Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9:1

The Lazy Fool

Proverbs 26:13-16 are about the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 24:30-34). We see an increasing passivity. First he does not come out of his house (Proverbs 26:13). Then he doesn’t get out of his bed (Proverbs 26:14). Finally, he doesn’t even take his hand out of a dish of food (Proverbs 26:15). There is no movement at all and no movement is to be expected.

He deludes himself that circumstances do not allow him to work (Proverbs 26:13). The sluggard is work-shy, and he who is work-shy makes up the most absurd excuses for not working (Proverbs 22:13). He sees danger everywhere, on the road and in the open square. He sees everywhere the opposition of the devil, of whom the lion is a picture (1 Peter 5:8), who prevents him from working. The real excuse, however, is not fear, but laziness.

The sluggard is as firmly attached to his bed as “a door … on its hinge” (Proverbs 26:14). It is as impossible for him to get loose from his bed as a door is from its hinge. The sluggard hinges, as it were, on his bed. Just as a door moves back and forth but does not move from its place, so the sluggard wallows from one side to the other. A door still has a function, it opens and closes, while the sluggard remains functionless.

The sluggard is even too lazy to bring the food he has taken in his hand out of the dish “to his mouth again” (Proverbs 26:15). In Proverbs 19:24 there is a similar verse, but just a little more vague. Here it is stated more strongly. Burying his hand in the dish has cost him so much energy that he is exhausted. Here the wise pokes fun at the sluggard. It is a laughable depiction of things. The purpose of the exaggeration is also to make it clear to the sluggard that he is making himself ridiculous.

We can see in this a picture of people who are too lazy to examine God’s Word. They know about it, they stick their hand in, they can quote a text – of course, one that suits them – but they don’t eat it. Studying it is too much work.

The sluggard is filled with self-conceit (Proverbs 26:16). He is very pleased with his laziness and considers his view of life better than that of those who strive to gain life wisdom and thereby become wise. In his eyes, these are stupid people. Work is for the stupid, in his opinion. Of course, he thinks his laziness is perfectly justified. He takes siesta all day and preaches that as the highest good for himself.

He believes so firmly in his own wisdom that no one can convince him of anything else. Even seven (wise) men – symbolizing a fullness of wisdom (Ezra 7:14; Esther 1:14-15) – are unable to make him see the folly and antisociality of his laziness. His laziness has taken his mind away from him. He is beyond reason. The discreet answer of seven wise men does not reach him. Any admonition in his direction is blocked by his complacency.

Isaiah 9:2

The Lazy Fool

Proverbs 26:13-16 are about the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 24:30-34). We see an increasing passivity. First he does not come out of his house (Proverbs 26:13). Then he doesn’t get out of his bed (Proverbs 26:14). Finally, he doesn’t even take his hand out of a dish of food (Proverbs 26:15). There is no movement at all and no movement is to be expected.

He deludes himself that circumstances do not allow him to work (Proverbs 26:13). The sluggard is work-shy, and he who is work-shy makes up the most absurd excuses for not working (Proverbs 22:13). He sees danger everywhere, on the road and in the open square. He sees everywhere the opposition of the devil, of whom the lion is a picture (1 Peter 5:8), who prevents him from working. The real excuse, however, is not fear, but laziness.

The sluggard is as firmly attached to his bed as “a door … on its hinge” (Proverbs 26:14). It is as impossible for him to get loose from his bed as a door is from its hinge. The sluggard hinges, as it were, on his bed. Just as a door moves back and forth but does not move from its place, so the sluggard wallows from one side to the other. A door still has a function, it opens and closes, while the sluggard remains functionless.

The sluggard is even too lazy to bring the food he has taken in his hand out of the dish “to his mouth again” (Proverbs 26:15). In Proverbs 19:24 there is a similar verse, but just a little more vague. Here it is stated more strongly. Burying his hand in the dish has cost him so much energy that he is exhausted. Here the wise pokes fun at the sluggard. It is a laughable depiction of things. The purpose of the exaggeration is also to make it clear to the sluggard that he is making himself ridiculous.

We can see in this a picture of people who are too lazy to examine God’s Word. They know about it, they stick their hand in, they can quote a text – of course, one that suits them – but they don’t eat it. Studying it is too much work.

The sluggard is filled with self-conceit (Proverbs 26:16). He is very pleased with his laziness and considers his view of life better than that of those who strive to gain life wisdom and thereby become wise. In his eyes, these are stupid people. Work is for the stupid, in his opinion. Of course, he thinks his laziness is perfectly justified. He takes siesta all day and preaches that as the highest good for himself.

He believes so firmly in his own wisdom that no one can convince him of anything else. Even seven (wise) men – symbolizing a fullness of wisdom (Ezra 7:14; Esther 1:14-15) – are unable to make him see the folly and antisociality of his laziness. His laziness has taken his mind away from him. He is beyond reason. The discreet answer of seven wise men does not reach him. Any admonition in his direction is blocked by his complacency.

Isaiah 9:3

The Lazy Fool

Proverbs 26:13-16 are about the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 24:30-34). We see an increasing passivity. First he does not come out of his house (Proverbs 26:13). Then he doesn’t get out of his bed (Proverbs 26:14). Finally, he doesn’t even take his hand out of a dish of food (Proverbs 26:15). There is no movement at all and no movement is to be expected.

He deludes himself that circumstances do not allow him to work (Proverbs 26:13). The sluggard is work-shy, and he who is work-shy makes up the most absurd excuses for not working (Proverbs 22:13). He sees danger everywhere, on the road and in the open square. He sees everywhere the opposition of the devil, of whom the lion is a picture (1 Peter 5:8), who prevents him from working. The real excuse, however, is not fear, but laziness.

The sluggard is as firmly attached to his bed as “a door … on its hinge” (Proverbs 26:14). It is as impossible for him to get loose from his bed as a door is from its hinge. The sluggard hinges, as it were, on his bed. Just as a door moves back and forth but does not move from its place, so the sluggard wallows from one side to the other. A door still has a function, it opens and closes, while the sluggard remains functionless.

The sluggard is even too lazy to bring the food he has taken in his hand out of the dish “to his mouth again” (Proverbs 26:15). In Proverbs 19:24 there is a similar verse, but just a little more vague. Here it is stated more strongly. Burying his hand in the dish has cost him so much energy that he is exhausted. Here the wise pokes fun at the sluggard. It is a laughable depiction of things. The purpose of the exaggeration is also to make it clear to the sluggard that he is making himself ridiculous.

We can see in this a picture of people who are too lazy to examine God’s Word. They know about it, they stick their hand in, they can quote a text – of course, one that suits them – but they don’t eat it. Studying it is too much work.

The sluggard is filled with self-conceit (Proverbs 26:16). He is very pleased with his laziness and considers his view of life better than that of those who strive to gain life wisdom and thereby become wise. In his eyes, these are stupid people. Work is for the stupid, in his opinion. Of course, he thinks his laziness is perfectly justified. He takes siesta all day and preaches that as the highest good for himself.

He believes so firmly in his own wisdom that no one can convince him of anything else. Even seven (wise) men – symbolizing a fullness of wisdom (Ezra 7:14; Esther 1:14-15) – are unable to make him see the folly and antisociality of his laziness. His laziness has taken his mind away from him. He is beyond reason. The discreet answer of seven wise men does not reach him. Any admonition in his direction is blocked by his complacency.

Isaiah 9:4

The Lazy Fool

Proverbs 26:13-16 are about the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 24:30-34). We see an increasing passivity. First he does not come out of his house (Proverbs 26:13). Then he doesn’t get out of his bed (Proverbs 26:14). Finally, he doesn’t even take his hand out of a dish of food (Proverbs 26:15). There is no movement at all and no movement is to be expected.

He deludes himself that circumstances do not allow him to work (Proverbs 26:13). The sluggard is work-shy, and he who is work-shy makes up the most absurd excuses for not working (Proverbs 22:13). He sees danger everywhere, on the road and in the open square. He sees everywhere the opposition of the devil, of whom the lion is a picture (1 Peter 5:8), who prevents him from working. The real excuse, however, is not fear, but laziness.

The sluggard is as firmly attached to his bed as “a door … on its hinge” (Proverbs 26:14). It is as impossible for him to get loose from his bed as a door is from its hinge. The sluggard hinges, as it were, on his bed. Just as a door moves back and forth but does not move from its place, so the sluggard wallows from one side to the other. A door still has a function, it opens and closes, while the sluggard remains functionless.

The sluggard is even too lazy to bring the food he has taken in his hand out of the dish “to his mouth again” (Proverbs 26:15). In Proverbs 19:24 there is a similar verse, but just a little more vague. Here it is stated more strongly. Burying his hand in the dish has cost him so much energy that he is exhausted. Here the wise pokes fun at the sluggard. It is a laughable depiction of things. The purpose of the exaggeration is also to make it clear to the sluggard that he is making himself ridiculous.

We can see in this a picture of people who are too lazy to examine God’s Word. They know about it, they stick their hand in, they can quote a text – of course, one that suits them – but they don’t eat it. Studying it is too much work.

The sluggard is filled with self-conceit (Proverbs 26:16). He is very pleased with his laziness and considers his view of life better than that of those who strive to gain life wisdom and thereby become wise. In his eyes, these are stupid people. Work is for the stupid, in his opinion. Of course, he thinks his laziness is perfectly justified. He takes siesta all day and preaches that as the highest good for himself.

He believes so firmly in his own wisdom that no one can convince him of anything else. Even seven (wise) men – symbolizing a fullness of wisdom (Ezra 7:14; Esther 1:14-15) – are unable to make him see the folly and antisociality of his laziness. His laziness has taken his mind away from him. He is beyond reason. The discreet answer of seven wise men does not reach him. Any admonition in his direction is blocked by his complacency.

Isaiah 9:5

The Meddler

The man referred to in this verse is not a sluggard, but someone who is busy, only with the wrong things. The meddler is one who gets involved in matters that are none of his business. Someone who unsolicited “meddles with strife not belonging to him” is asking for trouble. It is as dangerous and foolish as taking “a dog by the ears” because the dog will bite you. It is not your dog, but a wild dog. You yourself will be harmed by your meddling and then you can only blame yourself.

We find an example of this in the life of King Josiah, who meddled in a battle between the king of Egypt and his enemy. It cost him his life (2 Chronicles 35:20-24). Peter still points out the great difference between suffering as a Christian and suffering because of meddling (1 Peter 4:15-16).

Shouldn’t we be peacemakers then? Isn’t that what we are called to be (Matthew 5:9)? Certainly, we should be. Being peacemakers is an attitude of keeping peace with all people. It does not mean that a peacemaker will involve himself in a quarrel in which he is not involved. He will not imagine that he has to get involved in it without being asked for mediation or an instruction from the Lord to do so. We are not called to meddle in every disagreement. Nor did the Lord meddle in an argument about an inheritance (Luke 12:14)..

Isaiah 9:6

To Fool Is Just Joking

The meddler of Pro 26:17 has become in Proverbs 26:18 “a madman” or ‘one presenting himself as insane’. He throws with materials that cause death and destruction. To such a person is compared “the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Was I not joking?” (Proverbs 26:19). This kind of person is very intent on deceiving a neighbor, for whatever reason. When he falls through, he tries to downplay his deception by saying it was a joke. You shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. If you do, then you are the bad guy and not him.

Someone who is like that in life is a loose projectile, a dangerous madman. The wise man describes the deceiver who dismisses his deception as a joke as irresponsible and dangerous. While he is out to hurt people, when he is caught he states that it was something funny, which he now expects people to laugh at. At the same time, by doing so, he wants to escape punishment. Thus a lot of people go through life while making jokes.

Isaiah 9:7

To Fool Is Just Joking

The meddler of Pro 26:17 has become in Proverbs 26:18 “a madman” or ‘one presenting himself as insane’. He throws with materials that cause death and destruction. To such a person is compared “the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, Was I not joking?” (Proverbs 26:19). This kind of person is very intent on deceiving a neighbor, for whatever reason. When he falls through, he tries to downplay his deception by saying it was a joke. You shouldn’t make a big deal out of it. If you do, then you are the bad guy and not him.

Someone who is like that in life is a loose projectile, a dangerous madman. The wise man describes the deceiver who dismisses his deception as a joke as irresponsible and dangerous. While he is out to hurt people, when he is caught he states that it was something funny, which he now expects people to laugh at. At the same time, by doing so, he wants to escape punishment. Thus a lot of people go through life while making jokes.

Isaiah 9:8

Whispers and Contention

The comparison in Proverbs 26:20 is that “wood” feeds fire and a “whisperer” feeds contention. To keep a fire burning fuel is needed. If there is no fuel, the fire goes out. The fire goes out when there is no more wood, and contention ceases when there is no whisperer. Contention is like fire. It kindles others and destroys relationships.

The whisperer is the kindler. He works in a cunning way; with his gossip he influences others negatively. Whispering or gossip is fuel for strife. The whisperer must be eliminated. This can be done by silencing him. It can also be done by not listening to him. Then the contention quiets down and ceases.

The whisperer of Pro 26:20 is in Proverbs 26:21 “the contentious man”. He has a nose for “strife” and knows how to “kindle” it. He provides the fuel for it and throws oil on the fire when there are tensions somewhere. There is already a fire and he adds the necessary fuel to it.

He is the very opposite of a peacemaker, for he causes strife. And when the strife threatens to go out, he stirs up the fire once more. To do this, he says a few ugly or insinuating words about someone, which causes the contending parties to wage war against each other again in all their fervor. Let us be careful not to cause a contention, and when a quarrel is settled, not to say things that cause the contention to flare up again.

Why do whisperers and contentious people so often get the opportunity to do their destructive work? Because gossip is so attractive to the sinful flesh (Proverbs 26:22; Proverbs 18:8). “The words of a whisperer” are compared to dainty morsels. They are eagerly and thoroughly feasted upon by those who hear them.

If we do not reject the words of a whisperer, they will settle inside us and negatively affect our feelings. It is present there like a smoldering fire and will do its consuming work if we do not judge ourselves when we have listened to those words and have not rejected them.

Isaiah 9:9

Whispers and Contention

The comparison in Proverbs 26:20 is that “wood” feeds fire and a “whisperer” feeds contention. To keep a fire burning fuel is needed. If there is no fuel, the fire goes out. The fire goes out when there is no more wood, and contention ceases when there is no whisperer. Contention is like fire. It kindles others and destroys relationships.

The whisperer is the kindler. He works in a cunning way; with his gossip he influences others negatively. Whispering or gossip is fuel for strife. The whisperer must be eliminated. This can be done by silencing him. It can also be done by not listening to him. Then the contention quiets down and ceases.

The whisperer of Pro 26:20 is in Proverbs 26:21 “the contentious man”. He has a nose for “strife” and knows how to “kindle” it. He provides the fuel for it and throws oil on the fire when there are tensions somewhere. There is already a fire and he adds the necessary fuel to it.

He is the very opposite of a peacemaker, for he causes strife. And when the strife threatens to go out, he stirs up the fire once more. To do this, he says a few ugly or insinuating words about someone, which causes the contending parties to wage war against each other again in all their fervor. Let us be careful not to cause a contention, and when a quarrel is settled, not to say things that cause the contention to flare up again.

Why do whisperers and contentious people so often get the opportunity to do their destructive work? Because gossip is so attractive to the sinful flesh (Proverbs 26:22; Proverbs 18:8). “The words of a whisperer” are compared to dainty morsels. They are eagerly and thoroughly feasted upon by those who hear them.

If we do not reject the words of a whisperer, they will settle inside us and negatively affect our feelings. It is present there like a smoldering fire and will do its consuming work if we do not judge ourselves when we have listened to those words and have not rejected them.

Isaiah 9:10

Whispers and Contention

The comparison in Proverbs 26:20 is that “wood” feeds fire and a “whisperer” feeds contention. To keep a fire burning fuel is needed. If there is no fuel, the fire goes out. The fire goes out when there is no more wood, and contention ceases when there is no whisperer. Contention is like fire. It kindles others and destroys relationships.

The whisperer is the kindler. He works in a cunning way; with his gossip he influences others negatively. Whispering or gossip is fuel for strife. The whisperer must be eliminated. This can be done by silencing him. It can also be done by not listening to him. Then the contention quiets down and ceases.

The whisperer of Pro 26:20 is in Proverbs 26:21 “the contentious man”. He has a nose for “strife” and knows how to “kindle” it. He provides the fuel for it and throws oil on the fire when there are tensions somewhere. There is already a fire and he adds the necessary fuel to it.

He is the very opposite of a peacemaker, for he causes strife. And when the strife threatens to go out, he stirs up the fire once more. To do this, he says a few ugly or insinuating words about someone, which causes the contending parties to wage war against each other again in all their fervor. Let us be careful not to cause a contention, and when a quarrel is settled, not to say things that cause the contention to flare up again.

Why do whisperers and contentious people so often get the opportunity to do their destructive work? Because gossip is so attractive to the sinful flesh (Proverbs 26:22; Proverbs 18:8). “The words of a whisperer” are compared to dainty morsels. They are eagerly and thoroughly feasted upon by those who hear them.

If we do not reject the words of a whisperer, they will settle inside us and negatively affect our feelings. It is present there like a smoldering fire and will do its consuming work if we do not judge ourselves when we have listened to those words and have not rejected them.

Isaiah 9:11

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:12

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:13

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:14

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:15

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:16

Hypocrisy

Someone can deliver a speech with “burning lips”, that is, a speech that burns with love, while his words camouflage the evil plans of his “wicked heart” (Proverbs 26:23). In a burning speech, such a person says things that are pleasant, but they only cover his bad character and his evil motives of forging evil.

The wise man compares such hypocritical speech to “an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross”. Overlaying an earthen vessel with what looks like silver makes the earthen vessel appear magnificent, completely different from the clay it actually is. Even the silver is fake, for it is dross, or silver waste (cf. Luke 11:39; Matthew 23:27).

Proverbs 26:24 says in different terms what has already been said in Proverbs 26:23. This is done so that there can be no misunderstanding of how deceptive a beautiful appearance can be as a covering for a depraved inner being. In the evil heart of Pro 26:23 is “hatred”. “He who hates” may say beautiful and kind things, but he “disguises [it] with his lips”. To disguise is to be hypocritical, it is pretending to be someone else than one is. This deceit is laid up in the heart, indicating that it is taken everywhere.

The way Joab approached and then killed Amasa illustrates this verse (2 Samuel 20:9-10). It is a warning not to be deceived by what we see or hear. In a God-hostile world, the Christian must not go his way in gullibility, but with prudence (Matthew 10:16). Nehemiah was not gullible when his enemies wanted to trap him (Nehemiah 6:1-4).

Proverbs 26:25 connects directly to Proverbs 26:24. Solomon warns his son not to believe a hypocrite even though “he speaks graciously”. For behind his kind voice and nice words is a heart in which are “seven abominations”. It will require great discernment and wisdom to discern whether a person can be believed or not. This verse may have in mind a person who has already proven to be untrustworthy, but who is now using words to hide his evil plans and to turn them into deeds.

“Seven abominations” indicates that this person is completely, thoroughly, depraved. Every kind of destruction and violence is present in him. The hater conceives these abominations in his heart, he deliberates abominable and hideous deeds that are now plans and that are directed against him to whom he speaks in a friendly voice. His heart is a storehouse of abominations. Satan is the prototype of such a person, but there are also those who are much like him in this.

To discover seven abominations behind a friendly voice requires dependence on the Lord. If we hear something from someone we do not know or from someone who is known to be untrustworthy, we must ask the Lord to make the true intentions clear. In any case, those become clear when that “friendly voice” says things contrary to the Word of God, as we see in the conversation between satan and Eve.

Even though “hatred” goes unnoticed for a time because it “covers itself with guile”, there irrevocably comes a time when this evil is revealed (Proverbs 26:26). The place where that happens is “the assembly”. “The assembly” is any gathering of people called together for a specific purpose. In this case, we might think of a trial.

It can also be applied to the church of God, in which God makes known that evil is present. Ultimately, all evil will be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). For “there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Those who seek to plunge another into misfortune will often find that they themselves are plunged into the misfortune they had plotted for that other person (Proverbs 26:27; Psalms 7:15-16; Psalms 9:16; Psalms 10:2). Digging a pit and rolling a stone require effort. It is about someone who makes a great effort to plunge another into misfortune. But “whoever digs a pit may fall into it” (Ecclesiastes 10:8). And he who rolls a stone to bring it down on another will himself fall under it if the stone suddenly rolls back. It is the law of sowing and reaping, “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7b).

Abimelech, who killed seventy men on one stone, was himself killed by a piece of a millstone thrown on his head by a woman (Judges 9:5; 18; 53). A person is measured by the measure of iniquity by which he himself has measured, so that God’s justice is executed upon him (cf. Judges 1:6-7). Other histories illustrating this verse are found in what happened to Haman who had a gallows erected for Mordecai and what happened to Daniel’s accusers who had him thrown into the lion’s den (Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:24-28).

The reason a person hurts others with his “lying tongue”, that is, with his lies, is because he hates them (Proverbs 26:28). He is driven by hatred. His lying tongue is in “a flattering mouth”, that is, he speaks flattering words. This is most evident in the way satan approaches Eve. This is how satan continues to work through his countless instruments, people who have him as their father. He is the father of lies that bring ruin. His nature is present in his followers and expressed in them. In politics we regularly see and hear samples of this.

All these proverbs about hypocrisy powerfully teach how much the God of truth hates every attempt to deceive. They warn us against becoming accustomed to the slightest deviations from the truth and any lack of sincerity in our speech. Deviations from the truth and lack of sincerity are totally incompatible with the Christian confession.

Isaiah 9:18

To Boast Wrongly

He who boasts “about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1) greatly overestimates himself. To “boast” about tomorrow means that a person believes he has the ability to shape the future to his liking. But no one knows “what a day may bring forth”, that is, what a day will bring. This applies both to what can happen today and to tomorrow’s day. The future is God’s territory. Man has no disposal over it. Recognizing this will humble us. It will lead us to submit all our future projects to Him, the sovereign God, Who directs all things.

Making plans is not wrong, as long as it is done in humility. Making plans as if we ourselves have full disposal of our fate and power over the future does not suit us (James 4:13-16). The Lord Jesus makes this clear in a parable of a rich fool who planned to live many more years, but died the next night because God required his soul (Luke 12:16-21).

The proverb contains other teaching. We can learn from this proverb that we need not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). We do not know if worries will still be there tomorrow. And if they will still be there tomorrow, God is also there to assist us. Another application is that we should not postpone until tomorrow what we can do today. This is especially true when it is about the conversion of a person. Then the call is: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). If conversion is postponed until ‘tomorrow’, ‘tomorrow’ has become a day in the calendar of satan that can be prolonged indefinitely (Acts 24:24-27).

Proverbs 27:2 connects to Proverbs 27:1. Proverbs 27:1 says that a man should not glory in what he will do tomorrow, or in the future. Proverbs 27:2 says that a man should not boast (the same Hebrew word now translated “praise”) in himself, on what he has done today or yesterday (or in the past) or how he is. It is good to do things worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8), but it is not good to boast yourself of them. Praise is like a nice-fitting coat. You may wear it as long as another person puts it on you and not you yourself, otherwise it will not be comfortable for long.

If other people praise you, that is good. If you praise yourself, that is a form of pride. The Dutch proverb ‘self-boast stinks,’ reflects this well. It is a common proverb, which makes it clear that even worldly people generally do not appreciate someone who speaks highly of his own achievements.

We can be thankful for a result achieved by us and find our joy in it. God looked upon His work of creation and saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). However, there is a difference between us and God. God finds all satisfaction in Himself; we find it only in Him. He gives us the ability to do a certain work. When we have done something, we should say that “we are unworthy slaves; we have done [only] that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).

Appreciation comes from the Lord. He says to each one who has served Him faithfully, “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:23). The boast about ourselves is never objective. When we boast of ourselves, we greatly overestimate ourselves. When the Lord assesses us, it is an absolutely objective assessment. In this sense, His assessment corresponds to that by “another” and “a stranger”. Hypocritical elements play no role. It is praise without any ulterior motive.

Isaiah 9:19

To Boast Wrongly

He who boasts “about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1) greatly overestimates himself. To “boast” about tomorrow means that a person believes he has the ability to shape the future to his liking. But no one knows “what a day may bring forth”, that is, what a day will bring. This applies both to what can happen today and to tomorrow’s day. The future is God’s territory. Man has no disposal over it. Recognizing this will humble us. It will lead us to submit all our future projects to Him, the sovereign God, Who directs all things.

Making plans is not wrong, as long as it is done in humility. Making plans as if we ourselves have full disposal of our fate and power over the future does not suit us (James 4:13-16). The Lord Jesus makes this clear in a parable of a rich fool who planned to live many more years, but died the next night because God required his soul (Luke 12:16-21).

The proverb contains other teaching. We can learn from this proverb that we need not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). We do not know if worries will still be there tomorrow. And if they will still be there tomorrow, God is also there to assist us. Another application is that we should not postpone until tomorrow what we can do today. This is especially true when it is about the conversion of a person. Then the call is: “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). If conversion is postponed until ‘tomorrow’, ‘tomorrow’ has become a day in the calendar of satan that can be prolonged indefinitely (Acts 24:24-27).

Proverbs 27:2 connects to Proverbs 27:1. Proverbs 27:1 says that a man should not glory in what he will do tomorrow, or in the future. Proverbs 27:2 says that a man should not boast (the same Hebrew word now translated “praise”) in himself, on what he has done today or yesterday (or in the past) or how he is. It is good to do things worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8), but it is not good to boast yourself of them. Praise is like a nice-fitting coat. You may wear it as long as another person puts it on you and not you yourself, otherwise it will not be comfortable for long.

If other people praise you, that is good. If you praise yourself, that is a form of pride. The Dutch proverb ‘self-boast stinks,’ reflects this well. It is a common proverb, which makes it clear that even worldly people generally do not appreciate someone who speaks highly of his own achievements.

We can be thankful for a result achieved by us and find our joy in it. God looked upon His work of creation and saw that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). However, there is a difference between us and God. God finds all satisfaction in Himself; we find it only in Him. He gives us the ability to do a certain work. When we have done something, we should say that “we are unworthy slaves; we have done [only] that which we ought to have done” (Luke 17:10).

Appreciation comes from the Lord. He says to each one who has served Him faithfully, “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:23). The boast about ourselves is never objective. When we boast of ourselves, we greatly overestimate ourselves. When the Lord assesses us, it is an absolutely objective assessment. In this sense, His assessment corresponds to that by “another” and “a stranger”. Hypocritical elements play no role. It is praise without any ulterior motive.

Isaiah 9:20

Burdens That Are Too Heavy to Bear

“Stone” and “sand” are heavy and weighty (Proverbs 27:3). Those who have to carry them feel that they weigh a lot and that the work is tiring and painful. A stone is a large, compact burden. Sand is made up of many small particles that together are a weighty burden. Something large can press down on us, making us feel like we are collapsing. There can also be countless small, daily irritations that make our life almost unbearable.

“But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.” The provocation of a fool is unbearable. It remains as a stone and sand on the inner being of one who has to deal with a fool. The spiritual effort it takes to deal with a fool is far greater than tiring physical work. Job uses the same picture to use it to describe the heaviness of his suffering (Job 6:2-3).

In the sphere of emotion, feelings as fury and anger can become uncontrollable and devastating (Proverbs 27:4). A person can be so furious because of certain events that he comes to cruelty [the Darby Translation reads in Proverbs 27:4a: Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous] (Genesis 34:13-29; Genesis 49:5-7) and that his is anger is excessive. These outbursts of wrath and anger are not to be condoned, much less the cruelties a person commits, but after the discharge there can be a certain calm.

But worse than these outbursts of wrath and anger is “jealousy”. Jealousy is more unbearable than wrath and anger. It continues to exist like a consuming fire. It devours around itself and also devours the one with whom it is present. An envious, jealous man is worse than a wrathful and angry man. Jealousy is never satisfied (Proverbs 6:32-35). No one can stand before it (cf. James 3:14; 16). Abel fell prey to the jealousy of Cain and Joseph to that of his brothers.

Isaiah 9:21

Burdens That Are Too Heavy to Bear

“Stone” and “sand” are heavy and weighty (Proverbs 27:3). Those who have to carry them feel that they weigh a lot and that the work is tiring and painful. A stone is a large, compact burden. Sand is made up of many small particles that together are a weighty burden. Something large can press down on us, making us feel like we are collapsing. There can also be countless small, daily irritations that make our life almost unbearable.

“But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.” The provocation of a fool is unbearable. It remains as a stone and sand on the inner being of one who has to deal with a fool. The spiritual effort it takes to deal with a fool is far greater than tiring physical work. Job uses the same picture to use it to describe the heaviness of his suffering (Job 6:2-3).

In the sphere of emotion, feelings as fury and anger can become uncontrollable and devastating (Proverbs 27:4). A person can be so furious because of certain events that he comes to cruelty [the Darby Translation reads in Proverbs 27:4a: Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous] (Genesis 34:13-29; Genesis 49:5-7) and that his is anger is excessive. These outbursts of wrath and anger are not to be condoned, much less the cruelties a person commits, but after the discharge there can be a certain calm.

But worse than these outbursts of wrath and anger is “jealousy”. Jealousy is more unbearable than wrath and anger. It continues to exist like a consuming fire. It devours around itself and also devours the one with whom it is present. An envious, jealous man is worse than a wrathful and angry man. Jealousy is never satisfied (Proverbs 6:32-35). No one can stand before it (cf. James 3:14; 16). Abel fell prey to the jealousy of Cain and Joseph to that of his brothers.