Audio Download

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” Part 2(Pro 15:16-24)

(Aired on July 3, 2025)

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Pro 15:18  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pro 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
Pro 15:20  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Pro 15:21  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
>Pro 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Pro 15:24  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

The bible has a lot to say about being content (Php 4:11-13), and the process of judgement that God puts us through in this life (1Ti 6:17) makes it possible for the elect to achieve that blessed place of being content (1Ti 6:6-8).

Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned (Tit 2:12-13), in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (This verse 2Co 1:9 is what gives (Pro 3:5-8) its power so we can be content).
Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.(Php 2:12-13)

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

When our attention is on seeking the kingdom of God first and His righteousness as we “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”, forgetting what is behind us (Php 3:14), we learn that the “all things” that are accomplished by Christ (Php 4:13) is the paramount way by which we are going to go from being the rich young ruler who had great wealth, wealth that represents those who will say ‘haven’t we done many wonderful works’ in the second resurrection. That wealth also represents our former self-righteous conversation (Eph 2:1-3), as opposed to the prodigal son who sees the need now and the blessing to be judged of the Lord in this life. The impoverished actions of squandering our inheritance, is only the beginning of tribulation for this prodigal son who represents the elect of God (1Pe 4:17, Luk 15:14-15). The prodigal who squanders his inheritance is just another way of showing us how we think we are that rich young ruler in Babylon, and yet don’t understand that we are wretched (Rom 7:24), miserable (Rev 3:17), poor (Jas 2:5), and blind (Isa 42:19,  Joh 9:41) until the Lord starts to judge the manchild who is raised in heavenly places for that reason (Rev 12:5, Eph 2:6).

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
Luk 15:15  And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Christ gives us the power to accomplish the “all things” that God’s spirit makes possible for us to fulfill in this life (1Co 13:7).

1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Our goal then as the body of Christ is to be found at Christ’s return understanding that we are wretched, miserable, poor and blind,(Luk 17:10) as we are brought to see that as a marred vessel we have a continual need for our hope of glory within us, Jesus Christ,  to work within us day by day, moment by moment, so we can die to self and become more than conquerors through Him, through the faith of Christ by which we can do “all things” (Php 3:9-11).

Luk 17:10  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Php 2:12-13)

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ (Php 4:13), the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Heb 11:26-27)
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

God has given the body of Christ exceedingly great and precious promises that, when understood with the mind of Christ, we truly have nothing to fear, if we fear God and trust Him for all our needs, as we seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness (Pro 19:23, Mat 6:33, Col 3:23, Gen 2:15). The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, and so our labours are not in vain in Him (Php 2:12-13), and those labours in each of the elect’s lives have been ordained from the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10).

Pro 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

This opening proverb says everything we need to know regarding the right relationship we should have with our Father (Luk 12:5) even as we commit our ways unto Him while pursuing paths of righteousness for His name sake, which paths include our jobs, our relationships in the world, which are all for our sakes (2Co 4:15) so that we can obtain great spiritual treasure that brings with it no burden, no trouble, no sorrow (Pro 10:22).

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

When we are seeking the kingdom of God first and His righteousness, we are being blessed with a hunger and thirst that comes from God (Mat 5:6), which drags us to the same right conclusion every time, that “Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith”.

Pro 15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

This next proverb is a reminder of how blessed we are in the body of Christ to have the true riches of God’s word in our lives, unadulterated and all profitable (2Ti 3:16) as a result of the mind of Christ that gives us the ability to see the need for the sum of God’s word (Mat 4:4), as we compare spirit with spirit using the physical (1Co 2:12-14).

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Herbs represent the little that God’s elect have that is more valuable with an obedient spirit to God’s commandments (Mat 25:23), than the stalled ox in Babylon that is stalled because of the hatred that we once demonstrated toward God by not keeping his commandments, while we were saying ‘Lord, Lord’ and not doing the things that He commands us (1Jn 5:2). When we are obedient to the commandments of God we grow in our apprehension of His word and become partakers of the ox which represents the more mature discerning of God’s word that comes about as a result of the increase that He gives us (Heb 5:13-14, 1Co 3:6-7).

Mat 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Pro 15:18  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

That wrathful man is the first man Adam within us that we need to rule over by God’s grace and the faith of Christ (Eph 2:8-9) that gives us the power to appease situations where strife exists (Rev 11:3). Stressful situations try and test us in that regard, and we are bound to fall seven times as God’s children as we learn that it is only by God’s mercy that we can eventually bring all our thoughts into subjection unto Christ and in so doing we end up ruling over the cities that make up the nations within us where God does cause evil and conflict (Pro 16:32-33, Amo 3:6).

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Pro 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

Our carnal man within us does not labour in the word of God and examine ourselves whether we be in the faith or not, but if we would be blessed to judge ourselves (Rom 2:4) we will not be judged in the lake of fire (1Co 11:31, 2Co 13:5).

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A slothful man is likened unto a hedge of thorns, which represents false doctrines (Gen 3:18) which blind us from seeing the path to life that Christ makes plain for His children to see “but the way of the righteous is made plain” (Joh 16:13). It is also interesting to note that ‘made plain’ is Strong number H5549 and is also translated as ‘to cast up a highway’, ‘to lift up’ (and is being used with the Qal stem in this case).

H5549 sâlal  saw-lal’  A primitive root; to mound up (especially a turnpike); figuratively to exalt; reflexively to oppose (as by a dam): – cast up, exalt (self), extol, make plain, raise up.

BDB Definition:

1. to lift up, cast up, exalt
2. (Qal)
3. to cast up a highway
4. to cast up a way
5. to lift up (of song)
6. (Pilpel) to exalt, esteem highly, prize
7. (Hithpoel) to exalt oneself

We are called to resist those thorns and briers unto the shedding of blood, symbolized by the crown of thorns that Christ had put on him. This tells us that with the mind of Christ we can resist the devil and all his fiery darts can be quenched (Heb 12:4, Eph 6:16) with the strength of Christ working all things in our heaven and earth that He has complete power over (Mat 28:18).

Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

Pro 15:20  A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

Christ is our wisdom and until His words abide within us we are the foolish man that despises his mother who represents the church, the body of Christ (Col 1:24).

We can only be accepted through Christ who was and is and will be the wise son who makes His father glad, “A wise son maketh a glad father” (Mat 3:17).

Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Pro 15:21  Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

When we are destitute of the mind of Christ we cannot help but be drawn toward the folly of this world that satisfies our yet carnal state. However, a man who is being judged of the Lord in this age is a man of understanding who now walks uprightly, coming out of the world, touching not the unclean thing, and is being received of God through Christ (Eph 1:6, 2Co 6:17-18).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

The holy spirit has inspired these verses that discuss the wisdom of counsel (Pro 11:14, Pro 15:22, Pro 24:6) which is a means to an end for the body of Christ as we navigate through this life via the strength that God provides through each joint that supplies in love (Eph 4:16), which is what is needed to keep the body spiritually healthy. It is with the body of Christ that we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God (1Pe 5:6), submitting to one another as unto Christ (Eph 5:21-22), and in doing this we will be lifted up in due season and become more than conquerors through Christ and His body.

Pro 1:25  But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Pro 1:30  They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Pro 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

Pro 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:22  Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

Pro 24:6  For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Pro 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Not just any words bring us joy, but the joy of our salvation (Psa 51:12), which results in our knowing God and Christ (Joh 17:3), and having the words of eternal life in our hearts and minds (Joh 6:68). At that day (Joh 14:20) because we have been blessed to keep the words of God and continue to abide in them, we become confident and assured that the Father and the Son have made their abode in us making it possible for us to provide spiritual meat in due season (Joh 8:31-32, Mat 24:45-46). That is the good that God gives to those who He is dragging to His Son in this age (Joh 6:44). God’s elect are not just blessed to stumble unto the word of God, but are keeping the sayings of the prophecy (Rev 1:3) that crushes our old man and makes us ready to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Mat 21:44, Luk 13:4-5).

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Luk 13:4  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Pro 15:24  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell^{H7585 = sheol} beneath.

The way of life is Christ (Joh 14:16) and he is our wisdom (1Co 1:30), and it is through him that we can overcome the grave as He is the power of the resurrection (Php 3:10, Joh 11:25-26). Even now as we die daily we are being raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6) to the glory and honour of God “until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Eph 1:14). All of this is promised to the body of Christ, and we are also reminded of the way by which we will obtain these promises, which is through “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility”.