the expression
slow to anger
outside of Proverbs
exclusively
is used to describe
God
God is slow to anger
so being slow to anger
is not a natural
characteristic
of simple humans
rather it is
a divine
attribute
and we are
to imitate this
so then
when someone
displeases us
or offends us
we don't need
to make that
displeasure known
immediately
and impulsively
because
as it describes
there a hasty temper
exalts folly
hasty temper
is literally
shortened breath
it's a vivid
description of
how people behave
when they are
agitated and angry
just short breaths
it's a hasty temper
that's what that
refers to
and it says
in contrast to that
in verse 30
it says
a tranquil heart
gives life to the flesh
but envy makes
the bones rot
once again
this is not just
this is a matter
of life and death
living carefully
under the watchful
eyes of God
and a tranquil heart
is a heart
that is satisfied
in God
a heart that
is entrusted
to God
and because of that
it's a heart
that is at rest
and that kind of heart
gives life
to one's own flesh
but in contrast
envy makes the bones
rot
a heart that is
dissatisfied
with God
and the lot
that God has given
because of that
discontentment
complains
and envies
and distrusts God
and because of that
is beset with anxiety
and this makes
one's own body
weak
to disintegrate
and this
living carefully
under watchful eyes
of God
affects the way
a person deals
with the poor
as well
we saw this early
in verse 21
that we were commanded
to be generous
to the poor
but verse 31
now gives us
further theological
rationale
for that command
it says
whoever oppresses
a poor man
insults his maker
but he who is
generous to the needy
honors him
so when you
oppress a poor man
this is saying
you insult
the God
who created him
it's a powerful
teaching
in 2016
there was a
you guys know
Dutch master
Rembrandt
one of his
paintings
entitled now
The Unconscious
Patient
was discovered
in a basement
in New Jersey
when adult children
were clearing out
their family home
after their parents
death
they discovered
a Rembrandt painting
in a basement
the oil painting
however was discolored
it was flaking
and it looked
totally unremarkable
after years
of disintegration
in a damp
basement
and in spite
of all of that
an art collector
purchased it
for 1.1 million
dollars at an auction
and went through
the painstaking process
of restoring it
to its original beauty
and now
it's in its
rightful place
touring the world's
most famous
art museums
and why is that
when professionals
lay their eyes
on that painting
it didn't matter
to them
that it was rotting
that it didn't matter
to them
that it was discolored
it didn't matter
to them
that it was flaking
it didn't matter
to them
that it looked
worthless
because they knew
whose work
it was
no matter
what condition
you find it
and if you find
a Rembrandt
it's worth millions
likewise
if you meet
a human being
created in
the image
of God
doesn't matter
how old
or frail
that person is
it doesn't matter
how poor
or pitiable
that person is
it doesn't matter
how disenfranchised
and powerless
that person is
it doesn't matter
what that person's
racial or cultural
background is
it doesn't matter
whether this person
is male
or female
it doesn't matter
how battered
this person is
how oppressed
this person is
how sick
or disfigured
this person is
this person
is priceless
because
they are created
in the image
of God
they are
the signature
masterpiece
of the greatest
master
craftsman
that's the reason
for this reason
he was generous
to the poor
generous to the needy
honors
God himself
and those
who honor God
will ultimately
be rewarded
verse 32
says
the wicked
is overthrown
through his
evil doing
but the righteous
finds refuge
in his death
verse 26
and 32
both speak
of the refuge
to describe
the heritage
of the wise
living under
the watchful
eyes of God
is not
an onerous
burden
rather
it is like
a refuge
something that
secures us
protects us
helps us
in the end
it will lead
to eternal
refuge
even beyond
death
that's what
verse 32
suggests
the wicked
is overthrown
through his
evil doing
through his
own evil doing
but the righteous
finds refuge
in his
death
even in his
death
the righteous
will find
a refuge
in verses
26 to 32
if you scan
it again
Solomon
spoke of
how the ruler
should live
righteously
carefully
under the
watchful eyes
of God
and then
starting in
verse 33
he focuses
on how
the subjects
of that ruler
should live
with care
of their own
and he begins
by enjoining
wisdom to
all of us
in verse 33
it says
wisdom rests
in the heart
of a man
of understanding
but it makes
itself known
even in the
midst of fools
this is an
invitation to
learn wisdom
first and
foremost
wisdom resides
in the heart
of a man
of understanding
so a man
like King
Solomon
that's the
implication
wisdom stays
there
it makes a
permanent dwelling
there
and so the
implication is
that we should
listen to
such people
listen to
the Proverbs
and that's
not all
wisdom
makes itself
known
even in
the midst
of fools
so wisdom
is not only
for kings
like Solomon
it's for us
all
and we saw
in the
personification
of wisdom
in chapter 1
chapter 8
and chapter 9
that wisdom
is not this
high brow
elitist
that only
caters to
the brightest
and most
prominent
among people
she invites
all comers
she calls
out to the
simple
all who
are willing
to humble
themselves
and learn
can come
and gain
wisdom
and so it
is
it says
even in
the midst
of fools
wisdom's
call can
be heard
and so
then the
invitation
is for us
to heed
her call
leave our
folly behind
and let
wisdom rest
in our
hearts
also
verse 34
continues
that exhortation
righteousness
exalts a
nation
but sin
is a reproach
to any
people
now just
as the
king should
be concerned
with
righteousness
so also
the whole
nation
should be
concerned
with
righteousness
in God's
estimation
and in
his
ultimate
justice
it's not
deft
political
maneuvering
forging
international
alliances
or even
military
prowess
or even
economic
prosperity
that
ensures
a nation's
security
or exalts
a nation
it's not
those things
ultimately
speaking
it is
righteousness
that exalts
a nation
conversely
sin
is a
reproach
to any
people
if you
read the
bible
and if you
study
history
you know
that every
empire
eventually
falls
Daniel
chapter 2
verse 21
says that
God changes
changes
times and
seasons
he
removes
kings
and sets
up
kings
he
gives
wisdom
to the
wise
and
knowledge
to those
who have
understanding
the United
States of
America
too
will fall
and when
it does
whatever
the immediate
causes
might be
the ultimate
cause
will be
moral
degeneration
the ultimate
cause
will be
injustice
and unrighteousness
the ultimate
cause will be
the lack
of humility
before God
so not only
the king
but all the
subjects
must preoccupy
themselves
with doing
justice
loving kindness
and walking
humbly with
their God
as it says
in Micah
chapter 6
verse 8
verse 35
says
a servant
who deals
wisely
has the
king's
favor
but his
wrath
falls
on one
who acts
shamefully
the person
who serves
the king
should live
also
carefully
under the
watchful eyes
of God
his service
should be
characterized
by competence
wisdom
and integrity
just as sin
is reproached
to the whole
nation
the servant's
shameful
acts
will incur
the wrath
of his
master
his king
but even
the best
of servants
will incur
the wrath
of the
sovereign
sometimes
and so
chapter 15
verses 1
to 4
teaches
the art
of speaking
carefully
in such
situations
it says
in verse 1
a soft
answer
turns away
wrath
but a
harsh
word
stirs
up
anger
whether
the king's
wrath
is justified
or not
the servant
should not
retaliate
in kind
with a
harsh
word
because
doing so
will only
stir up
the anger
of the king
alternatively
a soft
answer
turns away
wrath
this is
the art
of de-escalation
if you live
or work
with someone
who has a
short temper
getting into
a shouting
match with
them is
not going
to improve
your life
a soft
answer
turns away
wrath
a ticking
bomb
needs to
be diffused
not smashed
it will
lead to
more
destruction
a soft
answer
turns away
wrath
verse 2
continues
the tongue
of the wise
commends
knowledge
but the
mouths of
fools
pour out
folly
the person
who answers
softly
commends
knowledge
or adorns
knowledge
beautifies
knowledge
he makes
the truth
he makes
a wise
decision
attractive
to the
hearer
the wise
person does
not use
his tongue
as a
sledgehammer
to bludgeon
others into
submission
rather
with it
he adorns
knowledge
with it
he beautifies
commends
knowledge
and that's
contrasted
from the
mouths of
fools
that pour
out
folly
there is
no
restraint
whatsoever
like a
breached
dam
fool
opens
his mouth
and pours
out
folly
but the
kind of
restraint
that's
displayed
by the
wise
person
is only
possible
as we've
been seeing
over and
over again
for those
who live
carefully
under the
watchful
eyes of
God
so it
says in
verse 3
the eyes
of the
Lord
are in
every
place
keeping
watch
on the
evil
and the
good
in his
small book
on anger
biblical
counselor
Ed Welch
writes that
sinful
anger
is
essentially
atheistic
we don't
often
realize
this
but when
we get
angry
sinfully
angry
and lash
out at
other
people
we're
angry
at
God
we're
saying
God
you have
no
idea
what
kind
of
injustice
this
person
or this
ruler
or this
nation
is putting
me
through
we're
saying
God
because
you're
not doing
anything
about it
I have
to take
things into
my own
hands
and get
angry
and make
this right
and this
is why
in Exodus
chapter 16
verse 8
when the
people of
Israel
complain
against
Moses
and Aaron
for not
giving them
bread and
meat
in the
wilderness
Moses
responds
this way
the Lord
has heard
your grumbling
that you
grumble
against
him
what are
we
your grumbling
is not
against us
but against
the Lord
this is why
in 1st
Samuel
chapter 8
verse 7
when the
nation
of Israel
asks
Samuel
their leader
for a
king
an alternate
ruler
to rule
over them
like the
other ancient
near eastern
nations
God says
to Samuel
in all
that they
say to
you
they have
not rejected
you
but they
have rejected
me
from being
king
over them
this is why
sinful anger
is always
directed in the
ultimate sense
against God
that's why
it's necessary
for us
to remember
this truth
that the
eyes of
the Lord
are in
every place
keeping watch
on the evil
and the good
the evil
and the good
represents a
complete range
it means that
God's eyes
are everywhere
and he sees
everything
there is no
sin or injustice
that comes
that's committed
against you
that has escaped
God's notice
his justice
might not satisfy
your desire
instantly
but his justice
is real
it is inescapable
and it is
exacting
and it's
for this
reason
that we
can respond
to a
wrathful
person
with a
soft
answer
knowing
that God
is at
the scene
knowing
that God
sees
knowing
that God
is working
out his
plan
patiently
and that
he is
slow to
anger
and so
verse 4
concludes
a gentle
tongue
is a
tree
of life
but
perverseness
in it
breaks
the spirit
in this
fallen
and broken
world
outside
of the
garden
of Eden
a gentle
tongue
is like
the tree
of life
in that
original
paradise
that humanity
has been
cut off
from
it brings
healing
rather than
destruction
it leads
to eternal
life
this passage
has been
speaking
repeatedly
of the
fact that
wisdom
is a
matter
of life
and death
right
chapter 14
verse 27
said the
fear of
the Lord
is a
fountain
of life
verse 30
of chapter
14
said a
tranquil
heart
gives
life
to the
flesh
now
chapter
15
verse 4
says a
gentle
tongue
is a
tree
of
life
now
these
are all
glimpses
that
foreshadow
the ultimate
deliverance
from death
itself
that comes
through
God's
son
Jesus
Christ
because
the reality
is we
have all
been
careless
personally
socioeconomically
politically
legally
we have
all
been
careless
we have
all
at times
spurned
the fear
of God
and lived
for ourselves
we have
all at times
been hasty
and short
tempered
we have
all at times
taken advantage
of others
for our
selfish gain
and yet
even though
we have
been fools
there is a
wise man
who offers
us wisdom
who can
still give
us this
eternal life
because 1st
John chapter 5
verse 6
says this is
he who came
by water
and blood
Jesus Christ
not by the
water only
but by the
water and
the blood
water likely
represents the
life-giving water
of the spirit
that flows
from Jesus
and blood
represents the
sin-cleansing
blood poured
out by Jesus
on the cross
and that's
why throughout
his ministry
he says
in John 4
to the
Samaritan woman
at the well
whoever drinks
of the water
that I will
give him
will never
be thirsty
again
the water
that I will
give him
will become
in him
a spring
of water
walling up
to eternal
life
Jesus
is the
ultimate
sage
the wise
person
who by
living
carefully
under the
watchful eyes
of God
gives
eternal life
to others
and Jesus
imparts
this life-giving
water
first
by living
a life
of perfect
obedience
he never
said a
false word
he always
lived under
the watchful
eyes of God
he never
said or did
anything that
he did not
see his
father himself
doing
but in spite
of this
he died
the death
of sinners
on the cross
not because
of his sins
because he
had no sin
but for our
sins
for the sins
of his
people
out of
the steadfast
love and
faithfulness
of God
his covenant
loyalty to
his people
and through
Jesus
that cross
that hideous
tree of
death
becomes
the beautiful
tree of
life
that gives
eternal life
and Jesus'
blood
becomes
the cleansing
fountain
in which
we may
wash away
all of
our sins
that's what
we were singing
earlier this
morning
there is
a fountain
filled
with blood
drawn from
Emmanuel's
veins
and sinners
plunged beneath
that flood
lose all
their
guilty
stains
so let's
remember
Jesus
this morning
remember
Christ
the one
greater than
Solomon
the ultimate
sage
who
revives
us by the
water of
his spirit
who restores
us and
cleanses us
by his
blood
and as
we look
to him
and as
we are
revived by
him
we now
too may
live
carefully
under the
watchful
eyes of
God
and point
the watching
world
to the
eternal
life found
in Christ
alone
are
new
poor
are
too