Audio Download

“The wisdom of God, and the power of God” Part II & III (Pro 13:15-25)

(Aired on May 22, 2025)

Pro 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
Pro 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
Pro 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Pro 13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Pro 13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Pro 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Last week, we looked at the first part of our reflection on “The wisdom of God, and the power of God”, titled “The Light of God’s Word”. This week we will look at the scriptures focusing on this wisdom and power that speaks to good understanding and our children’s inheritance.

Good understanding is something that takes a lifetime of searching the scripture, as we continue to abide in the truth that will set us free (Joh 8:31-33). The favour we receive from God is explained throughout scripture where we learn of the exceedingly great and precious promises which confirms that the workmanship God has started in His children will be brought to completion through our Lord. Here are some such promises and verses of comfort that show how God is in the process of maturing and unifying the body of Christ in this age (Rom 15:4-6, Eph 4:13)

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

It is God’s favour or grace that leads us unto repentance in this life (Rom 2:4), as our hearts are prepared and softened for whatever circumstances He deems necessary as the Master Potter who is making something anew in His hands (Jer 18:4-6).

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

The proverbs we’ve been looking at are often written with a negative verse that is juxtaposed with the positive, the positive being the result of what happens after that negative marred part of the clay is made anew in the Potter’s hand.

Anew in the Potter’s hand means a new creation, not tearing down and building on the same foundation of lies, but upon a brand new foundation, void of any of the false ways of Babylon that are being burnt out of us by a process represented by the day of the Lord that shall leave us neither root nor branch, “behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven”(Mal 4:1 , 2Co 5:17-19).

Mal 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

With these thoughts in mind we’ll look at the last two sections of Proverbs thirteen and especially give thought to what is the true spiritual inheritance that God’s children are going to be blessed to leave to their children’s children.

Part II: Good Understanding Gives Favour

Pro 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

We despised the days in our lives when we were in bondage to sin, powerless to make war with the beast, but were desirous of that liberty typified by the sick man at the pool of Siloam who was overlooked and not shown mercy by anyone until Christ came on the scene (Joh 5:5-9, Rom 11:30-31). The way of the transgressor that was in us was our former conversation (Eph 2:1-2) being worked of God to show us that we are the chief of sinners, capable of whatever sin God writes in our book, and incapable of overcoming that sin without the son of God setting us free (Joh 8:36). That way of sin is “hard” as God reveals how He works in our heavens through the severity and goodness that He causes to manifest (Rom 11:22). This is all being done so that we can have great contrast in and through the miraculous deliverance that comes from Him alone (Rom 6:20-22).

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

The day comes when we have “good understanding” that gives favour, by the grace of God who introduces a ‘bit into our mouth’ (Jas 3:3-9), which is symbolic of the spirit of God that gives us the ability through Christ, our hope of glory (Col 1:27), the governor of our vessels (Php 2:12-13), to take us through the storms of this life as the author and finisher of our faith (Jas 3:3-4, Lev 16:21).

Jas 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths (Rom 8:9), that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Jas 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. (Php 2:12-13)

Pro 13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

A fool or brutish man lays open his folly by not interacting with the knowledge of God (Pro 12:1), which is another way of saying that the person who is not being dragged to the light of Christ is not being cleansed in this life of their own sins (Joh 6:44, 1Jn 1:7, Php 3:13-15), not knowing they need a physician, and rather are being content to be the rich young ruler whose curriculum vitae demonstrates a life of stellar works that have anchored the self-righteous man of perdition on the throne of his heart. If we’re not being dragged we’re not being dragged (Joh 6:44), and we were all fools at one time who were not being dragged to Christ, demonstrating our folly by trusting in the wisdom of men rather than the power of God (1Co 2:5).

Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

Christ is the “faithful ambassador” within us, who is faithfully working in our heavens (Heb 12:2, Php 1:6), and mindful or wakeful over His word, which is like a hammer (Jer 1:12, Jer 23:29) that is shaping our heavens to the glory of God as we are fitly framed within the body of Christ where He has determined we belong (1Co 12:18). It takes the destruction of the “wicked messenger” within us, who is exposed by his evil fruit (Luk 6:43-45), for us to become a new creation that is increasing at the hand of the only one who can give that increase (1Co 3:6).

Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten^H8245 my word to perform it.

Jer 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Hasten – H8245 shâqad shaw-kad’
A primitive root; to be alert, that is, sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill): – hasten, remain, wake, watch (for).
Total KJV occurrences: 12

– Original: שׁקד
– Transliteration: Shaqad
– Phonetic: shaw-kad’
– Definition:
1. to wake, watch, awake, be alert
a. (Qal)
1. to keep watch of, be wakeful over
2. to be wakeful, wake (as mourner or sufferer)

Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

It’s God’s word (which is His Wisdom and Power) that we want to be reproving us in this life, and with a diligent hand that attends to the affairs of this life (Pro 10:4) our Lord will help us navigate through every care that we cast upon Him, and He will reward us richly for that diligence that He is working within the body of Christ (Pro 12:24, Heb 11:6, 1Pe 2:9), who take no anxious thought for the morrow (Mat 6:33-34).

Pro 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

The sum of God’s word tells us that the “poverty and shame” being spoken of in this proverb is the mind that is void of the mind of Christ, or is taking for granted so great a salvation by not stirring up God’s spirit within them (1Ti 4:14) (which is His Wisdom and Power). If God chastens and scourges us in this life, it will create the desired effect of being one who is zealous for the Lord and not refusing instruction as we are received of God through that chastening process (Heb 12:6). If we are not being received of God in this life it will be evidenced by the spiritual poverty or spiritual slothfulness that results in our burying what He has given us in the earth (Mat 25:25-28). Hiding something takes effort, and being hidden in the earth is the opposite of being hidden in Christ and represents our self righteousness that needs to be exposed and destroyed, root and branch (Php 3:9)

Mat 25:25 And I was afraid,(Luk 12:5) and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Pro 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

When we can completely acknowledge and believe that God is the one doing the work within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:12-13), these accomplishments will be sweet to the soul, as opposed to God working through us while we are yet glorying in those things that He has worked in us (1Co 4:7). Our will is in His hands, and not the other way around. We’re not telling God what He should do for us (Isa 45:11-12), He is causing what needs to be done, as He burns out the fool within me who is want to “depart from evil”, the evil of self righteousness that takes credit for God’s work in us and seeks a reward in this life (Mat 6:1-2).

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Isa 45:11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Isa 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Christ is our wisdom, our righteousness, and the one who is sanctifying and redeeming us (Eph 1:17, 1Co 1:30), and each joint of the joint heirs of Christ’s body supplies in love (Eph 4:16) that which is needed for us to grow and overcome (Php 1:19, Php 4:19). It is therefore wise to come together often as we see the day approaching (Heb 10:25) so we can glean from each other the wisdom of God, the spiritual meat in due season (Amo 3:7), that is hidden from the world and made known to the body of Christ before all the rest of humanity (1Co 2:7, 1Pe 3:4). God has prepared for those who have been given a hunger and thirst for His righteousness, a hope filled relationship with the many members that make up Christ’s body (Rom 12:4, 1Co 12:12, 1Co 12:20).

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

A company of fools are soon parted, and we were part of the company of fools in Babylon with its millions of lies (Rev 9:16), and only by God’s grace, were we dragged out of her my people having our spiritual life preserved in this life with an unction that God has called very few unto in this dispensation (1Jn 2:20).

1Jn 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

Pro 13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

We are all sinners (Rom 3:23, 1Jn 1:8) and sin does pursue us as it lies at the door of our hearts (Gen 4:7). What we’re being shown here is that it is those who are granted to die daily and are blessed to be in the house of mourning today (1Co 15:31, 1Pe 4:17, Ecc 7:4), who will be acknowledging their continual need for Christ to heal us, which is the “good” that “the righteous shall be repayed” with (Mat 9:11-13).

Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, (Joh 9:41, Php 3:9) but they that are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: (Php 3:9) for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Part III: How Do We Leave an Inheritance to our Children’s Children?

Once we know what our inheritance is, then this question, “How Do We Leave an Inheritance to our Children’s Children?”, becomes very easy to answer!

Christ is our inheritance, and we are Christ’s inheritance (Rom 8:17-19) if we are God’s elect in this age.

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Our goal then as joint heirs in Christ is to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children (Mal 4:6), and what this means is that our ultimate goal through Christ is to turn the hearts of the world to the doctrine, represented by children, and the nēpios child to the mature Father Jesus Christ. The “fathers” and “children” have an intimate relationship that is hidden from the world, and this section of Malachi (Mal 4:6) is a prophesy of what God has called the elect to do (Luk 1:17, 1Jn 2:12-13), and also confirms that the world will also be the inheritance of the body of Christ (Isa 54:1), as was typified by the life of Abraham whose promise of inheritance is symbolic of that which Christ and his body will receive (Gen 22:7-19).

Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Luk 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

1Jn 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
1Jn 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Pro 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

As we’ve seen, Christ is clearly the “good man who leaves an inheritance to his children’s children”, and the inheritance is given to those who obey the commandments of God as Abraham obeyed God in going where he was told to go, by faith (Rom 8:14-16, 1Jn 5:2). Abraham’s actions typify what Christ can and will do through the body of Christ, who have lost everything for the kingdom of God and have put God before everything in this life, so that we can become partakers of this inheritance in the saints that is typified by what Abraham went through for our sakes, and typical of the sacrifice and suffering that Christ went through and calls those who are going to be a kind of first fruits to go through in this life, filling up “that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (2Co 4:15, Rom 8:17, 1Co 9:12, 2Ti 2:12, Col 1:24). The wealth of the [unrepentant in this age] sinner is clearly laid up for the just^H6662 (Gen 6:9, Deu 32:4), meaning those who become obedient in this age as Christ was (Php 2:8).

Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just^H6662 man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just^H6662 and right is he.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Pro 13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

What this proverb is telling us is that the true riches of Christ’s righteousness will not remain in the lives of those who are not being judged in this age (some stumble onto Christ but are not crushed under the stone (Heb 6:1-3)). It is through judgement that the elect will be preserved and scarcely saved, and found in that blessed and holy first resurrection (1Pe 4:17-18, Isa 26:9). Where judgement is not executed speedily, iniquity abounds (Ecc 8:11) and the Word of God is made ‘of none effect’ (Mar 7:13), and so we give thanks to God for the wonderful works that He is doing unto his children, knowing that this is the only way that we will be able to receive an inheritance.

Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Mar 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God [the “much food in the tillage of the poor”], that ye may keep your own tradition…
Mar 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Our inheritance in the saints is certain, because we serve a loving Father whose judgements will be executed in the lives of His children (Heb 12:6-12) who He will chasten and scourge, His grace abounding toward them unto salvation (2Co 12:9-14)

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Pro 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

The sufficiency that is found in Christ and His Christ (2Co 3:5, Joh 6:55, Eph 5:30), happens because of the relationship that we have with Christ’s body, a relationship that demonstrates for God’s elect what will truly sustain us in this life, and will ultimately witness to the world what a disciple indeed is unto God (Luk 24:48, Joh 8:31-32).

2 Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones

No matter how much we have, we will never be truly satisfied in our souls, and will be as “the belly of the wicked” who is ever wanting, if we lack the true riches in Christ, who teaches us that a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of his riches (Luk 12:15), but rather the life that has God’s righteousness within it, a soul that is being blessed in this age to have a hunger and thirst for His righteousness, which makes it possible for us to live Godly lives that are content whether we have a little or a lot, “The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul”(1Ti 6:6, Col 1:21-25, Php 4:12).

Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.