Series in Proverbs - No Evil - Eyes, Ears, and Mouth

       

No Evil - Eyes, Ears, and Mouth

Proverbs 13:1-10

In the seventeenth century, the imagery of the three “Wise Monkeys” was created as part of a proverb to depict moral purity in a Japanese pun, and the westernization of the imagery gave it a negative vive, that if I close my eyes, plug my ears, and cover my mouth I become ignorant of any wrong doing and avoid accountability. 

Where and when it originated is still up for grabs, but the scripture bore out the moral accountability of the eyes, ears, mouth, and hands thousands of years earlier. Solomon and other wisemen wrote morales and proverbs to indicate to the people their responsibility to teach and train in moral training. 

So, in keeping with the training of moral accountability, let’s read the first portion of the text for this lesson. “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”

Solomon has been teaching his children for many years using the proverbs, as well as any others who chose to read or listen to the reading of the proverbs. The wise son or child is always a framework around the correct rearing of the child. It was part of the law of Moses to deal with a child who disobeyed or was rebellious. “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.” (Deut. 21:18-21)

The scoffer, whether child or adult, was not endeared or coddled, nor was scoffing treated as a right of the people. The rebuking of a scoffer almost always ended in more chaos and hardly ever in a solution to the problem. Solomon considered it wise to drive away, cast out the scoffer. "Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you…” “Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.” (Prov. 9:8a; 22:10) The only solution to peace is the removal of evil.

Again the tongue is a mighty muscle that inevitably will reveal what is in the heart. Solomon uses the word picture of a righteous man’s words to bear the fruit of the godly heart, and those of a violent bent, their soul will feed on the increase of wickedness and hatred. The wise person will ask the Lord to guard their mouth, as David wrote in a psalm. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” 141:3 

But a person who places no inhibitions upon their mouth, will utter the follies and destruction that these words will cause, like a blazing fire out of control. “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:6 NIV)

Last, the soul of the person reflects their ambitions and desires, for the fruit of the mouth, the light or darkness of the eyes, and the intake of the ears reflect on the soul of every person. The atrocities of sin become the land markers of their lives as one sees the carnage and devastation of their life’s journey. Or one sees the diligence and prosperity of a godly and moral life that is restrained from the evil produced by the world. The soul of the righteous is secure in the wisdom, understanding, discretion, insight, and instruction of God.

Application - The picture of a life marked by chaos and depravity leaves a wake of destruction. Similar to the track of a tornado as it waned in its final moments of energy. The devastation and carnage are tremendous, with the loss of lives and lands. The lack or absence of moral training exponentially corrupts the world around them much like a tornado. For this was Jesus’ warning to the church about the last days, “…because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” (Matt. 24:12 NIV) And Paul added “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God…” (2 Tim. 3:2-4 NIV)

And Peter encapsulated that scoffing would increase and become the prevailing attitude amongst people of the end days when pertaining to God and his plans for the world “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”  “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.” (2 Pet. 3:3-4,11-15a NIV)

 

Solomon was correct in that there is no correcting of scoffing, for it feeds of controversy and grows on denial and deception. And Jesus' teaching in the gospels on the heart being the center of what comes out of the mouth. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.  (Luke 6:45; Matt. 15:18-19 NIV)

And David’s admonition to guard the gates of the mouth stem from David’s heart for God and His Word. He knew that the words of the wicked were tainted with sin and that the godly needed to guard their mouths for Solomon was trained in it as well, for it was the wellspring of life that protected the inner being, the source of our actions and life. He knew that what you allow to fill your heart will enter your life, and it will shape your entire life. “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,to practice wicked works with men who work iniquity.” "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.(Psalms 141:3; Prov. 4:23 NKJV)

And the diligent and lazy each have their accountability as well, for the productivity of life is measured by the desire of the heart, soul, and the will of a person. 

The industriousness of a person is not only seen from without but also from within. The heart of a person whose chief aim in life is to exist and subsist on the work of others is foretelling of their nature as well as their upbringings. For God has given us training through His Word to work and labor in our life and in this we would prosper, whether in physical labor or in the proclamation of the gospel.  “When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.” (Ps. 128:2 NKJV) So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” (Col. 1:29 NLT)

It is to this end I appeal to you all. Stay teachable to God’s instruction from His Word. For what comes out of us is the indicator of what is in us. May our desires align with Christ’s in doing the work of God and as Paul who strenuously labors with hands and heart to the proclamation of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Solomon continues in applying the moral advantage of watching over what one sees, hears, and speaks. So let’s read the final portion of the text. “A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor does not hear rebuke. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.”

Solomon begins with a comparison of wicked and the righteous, loathsome and the pleasant. One loves and is pleasant in nature and character, while the other is vile hatred and repugnant. The righteous bear the fruit of love while the wicked bear the fruit of hatred, shame, disgrace, and scandal.

For the wise person, righteousness is a shield to ward off evil and guard their pathway in blamelessness, whereas the loathsome are overthrown in their wickedness and folly and reveal their true nature. 

The true wisdom of God is not found in wealth and material possessions. It is found in the quietness of a soul surrendered and yielded to God and enriched in the treasure of heaven, wisdom, love, joy, peace, and contentment. Solomon knew of the allure of wealth and its ill fate. Many would chase this mistress only to be left alone and poor in all that really matters in life. Yet those who surrendered their will and soul to God found that they had great treasures, untold peace and security. There was no shame or rebuke for the righteous for their life is alight with goodness and grace, and whereas the wicked see, hear, and speak the folly of the world and reap the bottomless pit of despair, and the utter darkness from the absence of light. The pride of the one bound by the immoral world only comes to unbridled strife that beats them down into utter loneliness and condemnation. 

Solomon finishes this portion with “well-advised is wisdom.” Throughout the proverbs and the Holy Scripture, God’s Word is complete with wisdom, words of enlightenment, and eternal truth that never deviates but is absolute and unchangeable. Its source is God, for he is the infallible, immutable truth that established all that there is in creation.

Application - There is not much more to add, other than let us apply what we have learned. For just like the three monkeys in the image, there is godly wisdom in not seeing evil, hearing evil, or speaking evil. I believe the principle of godliness is found in our foundational rearing and training. Jesus took several people from different styles of life and transformed them upon the new foundation of life in Christ. “...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22 NKJV) 

Our hearts, minds, and souls are renewed and transformed into his likeness and his ways after being established by God as the rock of our salvation and life. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (Rom. 12:2a; 2 Cor. 5:17) For it is as Jesus taught Nicodemus, we must be born again, then and only then will we be able to enter into and understand the ways of walking in the Spirit of God. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezk. 36:26 NKJV) “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16 NKJV) 

As always, I want to conclude by presenting the gospel in the form of the basic principles of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ. For Jesus, God the Son, came into this world to save all who believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you; he is the light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and has given him all authority in heaven and on earth. He will answer you if you truly believe. If you haven't yet asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

First, A: Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a just God, and a change of heart takes place: we change our minds, and God changes our hearts and regenerates us inside and out. Romans 3:10: As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners, so we must be born spiritually to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.) Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death; in other words, our sin means we have been sentenced to death; we have the death penalty hanging over our heads; that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. Secondly,

B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised him from the dead. This is trusting with all your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is righteous, and with the mouth confession is made and is saved. Third,

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every person who sees lThose who have lived since Adam will kneel andthey confessed with hismouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, Lord of lords, and King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.” Don’t wait, do it now. Romans 10:13 - For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “O God, I am a sinner. I repent of my sin. I want to turn away from it. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son; I believe that he died on the cross for my sins, that he was buried, and that you raised him from the dead. I have decided to put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting in his shed blood alone as sufficient to save my soul and take me to heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please visithttp://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In Your Service Mike Davis

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