#920 Proverbs 15 Softly

A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father's instruction,

but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

10 There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

whoever hates reproof will die.

11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;

how much more the hearts of the children of man!

12 A scoffer does not like to be reproved;

he will not go to the wise.

13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,

but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord

than great treasure and trouble with it.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is

than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19 The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

22 Without counsel plans fail,

but with many advisers they succeed.

23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,

and a word in season, how good it is!

24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud

but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

27 Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

and good news refreshes the bones.

31 The ear that listens to life-giving reproof

will dwell among the wise.

32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,

but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15 ESV

Proverbs 15

A soft answer turns away wrath - One of the hardest concepts. When you are in the right as far as the argument, the logical side of the disagreement, it is difficult to remain humble. We tend, or I tend to want to get in my licks, and instead of telling the truth in love, I exalt myself by humiliating the other person. This doesn't restore friendship; it doesn't build the other person up, and while I can justify my reasoning, I can't justify my pride. Unity at the cost of truth is not unity at all; it is delusion, but arrogance stands in the way of any possible unity in truth. 

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.… Galatians 6: 1-3

The eyes of the Lord are in every place - Look hard at your religion, if it is man based, what men may know and see of you, know that God looks at the heart. Nothing is concealed from Him.

…6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”… 1 Samuel 16: 6-8

13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus. 15 So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.… Luke 16: 13-15

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord - Ritual verses reality. You will not give God tokens, beads, empty and vain repetitions; He sends the call to repentance.

…3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.… Hebrews 10: 3-5

…21“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle, I will have no regard. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.… Amos 5: 21-23

A glad heart makes a cheerful face - The believer has the knowledge of God's sovereignty and an everlasting hope. He is not without his sorrows, but comfort is never so far away even in His greatest times of distress. I smile at the thought of my Savior.

“This cheerfulness, however, is very different from the noisy mirth of the ungodly. The word cheerful was often used by the old writers. It was Foxe’s favorite description of the holy joy of the martyrs.” (Bridges)

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord - Those who learn to be content are already rich. Knowing God in proper fashion is wealth beyond material possibility. He that would trade eternal glory for earthly riches, the same has devalued his own soul.

…35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it. 36 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?… Mark 8: 35-37

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife - Anger, knee jerking, kills the conversation before it can occur. If you put everyone on defense at the start, then most will stay there.

Without counsel plans fail - We must consider the cost; we must honestly consider our own limitations.

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain, troubles his own household - Those who steal, deal in the illegal, they put their families at risk and destroy their name. Fathers have spent more time in jail away from their children, some have not, but their children do because they get caught for what they were taught. 

…9 Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.… 1 Timothy 6: 9-11

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer - He refuses to shoot from the hip. He would give up being first to speak in favor of speaking truthfully. 

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor - 

“Humility; whereby men submit to God, and yield to men, which gains them love and respect; whereas pride procures them hatred and contempt from God and men.” (Poole)