Proverbs Chapter 12
Proverbs 12:1 "Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof [is] brutish."
A person who loves instruction grows into a very intelligent being. I believe part of the instruction meant here is instruction in right living. We are eager to learn God's ways and we quickly see sins in our life and repent. The greatest knowledge that we can have is to know God and his Word.
"Brutish" or “Stupid” means acting like a beast that does not accumulate knowledge. If we are not eager to learn of God, we are like a beast without a conscience. Or to put it another way, he is as stupid as the brute cattle.
Proverbs 12:2 "A good [man] obtaineth favor of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn."
A good man is seeking to please God instead of himself. The Lord is pleased with this. A wicked man is always trying to figure out ways to do evil. God will not approve of evil in any fashion. God condemns evil every time.
Proverbs 12:3 "A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved."
When you see a righteous man, it is like looking at a giant oak tree with deep, deep roots. We will not be easily moved even though the winds of false doctrine are strong.
The familiar image is of the righteous being firm like a flourishing tree.
Even in the parable of the sowing of the seed in the 8th chapter of Luke, Jesus tells us the seed that fell on good ground had good roots and brought forth much fruit.
Read in Luke
Proverbs 12:4 "A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones."
We see here, how important it is for a woman to be upright. Not only for her own good and welfare but so her family will not be ashamed of her. Her husband can be very proud of her, because she will not make him ashamed of her. It would crown him for her to be totally faithful to him.
This is speaking of a suffering that is like a painful and incurable condition.
When we get in (chapter 31), we will read extensively about the kind of woman she will be. In the spirit teaching on this verse, Jesus is coming back for a chaste virgin (the true believers) to be
His bride. Nothing is worse than an unfaithful wife. She brings torment and shame to her husband, her family, and herself.
Proverbs 12:5 "The thoughts of the righteous [are] right: [but] the counsels of the wicked [are] deceit."
A righteous person thinks of things that are correct. His ways are the ways of God. His thoughts are truthful and fair.
The wicked are deceivers, trying to convince others that lies are truth. Not only are they deceiving others, but the people who council them are deceivers, as well. They believe a lie and try to convince others to believe lies.
Proverbs 12:6 "The words of the wicked [are] to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them."
Wicked people lie in wait to destroy someone else for selfish gain. False accusations many times cause a person to kill someone who is totally innocent.
This is similar to chapter
The upright speak words of life not death.
Proverbs 12:7 "The wicked are overthrown, and [are] not: but the house of the righteous shall stand."
Tribulation comes to all; but the wicked cannot stand up to trials, because they have no source of strength (Jesus), to rely upon.
A righteous person will stand firm in adversity knowing that God will see him through. The rewards of wise living are not only to individuals, but extend to one’s household or family.
Proverbs 12:8 "A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised."
If you know not to sin and go ahead and sin anyway, you are guiltier than someone who sins not knowing that it is sin.
There has been much said in our society today about perversion. Perversion of any kind is terrible, but when it becomes a way of life with you, it is perversion of the heart. He that truly has a perverted heart will be despised. Perversion has to do with unnatural sex or an extreme extent of sin.
Proverbs 12:9 "[He that is] despised, and hath a servant, [is] better than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread."
This Scripture above when it is saying despised is really saying “lightly esteemed”. An obscure person of lowly rank, who can at least afford to hire a servant because of his honest gain.
The second person is someone who has nothing to be proud of, and yet is bragging about himself all the time. He is so downtrodden that he can't even feed himself and yet he is a braggart. He constantly tells everyone how wonderful he is. At least the first man was not dependent on someone else to provide for his food. He is considered better than the one who falsely boasts about his prominence but is really poor.
Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous [man] regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked [are] cruel."
A righteous man has concern for the condition of his beast.
But show me a man who is cruel to animals, and I will show you a wicked man to others.
God showed mercy to animals when He told the man to rest his animals on the Sabbath, as well as resting himself. Man rules over the animals, and God made the animals to serve man; but an animal you feed well and care for, will work better for you.
People who love God love people as well; and are kind to animals that are dependent on them. A wicked person does not love God, or man, and is cruel to animals that cannot help themselves.
Proverbs 12:11 "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain [persons is] void of understanding."
Someone who works his fields with his hands shall not go hungry.
But someone who does not want to work and is always looking for shortcuts to take, is he that expends energy in worthless pursuits and fantasies which is as useless as outright laziness.
Proverbs 12:12 "The wicked desireth the net of evil [men]: but the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit]."
The wicked desires the booty is referring to the desire for spoils gained by the schemes of the wicked, contrasted with a simple life of obedience that produces blessings.
We see in this Scripture above, the righteous produce fruit pleasing unto God. A workman who needeth not to be ashamed is a righteous person.
Proverbs 12:13 "The wicked is snared by the transgression of [his] lips: but the just shall come out of trouble."
Transgression of the lips would be lies. When you tell a lie, it usually calls for another lie to cover up the first; and pretty soon, the liar is trapped because they cannot remember all the lies and keep them straight.
The just person tells the truth. There is no problem for this person to remember. They just tell the facts and the truth wins out every time. The just have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.
Proverbs 12:14 "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him."
We see here, that speaking can produce fruit. A minister who tells others about Jesus can produce much fruit for God with words that come from the minister's mouth.
1 Corinthians 1:21: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
The “fruit of his mouth” deals with the power of words; the reward of wise words is like the reward for physical labor.
You see, preaching produces fruit for the kingdom. In the last part of this, we see recompence (rewards), comes from men working with their own hands.
Proverbs Chapter 12 Questions
1.Whoso loveth instruction loveth ____________.
2.He that hateth reproof is __________.
3.What kind of instruction is probably meant in verse 1?
4.What is the greatest knowledge we can have?
5.What does "Brutish" Mean?
6.A good man obtains favor of the Lord, but a man of wicked devises ________
_________ _______.
7.What cannot establish a man?
8.What is meant by the root of the righteous?
9.What parable in the New Testament has to do with this root of righteousness?
10.What is a virtuous woman to her husband in verse 4?
11.What is a shameful woman to her husband?
12.The counsel of the wicked are __________.
13.False accusations sometimes cause what?
14.The words of the upright bring _______, not ______.
15.Who does tribulation come to?
16.Why can a righteous man withstand problems better?
17.A man shall be condemned according to what?
18.What does a perverse heart mean?
19.What is perversion?
20.Who is better than someone who honors himself?
21.How will a righteous person treat animals?
22.The author says: show me a man who is ___________ to animals and I will show you an evil man.
23.Who shall be satisfied with bread?
24.A workman who needeth not to be ashamed is a _________.
25.What is meant by "the wicked desireth the net of evil men"?
26.What is transgression of the lips?
27.Who has an advocate with the Father?
28.What is meant by the fruit of his mouth?
29.What does 1 Corinthians 1:21 have to say about preaching?
30.What does recompence mean?