24.249 | THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED CONTRASTED | Proverbs 10:17-21 | God’s Word for Today

God’s Word For Today

God’s Word for Today

16 Oct, 2024

17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,

but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

- Prov 10:17-21 ESV

THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED CONTRASTED

The person who refuses to be corrected do continue the wrong path through life.[v.17] Sadly, they set a bad example and are able to deceive others to follow them. They are governed by hatred.[v18] Hatred makes a person mischievous. A natural tendency of hate is the use blatant lies or deception against a victim. Often, a hateful person tries to disguise their contempt for others, even pretending to like the ones he hates. In doing so, he commits hypocrisy, another sin that offends the Lord (1 Pet 2:1] Love is the opposite. Love causes a person to sacrifice for the one he loves, but hatred causes a person to wish only bad things for the one he hates (Rom 12:9).

Moreover, the wicked people are incessant talkers.[v.19] James describes the tongue as "a fire, a world of unrighteousness" (Jas 3:6), untamable, and "a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas 3:8). They are not wise, therefore, to restrain their lips. James derides the hypocritical use of the tongue. He writes: "With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so" (Jas 3:9–10). James offers sound advice to be prudent by exhorting, "Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (Jas 1:19).

In verses 20 & 21, Solomon expressed the wicked heart is of no eternal worth. It produces evil (Luke 6:45). Out from his heart come curses, blasphemes, lies, slanders, defames, gossips, that destroy others. However, the words of the righteous person build others up. Wise words point the way to life, both eternal life and daily life. They encourage, comfort, and provide excellent counsel. Out of the good treasure of his heart the righteous person produces good (Luke 6:45). His lips speak God's words that "are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times" (Psa 12:6). The righteous person's words are true and trustworthy, like God's Word (John 17:17).

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