Proverbs 12 Commentary

Proverbs 12 Commentary

Learning or knowledge. Actions. Planning. Speech. Thoughts. Attitude. Intentions. Interactions with others. Work. Response to issues. Truthfulness. There could be more, but these are some of the elements listed in this chapter that are associated with an individual daily.

For each item, the scripture defines two performance parameters: acceptable and unacceptable; holy and unholy; pleasing and detestable. The weighing is done by the LORD. The saint is always kept aware.

Consequently, and depending on your performance, you are either godly, worthy, sensible, diligent, honest, truthful, wise, or stupid, disgraceful, wicked, thieving, foolish, and lazy.

To think of an individual as a combination of good and bad is to misrepresent the scripture. The first 9 chapters exposed us to two women: Lady Wisdom and Lady Wickedness. Depending on who you submit to, you have different manifestations, determined by your master. It is no longer up to you.

Those who submit to Lady Wisdom – the LORD Jesus Christ, will experience such manifestations as godliness, worthiness, truthfulness, love, and joy… all being the fruit and evidence of the presence of Lady Wisdom.

The same is true of Lady Wickedness. Laziness, foolishness, or greediness, among countless other evils, are simply manifestations of the presence of Lady Wickedness. The problem is the presence of Lady Wickedness and not the number, size, shape, or color of the manifestations. The fruit of lady Wickedness is varied, and the sinner knows he or she is not at all in control. The master decides.

Then the scripture turns our heads with an all-important statement at the very end of the chapter: “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.”

Walk the way of Lady Wisdom, and you attain immortality. We guess the scripture is saying the same thing.

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

The passage above, quoted from the Book of John (11:25-26), concludes with a question: “Do you believe this?”

Of course, how could the LORD Jesus have expected Martha to understand all of this? Probably because Lady Wisdom was standing right in front of her. And for us, probably because we are only a prayer away from Lady Wisdom.

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