Proverbs 17:6-10

 

Prov 17:6 (KJB)

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

 

In some verses we saw that those who are wise in this world will be blessed with long life. In this verse, we read that a man’s grandchildren are their crown. As a king wears a crown, the grandfather portrays his grandchildren, especially if they are walking in wisdom and growing in the faith. Then in the second part of this verse, we see that the glory of children is their fathers. If their father is walking in wisdom and in concert with the Scriptures, then the children will brag on him as the glory of their lives. This verse also shows a cross-generation of wise people. Not only are the children walking in wisdom but the grandfather, father, and the grandchildren. This is the result of walking in obedience to the Scriptures. There are many family lines that have produced many godly people. Contrariwise, there are many families which have produced nothing but fools and criminals because of their neglect of the ways of the Lord.

 

Prov 17:7 (KJB)

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

 

Here we have two kinds of speech which are not suited for their class. First, excellent speech is not what you would expect to hear from a fool. Normally, their speech is embedded with expletives because they have a very limited vocabulary, education and refinement is not high on their priority of life. The second type of speech which is improperly placed is lying for a ruler of the people. The people need to know truth and if a ruler is a liar, then that does not fit his status nor his position. However, it is unfortunate that most in government are habitual liars when it comes to informing the people. There is also a spiritual application here. The fool does not bring the true gospel of Christ because he is unfit by means of him being unsaved. His actions will dictate whether he is truly saved or not and whether he is to be believed.

 

Prov 17:8 (KJB)

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

 

Gift – Present or bribe

Precious stone - A stone of favor - Where a person finds favor or acceptance in the eyes of another person.

 

The primary meaning of this verse is a person may give a legitimate gift or present to someone and with wise investment, they will turn a profit with it. Let us look at the spiritual meaning in this verse. A person gives the Gospel of grace to another person, they become saved which is spiritually profitable for the one giving the Gospel and then in turn, the one who became saved goes out and preaches the Gospel and it prospers by adding souls. (1 Tim 4:8 KJV) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

 

A secondary application is that Solomon is not endorsing the practice of bribing but is stating that there are people who are basically addicted to bribing people because they know it simply works. When a bribe is given to a person by someone, in turn, the person receiving the bribe does some kind of favor for that person which may turn a profit for them. However, ill-gotten gain by means of either a bribe or other means will always yield problems later on. Bribing is a practice which normally brings a person down.

 

Prov 17:9 (KJB)

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

 

In the first part of this verse, we read about a person who covers a transgression, not for the purpose of expecting a bribe but for the purpose of love. (Prov 10:12 KJV) Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. If someone we love sins against us, we will not hold that sin to their account and we will forgive them. This is the essence of Christianity as God has forgiven us, we forgive others. (Mat 18:22 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. The Lord is not stating that you stop at 490 times, but is saying that since we believers are on perpetual forgiveness by God because of Christ, therefore we need to treat others in that respect. In the second half of this verse, we read about a person who continually repeats a matter, that is, they gossip about the situation until they have successfully ruined a person’s reputation. This type of person, if he is a true friend, would not do such things but one who is not a true friend would attempt to destroy another person by their tongue. A wise person seeks to quell a matter but the fool seeks to perpetuate a matter. We must be careful to never make a close associate out of a person like this if we can help it.

 

Prov 17:10 (KJB)

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

 

Reproof - Rebuke

 

Here is another verse which speaks of the difference between the wise and the fool. A wise man will hearken to the reproof given to him because he knows there is value in it and if it is a legitimate rebuke, then he can change his way and will learn from his wrong doing. On the other hand, the fool can be given 100 lashes, which under the law was forbidden. Only 40 were allowed under the Mosaic Law but the 100 is being used as an example of even extreme punishment which will not even cause the fool to become the least bit wise. Once the fool’s back heals from the punishment, he will go right back to doing what it was that caused him to be punished. Fools remain fools unless the Lord saves them and imparts His wisdom into them.

 

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