Proverbs 19:11-15
Prov 19:11 (KJB)
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
 
Discretion - Insight
Deferreth - Prolong
Transgression - Offense
 
A person who is saved will have self-discipline. (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, The word “longsuffering” carries with it the idea of patience. Many times there will be accusations or people may just make sport of the Christian but because we have longsuffering, it is not necessary to always answer every accusation or that is what we would be doing for the rest of our lives, thus consuming our time on earth. However, there are times when we must make a defense because if they call into question all Christians, then it is good to defend against those accusations. It is also wise that if we are being denounced by a fool, then we must never respond in the way the fool is making his accusations. (Prov 26:4 KJV) Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. We must be careful to be discreet since we could wind up being just like the fool and then we would have to face more accusations. It is better to walk away from a fool, than to be like him. Eventually, we will be vindicated, whether here on earth or at the White Throne Judgment where the accuser will have to give account for his words.
 
Prov 19:12 (KJB)
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
 
Here the King’s wrath is compared to the roaring of a lion. When one comes in contact with a lion, and he is roaring, the person will not know whether they are going to live or die, for if the lion attacks, then they could die but if the lion goes its way, then they have been spared. It is like the King’s wrath, it may lead to the execution of a person or it may lead to them being freed. However, when the King favors someone, it is like the dew which settles on the grass in the early morning. It nourishes the grass with moisture. The King’s favor is likened to it as dew because his favor will bestow good upon somebody. This verse also speaks of those who are saved. On Judgment day, those who are unsaved will face the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and will be judged according to their sins. (Psa 133:3 KJV) As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. The dew of Hermon was a blessing of the Lord, because it represented eternal life and the Lord’s favor rests upon those whom He has saved.
 
Prov 19:13 (KJB)
A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
 
Calamity - Destruction or Wickedness
Contentions - One who brings quarrels and disputes
 
Once again we read about a foolish son whose foolishness brings calamity to his father. This foolish son does not just bring a foolish act but it is so bad it could actually bring destruction upon the family. Today we could liken it to a son getting arrested for a major crime and the parents having to mortgage their house to pay for bail or a defense attorney. Either way, it brings a destructive element into the family. Then the wife here is portrayed as one who brings a lot of disputes into the family which may have contributed to the fact that the child turned out the way they did. The family which has God as the ruler in it, will have peace and destruction may be averted. It is a well-known fact that fighting parents will raise children who will be disobedient.
 
Prov 19:14 (KJB)
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
 
Prudent - To understand or to succeed
 
Here we have a question of inheritance. Normally the children grow up in the house and they will know what their parents are worth and when they pass, all that the father has amassed in his lifetime will be given to the children as an inheritance. So they pass these material goods down to their children. However, on the other hand, the sons must trust the Lord that they will bring the right wife into their life. If a person marries to hastily, they may not realize that they are marrying trouble. When one waits upon the Lord and trusts Him that He will bring a wise and understanding wife, then there will be a strong family and the children will be of good stock and not from rebellious parents always arguing with each other. The sons may know what their earthly inheritance is but they must trust the Lord for their future family.
 
Prov 19:15 (KJB)
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
 
Deep sleep - Stupor, trance, or to be numbed
 
Laziness stupefies one to the world around him, especially concerning the lost souls of our generation. Idleness is laziness under a different name. These people will also be hungry for the things of the world. They will crave and never be satisfied. They will not even bring pen and paper to Bible study, just their physical appetites. Their soul will suffer the desire for spiritual food but because they do not want to study and find it a cumbersome chore, they will never grow in the spiritual life. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who fit that description. They leave it up to others to do the studies and they just latch on to them and accept them, whether they are right or wrong. Laziness does not allow them to check things out in the Scriptures and that is why many Christians hold to false doctrines. It seems many are walking around today, wide awake physically, but numbed spiritually.

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