Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
The wicked accept bribes in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.
A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

• Proverbs 17:22-28

Proverbs 17:26 punish … strike. ”Here is a clear statement on political and religious injustice, focusing on the equally bad mistreatment of the innocent and the noble.

• John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary (quoted Scripture without bold/italics)

This set of proverbs seem to not have a consistent theme, except in foolishness, but they are similar to others that have gone before.

It seems that my wife lived by Proverbs 17:22.  You never knew when she was in pain. Her last day on this earth, she moaned and told the nurses how bad the pain was.  This was the first time in our 48 years of marriage that I heard her complain.  Even when she gave birth to our second son by the natural method, she may have growled while pushing but she did not complain, except once when she said that she needed some drugs.  Afterward, she even denied that, but I think they gave her an epidural.  But that last day was different.  For over a year now, I have had people approach me to say how they knew she had to be in pain but they could never tell by the ever-present smile.  Thus, I was not the only one that noticed.  She said that no one wants to hear you groan; they prefer a smile.

Proverbs 17:23 reminds us about bribes and how they are used by the wicked to pervert justice.

Proverbs 17:24 speaks of the discerning mind keeping knowledge in view while the fool searches to the ends of the earth.  Rev. MacArthur, not quoted above, said they do not go to the ends of the earth, but they wander aimlessly, finding nothing.

Proverbs 17:25 is like Proverbs 17:21.  A foolish son is grief to the father and bitterness to the mother, the one who bore him.  Over the years, my wife would pray for family members, and when they cut off communications, she would shake the phone, trying to will the phone to ring, with tears running down her face.  I said last week, that the subject is just too hard to talk about.

I differ in my interpretation of Proverbs 17:26 from what is quoted from Rev. MacArthur above, ever so slightly.  He mentions that it is unjust to punish the innocent and the noble.  Noble could mean someone of nobility, but I think the keyword is “honest.”  In our society these days, the innocent and the honest are downtrodden.  My parents drove that rule into my head.  Be honest.  Be innocent of all fault.  And in many cases, my supervisor did not trust me, probably because he was dishonest, and he could not trust me in keeping his secrets.

And thinking of the even-tempered person, I will always remember the line in the Spike Jones decomposition of the opera Carmen.  “She had an even temper, always mad.”  That is not what this verse is saying, but I cannot help what pops into my head at times.  Frankly, I would love to have an even temper.  It is something that I inwardly fight, but I am sure there are some people that know me who see the signs that I am trying fight off the explosion.

And Mark Twain’s quote, or is this one of the quotes no one can substantiate?  “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”  I think this last verse in Proverbs 17 would have Mark Twain’s version, if he had translated the Bible.

And now let us sing.

The following song is In the Garden.  This is sung by the Asidors.  Do we need the words?  Our voices must not be silenced when we share the Gospel.  But when we have that silent moment alone with God, we can learn so much from Him.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Help us to be even tempered, not replying in anger in this angry and hateful world.  Help us to be cheerful as we walk through a sea of negativity.  May we strive to be just in our dealing and hate unjust practices.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.