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Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel
Date Penned: (970-931 BC)
Overview: Wisdom to Teach People to Live Godly (c 1-31)
Theme: Wisdom for All People (c 10-24)
Message: Instruction and Knowledge (v 1-28)
Proverbs 12 Commentary
(12:1) Willing to Learn - If you don't want to learn, years of schooling will teach you very little. But if you want to be taught, there is no end to what you can learn. This includes being willing to accept discipline and correction and to learn from the wisdom of others. People who refuse constructive criticism have a problem with pride. Such people are unlikely to learn very much.
(12:3) Real Success - To have deep roots and be established means to be successful. Real stability and success come only to those who do what is right. Their efforts stand the test of time. Yet sometimes it seems that wickedness does indeed bring success. We all have known people who have cheated to pass a test or to get a larger tax refund. Is this not a success? And what about people who ignore their family commitments and mistreat their employees but get ahead in business? These apparent successes are only temporary. They are gained at the expense of character. Cheaters grow more and more dishonest, and those who hurt others become callous and cruel. In the long run, evil behavior does not lead to success; it leads only to more evil. Those with deep roots in God's Word and God's people will show integrity, courage, diligence, and love for justice in how they conduct their affairs. The apostle Paul encourages believers to grow by regarding Christ as the Lord of their lives and letting their roots grow down into him (Colossians 2:6-7).
(12:13) Living by Truth - Evil people twist the facts to support their claims. Those who do this are likely to be trapped by their own lies. But for those who always tell the truth, the facts--plain and unvarnished--give an unshakable defense. Living by the truth leads to a life of confidence and peace. (See the chart.)
(12:16) When someone annoys or insults us. we naturally want to retaliate. But this solves nothing and only encourages trouble. Instead, when this happens. stay calm and answer slowly and quietly. Your positive response will achieve positive results Proverbs 15:1 says, A soft answer turneth away wrath
(12:19) God's Word is Truth - Truth is both timeless and timely; it offers wise advice, accountability, and justice today, which in turn impacts the future. Truth is always relevant and consistent because it comes from God's changeless character. Think for a moment about the centuries that have passed since the proverbs in this book were written. Consider the countless hours that have been spent carefully studying every sentence of Scripture. The Bible has withstood the test of time. Because God is truth, you can trust his Word to guide you wisely.
(12:21) Proverbs are Principles - This is another general but not universal principle. Although harm and misfortune do come to righteous people, these people are able to find opportunities in their problems and move ahead. The wicked, without God's wisdom, are ill-equipped to handle their problems.
(12:23) Prudent People - Prudent people have quiet confidence. Insecure or uncertain people (fools) feel the need to prove themselves, but prudent people don't have to prove anything. They know God will equip them to be capable of what he has called them to do, so they can get on with their work. Beware of the trap of showing off or putting on a false front. If you are modest, people may not notice you at first, but in time they will respect you.
(12:27) Diligence - Diligent people make wise use of their possessions and resources; lazy people waste them. Waste has become a way of life for many who live in more prosperous parts of the world. Waste is poor stewardship. Make good use of everything God has given you, and ascribe proper value to your resources.
(12:28) No Fear in Death - For many, death looms like a darkened door at the end of life, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny. But for God's people, death leads up a bright pathway to a new and better life. So why do we still fear death? Is it because of the possibility of pain, the separation from loved ones, the uncertainty of a new world, or perhaps seeing Jesus face-to-face? God can help us deal with those tears. The Bible shows us that death is not final but just another step along the path of our eternal life with God. To learn more about heaven and eternal life. look up these topics in the subject index at the back of this Bible
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