THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

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PROVERBS 12:1-14
Lesson #18
THE ROOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS

• Memory verse: Pro 12:3
• Read Pro 12:1-14
  • “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” (1)
    • Key words: instruction (moral discipline for discernment); knowledge (power to know truth); reproof (correction); brutish (stupid).
    • The parallels:
      • Loveth/hateth
      • Instruction/reproof
      • Knowledge/stupid
    • The believer that has a thirst to learn God’s wisdom for living skillfully will love the discipline of God, knowing that it will teach him moral discernment giving him the power to know God’s truth.
      • How do we know that the word instruction is talking about moral discipline?
      • We know because of the parallel in the last half of the verse.
        • “Reproof” is God’s correction.
        • Those who do not receive God’s correction are stupid, like an animal without a conscience, while those who receive correction have the knowledge or the power to know truth. The greatest knowledge a person can have is to know God and to know His Word.
        • In reality no one likes to be corrected or disciplined. Then how does the believer come to love it?

Read Heb 12:5-8

The wise believer realizes that God disciplines because of His love for his children.

The problem lies in obedience and not in just hearing the Word.

• • “A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.” (2)
    • Key words: wicked (lawless evil).
    • Jesus said that no man is good but God. (Luk 18:18-19) What did He mean?
      • No person has a basically good nature for all are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam.
      • Because of that, man needs a Savior to save him from sin and the consequences of sin which is death.
      • Therefore, the “good man” in this parable is the believer in Jesus Christ that is born again and walking in the Spirit.
      • The person living a lawless and evil life in rebellion against God will be condemned in the final judgment at the great white throne. He is always looking for ways to get around the law, whether it is man’s law or God’s law.
  • “A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.” (3)
    • Key words: wickedness (lawless evil); righteous (pure life).
    • The non-believer living a life of lawless evil will probably not live a stable life on this earth, nor will he have a life established with God in eternity. He never considers the consequences of the seed he is planting.
    • However, the believer in Jesus Christ living a pure life will stand firm through the storms of life to inherit eternal life with God.
      • What is “the root of righteousness”?
      • This phrase is used twice in this chapter (3) (12)
        • “The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.” (12)
        • The righteousness of the believer is in Jesus Christ because our own righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isa 64:6)

Read Psa 1:1-6

The tree of the righteous believer in Jesus Christ has a strong root that goes deep and holds firm in the storms of life so that he is able to produce fruit for the kingdom of God.

The root is faith in Jesus Christ.

• • • • • The rebellious un-believer enjoys participating in sin with others.
        • The reason this cooperative behavior in sin is called a net is because the end result is a trap for his own soul in an eternal perspective.
  • “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” (4)
    • A woman with moral virtue makes her husband look good. The young man of Proverbs is counseled to choose a wife that has virtue in her character.
      • The Bible gives us numerous examples of virtuous women.
      • Sarah (1Pet 3:6), the wife of Abraham.
      • Jochebed, the mother of Moses.
    • However a woman that does not have moral virtue shames her husband.
      • What is meant by “rottenness in his bones”?
      • An immoral woman that shames her husband is as painful to him like an incurable disease in his bones.
        • The pain eats away at his self-esteem and his reputation.
        • It undermines the foundation of the family.

Examples in the Bible of immoral women are:

Lot’s wife.

Job’s wife.

Jezebel.

• • “ The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.” (5)
    • Key words: righteous (pure life); counsels (advice); wicked (lawless evil).
    • Read 2Cor 10:5
      • The thoughts of the believer in Jesus Christ are pure if the believer examines every thought to bring it into conformity to the Word of God in order to produce a pure life in Christ.
      • The thoughts, opinions, and/or advice of the non-believer that rebels against the things of God cannot give good advice regarding the issues of life. His ideas deceive himself into thinking he knows the truth when, without God, he clearly does not.
  • “The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.” (6)
    • Key words: wicked (lawless evil); upright (just).
    • The rebellious un-believer living an evil lifestyle plots vengeance against someone who has hurt him, or he takes advantage of others for his own gain. He is quick to verbally tear you down.
    • The believer in Jesus Christ will speak with honesty. This character quality of honesty will deliver him from guilt, from relationship problems, from misunderstandings, etc.
  • “The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.” (7)
    • Key words: wicked (lawless evil); righteous (pure life).
    • Remember that Proverbs are probabilities over the long perspective of time.
    • Read Mat 7:24-27
    • In eternity it is the righteous believer in Jesus Christ that will come out ahead because he has Jesus Christ as a source, a refuge, and a help in difficult times.
    • The unbeliever’s plans and wicked imaginations will never succeed in eternity. The non-believer has no one to hold on to through the problems of life.
      • God will fight the battle for the believer.
      • Justice and truth will win in the end.
  • “A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.” (8)
    • Key words: wisdom (skillful living); perverse (corrupt/disobedient); heart (soul/ inner man); despised (contemptuous).
    • How well the believer in Christ lives his Christian life will be proportionately rewarded by Christ in eternity.
      • The believer that knows the Word of God knows what sin is and God’s perspective of it,
      • Therefore, in that wisdom that he has gained, he will make wise choices so as to live a skillful life, avoiding what does not please God.
      • The believer will answer to God for his obedience since he first gave his heart to Jesus Christ for how he has lived his life, in obedience or not.
    • Because the non-believer lives only for himself in disobedience to God, there will be nothing worthwhile in his life to merit anything from God.
  • “He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.” (9)
    • Key words: despised (contempt for).
    • This is a rather confusing proverb. It seems to say that the person that receives contempt from others because he has a servant is better off than the prideful person that thinks well of himself. Why?
      • The humble person with a servant, though looked down upon by others, will at least be fed by his servant. His needs will be met.
      • The prideful person that makes people think he is wealthy but with no bread to eat is to be pitied.
    • Therefore, the character qualities of humility and pride are in contrast one with the other in this proverb.
  • “A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (10)
    • Key words: righteous (pure life); wicked (lawless evil).
    • The believer in Jesus Christ considers all life as precious whether it is the life of a person or an animal.
    • However, this proverb tells us that even the tender mercies of the lawless non-believer are cruel in comparison. Why?
      • When a person invites Jesus Christ into his heart and life, he has a greater capacity to love than before because God is love in the extreme. That love now lives inside the believer.
      • The believer in Christ knows that God is the creator of all life and treats God’s creation with love.
        • In the Old Testament, when God gave the Law to Moses, there was a provision for animals in the Law.
        • The animals were to rest on the Sabbath along with man.
        • God gave man authority over the animals and only a fool will abuse that authority or give animals more priority than man.
    • You can tell a lot about a person by how he treats animals and animals usually can tell the character of a person.
  • “He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.” (11)
    • Key words: vain (empty); void (lacking); understanding (discernment of good from evil).
    • The person that works hard will eat.
      • Read Gen 3:17-19
      • God told Adam after that initial sin that man must now work to provide for himself. If man is faithful to do that God will prosper him. In other words, life is a partnership between man and God based on man’s faithfulness and obedience to God.
    • In contrast, the person that follows empty people, which do not have Jesus in their hearts and that do not have a concept of what is good and what is evil, breaks that partnership with God. God has no obligation to prosper and provide for that person.
      • This person is always looking for short cuts to get rich quick schemes.
      • This is the person that buys lottery tickets instead of trusting God to supply his needs.
  • “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.” (13)
    • Key words: wicked (the person living in lawless evil); transgression (law breaking); just (righteous believer).
    • We have discussed at length that what is in the heart comes out through the mouth. Rebellion against God is in the heart of the “wicked” person.
      • The transgression of lips is lies.
      • That rebellion is expressed by his words of rebellion against God’s moral law.
      • It is a snare or trap that he makes for himself:
        • One lie requires another lie to cover up the first lie and so on. There is the trap.
        • God will eventually judge him by his own words. We have a good example in scripture.
        • Read Luk 19:20-24
    • God will deliver the righteous believer in Jesus Christ because of his commitment to cooperate in obedience with God’s plan for living skillfully in this world. The righteous person has Jesus Christ as an advocate with God, the Father.
  • “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.” (14)
    • Key words: recompence (reward).
      • The “fruit of the mouth” is the preaching of the Gospel that brings people to salvation.
      • This proverb tells us of the sewing and reaping principle.
        • If you have Christ in the heart, the words from your mouth should be pleasing to God.
        • Then the actions of your hands will be rewarded by God.

The reward is in this life.

The reward is in eternal life.

Homework
Proverbs 12:15-28

• Application of Pro 12:1-14
  • What is meant by “the root of the righteous”? (3) (Psa 1)
    • Jesus Christ in the heart enables the believer to be righteous and live a pure life. He is the foundation or root on which the believer builds his life to produce fruit for the kingdom of God.
  • What do you think “rottenness in his bones” means in this proverb? (4)
    • It is a deep shame caused by an immoral spouse that is as painful as an incurable disease that destroys the reputation and foundation of the family.
  • If a person is kind to animals, what does that tell you about him? (10)
    • He has a love for God’s creation and possibly a love for God.
  • What is the “transgression of lips”? (13)
    • Lies of rebellion against God.
  • If you have not invited Jesus Christ to live in your heart and life, now is the time of salvation for you. Pray and invite Him in. You will be amazed how He will change your life.
• Preparation for Pro 12:15-28
  • Read Pro 12:15-28
    • How would you describe what makes a fool compared to what makes a wise person? (15)
    • Three of the proverbs in this section speak about the “fool”. What are the characteristics of a fool?
    • Find the six proverbs in this section that talk about the speech, your words, and the tongue. What should we learn from these six proverbs?
• Memory Verse: Pro 12:15