Proverbs 12:6-10

 

Prov 12:6 (KJB)

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

 

If there is one thing that the counsel of the wicked will lean toward and that is, it will always be to serve their desires. As we read in the first part of this verse, their way of dealing with people, whether to assassinate their character or to physically steal and harm them. The unbeliever does not concern themselves with the effect their plans have on others. Their plans always include what is best for them and not what is best for others. This in itself is contrary to what the Scriptures teach. (Phil 2:4 KJV) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. The mouth of the upright will deliver them because words out of the mouth comes from the heart. If the heart is regenerated in salvation, the upright will speak that which is correct. Out of the saved heart comes the words of salvation. Out of the wicked heart comes the words of wickedness.

 

Prov 12:7 (KJB)

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

 

Here is a verse which once again compares the righteous and the wicked on Judgment Day. The wicked will be overthrown on this earth was well, a good example would be Sodom and Gomorrha which were overthrown and then they ceased to exist. Another good example is the flood of Noah where the entire world of wicked people were overthrown and then ceased to exist. On Judgment day, all the wicked who have died and those still alive will be judged for their sins and then cast into an eternal hell. They will cease to exist as they will be away from all the righteous. The house of the righteous, that is, all the true believers will be raptured on the last day and taken to Heaven and given glorified spiritual bodies where they will live forever. Their house shall stand because it was built upon the Rock. (Mat 7:24-25 KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: {25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

 

Prov 12:8 (KJB)

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

 

A man shall be commended - A man shall be praised

 

When a person brings the righteous counsel of the Scriptures, it will help everyone in his hearing and as a result, they will be praised for bringing the right word at the right time. People will bless him because he has brought the true word of God and has not injected his own thoughts into it, thus diluting the message. If a man not only brings the word but in a situation, he does the right thing which affects others, he will be praised for this also, since he did it in the wisdom of God. This does not mean he will be worshipped, but it means he will be viewed as a very valuable person. The one who is unregenerate brings only the wisdom of darkness to any situation. They will be unable to properly assess any situation and that will cause more problems. If they find themselves in a teaching position, they will be unable to bring the word of truth because they will be unable to interpret the Bible since they lack regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who helps us understand the Bible. This is why they will be despised because they will not bring the true Gospel and that means people cannot be saved and on Judgment day, these false teachers will be doubly despised.

 

Prov 12:9 (KJB)

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

 

Despised - Lightly esteemed

 

Here is a question of pride. A person who is lightly esteemed by others, yet has a servant to aid him is better off than someone who boasts themselves as being wealthy or of nobility and on the verge of starvation. The one who is despised can easily go to work and also dispatch his servant to work and they can bring in two salaries. The one who boasts of being someone, when they are not, would not lower themselves to do menial labor, for if they have puffed themselves up and pretended to be someone, they could not take the chance of being spotted by someone doing labor. Their pride dictates that they should starve rather than work and live. Pride is the most dangerous thing because out of it, many different sins emerge.

 

Prov 12:10 (KJB)

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

 

Regardeth - Knows or has knowledge

 

This verse takes us back to a time of an agrarian society. The one who owned cattle, sheep, horses, or other types of livestock would know the inherent value of these beasts. They would not treat them cruelly but would treat them nicely because of the work they do. Horses have helped build every country in this world before the engine was invented. Horses were used to plow, to pull wagons, to ride, etc. So if a horse is treated nicely and well-fed, they will give years of service to their owners. Another principle which emerges is that the way a person treats their animals will give an indication of how they treat people. A wise man will learn about the beasts which they purchase and this is another principle of the advantage of knowledge. They will know what to feed each animal and what their capabilities are and the boundaries of work so they will not become overburdened and have their lives shortened. On the other hand, the wicked do not care about mercy, in fact, their mercy equals cruelty, that is, they have no mercy, either for beasts or their fellow man. Wickedness is not something which brings forth mercy as a fruit. This is why the saved must have as little to do with wicked people as possible and never form an alliance with one. (2 Cor 6:14 KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

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