Proverbs 11
Generally, I attempt to write something regarding my Bible studies daily. Though I'm not a particularly erudite writer, it does help me to process.
Sometimes, though, I get busy and can't really take that time. Even when I basically regurgitate text from commentaries, it usually takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to do my study and write something up. That's a very good use of my time but unfortunately it's not always doable.
Hence, why posts vary so much. It's not necessarily a reflection of the study time, it's a reflection of the time available to comment on the study. If I have to drop something, it's going to be the writing.
That being said, I only have a few things to mention today. We're now into the chapters that are the meat of the collection of Solomon's proverbs. In chapter 11, we have a few verses I'd like to highlight for this month.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. 16 A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. 29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
I'll simply mentioning the study notes from the Reformation Study Bible. Why these four verses? They are relevant to issues that I am going through and speak directly to my own sin and lack of wisdom, therefore I get a lot of instruction from reading commentary regarding them.
Verse 2: pride ... disgrace. Wisdom recognizes the importance of self-control. Arrogance and pride are easily recognized by others who will then withhold honor. with the humble is wisdom. Because humility involves the realistic appraisal of one’s place in relationship to others, it promotes a wise sense of the true order of things.
Verse 12: Gossip and derision easily destroy another’s reputation, but they do not advance the reputation of the gossiper. The wise know when to keep silent. Reference to 10:14: mouth of a fool. Note how often the fool is portrayed as a babbler (vv. 6, 8, 13, 18, 19, 31, 32). The book of James, the wisdom book of the NT, also explores this theme (James 1:26; 3:1–12). Knowing when to speak and when to keep silent is a prominent wisdom theme (26:4, 5; Job 38:2; 42:1–6).
Verse 16: These opposed parallel thoughts (antithetic parallelism) perhaps teach the desirability of respect over mere wealth (22:1; cf. Eccl. 7:1) and show that the book is not unaware of exceptions to its basic teaching that the righteous prosper. Alternatively, the sense may be that the gracious woman retains honor as surely as the ruthless acquire riches.
Verse 29: The parallel thoughts of this verse are not obvious unless we understand the first line to mean a reckless use of the family wealth that brings ruin on the household. The fool inherits nothing (“wind”) and must be the servant of the one who has managed his finances well.