“DECEIT (mirmah: fraud, treachery) fills hearts that are plotting evil; JOY FILLS HEARTS that are planning peace!” (Prov. 12:20) What a classic proverb! If you love unlocking dark sayings. The key to understanding the lesson is in the contrast between the two clauses. Those who imagine evil against others are liars and will be punished for it. Righteous men PURSUE PEACE with their words and advice, and GOD WILL BLESS THEM with happy lives.
Solomon gives us these wise words, “Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by EXPLORING THE MEANING IN THESE PROVERBS and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.” (Prov. 1:5-6) Just what will they do for us AMANDA? They will give us the, “Fear of the LORD is the FOUNDATION (re’shiyth: choice part) OF TRUE KNOWLEDGE…” (Prov. 1:7) The Bible says this about a deceitful person, “You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man DO NOT EVEN EAT.” (1 Corin. 5:11).
The last half of Proverbs 12:20 tells us that those who promote peace shall have joy. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt 5:9)
WE ARE BLESSED WHEN WE PURSUE PEACE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WALK IN THE PEACE OF GOD.
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