Proverbs Chapter 18

Proverbs 18 KJV

1. Through desire a man, having separated himself, [a] seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. [1]

[a] Ezek. 14:7.

[1] In 1951, I used verses 1-2 to shake up the graduate faculty of the Seminary at Bob Jones University so badly they never got over it – literally. At that time, the faculty was  mainly “Five-point” Calvinistic Presbyterians connected with Princeton – the root of apostasy in America in the days of Hodge, Warfield, Machen, and Phillip Mauro. I used these two verses to prove that if you are dealing with an “intellectual,” you only had to ask him three questions. I would deal with all four men the same way since all unsaved intellectuals only study for the purpose of finding an alibi to do what they want to do. That “brought down the house.”

That was the only class at BJU where I got a “C” in six years of study. The rest were “As” and “Bs.” I “flushed the covey” and uncovered the “pig in the poke.” Naturally, every Bible version since 1951 changed Proverbs 18:1-2 to cover up for saved, religious intellectuals like my teachers at BJU.

2. A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. [b]

[b] Eph. 4:18.

3. When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

4. The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6. A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. [c]

[c] E.g., Shimei (2 Sam. 16:5-9).

7. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9. He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

10. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

12. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, [2] and before honour is humility. [d]

[2] Historical examples are too numerous to list. Among the most outstanding are men like Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, Napoleon, JFK, and Mahatma Gandhi.

[d] Memorize (Phil. 2:7-9).

13. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

14. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16. A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17. He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: [e] and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

[e] E.g., Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-25).

20. A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: [f] and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

[f] Memorize (see also comments on James 3:5-6).

22. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

23. The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

>>>>>>> Additional Notes <<<<<<<

Comments on James 3:5-6 KJV

5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! [2]

[2] Cf. Proverbs 26:20-21. As an illustration of this verse, if you add up the words in Hitler’s Mein Kampf, you would find that in World War II, 125 lives were lost for every word Hitler wrote, 4,700 people were killed for every page in the book, and 1,200,000 people died for every chapter.

6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. [d]

[d] “The fires of Hell are lit with shavings.”

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