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“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” Part 3 (Pro 18:17-24)

[Study Aired September 10, 2025]

Pro 18:17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
Pro 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Pro 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Pro 18:20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Pro 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Pro 18:23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Pro 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

These last few proverbs of chapter 18 that we’ll look at today stress the importance of fair judgement, the power of words, the value of strong relationships, and the contrasting behaviours of people in different life circumstances. I’ll be using the story of the two harlots in (1Ki 3:16-28) as a sort of guide and template to help bring out some of these points.

Pro 18:17  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

In this story of the two harlots that were brought before Solomon (1Ki 3:16-28), it was the woman who was just that spoke up first before the king, but it’s not about the order of who speaks first, rather it is the attitude of the one speaking, and the second woman who was not just was the one trying to sound like she was just in her cause, “first in his own cause”. This third chapter of Kings gives us one of the best examples of someone, or in this case of two people, pleading their cause to then have the truth rightly divided by Solomon who typifies God’s judgements that are working in the body of Christ today, “but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him”.

1Ki 3:16  Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
1Ki 3:17  And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
1Ki 3:18  And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
1Ki 3:19  And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
1Ki 3:20  And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
1Ki 3:21  And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
1Ki 3:22  And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
1Ki 3:23  Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
1Ki 3:24  And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
1Ki 3:25  And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
1Ki 3:26  Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
1Ki 3:27  Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
1Ki 3:28  And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Both of these women reside within us, and it is by God’s power and chastening grace in our lives that we will be able to come to the point where we can discern the good and evil within ourselves having had our senses exercised by the trial of our faith, which is precious unto us (1Pe 1:7).

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

It’s precious because this exercise of faith makes it possible for us to partake of strong meat, and purifies God’s word in our hearts that is likened unto gold, so that by “the God of all grace”, “who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (Heb 5:14, Psa 12:6, 1Pe 5:10).

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Psa 12:6  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The ability to judge and discern good and evil is a gift from God that is received of those who are given a hunger and thirst to ask for it in faith (Jas 1:5, 1Jn 5:4, Mat 5:6 , Rom 3:27), and Solomon, who typifies the elect, was granted that desire to ask for and to know the truth, as typified by this prayer that he made in (1Ki 3:9).

1Ki 3:9 “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

The “neighbour” that comes and searches him, “but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him”, is represented by Solomon in (1Ki 3:16-28), and it is our prayer that the Lord will be that friend who sticks closer than a brother within us, and faithfully administers the wounds that judgement brings so we can die daily, and be buried in His baptism so we can be raised with Christ in heaven (Psa 139:23-24, Pro 27:5-6, Heb 12:3, Gal 6:9, 1Co 15:31).

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Pro 27:5  Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners [the one harlot against the other in 1Ki 3:16-28] against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.(Psa 116:15, 1Pe 1:7)

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

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

The [CLV] version of this proverb reads “Casting the lot causes quarrels to cease, And keeps staunch foes apart”, and that is definitely what Solomon was doing with these two woman. The contention was over their children which represents doctrine (Mat 13:37-38), and it would take the judgement of God ‘in the lot of the matter’ to bring about the truth (Pro 16:33).

Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

The powers and principalities that we wrestle against are higher than us and stronger than us (Eph 6:12) and would sift us like wheat as Christ told Peter (Luk 22:31), unless Christ and his body prayed for us (Luk 22:32).

With God’s spirit within us (Rom 8:9) we are able to “parteth between the mighty” within us and cause “contentions to cease” in our heavens because He is greater and higher than all those powers and principalities we wrestle against (Eph 1:21), and can give us victory over our condemning conscience and the accuser of the brethren who wants to sift us like wheat (1Jn 4:4, 1Jn 2:1).

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Pro 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Have you offended anyone lately? We don’t go out purposely trying to offend people, but if we stand on God’s word we are promised that we are going to be an offence to the world around us (2Co 2:15-17, Mat 10:22-23).

2Co 2:15  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?(2Co 3:5)
2Co 2:17  For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: “in the sight of God speak we in Christ” but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Mat 10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

The “strong city [the city is a church]” of the world is being run by the god of this world (2Co 4:4) and the gates of hell are symbolized by “the bars of a castle” that protect the false doctrines of mankind, and they will not prevail against the body of Christ (Mat 16:18).

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.(Luk 16:26, Joh 3:3, Joh 8:43-44)

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In due time all of those strongholds will be torn down by Christ and His Christ through judgement that will destroy the man of perdition in the hearts and minds of all of mankind who holds fast to the traditions of men (2Th 2:7-8, Rev 19:20, Rev 20:14-15).

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Rev 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire [the gates of hell that God’s elect will destroy in others having overcome and not been hurt by the second death, having died first (Rev 2:11, Rev 14:10-12)]. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Pro 18:20  A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Positively speaking, God knows our need for daily spiritual bread and our heavenly Father gives the increase in our lives (1Co 3:6, 1Th 3:12), and prunes the branches of our life so that we can continue to bring forth much fruit (Joh 15:2, Tit 2:12-13, Mat 7:18-21).

Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it (Tit 2:12), that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Tit 2:12  Teaching^{G3811 (Paideuo = chasten (-ise) instruct learn teach)} us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Mat 12:48-50, Rom 8:28).

When it is the “good fruit” of our mouth coming forth because of the life of Christ in us that is increasing as we decrease (Mat 7:15-20), then it is likened unto living waters that come forth from our “belly” (Joh 7:38), the abundant and satisfying life in Christ we are blessed to be dragged unto (Joh 6:44).

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Joh 7:38  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Having a love of the truth produces a hunger for righteousness which blesses God’s people who are now speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:14-15). It is not what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes out of him, and so we must die to ungodly patterns of old, so that our conversation or way of life is not being conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of God’s spirit within us day to day (Rom 12:1-3). Today the world is being given over to evil spirits because there is no love of the truth, and this is happening all according to the counsel of God’s will (2Th 2:12, 1Jn 1:6, 1Jn 2:21, Eph 1:11).

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love,(1Jn 5:2) may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.(Jas 1:27)
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

We have all found a wife and obtained favour of the LORD, that wife being the bride of Christ, Jerusalem above (Psa 137:5-6, 2Co 11:2-3, Rev 21:2-3, Rev 21:9, Rev 22:17).

Psa 137:5  If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.[Christ’s wife]
2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Eph 2:8).

Pro 18:23  The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

Pro 18:23 One who is destitute speaks with supplications, Yet the rich man responds with roughness.” [CLV]

The contrite and broken spirit spoken of in (Isa 66:2) is a gift from God, and that is the man that God looks to and acts upon his request, his importunate intreaty (Luk 18:13-14, Heb 5:7, Eph 5:30).

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  “and trembleth at my word”

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

The rich man who responds with roughness is the Pharisee in us who thinks his many wonderful works are going to save him, and is sure that he is clothed, and not naked, blind and miserable (Rev 3:17). The publican is the one who goes away justified in this parable as a result of having a contrite and broken heart that acknowledges his sinful condition (Luk 18:13-14, Rev 3:17-18)

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

This last proverb of chapter 18 reminds us that with Christ as our friend in this life (Joh 15:14-15, Luk 12:4) we can show ourselves friendly to one another, which will manifest if we don’t neglect so great a salvation (Heb 2:3), but rather stir up God’s spirit within us so that you can be a joint that supplies in love, and with God’s love being shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5), we can be “a friend that sticketh closer than a brother”, because we are a member of the same one body. You can’t get any closer than that, and there is nothing in this life that can bring us greater joy than knowing we belong to each other in the LORD. That is where our true lasting happiness comes from.

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1Co 6:16  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.[Eph 5:30]
1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 4:4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.[“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding”]

Luk 12:4  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

[What will a true friend do, who sticks closer than a brother?
He will deliver Mat 10:19,
He will cast the fear out of us Luk 12:32, 1Jn 4:18, Rom 5:5,
He will bind the sacrifice to the altar Psa 118:27,
He will help us in our unbelief Mar 9:23-24,
He will give us Godly confidence with the faith of Christ Php 3:3, Heb 10:35,
He will never leave or forsake us, for great is His faithfulness, Heb 13:5, Lam 3:22-23].