#923 Proverbs 18 Bubble Boy

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;

he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

but only in expressing his opinion.

3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked

or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6 A fool's lips walk into a fight,

and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

9 Whoever is slack in his work

is a brother to him who destroys.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city,

and like a high wall in his imagination.

12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

13 If one gives an answer before he hears,

it is his folly and shame.

14 A man's spirit will endure sickness,

but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man's gift makes room for him

and brings him before the great.

17 The one who states his case first seems right,

until the other comes and examines him.

18 The lot puts an end to quarrels

and decides between powerful contenders.

19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,

and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20 From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18 ESV

Proverbs 18 

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire - He is opinionated, but cannot hear reason against what he has decided to believe. Rather then seek counsel, he would remain in a bubble. If he wants your opinion then he will give it to you first. Even if what he heard from another were true; he is locked into his isolation, and must stand for what he proclaims. He will argue just to argue; it is pride and wisdom is found in humility, so she is not welcome on his island.

But only in expressing his opinion - He has fallen in love with the sound of his own voice.

38 In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”… Mark 12: 38-40

When wickedness comes, contempt comes also - It always leaves a blemish. Whatever was good before, people cannot see anymore. It is why we have church discipline spelled out so clearly by Paul, and why we are to confront sin and false teachers. It dishonors the church when we let wickedness remain unchallenged; it dishonors Christ. So many go out in the name of Christ, claiming to be students of great men, but they have fallen away, entertained and then promoted another gospel. 

1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.… 1 Corinthians 5: 1-3

…31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. 32 Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.… 1 Corinthians 10: 31-33

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters -

The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed. 1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry. The words of such a man’s mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds. - Matthew Henry

A fool's lips walk into a fight - If it weren't for my mouth, fueled by my pride, I could have learned some other way than the hard way.

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels -

Like as when men are wounded (so the margin reads it); they pretend to be very much affected with the miscarriages of such and such, and to be in pain for them, and pretend that it is with the greatest grief and reluctance imaginable that they speak of them. They look as if they themselves were wounded by it, whereas really they rejoice in iniquity, are fond of the story, and tell it with pride and pleasure. Thus their words seem; but they go down as poison into the innermost parts of the belly, the pill being thus gilded, thus sugared. 2. As wounds (so the text reads it), as deep wounds, deadly wounds, wounds in the innermost parts of the belly; the venter medius vel infimus—the middle or lower belly, the thorax or the abdomen, in either of which wounds are mortal. The words of the tale-bearer wound him of whom they are spoken, his credit and interest, and him to whom they are spoken, his love and charity. - Matthew Henry

The name of the Lord is a strong tower - In contrast - a rich man's wealth is his strong city. One is eternal in the heavens, the other corrupted and passing away.

But humility comes before honor -

…16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18 In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.… Psalm 51:17

…9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the Law and judges it. And if you judge the Law, you are not a practitioner of the Law, but a judge of it.… James 4: 9-11

If one gives an answer before he hears - Too often, it happens way too often, before we know all of the facts. 

The one who states his case first seems right - Children do this, they run to authority before the other can speak, hoping for a determination before the other can present their case. Adults do this in corporations, in court, emotionally charged, seeking to win rather than to be just.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue -  

1. A man may do a great deal of good, or a great deal of hurt, both to others and to himself, according to the use he makes of his tongue. Many a one has been his own death by a foul tongue, or the death of others by a false tongue; and, on the contrary, many a one has saved his own life, or procured the comfort of it, by a prudent gentle tongue, and saved the lives of others by a seasonable testimony or intercession for them. And, if by our words we must be justified or condemned, death and life are, no doubt, in the power of the tongue. Tongues were Aesop’s best meat, and his worst. 2. Men’s words will be judged of by the affections with which they speak; he that not only speaks aright (which a bad man may do to save his credit or please his company), but loves to speak so, speaks well of choice, and with delight, to him it will be life; and he that not only speaks amiss (which a good man may do through inadvertency), but loves to speak so (Ps. 52:4 ), to him it will be death. As men love it they shall eat the fruit of it. - Matthew Henry

He who finds a wife finds a good thing - I once decided I would never get married, but aside from my relationship to Christ it has been my greatest and growing joy. She calls me out on my bull, yet loves me beside myself. My relationship with her has helped my relationship with God to grow. I want to see her grow, be esteemed as a woman of God, true, compassionate, a wise mother. I want to know what sort of man God would have me to be, so that I am a good husband by His standard.