<i>Veritas est Immortalis</i>: Postings on Proverbs...13:2

Veritas est Immortalis

"If the Church is not in possession of truth, truth as an understanding that corresponds exactly to what is in reality, and...exactly to what is in the will and character of God, then it has been left speechless. It has nothing to say" (David Wells). But never forget: "Divine Truth is immortal, and though it may long be bound, scourged, crowned with thorns, crucified and laid in a grave, yet on the third day it will rise again victoriously and will reign and triumph eternally" (Hubmaier).

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Postings on Proverbs...13:2

"From the fruit of his mount a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence" (ESV)

Who? A (wise) man vs. "the treacherous"
What? Eats what is good vs. desires violence
Why? Because of what he says ("the fruit of his mouth") vs. Because he's treacherous
How? ???

What makes the first half of the proverb parallel to the the second half is not clear (Waltke I:553; Longman 284), meaning it's harder to find the wisdom in this one. Here's my best shot:

In Proverbs, "treacherous" people aren't comic book villains. They are men and women who are unfaithful to an already established relationship they've proclaimed loyalty to. They make promises and refuse to keep them. They abandon something or someone they've previously committed themselves to, as seen in Jeremiah: "Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord" (3:20).

The best explanation for this proverb, for me, is from a footnote in Waltke who said the word translated "desire" can also be translated "throat," meaning as the wise man words get him good things, so the words of the treacherous bring him harm, even violence.

I'm watching two shows with my wife right now, Quantum Leap (a favorite from high school for me) and Arrested Development. There couldn't be a bigger contrast between the two shows as Sam in QL is fixing everyone's lives, often times with what he says, while the characters in AD are the biggest bunch of treacherous fools I've ever seen on TV, only loyal to themselves.

So, can you look at your life and see any actual blessings your words have rewarded you with? What are they? See which side of 13:2 you're on. Or, do you find yourself in trouble a lot because of your mouth?

The wise person sees a need to change and indulges that need, the fool starves that need and stays dumb, so what's it going to be?

In the end, let us examine our tongues for wisdom, "that it be under the influence of Divine grace, restrained from evil, disciplined for usefulness, the fruitful instrument of our own happiness" (Bridges 151; underline mine).