The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them.
Message: Walking with Integrity
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: Last lesson mentioned pride for the first time since starting in Chapter 10 and today this verses mention 'them.' Contrasts continue - wicked and upright. The key thought here is integrity contrasted with falseness.
The person with integrity is honest and has strong moral character - both in public and private. This is a person that walks the talk in front of others and behind closed doors.
Some of the themes of this verse found in commentaries:
- Fraudulent persons (literally, those who “cover” a matter up) pervert the truth, thereby ruining their own characters (inasmuch as in time they can hardly distinguish right from wrong), and losing the favor of Almighty God. (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)
- An honest man's principles are fixed, therefore his way is plain. (Matthew Henry)
- Lowly souls become full of wisdom as the low place becomes full of water. (Rabbinic paraphrase as cited by Albert Barnes)
- The upright's sincere obedience to God’s laws shall keep them from crooked and dangerous courses, and lead them in a right and safe way. The wicked devices by which they design and expect to secure themselves, shall be the instrument of their destruction. (Matthew Poole's Commentary)
On Sunday, the Sunday School teacher reviewed the life of Solomon. 700 wives and 300 concubines is what stands out. And yet he supports all of those women. Hard to imagine he sees all of those women and yet he provides for them. Maybe it is better than we think. I asked someone after the class if Solomon was saved and he thought he had a perspective that God must be involved in life. Just not sure I see a personal devotion from him, but he's probably right.
From this text, the words seem obvious. Live in an upright manner, being a person of integrity and you will be guided by good, versus the fraudulent one's who lose favor with God and through their coverup get to a point of not being able to distinguish right and wrong.
Just as valleys (low places) receive and hold water, humble hearts (lowly souls) receive and hold wisdom.
Not sure if anyone decides to be wicked, but their ways of being selfish result in their destruction. Kind of a hard lesson here today.
Prayer: O God, you are good and full of wisdom. Give me understanding of this verse and help it to be a guide to my life.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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