Proverbs 21 Commentary
The mention of kingship in Verse 1 draws our attention to dominion. An individual was created to rule from the beginning. Dominion is perfect when a man mirrors his Creator – the rule of the Son within an individual.
Verse 2 presents a different picture. An individual’s heart isn’t a stream in the LORD’s hand. So he thinks his own ways are right. But it should be the LORD’s ways and not his ways!
The LORD defines the terms of the relationship. It’s all about God’s ways. The scripture underlines obedience to the terms.
Sacrifices without obedience are a shortcut to the palace. They never work!
The scripture has taken a strong position against wickedness. Don’t share in its troubles. It is not a dress you put on for an occasion and take off after it is all done. Wickedness stays. It is a long night with a nagging wife!
Or like the wicked who crave evil, their neighbors get no mercy from them. If you choose wickedness for a neighbor or a wife, you are in for real trouble. This is life when a man’s heart isn’t a stream that the LORD channels. It is terrible!
The Book of Proverbs is what it is. They are proverbs. The meaning is hidden. You are fooled by thinking it means what it says. Even more so because what the proverb says looks so real and true. But it is a proverb. It takes understanding to draw real value from this book.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the unfaithful for the upright. Verse 18.
Read it again and again. The careful New Testament reader will mint gold from this statement.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. Verse 17. This is what we have known and dearly love to be reminded of. But read it again. Only a plowed field can draw real value from these proverbs.
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