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“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge” Part 4
(“A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth”)

(Pro 12:22-28)

[Study Aired April 17, 2025]

Pro 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
Pro 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Pro 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Pro 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
Pro 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Pro 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

This week’s subject matter is focused on diligence, and why there is such a great need for it to be manifested in the lives of God’s people who are called “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (“zealous of good works” Tit 2:14-15); that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1Pe 2:9).

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works [Luk 2:49, 1Jn 4:17].
Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The marvellous light spoken of in 1 Peter 2:9 requires the power of God to manifest in our lives (1Co 2:4-6), and God is the one who determines when and what we say in our flesh and whether it is going to be profitable to the hearers, which it will be if we are led by Christ (Rom 8:14-16) who is the true witness and shepherd who is working through the church to witness of His power (Luk 24:48-49).

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things. (Rev 11:3)
Luk 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Pro 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Last week we looked at a verse that gives us the only hope that we will cease from having “lying lips”, which are an “abomination to the LORD”, found in Isaiah 6:7. Isaiah expresses what we must endure to stop sinning, which requires our being armed with the mind of Christ as prescribed in this verse, (1Pe 4:1).

Isa 6:7 And he laid [it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity (Php 3:9) is taken away, and thy sin purged.

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind [1Pe 4:12]: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; “thine iniquity [Php 3:9] is taken away, and thy sin purged”

All of man’s ways are right in his own eyes (Pro 21:1-3) but it takes the Lord’s spirit and the way of life that is found in correction (Pro 10:17) to become “they that deal truly” who are “his delight”.

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (how that is done Eph 1:11, Rom 8:28)
Pro 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Pro 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice [Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5].

Pro 10:17 He [is in] the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth [1Pe 4:17, Gal 6:9, Heb 12:3-5]

Pro 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Our own iniquity will chasten us, or rend us, when we foolishly proclaim the gospel to those who do not have eyes or ears to hear what we have to say (Jer 2:19, Mat 7:6).

Jer 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Christ in us as our hope of glory (Col 1:27) gives us the ability to become “a prudent man” who concealeth or protects (covers, hides) knowledge, and can now fulfill these words, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” (1Pe 3:15-16).

Pro 12:23 A prudent man covers knowledge, Yet the heart of the stupid proclaims its folly.” (CLV)
Pro 12:23 A wise man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools calls out their folly. (LITV)
Pro 12:23 A smart person doesn’t tell everything he knows. But a foolish person tells everything and shows he is a fool. (ERV)
Pro 12:23  Be sensible and don’t tell everything you know— only fools spread foolishness everywhere. (CEV)

Pro 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

In order be effective in our witness to the world we need to be diligently ruling over our own spirits, keeping under ourselves lest after we have preached the gospel to others we should become a castaway (1Co 9:27). We become the diligent who are bearing rule over our spirits by being dragged to Christ (Joh 6:44) who shows us where we fall short and need to be cleansed, and that is the process we are part of and are not to despise or grow weary of (1Jn 1:7-10, 1Jn 3:1-3, 1Pe 4:17, Rom 2:4).

With Christ as our hope of glory within us, this cleansing process of judgment is an ongoing event in the lives of God’s children that will manifest in much tribulation, the birth pangs, the tokens of evidence that God is bringing about this birth of the manchild (Act 14:22, 2Th 1:5).

Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?
Luk 17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.(Heb 13:15, Rom 10:9-10)
Luk 17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole

2Th 1:5 [Which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

This diligence being a gift of God is very evident to those who are being dragged in this age. We were all slaves to sin “the slothful shall be under tribute”, before beginning to “bear rule” in our lives (Joh 8:34, Rom 7:14, Mat 25:23).

Pro 12:23  Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave. (CEV)

Joh 8:34  Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! (CEV)

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Pro 12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

We must pray for each other (Luk 22:32, 1Jn 4:17) to have the gift of prophecy (1Co 14:1-4) and with that gift given from God we can all be a joint that supplies in love what the body needs in this life (Eph 4:16). The joint heirs of Christ (Rom 8:17-18) are joints that are blessed to have his love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5), hearts that are being held up by prayer (Luk 18:1) and “a good word” that “maketh it glad”. Christ is that “good word” (Gen 1:31, Joh 1:1) which strengthens us and makes us very glad (Isa 66:5, 2Th 3:1).

Isa 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

2Th 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have [free] course, and be glorified, even as [it is] with you:

With all the tribulation we are promised in this life (Act 14:22) we can also be assured that we have the potential to take away the “Heaviness in the heart of man” via prayer (Php 4:4-7) which makes it possible for us to “lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” that can cause our hearts to “stoop” (Heb 12:12-14, Luk 18:1).

Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

The “good word” of God’s mercy and love toward us, Jesus Christ, tells us we can be more than conquerors through our Lord regardless of all these expressions of suffering found in (Rom 8:32-39, Rom 8:17-18) which are a token that God is working with us in this age. Therefore we conclude that the greatest blessing that we can be given is the strength and the faith of Christ to bear each other’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ as we become our brother’s true keeper in this age through that “law of Christ” in our members (Gal 6:2-3, Mat 16:24-25).

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 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (Luk 17:10, Php 2:12-13).

Pro 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

This verse is an admonition for us to not let any man take our crown (Rev 3:11), especially the man we see in the mirror every morning. Christ in us is “more excellent than his neighbour” as Christ reminded us by telling us the least is greater than John (Mat 11:11). Our old man has to die daily, and his only purpose in this life is to be sinful flesh which is a means to an end that Christ “the righteous” can rule over and set us free from. Thank you Father! (Joh 8:32, Joh 8:36, Rom 7:24-25).

Pro 12:26 The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them. (BBE)
Pro 12:26 You are better off to do right, than to lose your way by doing wrong.  (CEV)

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.(Joh 17:3, Joh 14:6)

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

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Pro 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Not roasting something and eating raw meat like an animal is not what this proverb is talking about. The point of this proverb is that we need to be diligently in the word and having that word tried in the fiery trials of this life, in order for it to be of great value to us, ultimately resulting in our being found in Him with His righteousness when He returns (1Pe 1:7, Jer 29:12-13).

Pro 12:27  Anyone too lazy to cook will starve, but a hard worker is a valuable treasure. (CEV)
Pro 12:27  A lazy hunter does not catch his prey, but a hard-working person becomes wealthy. (GW)

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: [today and in the first resurrection]

Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The pearl of great price is “the substance of a diligent man [that] is precious” and represents our great treasure in these earthen vessels Jesus Christ (2Co 4:7, Col 1:27).

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Christ is the way, the truth and the life (Joh 14:6). If we continue in that truth it will set us free from death (Joh 8:31-32, Mat 21:44). The death “and in the pathway thereof there is no death” that God’s elect are blessed to escape is the second death through Christ who is “the way of righteousness is life”.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

The second death is what the vast majority of the world will have to experience, and it is those who are judged first who will experience God’s wrath upon our old man of sin first in order to be prepared to rule in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 19:7, Rev 20:6, 2Ti 2:12-13).

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

2Ti 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.