Learning From The Way Of The Fool, Part 6
5/12/2024
Turn with me to Proverbs 17:19-20. These are our verses to study and memorize this week.
Proverbs 17:19-20 He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction. 20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
Introduction
In these verses we are continuing to look at lessons from the ways of fools. In the previous section we looked at some of the unjust behaviors of fools. Now, here in Proverbs 17:16-20, we are looking at the crooked minds of fools. We are seeing the dangerous ways that fools think which we are to avoid. If we want to be wise then we need to guard our lives—starting off with how we think. Our actions come from our thoughts. From both of those then come the consequences or blessings. These results are much wider than just what happens to ourselves. Our upcoming verses will focus more specifically on those wider effects of the fool on one’s family and society. Before we get there, though, the focus of these two verses in Proverbs 17:19-20 is squarely on what the fool loves and the twisted way he thinks.
Do you find yourself drawn to sinful thoughts? Have you allowed them to come into your mind in certain areas and dwell there? Do you find sin irresistible and what you really want? Do you exalt yourself in your mind and think you know better than others or are better than them? Do you do things to exalt yourself in the eyes of others? To help us deal with these kinds of issues, in verse 19 we will see the foolishness of loving sin and exalting oneself.
Beyond that, do you find yourself thinking wrong things or turning good into bad in your head? Are your words sometimes crass and foul? Can you justify sin to yourself or others, making bad seem good? Do you twist words and situations to your advantage? To help us deal with these kinds of issues, in verse 20 we will see the foolishness of perverted thinking.
Let’s take a look more closely now at these two proverbs to see what God would have us learn.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.
The one who loves sin is actually loving trouble. The one who exalts himself pursues ruin.
There is a sharp contrast here between a friend who loves at all times from 2 verses earlier (Proverbs 17:17) and what the person in this proverb loves. Here they love transgression and strife. As Bruce Waltke notes, there is a progression from 17:17 to 17:18 to this verse.1 In 17:17 we see one rightly and appropriately loving their friends. Then in 17:18 we see one foolishly loving others in a way that could be hurtful to others and themselves. Now in 17:19 we see one wickedly loving sin and living pridefully. Its disastrous result is discord and ruin. The plain reality is that the foolish person loves the wrong things. Their hearts are set on the wrong things. At the foundational level their desires and wants are evil. They delight in sin.
The word for “transgression” here is the same word translated “rebelled” in 2 Kings 3:7 where Moab “rebelled” against Israel. In 2 Kings 8:20 and 2 Chronicles 21:8 it is the word used to describe Edom having “revolted” against Judah. The fool delights in revolting and rebelling against God’s determination of right and wrong. They delight in rebelling against His rightful authority over their lives.
This word for transgression is also the same word that was used just a few verses back in Proverbs 17:9. There it states that “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.” Love and transgression are thus seen in both of these verses. Between the two of them we see a fuller picture of how transgressions affect relationships.
Someone commits a sin against someone else and it fractures their relationship. Strife occurs. Then the person sinned against has to decide whether they love the person enough to try to work through and past the transgression—or not. If the person committing the transgression is a fool then they will keep persisting in their behavior. They seem to thrive on the strife and discord they cause. They will see how far they can go to push the other person in taking advantage of them, in hurting them, and in getting away with their evil desires and actions. Why do they do this? They do it because in actuality they love their transgression, their sinful, selfish pleasures, more than they love the other person or what is right. Just as this proverb says, when things are boiled down to their essence, the fool loves strife more than they love the relationship, peace, and holiness. This kind of behavior is foolish, destructive, and evil. Yet, it is all too often seen in manipulative relationships between children and parents, spouses, or cohabiting partners.
Psalm 36:1-4 pictures this kind of person vividly.
Psalm 36:1-4 For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil.
Notice what it said there at the beginning of verse 2 concerning transgressions. It flatters him. The love of sin has an inescapable element of pride. That is exactly what the second part of our proverb now turns and focuses on. Our translation may be a bit obscure, though: “He who raises his door seeks destruction.”
In working to memorize this verse with the children what at first came to mind was that one was raising their door to allow transgression into their lives and homes. However, that is not the picture here. The word for “raises” has to do with exalting something. Exalting one’s door or gate (KJV, NET, NIV) is a way of saying that one is exalting oneself in the community. They are making themselves look good and impressive before everyone else. This is confirmed when we compare this proverb with others.
The root words for “raises” and “destruction,” which are found at the end of Proverbs 17:19, are also both found in Proverbs 16:18 and 18:12. Interestingly, in both of those verses “raises” refers to an elevated, proud, haughty spirit which brings destruction. So this is not talking about someone just opening up their door. The NET Bible (as well as KJV and NIV) translates this a bit more clearly with “whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.” In light of its other uses this is a proud, self-exalting kind of thing. He builds up his house, his gate, his appearance to look better than those around him. He exalts himself, his desires, and what He loves above God and righteousness. He makes an idol out of himself.
Proverbs 16:18 warned about the end result of this kind of life. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Our proverb adds an additional element to that. He who exalts his gate seeks destruction. It is not just that destruction comes upon him. He is seeking it out. Just like loving destruction is also loving strife, so too intentionally exalting oneself in pride is intentionally seeking out one’s own destruction. To do one is to do the other. What a vivid picture of the foolish reality of the sinful, proud way of life! It is loving strife and pursuing destruction.
Scriptural Example: In Scripture we see an example of this with the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. He loved his sin, so he pursued it. It brought strife between him and his family. He demanded his inheritance before his father had even died. Then he left to pursue his rebellion. He abandoned his family and what was best for them. He exalted himself and his desires over everything else. He went to a far off country and wasted all that he had. His love of transgression and his self-exaltation resulted in strife and destruction. It was a foolish way of thinking that led nowhere good.
We also see another illustration of this proverb in the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes loved their power, authority, and elevated status. But they also loved their transgressions. Because of that they would make nit-picky legal arguments to justify and excuse their sinful behavior. They would justify not giving money to help and honor their parents by saying it was all dedicated to God (Mark 7:10-13). They would swear by the temple or the alter, but then say they were not obligated to do it because they had not sworn by the gold of the temple or the sacrifice on the altar (Matthew 23:16-22). In Mark 7:9 Jesus gave this assessment and rebuke: “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.”
Where did that love of transgression lead? It lead to strife with the righteous. John the Baptist would not put up with their hypocrisy and neither would Jesus. Both of them rebuked them for it. Ultimately they plotted to kill Jesus and had him crucified by the hands of the Romans. Yet that did not truly get them what they wanted or help them. It occurred just as Jesus prophesied in Matthew 23:34-24:2. God’s judgment would come upon that generation for their sins. Their house would be made desolate. Not one stone of the temple would be left upon another. Destruction would come and did come.
The curious case of Shebna in Isaiah 22:13-21 also illustrates this proverb. He had apparently been the royal official in charge of King Hezekiah’s household. During the Assyrian siege under king Sennacherib he did not repent of sin and turn to God for help. Rather he committed more iniquity. Apparently for some time he had used his position to wrongfully exalt himself.
Isaiah 22:13-21 Instead [of repenting; see verse 12], there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.” 14 But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me, “Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you Until you die,” says the Lord GOD of hosts. 15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household, 16 ‘What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock? 17 ‘Behold, the LORD is about to hurl you headlong, O man. And He is about to grasp you firmly 18 And roll you tightly like a ball, To be cast into a vast country; There you will die And there your splendid chariots will be, You shame of your master’s house.’ 19 “I will depose you from your office, And I will pull you down from your station. 20 “Then it will come about in that day, That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
We do not know many details of what occurred as this is the only place it is mentioned. However, what is clear is that Shebna’s love of transgression led him to sinning when he should have been repenting and helping people turn to trusting God. He should have been using his position and authority to help others. But apparently for a long time he had been using it to exalt himself. He had made an exalted monument or tomb for himself. He had ornate chariots which exalted himself. Yet, none of that lasted. His sinfulness was exposed. It brought strife between him and others. More importantly the sin he was pursuing brought strife between him and God. God judged him, deposed him, pulled him down, made him see another take his position and authority, and cast him out to die in a far away country. The love of transgression is really a love of strife. That is what it produces. Likewise pride and self-exaltation leads to ruin.
Proverb in Comparison: When we compare this proverb with the rest of Scripture we see that God had strong and graphic words in Micah 3:1-4 for the wicked leaders of Israel who loved evil.
Micah 3:1-4 I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just, 2 yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people’s skin and rip the flesh from their bones. 3 You devour my people’s flesh, strip off their skin, and crush their bones. You chop them up like flesh in a pot – like meat in a kettle. 4 Someday these sinful leaders will cry to the LORD for help, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time, because they have done such wicked deeds.” (NET)
God graphically details their sins and warns them that in their time of need He would not respond to their cries for help. And He did not. Not long after this the northern ten tribes of Israel were destroyed by Assyria in 722 BC and deported. This is what happens to those who love transgressions and exalt themselves against God. They seek destruction by their behaviors and find it.
The same will be true of any people and nation that loves evil. As graphic as the description of Israel’s wickedness is, we have no room to think ourselves any better in our day and age. That description could very well fit what our leaders allow in the dismemberment of hundreds of thousands of babies every year in our country. It is not much different than what occurs in some countries with gruesome wars with drug gangs and grisly slayings. It is not much different than what happens in some countries with governmental corruption and the brutal treatment of their own citizens or the assassination of enemies. We oursleves ought to take God’s warning about this foolish way of thinking seriously. Loving sin leads to destruction, whether for an individual or a nation.
Zechariah 8:17 adds this about God’s perspective on those who love transgressions:
Zechariah 8:17 ‘Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”
God hates evil, corrupt, deceptive thinking. We must not allow it into our hearts. Positively speaking, Romans 12:9-17 shows us how we should think and live in relation to evil and pride.
Romans 12:9-17 Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.
We are not to be hypocrites. We ought to find evil disgusting. We ought to hold on tightly to what is good. We are to love and serve others—even our enemies—by doing what is truly best for them. We are not to exalt ourselves, but instead serve and help the lowest in society. That is what God’s way of wisdom calls us to think like and do.
Truth in Connection: As we connect this to our lives today, it is plainly evident that we have a love of sin publicly abounding in our society and much of the world. Sensuality, violence, deception, and selfishness abound. It is producing much strife. Indeed, the news channels and many people seem to thrive on the strife that it produces. Just as surely as ancient Israel did, we will reap the ruin that transgressions and strife produce. This is an extremely foolish way of thinking and living that we must run from. We must run to God’s wisdom and love what is good and cling to it!
In the midst of this discouraging reality we would do well to remember what Micah also proclaimed and prophesied in Micah 7:18-20 as he concluded his book.
Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob And unchanging love to Abraham, Which You swore to our forefathers From the days of old.
Isaiah 59:20 explains how this will occur:
Isaiah 59:20 “A Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.
This foolish way of thinking that loves sin and exalts itself will bring destruction. Yet there is hope for those who repent and turn in faith to God’s redemption. Jesus came and fulfilled this prophecy to be the redeemer. He died on the cross to bear the full penalty of our transgressions and to give His righteousness to all those who trust in Him. He rose from the dead, conquered sin, and then gave this gift of salvation not just to Israel, but to people from all nations.
The only way that we will receive this, though, is if we turn from our self-exaltation and transgressions, recognizing them as the evils that they are before a righteous, holy God. We must humbly trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is the only remedy for the destruction that awaits those who love sin and live in pride. Do not wait until your destruction comes. Trust in Him!
Then, if you find yourself becoming ensnared again by the deceitful lies of sin, run back to Jesus. Run back to Jesus. Cling to the truth about sin and its destructiveness. Cling to the truth about your freedom and forgiveness in Jesus. Cling to the truth about His cleansing us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins again to Him as 1 John 1:9 talks about. Cling to the truth about Jesus’ overcoming power over sin. Cling to His promises to be with you always even to the end of the age. Cling to His Word. Cling to His peace. Cling to His purpose. Cling to His goodness. Cling to His love, and walk in the light. Will you run to Him day by day to avoid loving sin and becoming proud?
Our second proverb finishes our current section by directly highlighting the foolishness of perverted thinking.
20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
The one with evil thoughts finds much trouble. Evil words produce evil consequences for oneself.
The basic foundation for foolish ways of living are foolish ways of thinking. Thoughts progress to words. Words progress to actions. Actions result in consequences. What makes something a foolish way of thinking is when it is twisted, crooked, and perverted from the way God designed life to be. When God made this world He made it good. Our sin defied God’s good purposes and twisted what was good into evil. Since “every good thing given and every perfect gift” is from God above, as James 1:17 says, then when we twist our thinking, our words, and our actions from His perfect design into sin the result is not going to be good. It is going to be very bad. As Romans 6:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” There may indeed be a perverse pleasure in sin for a season, but the consequences will eventually come.
This proverb teaches this truth by way of extreme understatement. It is not simply that this person will not find good. It is that they will find awful trouble. It might sort of be like having your tire blow out on the freeway when you do not have a spare, or having your engine throw a rod and ruin the engine, or having someone rear end you with a sickening crunch and then you say, “well, that’s not good!” Of course it is not good. What you are actually saying, by way of extreme understatement, is that this is horrible and will have a lot of negative repercussions for your life and plans.
This is the reality when one allows their mind to think in ways that twists God’s good, righteous designs for life into bad things. It will result in catastrophic consequences.
The same is true in the second part of the proverb with our words. When we allow our words to be changed from being good, righteous, encouraging, and helpful to bad, slanderous, foul, crass, plotting, deceptive, and destructive the result will be very bad. The expression “fall into evil” there does not mean that they will accidentally do something bad. Rather, that word for “evil” has to do with the calamity, trouble, or evil consequences that will come upon a person. The evil is “that which is harmful.”2 When we twist our words from what they ought to be into sinful speech it harms us.
Proverbs 6:12-15 pictures this kind of person with their perverted thoughts and words which leads to their ruin.
Proverbs 6:12-15 A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; 14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. 15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
The fool uses his mind to think up devious, sinful ways of doing things to get what they want, to pursue pleasure, to manipulate people, to attack and hurt others, to persuade others, to mock people, to win arguments, to get power, to make good look bad, to make bad look good, to justify and excuse their behavior, etc. Their words then follow right along with their thoughts to accomplish those goals.
Scriptural Example: In Scripture we see an example of this with Balaam (Numbers 22-25). 2 Peter 2:15 tells us that he loved the wages of unrighteousness. He desperately wanted the money of Balak the king of Moab who tried to hire him to prophesy curses against Israel. So he went along as much as he could. His mind seemed to have been trying to find some way around what God was initially saying so that he could get that money. Then when God thwarted him and had him prophesy only good about Israel he ended up getting very devious and perverted. According to Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14 it was Balaam that taught Balak to entice Israel into idolatry and immorality so that God would curse them. His devious plan worked to the extent that Israel did sin greatly and God did judge them for it. But Balaam did not find any true good from that. He fell into calamity. The consequences came. Balaam himself was killed in a battle that Israel later fought (Numbers 31:8, Joshua 13:22).
He let his mind become perverted. He allowed himself to be controlled by his desire for money. He did whatever needed to be done to try to get it. He went astray from righteousness and led others into sin in very devious ways. Ultimately, though, instead of getting the wages of gold and silver that he wanted he reaped the wages of sin with death and God’s judgment.
Proverb in Comparison: When we compare our proverb with the rest of Scripture we see that Titus 1:10-16 also describes some of these kinds of foolish ways of thinking and speaking.
Titus 1:10-16 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.
Titus is pretty strong and straight-forward on the dangers of those who have let their corrupt ways of thinking pervade their whole way of life. Their minds and consciences are defiled. They find innuendos and evil in everything that is said. Nothing is pure or sacred to them. They twist everything around to some sinful or selfish purpose.
That is bad enough when it is from someone in the world who is openly pursuing sinful, selfish, hedonistic, worldly ways of living. In many ways that can be expected from someone whose way of thinking has been molded by secular, godless, Hollywood-esque thinking. However, this passage also mentions those who profess to know God. What is much more dangerous, because of its subtlety, is when people know God’s Word and twist things around to justify their sinful behavior and theology. They then persuade others into their false teachings and sinful living that appeals to their flesh and pride. They use their words powerfully to manipulate people, subjugate them, and use them. As Titus 1:16 says, by their deeds they deny God. They are detestable, disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. These are people who need to be reproved severely.
On the other hand, this passage also gives us a beautiful picture of what our minds and thoughts ought to be like as Christians. They ought to be pure. As verse 15 says, “To the pure, all things are pure.” That is God’s way of wisdom. That is God’s design for us as His people.
Truth in Connection: Because of our sin natures our minds will naturally be corrupt and perverted. We cannot fix that on our own no matter how hard we try. We might sometimes be able to outwardly do what is right, but our minds will seek out and think all sorts of evil things. There is only one person who can purify our minds and change our hearts: Jesus Christ. He is the only one who has conquered sin. He is the only one who can conquer it in us. As we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior from our sin we surrender our minds and everything else to Him to purify and make righteous. We do that initially, but because of our flesh this will also be an ongoing battle. Daily we will need to take up our cross, follow Jesus, walk by faith, surrender our sinful thoughts, and allow God to transform and renew our thinking according to His Word. We will need to do this until He takes us home to heaven and gives us our new sinless bodies. This daily battle is what Romans 12:1-3 talks about.
Romans 12:1-3 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Our tendency will be to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Instead, we need to think with sound judgment. We must see ourselves and life as God does. The only way for our minds and thinking to not be perverted will be to know what God thinks about things and trust Him that His way is right, best, and true. We must know and continue to meditate on God’s Word, or else we will end up with crooked thinking and perverted words which will bring no good upon our lives.
Have you trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Or are you on your way to reaping the calamity that awaits those with perverted minds? If you have not trusted Him, turn to Him today in faith!
If you have trusted Him, how are you doing in keeping your mind pure? Are you keeping your sin accounts short in every area of your life—confessing and turning from sin, and allowing God to cleanse you from all unrighteousness as 1 John 1:9 speaks of? Trust God that His way is best. We must continually humble ourselves before God and not exalt our natural, fleshly, perverted thinking above the truth of His Holy Word about any area of our lives. This will be a battle, but remember, you cannot do it on your own, and you are not doing it on your own—if you are a child of God’s.
His Spirit, which raised Jesus from the dead is there to give life to your mortal body and bring victory. Romans 8:5-11 describes this promised reality.
Romans 8:5-11 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
May we hold on to these truths and allow God’s Spirit, by His power, to purify our minds day by day! May we not go back to living in our previous foolish way of crooked thinking. May we walk in God’s way of wisdom for how we think. May we remember Isaiah 26:3-4
Isaiah 26:3-4 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. 4 “Trust in the LORD forever, For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
Conclusion
If you have any questions on any of this or want help in coming to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior please come talk with us. We are available. Let’s pray.
© 2024, Kevin A. Dodge, All rights reserved.
Scripture and/or notes quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB),Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
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