Judgments Are Prepared For Scoffers

Proverbs 19:20–29
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An old mountaineer and his wife were sitting in front of the fireplace one evening taking life easy. After a long silence, the wife said: “Jed, I think it’s raining. Why don’t you get up and go outside to see if it is?” The old mountaineer continued to gaze into the fir … More

Lazy

Pay attention to advice and accept correction, so that you may be wise in the time to come (v. 20). We may make a lot of plans, but the Lord will do what he has decided (v. 21). What matters most is loyalty. It’s better to be poor than to be a liar (v. 22). Those who fear the Lord “will not be visited with evil” because of their healthy habits, their beneficial lifestyle, and sometimes through God’s direct intervention (v. 23). However, this verse is not a universal promise, but a general guideline. The fear of the Lord does not always protect us from trouble in this life and evil things do still happen to people who love God. It describes what would happen if this world were sinless, and what will happen in the new earth, when faithful believers will be under God’s protection forever.

The slothful man is so lazy that he does not even have the strength to raise his hand from his dish to feed himself (v. 24). The word of God can be compared to the dish and there are many lazy people who with abundant opportunity to feed upon its precious truths, are too indifferent to search and find its treasures. Stupid fools learn good sense by seeing others punished; a sensible person learns by being corrected (v. 25). There is a great difference between the person who learns from criticism and the person who refuses to accept criticism. How we respond to criticism determines whether or not we grow in wisdom. Children who bring disgrace rob their father and chase their mother away (v. 26). If you stop learning, you will forget what you already know (v. 27). An ungodly witness makes fun of the court system and criminals think crime is the way to live (v. 28). Judgments are prepared for scorners and stripes are for the backs of fools (v. 29).

Application

The lazier a man is the more he plans to do tomorrow. I never want to be slothful in my work but fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

Proverbs 19:20-29 (English Standard Version)

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