Proverbs 24:1-5

 

Prov 24:1 (KJB)

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

 

Envious - To be jealous

With them - Denotes companionship or association

 

Once again the admonition is given that we are not to be jealous of evil men, that is, we are not to be envying the evil but we would be envying all the material goods they may have amassed in their evil dealings. We must never envy them to the point that we want to associate with them and hopefully gain the material wealth equal to theirs. We know that material goods are only fleeting and they are nothing to be desired. If there are any needs that we legitimately have, the Lord will supply them for us. (Mat 6:31-33 KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? {32} (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. {33} But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. We must always remember that these evil men are in Satan’s kingdom and when we know the Scriptures, we know what their end is going to be. If we envy evil in any manner, we have taken our eyes off the Lord and are subject to His chastisement. In fact, if the eyes of the evil ones could be opened spiritually for just a minute, they would be jealous of us because of all the eternal riches we possess in Christ. Since they walk by sight and not by faith, they will continue to forge ahead in gathering as much of the world’s goods as they can.

 

Prov 24:2 (KJB)

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

 

Studieth - To plot or to meditate

Destruction - Violence

Mischief - Trouble, misery, or harm

 

These people sit down and plot destruction against others. However, they do not realize that the more they plot violent acts against others, they are doing to their own destruction. As they continue to plot, they begin to verbalize their plans, probably with their accomplices. Since they are in essence planning their own destruction unwittingly, we can see why God does not want us to envy the wicked to the point of joining them. A believer can go so far as to blindly accept someone’s evil dealings and can pay the same consequences as the unbelievers if they get caught. They will not lose their salvation but they may go to prison or face execution if they are involved in a capital case. The evil people are always speaking of evil things and how they can progress in this world to the top without doing it legitimately.

 

Prov 24:3 (KJB)

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

 

Established - In the passive and Imperfect tense

 

(Psa 127:1 KJV) A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Proverbs 24:3 gives us the same principle found in Psalm 127:1. The house is the one that is built by the Lord, not the physical part, but the ones living inside. This speaks of two different houses. First of all, the house is the home where the believing family dwells and as the Lord saves people in that house, it becomes more established. The second type of house is the House of God built through salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 1:24 KJV) But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. God used wisdom to bring the Elect into salvation by the cross of Christ and this wisdom is hidden to the world but open to the believers. With understanding, that is coming through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the house of God continues to spiritually prosper. The word “established” in the Hebrew is in the imperfect tense which means it is an incomplete action. The house of God continues to grow spiritually, in grace and knowledge plus it is incomplete in the number of believers who have become saved and will become saved in the future. The House of God will be complete on the last day, when the last believer is saved, and then comes the end. Right now it is the day of salvation and God continues to save His elect but there is going to come a day when the last one He named will become saved and then the House of God will be complete. So God established the body of believers through Christ and continues to grow it, not by anything we do, but only through His grace and mercy.

 

Prov 24:4 (KJB)

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

 

Knowledge - The word in Hebrew is da’ath which carries with it the idea that this noun is knowledge which is focused upon God.

 

Here is a continuing description of the house of God from the previous verse. As God continues to build the house by adding His Elect daily, the whole house will be filled because every believer He has named from the foundation of the world will be brought in. (2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 assures us that every believer will come into the House of God and not one will be lost. Repentance is another word which represents salvation and even repentance in the life of the Elect is initiated by God. (2 Tim 2:25 KJV) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; Only those who God grants repentance will be able to acknowledge the truth. Those who are unsaved are unable to see the truth of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 2:25 teaches us that it is God who opens the eyes of the unbelievers to salvation thus building the house. We will build the house in vain if we try to build it by works or some other way around the cross of Christ because there is no salvation outside of the cross of Christ. That is how God is building the House in wisdom. When He saves someone, they immediately focus their eyes upon God and that is the knowledge that fills the chambers. (Col 1:10 KJV) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 

Prov 24:5 (KJV)

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

 

The wise man does not have to be strong physically because he is strong in the Lord by continuing to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. As he continues to grow in the faith, he grows stronger. There are many Christians who have become very strong in the faith that when they hit hard times, their faith in the Lord is so strong, that it almost looks like they are not concerned. They have learned the great lesson of 1 Peter 5:6-7. (1 Pet 5:6-7 KJV) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: {7} Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. One who is strong in the Lord casts all their cares upon the Lord because they know the Lord can take better care of their problems than they can. This does not mean that we sit back and do nothing, we remain vigilant in all circumstances. Strength need not be shown in muscles, for the strength of the Christian is measured by their faith in God. Weak Christian, little faith. Strong Christian, much faith.

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