(Divided into two parts because the chapter is long.)
Proverbs 15
Facts are not on the same level as truth. We are obliged to recognize the moral primacy of social stability under God’s revelation. How we handle criticism, justified or otherwise, says a lot about our moral discernment.
1. A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. A popular proverb in many different modern languages today, the emphasis here is tone of voice and choice of words. As a critical part of the Hebrew mindset, even the king needs to consider the context and act justly. Only rarely does divine justice demand a harsh response.
2. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness. This verse extends the previous. None of us is the Truth Police, and having accurate knowledge of the facts cannot justify using them as weapons. The question is not the facts themselves, but the moral importance of the facts and whether it serves justice to even speak them. The fool is described as “belching” a foul odor, facts notwithstanding.
3. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. This is the sort of reminder that provides a contextual warning. Do you really want to take this path? Is this according to the moral justice that beats in your heart? God is paying close attention, never mind how He responds in the moment.
4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but crookedness in it is a break in the spirit. The Hebrew word for “wholesome” denotes a curative or redemptive effect. The implication is a vivid and joyful life. This is contrasted with distortion or perversity in speech, which fractures the spiritual nature like broken bones.
5. A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who listens to correction is wise. We’ve seen this kind of proverb already, and it bears repeating in other forms, as we see later. This is not limited to a literal male parent; it denotes a type of moral dominion. One could rightly call many different male leaders “father” — king, any tribal leader, teacher, role models, etc. Thus, the primary issue is despising justified dominion attached to any particular social role.
6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the gain of the wicked is trouble. Another proverb that echoes at least one other we’ve seen before. The term “house” implies the broader personal dominion, everything that you control or in which you are involved in any way. By now it should be obvious that the treasure is moral in nature, though it may well be matched by material wealth, particularly in a covenant setting. The word “trouble” here offers the image of noisy, bubbling water that sheep won’t approach for drinking.
7. The lips of the righteous send forth knowledge, but the heart of the foolish is not so. This echoes the previous verse. A more literal rendering says the foolish heart simply cannot.
8. The sacrifice of the wicked is a hateful thing to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. A strong contrast that reminds us we cannot purchase the Lord’s favor by mere ritual, but even the poorest with a pure heart can gain God’s ear.
9. The way of the wicked is hateful to the LORD, but He loves him who pursues righteousness. This clearly echoes the previous verse. The wording portrays wickedness as a well-worn path, but divine justice chases the Lord through the wilderness, if necessary. Thus, social custom is a good place to start, but tradition is not a good reason for anything when you begin to discern moral purity.
10. Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof shall die. This proverb draws a contrast with the previous. One can also be too hasty in rejecting well-tested social customs. When you understand properly why a tradition stands, you are in a better position to question it. You will also be ready to handle objections, but people with no justification will dread having to face criticism. Moral discernment brings peace in all contexts.
11. Hell and destruction are before the LORD; even more the hearts of the sons of men? We note that sheol and abaddon are ambiguous symbolic terms, but the context makes them figurative for the abode of God’s wrath, whatever that might mean in the higher realms above our plane of existence. Thus, since God has no trouble inspecting those places beyond or understanding, as if they were just outside the door of His divine court, how could we on a far lower plane expect to hide our true commitments from Him? Nothing is beyond His awareness.
12. A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise. This echoes verse 10 above. A scoffer is anyone who disparages social stability (shalom) on God’s terms. We should hardly be surprised when he avoids those who accept the burden of social leadership with any measure of moral purity.
13. A merry heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. Most Westerners miss the point here. Telling people to “cheer up” is often senseless and demeaning. The point of this proverb is the heart and its perception of justice. When justice prevails, your heart knows and it will seem like a relief from stress. Just so, the heart discerns when moral justice is oppressed and it makes one sad.
14. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. A study in contrasts again, we have first the image of someone who values moral justice enough to invest resources in gaining discernment. This is choosing the heart over the rest of the self, a kind of self-denial. The fool is like a pig, hoovering up whatever answers to hunger of his fleshly desires. The wise seek to cultivate an appetite for moral justice.
15. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but gladness of heart is a continual a feast. This simply echoes verse 13 above, but includes the sentiment of the one between. To be afflicted in this context refers to that same sense of moral oppression, where nature itself cries out loudly in our ears for divine justice. Yet again, when social stability is honored, nature itself sings joyfully to us.
16. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and tumult with it. A contrast between the value of material versus moral treasures. Don’t trade moral purity for worldly profit.
17. Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred with it. This offers a more picturesque version of the previous proverb. An ox in the stall represents significant wealth.
