Proverbs 21:21
‘The thoughts of the diligent, tend only to plenteousness; but…a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro by them that seek death. The robbery of the wicked, shall destroy them!… When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked; and God overthrows the wicked for their wickedness…. The man that wanders out of the way of understanding, shall remain in the congregation of the dead…. There is treasure to be desired, and oil; in the dwelling of the wise…. He that follows after righteousness…, finds life…. The upright…directs his way. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord!’
Proverbs 21:5-30.
‘The thoughts of the diligent, tend only to plenteousness’ — that is: ‘Even when the diligent merely thinks or develops methods, it tends only to plenteousness; but that of the hasty who are slothful, tends only to want.’ When one is diligent, plenteous success is ultimately inevitable. But when one is either too slothful or too hasty, one ends up in want.
One such hasty way to try to acquire plenteousness, is by lying. But the attempt to get ‘treasures by a lying tongue, is a vanity tossed to and fro by them that seek death.’ Those who fib and lie through life, end up with the devil as the father of lies in everlasting death (John 8:44). Such actually ‘seek death.’ And, sure enough, they find it!
‘The robbery of the wicked, shall destroy them!’ Their sheer violence, sweeps them away. And the reason for this, is that the wicked ‘refuse to do judgment’ — or deny doing what is right.
On the other hand — ‘the wise is instructed; he receives knowledge!’ For he who has been made wise through contact with God’s Wisdom the Lord Jesus Christ, keeps on receiving Wisdom and acquiring knowledge — and becomes more and more righteous!
Thus, the righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked. And he sees that God overthrows the wicked, for their wickedness.
Indeed, the righteous often themselves help overthrow the wicked! It is actually God as the Righteous One who does this (Job 34:16-17) — but those who follow Him, are part of His actions.
However, those men who wander away from Wisdom, shall remain in the congregation of the dead. They remain in the land of shades, and die prematurely — and everlastingly.
Meanwhile, the wise desire and amass treasure in their dwellings. And both here and hereafter — ‘he that follows after righteousness and mercy, finds life.’ For ‘the upright…directs his way.’
On the other hand, ‘there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord!’ For he who counsels against God, lacks Wisdom altogether! But he who keeps following righteousness, finds life and honour. Which counsel do you follow?
