#918 Proverbs 13 Scoffer's Ears

A wise son hears his father's instruction,

but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

5 The righteous hates falsehood,

but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

7 One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8 The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,

but a poor man hears no threat.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,

but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,

but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,

but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

that one may turn away from the snares of death.

15 Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,

but a fool flaunts his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21 Disaster pursues sinners,

but the righteous are rewarded with good.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,

but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,

but it is swept away through injustice.

24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want. Proverbs 13 ESV

Proverbs 13

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke - They say, "I know, I got it," when they don't. They mock their parents and act as though the impending danger does not exist.

…13 because we are about to destroy this place. For the outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that He has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and spoke to the sons-in-law who were pledged in marriage to his daughters. “Get up,” he said. “Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. 15 At daybreak the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.”… Genesis 19: 13-15

Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? I hear from all the people about these wicked deeds of yours. 24 No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the Lord’s people is not good. 25 If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death. 1 Samuel 2: 22-25

…2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, 4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,… 2 Timothy 3: 2-4

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life - My mom use to pray this for me, that the Lord would put a guard before my mouth. I prided myself on speaking my mind, no matter how profane or offensive. As we grow in sanctification we find the desire to attack what we used to proudly blurt out before it leaves the heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. My mouth has almost been my life before.

“The old Arab proverb is appropriate: ‘Take heed that your tongue does not cut your throat’.” (Ross)

Whoever despises the word brings destruction upon himself - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet", and so without it one cannot see what lies ahead. If God speaks and men turn away from it, then it is to their own demise. 

…16 But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18

…12 We encouraged you and comforted you as we urged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 And we continually thank God that in receiving the word of God from us, you did not accept it as the word of men, but as the true word of God— the word now at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,… 1 Thessalonians 2: 12-14

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also received the good news, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.… Hebrews 4: 1-3

But a fool flaunts his folly -

“Lacking this prudence, a fool exposes his folly. He pours out his wrath, vaunts his vanity, exposes his thoughtlessness, and exercises no judgment.” (Bridges)

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul - It is wonderful to have a goal, measure the cost, put in the labor, and then reap the reward. The best part of a job is not just being done, but looking back upon a job well done.

But the companion of fools will suffer harm - This is so well known that it has sadly become cliche, even among those who take no heed, but "show me your friends and I will show you who you are."

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children - This has both spiritual and material implications. Solomon has already amassed great wealth, but the Proverbs are a legacy that would pay much further if applied.