Proverbs 12
In the first verse “instruction” is really discipline, training under the faithful and gracious hand of our God. He has set Himself to a blessed work which will not be finished until we are taken out of the world altogether. (See Titus 2:1414Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14); Ephesians 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26); Hebrews 12:5-105And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (Hebrews 12:5‑10); 1 Corinthians 11:3232But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32)). All of the children of God may thus undergo a preparatory work here, for their own blessing as well as His glory. All the principles of an acceptable life before Him are set out in this book for our help and guidance.
A good man, one who learns and profits by the discipline of which verse 1 speaks, obtains favor of the Lord. Scripture affords us example of this (see Genesis 4:4; 6:8, 9; 13:14-17; 39:2, 21-234And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: (Genesis 4:4)
8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8‑9)
14And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14‑17)
2And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (Genesis 39:2)
21But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. (Genesis 39:21‑23); Daniel 1:9, 17; 6:22, 28,9Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. (Daniel 1:9)
17As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Daniel 1:17)
22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (Daniel 6:22)
28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:28) and many other passages).
God has laid down a rule from which there is no swerving, in verse 3: A man shall not be established by wickedness, though wickedness abounds in these times, and abounded long before Solomon's day. Look back over the history of mankind, of any nation: What ruler, what government founded upon wickedness has continued very long? And looking forward, what of that approaching day when the King of Kings shall reign, putting down all authority and power that dares dispute His title?
Verse 7 is best translated, "Overthrow, the wicked and they are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand." We may link this with verse 19: "The lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment," and with verse 28: "In the way (or path) of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death." Upon this solid foundation of God's truth, the believer takes his stand content to wait God's time, when He will fully and finally vindicate His Word.
Sound instruction, particularly for young men and young women, setting out from the home of their childhood, abounds in the Proverbs. How marked is the distinction between the two classes of persons which they continually set forth. Truly the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel (verse 15).
May God graciously preserve our young people from the evils of today!
The coming of the Lord is most unmistakably near, and Satan is busier than ever, no doubt knowing that the time must be short.
Messages of God’s Love 6/12/1932