Monday, October 27, 2008

Proverbs 24:13-22

Saying 26-30: Don't envy the wicked.
v.13-14 (Saying 26) Sweet honey. Here we are told to eat honey because it is sweet to the taste (and nutritious/healing). In the same way wisdom is sweet to the soul, if you find it your future will be bright and your hope secure (see 23:18). Pursue wisdom because of its sweet rewards.
v.15-16 (Saying 27) Rise 7 times. Do not join the wicked man in doing an injustice against the righteous. The righteous will get up seven times after a fall, but the wicked stumble and do not get up in times of calamity. The seven times means that he will rise no matter how many times he falls. Augustine interprets "rises again" to mean he profits from the trials (accs). See Ps 145:14.
v.17-18 (Saying 28) Don't gloat. Do not be glad and rejoice when an enemy (presumably the wicked) falls, lest the Lord turn away his anger. The Lord has no pleasure at the death of the wicked (Ez 33:11). Jesus teaches us to love our enemies (Mt 5:43-48). Vengeance is from the Lord, not man.
v.19-20 (Saying 29) Don't envy. Do not worry about evil people, nor be envious (of their apparent prosperity), because they have no future (hope) (Ps 37:1-2) and their lamp will be put out (13:9) (i.e., sudden death).
v.21-22 (Saying 30) Fear the Lord. Fear (both) the Lord and the king (1 Pt 2:17) (the government) and do not consort (be friends with) with those who do not (political agitators); for disaster and ruin will overtake them suddenly (both the Lord and the king can be the agents of wrath).

This ends the thirty sayings of the wise (22:17-24:22).

Read Proverbs 24:13-22

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