PROVERBS 14 – THE WISE SEEK RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOOLS PURSUE EVIL
V 1 The wise woman edifies her family (See Proverbs 31:10-31)
V 2 When you walk in righteousness and integrity, you honor the Lord
[See Psalms 15, especially verse 4 (You do the right thing, even if it costs you); Proverbs 10:9; 11:3, 5-6; 13:6; 19:1; 20:7; 21:7, 29; 22:1; 23:10-11; 25:26; 28:6; Ecclesiastes 7:1]
V 3 He who speaks arrogantly will be rejected
(See Psalms 101:5; 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; 6:16-19; 8:13; 11:2; 12:9; 13:10; 15:25, 33; 16:5, 18-19; 17:19; 18:12; 21:4, 24; 25:6-7, 27; 27:2, 21; 28:25; 29:23; Philippians 2:3; James 4:6),
but those who speak with wisdom will be respected
V 4 Diligence leads to abundance, but laziness leads to lack
(See Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 12:11:12, 14, 24, 27; 13:4; 14:23;15:19; 16:26; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4, 13; 21:5, 25; 22:13, 29; 24:30-34; 26:13-16; 27:18, 23-27; 28:19; 30:24-28)
V 5 A faithful and trustworthy witness never lies, but a false witness lies all the time. Always speak the truth!
(See Psalms 15:1-4; Proverbs 3:3; 8:7; 12:17, 19, 22; 13:5; 14:25; 20:28; 22:20-21; 23:23; 29:14; Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:14-15)
V 6 Wisdom opens the door to understanding and common sense
(These are fruits of wisdom – See Proverbs 1:2-4 and comments)
(See also Psalms 49:3; 111:10; Proverbs 1:2, 5; 2:2, 6; 3:13; 4:5, 7; 5:1; 7:4; 8:1, 5, 14, 32-35; 10:13; 11:12; 14:33; 15:21, 32; 16:16; 17:24; 19:8; 23:23; 24:3; Ecclesiastes 2:13-14)
V 7 Do not associate with fools; they will reject wisdom
(See Proverbs 1:7; 9:8; 16:22; 17:7, 16, 24; 18:1-2; 23:9; 24:7; 26:1;27:22; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Matthew 7:6)
V 8 The prudent have the wisdom to seek and discern God’s way
(See Psalms 23:3; 37:23; Proverbs 2:8-9, 20-21; 3:5-6, 21-23; 4:11-12, 25-27; 8:32-35; 13:6; 14:12; 15:9, 19, 24; 16:1, 9, 25; 19:21; 20:24; Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 10:23; 29:11-13)
V 9 The righteous find favor from the Lord
(See Psalms 5:12; 30:5, 7; 35:27; 106:4; 119:58; Proverbs 3:3-4; 8:35; 11:27; 12:2; 13:15; 14:11; 18:22; 22:1; Luke 2:52 – You, just like Jesus, grow in favor with God and with man)
V 10, 13 No other person, except yourself, knows what is in your heart. Protect your heart above all
(See Proverbs 4:23 – Just as the Law of the Harvest (Galatians 6:7) applies to your relationship with others and to every other area of your life (what you sow determines what you will reap), it also applies to your heart.
If your heart is full of anger, hatred, resentment, disappointment, arrogance and pride, this is what you will manifest, and it will not only make you miserable all the time, but it will eventually destroy you and destroy all your relationships.
On the other hand, if your heart is filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23), this is also what you will manifest, and not only will your life be blessed, but also you will bless the lives of those around you (And you will also see the fulfillment of Proverbs 4:18 in your life; i.e., your life will become brighter and brighter)
V 11a, 14a The ways of the wicked will lead them to destruction
(See Psalms 7:15; 9:15; 37:38; Proverbs 1:31-32; 2:22; 3:33; 4:14-17, 19; 5:22-23; 6:12-15; 10:3, 6-7, 24-25, 27-30; 11:3, 5-8, 10, 21, 23, 31; 12:2, 7; 13:9, 25; 14:12, 32; 16:25; 21:7, 12, 18; 22:3, 5, 8; 24:19-20; 28:18; 29:6, 16)
V 11b, 14b The home of the righteous will be blessed
(See Proverbs 10:6, 16; 11:18-19, 31; 12:28; 13:21; 21:21; 28:20; Hosea10:12)
V 12 Seek God’s way instead of your own; do not fool yourself into thinking that you know it all, as this may lead you in the wrong path
(See references for verse 8)
V 15 Don’t believe everything you hear; be prudent and have discernment
(These are fruits of wisdom – See Proverbs 1:2-4 and comments)
V 16 See the danger in evil and stay away from it
(See Psalms 1:1; 34:14; 37:1; Proverbs 1:15-19; 3:7; 4:14-16; 8:13; 11:19; 13:6; 16:6, 17, 27; 22:3, 5; 23:17-18; 24:1-2, 19-20; 27:12)
V 17 Be slow to anger; control your temper
(See Proverbs 12:16; 14:29; 15:1, 18; 16:32; 19:11, 19; 21:19; 22:8, 24-25; 25:28;26:21; 27:4; 29:11, 22; Ecclesiastes 7:9; James 1:19-20)
V 18 The prudent will receive knowledge and wisdom
V 19 Righteousness will prevail over wickedness
(See Proverbs 11:29.) [The wicked will be entangled by their evil actions and will eventually be destroyed (See references for verses 11a, 14a)]
V 20 Many people try to befriend the rich to see what they can get from them
(See Proverbs 19:4)
V 21, 31 He that has compassion for the poor will be blessed
(See Psalms 37:26; 112:5, 9; Proverbs 19:17; 21:26; 22:9; 28:8, 27; 29:7; 31:20; Matthew 25:34-40; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
If you oppress the poor, God will take up their cause
See Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 24:14; Psalms 72:4; Proverbs 14:20; 17:5; 18:23; 21:13; 22:7, 16, 22-23; 28:8; 29:7; 30:14; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:16; Zechariah 7:10; Matthew 25:41-45, James 2:6)
V 22 Do good and be kind to others and you will be blessed with God’s mercy and truth
See Proverbs 3:3-4: Be totally committed to have your life defined by truth (Jesus is the Truth – John 14:6) and lovingkindness (See Proverbs 14:22).
חסד (hesed) in the Hebrew, normally translated “lovingkindness” or “mercy” means unconditional covenant love. This is how God loves you, in spite of the fact that we don’e derserve it! (See Romans 5:8).
If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, you are in a covenant relationship with Him, sealed by the blood of Jesus. [Understand that every time you partake of communion (a covenant meal), you are ratifying that you are in covenant with Him (See Luke 22:19-20).]
V 23 Your work will be rewarded, but empty talk gets you nowhere (See references for verse 4)
V 24 Riches are the fruit of wisdom
(See Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalms 112:1-3; Proverbs 8:20-21; 10:15, 22; 15:6; 18:11; 21:20; 22:4; 24:3-4)
V 25 Always speak the truth (See references for verse 5)
V 26-27 When you fear (reverence and honor) God
(See Proverbs 1:7, 29; 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4;23:17; 24:21; 29:25),
then you will understand that your whole family is secure in Him
(See Psalms 15:1-5; 37:35-37; 55:22; 91:1-16; Proverbs 1:33; 2:7, 21; 3:23-26; 4:5-6; 10:9, 25; 11:21; 12:3, 7; 18:10; 19:23; 28:18; 29:25; Matthew 7:24-27)
V 28 The elected government official is honored when the people support him
(See comments and references for verse 34)
V 29 It is wise to control your temper
(See references for verse 17)
V 30 A peaceful heart keeps your whole body healthy
(See Proverbs 4:23; 15:13; 17:22), but jealousy and envy destroy you
V 32 The righteous*** (in Christ) does not fear death (Jesus paid it all!) He is the perfect Lamb of God that took all our sins upon Himself on our behalf. He is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices of the Old Testament
(See Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53:1-12; Romans 5:8)
***See 2 Corinthians 5:21 – There was an exchange of robes (covenant) at the cross: Jesus put upon Himself our filthy rags(See Isaiah 64:6), so we may put on His robe of righteousness
V 33 An understanding heart is open to increase in wisdom
(See references for verse 6)
V 34 The Country is made great by the righteousness of its people and its government leaders
(See Psalms 11:3; Proverbs8:15-16; 11:10-11; 16:10, 12-15; 20:8, 26, 28; 21:15; 25:4-5; 28:2, 12, 15-16, 28; 29:2, 4, 14)
V 35 Those who serve with wisdom will be rewarded by their superiors. God calls you to do all things with excellence
(See Colossians 3:17, 23)
PRAYER:
O Lord, I bless You; I praise You; I exalt You and magnify Your Name; I lift up my hands unto You in praise and adoration.
You are my God; You are the strength of my salvation;
I will praise You with my whole heart; with my whole heart I will seek You.
Blessed are You, O Lord; With my lips I will declare You, and rejoice in Your ways.
My eyes are on You, O Lord my God; in You do I trust.
Father, help me to be diligent in all that I do, and to do it with excellence as unto You.
Help me to walk in righteousness, so that others may see Christ in me, the Hope of Glory, and surrender their lives to You.
Remove all pride and arrogance from my heart, and let blessings come forth from my mouth. Help me to be prudent and not respond impulsively or with anger to other people, regardless of what they say.
Thank You, Lord, that I grow in favor with God and with man.
Guard my heart, O Lord, and keep it pure; give me the discernment to know Your ways, and close any door that would lead me in the wrong direction.
May the fruit of Your Spirit be manifested more and more every day in my life.
I trust in You and rejoice in knowing that I am secure in You.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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