Proverbs 17:6-10
Prov 17:6 (KJB)
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of
children are their fathers.
In
some verses we saw that those who are wise in this world will be blessed
with long life. In this verse, we read that a man’s grandchildren are
their crown. As a king wears a crown, the grandfather portrays his
grandchildren, especially if they are walking in wisdom and growing in
the faith. Then in the second part of this verse, we see that the glory
of children is their fathers. If their father is walking in wisdom and
in concert with the Scriptures, then the children will brag on him as
the glory of their lives. This verse also shows a cross-generation of
wise people. Not only are the children walking in wisdom but the
grandfather, father, and the grandchildren. This is the result of
walking in obedience to the Scriptures. There are many family lines that
have produced many godly people. Contrariwise, there are many families
which have produced nothing but fools and criminals because of their
neglect of the ways of the Lord.
Prov
17:7 (KJB)
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Here
we have two kinds of speech which are not suited for their class. First,
excellent speech is not what you would expect to hear from a fool.
Normally, their speech is embedded with expletives because they have a
very limited vocabulary, education and refinement is not high on their
priority of life. The second type of speech which is improperly placed
is lying for a ruler of the people. The people need to know truth and if
a ruler is a liar, then that does not fit his status nor his position.
However, it is unfortunate that most in government are habitual liars
when it comes to informing the people. There is also a spiritual
application here. The fool does not bring the true gospel of Christ
because he is unfit by means of him being unsaved. His actions will
dictate whether he is truly saved or not and whether he is to be
believed.
Prov
17:8 (KJB)
A
gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that
hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Gift –
Present or bribe
Precious stone - A stone of favor - Where a person finds favor or
acceptance in the eyes of another person.
The
primary meaning of this verse is a person may give a legitimate gift or
present to someone and with wise investment, they will turn a profit
with it. Let us look at the spiritual meaning in this verse. A person
gives the Gospel of grace to another person, they become saved which is
spiritually profitable for the one giving the Gospel and then in turn,
the one who became saved goes out and preaches the Gospel and it
prospers by adding souls. (1 Tim 4:8 KJV) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is
profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and
of that which is to come.
A
secondary application is that Solomon is not endorsing the practice of
bribing but is stating that there are people who are basically addicted
to bribing people because they know it simply works. When a bribe is
given to a person by someone, in turn, the person receiving the bribe
does some kind of favor for that person which may turn a profit for
them. However, ill-gotten gain by means of either a bribe or other means
will always yield problems later on. Bribing is a practice which
normally brings a person down.
Prov
17:9 (KJB)
He
that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a
matter separateth very friends.
In the
first part of this verse, we read about a person who covers a
transgression, not for the purpose of expecting a bribe but for the
purpose of love. (Prov 10:12 KJV)
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. If someone
we love sins against us, we will not hold that sin to their account and
we will forgive them. This is the essence of Christianity as God has
forgiven us, we forgive others. (Mat 18:22 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven
times: but, Until seventy times seven. The Lord is not stating that
you stop at 490 times, but is saying that since we believers are on
perpetual forgiveness by God because of Christ, therefore we need to
treat others in that respect. In the second half of this verse, we read
about a person who continually repeats a matter, that is, they gossip
about the situation until they have successfully ruined a person’s
reputation. This type of person, if he is a true friend, would not do
such things but one who is not a true friend would attempt to destroy
another person by their tongue. A wise person seeks to quell a matter
but the fool seeks to perpetuate a matter. We must be careful to never
make a close associate out of a person like this if we can help it.
Prov
17:10 (KJB)
A
reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a
fool.
Reproof - Rebuke
Here
is another verse which speaks of the difference between the wise and the
fool. A wise man will hearken to the reproof given to him because he
knows there is value in it and if it is a legitimate rebuke, then he can
change his way and will learn from his wrong doing. On the other hand,
the fool can be given 100 lashes, which under the law was forbidden.
Only 40 were allowed under the Mosaic Law but the 100 is being used as
an example of even extreme punishment which will not even cause the fool
to become the least bit wise. Once the fool’s back heals from the
punishment, he will go right back to doing what it was that caused him
to be punished. Fools remain fools unless the Lord saves them and
imparts His wisdom into them.