Benefits and Flaws of Kings [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 8:1–14]

How are earthly authorities a solution to some of the challenges of a fallen world? Read Ecclesiastes 8:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God has given earthly authorities to restrain some of the effects of sin, and to remind us that He ultimately answers all sin. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary from the transcript of the audio: The devotional affirms that godly rulers are a divinely ordained gift that mitigates the chaos of human sin, yet remain inherently limited. While wise kings, who uphold justice and discern timely judgment, bring order and restraint, their power is finite—unable to control the spirit, death, or God’s providence. The greater danger arises when rulers are wicked, failing to execute judgment swiftly, which emboldens sin and creates a false sense of impunity. Ultimately, earthly outcomes are fleeting and often unjust, but God’s final judgment ensures that the righteous will prosper and the wicked will not endure, as their days are but a shadow. Therefore, believers are called not to place ultimate hope in any human authority, but to trust in God’s sovereign justice, knowing that temporal injustices will be rectified in His eternal reckoning.

2025.10.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 8:1–14

Thursday, October 30, 2025 ▫ Read Ecclesiastes 8:1–14

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of man does v1 commend? What effect does his wisdom have upon him? Whom does v2 say to obey? Why? Against what two things does v3 warn? What does the king’s word have (v4)? How great is his power? What happens to whom in v5a? What does the wise man’s heart understand (v5b–6a)? Against what does this timing and judgment mitigate (v6b)? What limitations are there to the king’s timing and judgment in v7? What other limitations are there upon the king, and all men (v8a–b)? Who else are unable to overcome this (v8c–d)? What sometimes happens to those in authority (v9)? What sometimes happen with the wicked (v10)? What is the effect, when they are not made into a warning for others (v11)? But with whom will it actually be well (v12)? Why won’t it be well with the wicked (v13)? What is sometimes the case on the earth (v14)?

How are earthly authorities a solution to some of the challenges of a fallen world? Read Ecclesiastes 8:1–14 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these fourteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God has given earthly authorities to restrain some of the effects of sin, and to remind us that He ultimately answers all sin.

In the last portion of chapter 7, Solomon was wrestling with the doctrine of total depravity. In this world, there is a limited but beneficial solution to the sinfulness of man in the godly authority of a king (v1–6). The problem is the king is not God (v7). He cannot rule over matters of the spirit (v8). He does not have in his hand the ultimate power of death and judgment. So even the wise and godly kings, even the solution of having a wise or godly king is very limited. And it's not only limited by the finitude of an earthly king. But the other limitation is that kings are often wicked (v10–14).

God is the one who has established authority. He's the one who's set kings over you (v2), and especially if he's given you this wise king who the sternness of his face is changed by genuine wisdom, by the fear of God (v1). What a blessing that is. And so you submit in the first place because you have an oath to God in your submission. Whether or not you swore an oath to God, it's implied because he's the one who has set the king over you. And so you have to keep the king's commandment because God set him over you.

Secondly, all authority is beneficial to some extent. Our wickedness and the chaos of every man ruling himself is so bad that even hard and wicked authority does have some benefits. But if God gives you a wise king, how much better even! He said, do not be hasty to go from his presence. v3 is still talking about the wise king. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him. And if it's a wise king, what pleases him is going to be to punish you. Especially if the “Him” in this case (as may likely be) is not the earthly king, but God.

So you have the wise king, he's doing what pleases God (v3); he's maintaining his authority (v4–5); he is discerning about the right timing of things and the right way to do them (v6). He understands from God that there's appropriate times for particular things and appropriate decisions to be made according to the wisdom of God and the righteousness of God, which are especially opened to us, of course, in the word of God. Having a wise king, wise authority is a great blessing. And whether we're talking about over a nation or over a household, having governing authority in which the authority is maintained, and God is pleased, and His word governs the right timing of things and the right judgments or decisions of things. This significantly mitigates the experience of misery in a fallen world, in a sinful world. Even as sinfulness and misery increase (v6b), yet God in His mercy by this gracious gift of authority and especially wise authority, godly authority, mitigates against sin and misery. What a blessing that is.

And yet, It is limited. Even the wise and good king can only go so far. He does not know what will happen, so who can tell him when it will occur (v7)? So there are times and judgments that belong to him (v5–6), but then there are times and judgments that come in God's providence. He doesn't know what will happen, and he doesn't know when it will happen. This is similar to the secret things belong to God, but the revealed things are for us and for our children (cf. Dt 29:29). In the revealed things, a wise and godly king is a great blessing. But the revealed things are not the only things. There are the secret things. And even a wise and godly king is only a very limited solution.

For instance, no one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit (v8a). He can't issue a decree that everyone will be righteous. The actual condition of the soul belongs to God. And the king is unable to perpetually extend the life of the righteous. No one has power over the day of death (v8b). Thankfully, the wicked do not extend their lives either (v8c–d). That power belongs neither to wickedness nor to righteousness; it belongs to God himself.

And a final limitation for the wise king (before we get to the wicked king_ is that a wise king may have a wicked people in which case his reward for his wisdom is grief and pain of his own (v9), and even sometimes to be assassinated, to be killed. The godly sometimes are killed by the wicked because they're godly.

Beside the other limitations of even the wise king, one of the limitations of earthly authority is that most authority is wicked or has been wicked, even among God's people. They do not sufficiently punish the wicked, so that their name is not made infamous (v10). What's the first harm of having wickedness and authority? They don't punish the wickedness that is under them. And since they don't execute sentence against an evil work speedily, the beneficial restraining effect of godly authority on the hearts of sinners is not enjoyed (v11). Evil men are going to do what they can get away with. If God gives godly authority in order to keep them from getting away with it, so that it restrains the wickedness that is coming from the internal heart of the evil man, that's a great benefit. But if the civil magistrate does not execute speedy sentence upon those who do wickedly, then those who have the internal wickedness lose the external restraint and wicked behavior runs rampant.

The solution isn't in the judgment seat of the earthly magistrate. It's in the judgment seat of God (v12). No one ultimately gets away with their sin. The longest life in this world is but a shadow (v13), and the judgment seat of God is not going to miss anything. So, do not be lulled into a false sense of being able to get away with sin, just because earthly authorities aren't punishing it, or because God might not kill them for a few more years of this life, which is such a brief and passing shadow. Do not be fooled by the patience of God. The patience and forbearance of God are meant to lead you to repentance (cf. Rom 2:4). Not for you to say, look, you can do sinful things and get away with it. No. The wicked store up wrath against themselves for the day of judgment (cf. Rom 2:5). None of that wrath is lost. It's all stored up and it will all be meted out, executed.

So there is a vanity which occurs on earth that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, and there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous (v14). Earthly results are temporary, and it may seem that it's out of balance, but don't be fooled by it. This also is vanity. It's mist that's going to be burned off in a moment

So, In a world full of depraved sinners, authority is a gift from God for the restraint of sin. Godly authority is a very good gift from God. But it is a limited gift from God. It cannot govern the spirit. It cannot determine or change or overrule divine providence and the secret things that belong to the decree of God. Even the godly authority may govern to his own hurt. And the greatest limitation is how harmful ungodly authority is, particularly in failing to restrain our sin—perpetuating the illusion that you can get away with sin.

How might your view of authority need to be improved? How are your specific earthly authorities being used by God to mitigate the effects of sin? What are you tempted to trust earthly authority to do, that really belongs only to God? What do you need to remember, when it seems like the wicked are “getting away with it”?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have not made proper use of the gift of authority. We have not submitted to those whom You have set over us. And, at other times, we have trusted in the government as if it were God. Forgive us for thinking and acting as if the wicked could get away with their sin. Make us to see Your kindness and patience, and grant that we would respond with repentance, we ask through Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP72 “God, Give Your Judgments to the King” or TPH72A “O God, Your Judgments Give the King”

Holy Times of Rejoicing [Family Worship lesson in Deuteronomy 14:22–16:7]

How was Israel to keep God’s prescribed holy time? Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to keep divinely consecrated time by worship that rejoices in the Lord, before the Lord, for His goodness to us in creation and redemption. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) This passage presents a comprehensive framework for consecrating time and resources to God, rooted in gratitude for creation and redemption. The recurring emphasis on remembering Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the inclusion of the vulnerable—Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans—reveals that holy time includes imitation of divine kindness. Though the specific rituals have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles endure: the Lord’s Day is to be a sacred time where believers gather to delight in God and extend His mercy to others.

2025.10.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17

Read Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17

Questions from the Scripture text: What must they do with the increase of their grain (Deuteronomy 14:22)? When? Before Whom shall they enjoy it (Deuteronomy 14:23)? Where? What if it is too far (Deuteronomy 14:24-26)? Whom should they not forget (Deuteronomy 14:27)? How often must they do what in Deuteronomy 14:28? For whom (Deuteronomy 14:29)? How often are they to do what else in Deuteronomy 15:1? What details govern this (Deuteronomy 15:2-3)? What extraordinary circumstance might alter this (Deuteronomy 15:4)? When/how (Deuteronomy 15:5-6)? What mustn’t they do with the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-9)? What must they do (Deuteronomy 15:10)? Why (Deuteronomy 15:11, cf. Deuteronomy 15:4)? What must be done every seventh year (Deuteronomy 15:12)? In what manner (Deuteronomy 15:13-14)? Why (Deuteronomy 15:15)? How might things be between them and their slaves (Deuteronomy 15:6-18)? What must they do with the firstborn males of their animals (Deuteronomy 15:19)? Before Whom (Deuteronomy 15:20)? Where? When mustn’t they do this (Deuteronomy 15:21)? What may they do with the defective firstborn (Deuteronomy 15:22)? With what additional requirement (Deuteronomy 15:23)? What month are they to keep (Deuteronomy 16:1)? To keep what? Unto Whom? Why? From what (Deuteronomy 16:2a)? Where (verse 2b, cf. Deuteronomy 16:5-7)? How (Deuteronomy 16:3)? Why? For how long (Deuteronomy 16:4, Deuteronomy 16:8)? What must they hold on the last day? What shall they count (Deuteronomy 16:9) until when (Deuteronomy 16:10)? What is the essence of this feast (Deuteronomy 16:11)? With whom are they to do this rejoicing? What are they to remember (Deuteronomy 16:12)? What other feast are thy to observe (Deuteronomy 16:13)? For how long? At what time? What are they to do (Deuteronomy 16:14)? With whom? How long (Deuteronomy 16:15)? Unto Whom? Where? Why? How does Deuteronomy 16:16 summarize this chapter so far? Before Whom must they appear? Where? With what (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)? 

How was Israel to keep God’s prescribed holy time? Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to keep divinely consecrated time by worship that rejoices in the Lord, before the Lord, for His goodness to us in creation and redemption.

This passage presents framework for Israel to consecrate time unto gathering unto YHWH and rejoicing in Him, rooted in gratitude for creation and redemption. This follows the logic of the fourth commandment, the celebration of which is grounded in creation in Exodus 20, and then additionally grounded in redemption in Deuteronomy 5.

Israel’s calendar is shaped by joyful worship and generosity, embodied in annual tithing, the release of debts, the liberation of slaves, and the celebration of three annual feasts—all designed to cultivate a heart of thankfulness and mercy. The recurring emphasis on remembering Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the inclusion of the vulnerable—Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans—reveals that holy time is both a celebration of divine grace, and an imitation and expression of it unto others. 

For Israel, this was prescribed to be experienced very concretely in the “year by year” of the tithing in Deuteronomy 14:22–27, and then at the end of every third year, the special tithe for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). And then there is the debt-release year (Deuteronomy 15:1–11), which also a slave-release year (Deuteronomy 15:12-18), in the literal Sabbath (seventh) year. They were also to observe “year by year” (Deuteronomy 15:20) consecration of the firstborn (Deuteronomy 15:19-23). Finally, Deuteronomy 16:1–17 reviews the three feasts at which times all of the males of Israel are to appear before YHWH in the place which He chooses. 

There are three important things to point out about all of these holy times. First, is that there is a delighting in YHWH Himself by means of what he has given (e.g., Deuteronomy 14:26). The consecrated time was a time of rejoicing, being glad in YHWH, strengthened in YHWH, and refreshed in YHWH, in the place where YHWH had put His Name. It was not so much the good thing that is enjoyed as YHWH Himself. 

The other two things to notice about these holy times are connected to the Scriptural grounds of the fourth commandment. Israel are to tithe in recognition that YHWH has created everything, corresponding to Exodus 20:11. And, corresponding to Deuteronomy 5:15, Israel are to remember their own deliverance from Egypt as they show kindness to the foreigner, the slave, the fatherless, and the widow.

Though the specific rituals have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles endure: the Lord’s Day is to be a sacred time of worship, rest, and practical kindness, where believers gather to delight in God and extend His mercy to those in need. The entire system points to a deeper reality—resting in Christ, rejoicing in His provision, and reflecting His redemptive love.

Though the priesthood of Christ eliminated the Israelite calendar (cf. Hebrews 7:12), but we still continue with the Adamic calendar, the one day in seven (cf. Matthew 24:20, Hebrews 4:9), now appropriated by the last Adam, the Lord Jesus (cf. Revelation 1:10). All that God gave to Israel to celebrate (and more!) over the course of their calendar year, is now subsumed into each Lord's Day. The Lord's Day is especially a time for enjoying the Lord Himself with His people. And the place where He has chosen to put His Name is not geography so much, now, as it is anthropology: His people. Lord's Day is not a day for gathering with the neighborhood. It's not a day for gathering with extended, unbelieving family. His church is now the “place” in this world where He “has put His Name.”

And then the Lord's Day is especially a day for kindness among his people. This happens especially in the Lord's Day assembly, as Isaiah 56 further opens up; among God’s Sabbath-keeping people, the circumstances of the eunuch or the foreigner are mitigated. It’s a very appropriate use of the Lord's Day for it to be the time that the poor among the congregation receive that which has been given by the rest of the congregation and portioned out to them by the diaconate.

And so you see the regulation of holy time by the Lord has been much simplified, but the principles of thankfulness to Him, from whom all things have come; and, the purpose of imitating the mercy of Him, Who has delivered us from our bondage. Doing those things, especially on the Lord's day, those principles continue.

How do you spend the Lord’s Day in joyful worship? How do you spend it in the place (among the people!) where He has put His Name? How do you specifically imitate His kindness to the poor on that day?

Sample prayer:  Lord, forgive us for how we have neglected Your day of rest, or taken a fleshly and worldly rest, rather than resting in You and rejoicing in You by the worship that You have prescribed for Your day. Grant that we would always rejoice in You, and imitate Your kindness. But grant that we would especially do so on Your day, in the worship that You have prescribed, in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP92 “It’s Good to Thank the Lord” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”

Christ's Help in Our Failings [Family Worship lesson in Song of Songs 1:8–11]

How does the Lord respond to His Bride’s discouragement over her present failings? Song of Songs 1:8–11 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord responds to His Bride’s discouragement over her failings with encouragement and instruction. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary from the transcript of the audio. The devotional reflects upon the believer’s identity and hope, rooted in the Bride’s longing for sanctification and the Bridegroom’s loving response. It emphasizes that spiritual growth is not found in novel methods or self-reliance, but in faithfully following the well-worn paths of the faithful—through the ordinary means of grace and the pastoral ministry, which Christ has appointed and employs. The Bridegroom’s declaration of the bride’s incomparable worth—comparing her to His prized filly among Pharaoh’s chariots—affirms the dignity, value, and divine purpose of His church (and His elect), not by inherent merit, but by union with Christ. This dignity is being progressively adorned by God Himself, Who is actively refining His church through a Trinitarian work of sanctification, culminating in a glory that surpasses all earthly splendor. The passage calls the church and individual believers to hold fast to this truth, especially in seasons of discouragement, recognizing that their worth is defined not by failure or external appearances, but by the unchanging love and sovereign work of Christ, Who is both the Author and the Finisher of their faith.

2025.10.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ Song of Songs 1:8–11

Read Song of Songs 1:8–11

Questions from the Scripture text: What may be the case with the Bride (Song of Songs 1:8a)? What does the King call her? Where does He tell her to go (verse 8b)? What does He tell her to do (verse 8c)? Where/with whom (verse 8d)? Who has done what to her (Song of Songs 1:9a)? What does He call her now? To what has He compared her (verse 9b)? What other observations does He make bout her (Song of Songs 1:10)? What will He continue to make for her (Song of Songs 1:11)?

How does the Lord respond to His Bride’s discouragement over her present failings? Song of Songs 1:8–11 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord responds to His Bride’s discouragement over her failings with encouragement and instruction.

“If you do not know” (Song of Songs 1:8a). The Bride has been speaking as the invisible church (she loves Him, cf. Song of Songs 1:7a). But she is sill susceptible either to ignorance or forgetfulness. Let believers, and/or healthy churches, keep vigilance and diligence to learn from Her Chief Shepherd.

“O fairest among women” (Song of Songs 1:8a). She is painfully aware of her deficiency, and she has taken pains to warn the daughters of Jerusalem against focusing upon her deficiency (Song of Songs 1:6a). But, this is not how her Beloved sees her. To Him, He is the fairest among women. This teaches us to see the church, to see believers, through the eyes of Christ. Scripture teaches us several ways in which He values the church above all else. 

He esteems her for her election by God, her union with Himself, her indwelling by the Spirit, her adoption by the Father. 

His own righteousness has been counted unto her; she is righteous with the righteousness of God, and is to be esteemed accordingly. 

His own personal delight in her, and love for her, assigns to her a value at which we all ought to esteem her. 

He sees her with respect to how glorious she will be when He is done with her. And so ought we.

For all of these reasons, He has counted her (reckoned, “compared” in NKJ, Song of Songs 1:9) as the most excellent, in comparison to animals that are the most beautiful, strong, and noble/glorious. 

And, she has a beauty that is more and different than what horses ordinarily have, represented in Song of Songs 1:10 with the ornaments and gold. Note, that this beauty is added to her from the outside, represented by ornaments and chains. Where does she get them? The Lord Himself. In fact, He is still making them for her (Song of Songs 1:11). The plural here does not indicate a change in speaker. Just as, in His making things in Genesis 1:26, the change from third person singular to first person plural is not a change in Actor. Using the same word for “make” in both places, Scripture talks about the same, glorious, Triune God. 

So, the Lord answers her discouragement with encouragement—but also with instruction. He gives her two commands in Song of Songs 1:8. 

First, follow in the tracks of the flock that has gone before. Take the old paths. What is needed is not some innovation. The same means that the Lord has appointed, He has used in the paths, and He continues to use today. If we wish to be sanctified until we are glorified, then we follow in the same path, the ordinary means of God’s grace—chief among which are Word, sacraments, and prayer.

Second, bring our little ones (the kids of the goats, in Song of Songs 1:8c) to the shepherds whom the Chief Shepherd, the King, the Beloved, has appointed. He employs pastor-teachers (verse 8d, cf. Ephesians 4:11). This is what the church’s children need. And, indeed, this is what we all need. We are all little ones. Lambs. Kids of the goats. And, in availing ourselves of the pastoral ministry for them, we will avail ourselves of it for ourselves as well. 

Thus, the Lord answers us, when we are discouraged by our ongoing failings: with encouragement and instruction.

Over what failings in the church have you been discouraged? But how does Christ see her? And what does Christ tell her to do? Over what spiritual failings in yourself have you been discouraged? But how does Christ see you? And what does Christ tell you to do?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for valuing us with Your own love, delight, and esteem. Grant unto us to view Your church, and ourselves, in accordance with how You view us. And grant unto us to walk in the old paths, shepherded by the pastors whom You have given us, that we might have Christ Himself as the One Who feed us, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH403 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken”

God Requires Perfect Obedience [Children's Catechism 24—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 24—especially explaining how God required perfect obedience in the covenant of works. Q24. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works? To obey God perfectly. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary from the transcript of the audio: The lesson centers on the theological significance of Adam’s obligation under the covenant of works, emphasizing that his duty was not merely to avoid a single prohibition but to obey God perfectly in every aspect of life. Rooted in Scripture, particularly the command not to eat from the tree in the midst of the garden, the covenant underscores that even the slightest disobedience carried the full penalty of death, highlighting the absolute nature of divine obedience. Adam’s creation in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, along with his moral awareness and responsibilities such as stewardship of creation and Sabbath observance, illustrates that obedience was required not only in outward actions but from the heart. The lesson underscores the gravity of moral responsibility and the impossibility of perfection from now-fallen humanity, apart from divine grace, setting the stage for the necessity of redemption. The tone is instructive and reverent, calling listeners to reflect on the seriousness of God’s law and the depth of human failure.

Good Friends [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 18:22–19:7]

What is worse than financial poverty? Proverbs 18:22–19:7 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that spiritual poverty is infinitely worse than financial poverty. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) Summary of the transcript from the audio. The central message of the devotional is that true security comes not from wealth, status, or earthly influence, but from relationship with God through Christ, Who is the ultimate Friend. Drawing from Proverbs 18:22–19:7, it emphasizes that godly speech and a life marked by humility and wisdom are instruments through which God grants blessings such as a godly spouse and faithful friends, but these are ultimately divine gifts, not human achievements. The passage confronts the worldly illusion that wealth buys loyalty, revealing instead that the poor and righteous are often abandoned by friends, yet they are not without hope, for they have Christ—‘a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother’—Who stands as their eternal advocate before God’s judgment seat. The sermon warns against pride and fleshly security, highlighting that those who live in arrogance and deceit, even if wealthy, will face divine accountability, while those whose fellowship with Christ is displayed by walking in integrity, though friendless on earth, are assured of divine favor. Ultimately, believers are called to place their hope not in material prosperity or human alliances, but in Christ alone, Who is the source of true life, righteousness, and unshakable friendship.

2025.10.27 Hopewell @Home ▫ Proverbs 18:22–19:7

Read Proverbs 18:22–19:7

Questions from the Scripture text: What might a man find (Proverbs 18:22a)? What else does he find? What does he obtain (verse v22b)? From whom? Who speaks in what way (Proverbs 18:23a)? Who else speaks in which other way (verse 23b)? What is required of a man, with “ordinary” friends (Proverbs 18:24a)? But what other sort of friend is there (verse 24b)? How might the poor walk (Proverbs 19:1a)? Whom is he better than (verse 1b)? What is not good for the soul (Proverbs 19:2a)? What does the one hastening with his feet do (verse 2b)? What twists a man’s way in Proverbs 19:3a? What does such a man’s heart do in verse 3b? What makes many friends (Proverbs 19:4a)? Who is separated from his friend (verse 4b)? What will surely happen to a false witness (Proverbs 19:5a)? And to whom else (verse 5b)? Whose favor do many entreat (Proverbs 19:6a)? Who are friends to a briber (verse 6b)? Who hate the poor (Proverbs 19:7a)? Who go far from him (verse 7b)? How does he pursue them (verse 7c)? But with what success?

What is worse than financial poverty? Proverbs 18:22–19:7 looks forward to the midweek sermon. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that spiritual poverty is infinitely worse than financial poverty.

Good favor from God. One of the benefits of a godly tongue is that one has good hope of finding a wife who is similar (Proverbs 18:22a). This is not, ultimately, because wise speech obtains her, but because God gives one as well as the other (verse 22b), just as we saw with wisdom and life in Proverbs 8:35. Let the young seek from God to be such prospects, and to find such prospects, for marriage.

The friendless poor. This thought leads naturally to consideration of how one evaluates others. Not all poor “deserve” it, and not all rich “deserve” it. Indeed, earthly riches can expose spiritual poverty, which must be the case of this rough-answering man (Proverbs 18:23), considered in light of the rest of chapter 18. 

Though the poor man desperately needs friends, not all friends are beneficial. NKJ relies on other translations for Proverbs 18:24a, but the original reads, “a man who has friends is about to be broken.” One must be selective, seeking that “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (verse 24b). The implication, as with the wife in Proverbs 18:22, is that while the exercise of wisdom is prescribed and instrumental, such a friend is, ultimately, a gift from God. The chief instance of this wise friend is the Lord Jesus Himself (cf. John 15:12–17). Seek Him as your first Friend, in the great favor of the Lord!

Something worse than financial poverty. If we are poor, we might be tempted to misuse our mouth (Proverbs 19:1b) to obtain our objective, but it is better to walk in integrity (verse 1a). Whatever his outward or societal status, such a fool’s soul is in trouble (Proverbs 19:2a), as his uninstructed (verse 2b) and twisted (Proverbs 19:3a) way puts him at odds with YHWH Himself (verse 3b). The poor have some misery for a moment, but the wicked have great misery forever.

Living before the verdict of God. In the culture into which this was written, the place of greatest difficulty for the poor was the courtroom. Proverbs 19:5-6 establish this as the context of Proverbs 19:4-7. In the courtroom, the wealthy has many who will speak for him (Proverbs 19:4a, Proverbs 19:6), but the poor cannot count upon his friends, or even brothers (Proverbs 19:4b, Proverbs 19:7). What is the solution to this? Will the wealthy always go unpunished and escape? Justice and judgment ultimately belong to God, so the false witness and the liar will not escape punishment (Proverbs 19:5). Rather than trusting in wealth, one must hope in Christ, in Whom alone, we may be counted righteous—and in Whom, and through Whom, we will escape condemnation. Whenever the pressure of the earthly situation, and possibly our friendlessness in it, squeezes us, let us remember that we are ultimately before the judgment seat of God. And let us put our trust in Christ; none who trust in Him shall be put to shame.

How are you pursuing a good spouse for yourself or your dear ones? In Whom are you hoping, as you do this? In what situations are you tempted to put too much emphasis upon your financial condition? From what ultimate Friendship do you derive your hope and your help? To whom, and how, are you seeking to be a true friend?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for giving us Jesus Christ as the Friend, Who sticks closer than a brother. Grant that we would trust in Him, rather than in uncertain riches, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP11 “My Trust is in the Lord” or TPH456 “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!”

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