THE LORD IS A SECURE FORTRESS

Passage: Proverbs 14:18-35

Key verse: 26

NIV

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(A)

20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.(B)

21 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,(C)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.(D)

22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?(E)
    But those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.

23 All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.(F)

25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.(G)

26 Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,(H)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.(I)

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,(J)
    turning a person from the snares of death.(K)

28 A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.(L)

29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(M)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(N)

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.(O)

31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,(P)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.(Q)

32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,(R)
    but even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.(S)

33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning(T)
    and even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,(U)
    but sin condemns any people.

35 A king delights in a wise servant,
    but a shameful servant arouses his fury.(V)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:33 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac discerning / but in the heart of fools she is not known
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

18 The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 (A)The evil bow down before the good,
    the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 (B)The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
    (C)but the rich has many friends.
21 Whoever (D)despises his neighbor is a sinner,
    but (E)blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22 Do they not go astray who (F)devise evil?
    Those who devise good meet[a] (G)steadfast love and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
    but mere talk (H)tends only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
    but the folly of fools brings folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
    but one who (I)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the Lord one has (J)strong confidence,
    and (K)his children will have (L)a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is (M)a fountain of life,
    that one may (N)turn away from the snares of death.
28 In (O)a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
    but without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is (P)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
30 A tranquil[b] heart gives (Q)life to the flesh,
    but (R)envy[c] makes (S)the bones rot.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man (T)insults his (U)Maker,
    (V)but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
32 (W)The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
    but (X)the righteous finds refuge in his death.
33 Wisdom (Y)rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
    but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.[d]
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
    but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 A servant who deals wisely has (Z)the king's favor,
    but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 14:22 Or show
  2. Proverbs 14:30 Or healing
  3. Proverbs 14:30 Or jealousy
  4. Proverbs 14:33 Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Whatever we have is a blessing from God. The author of Proverbs observes that the poor are shunned, even by those close to them, whereas the rich have friends (20). God’s children do not reject and despise the poor. Doing so is a sin. Rather, we must be kind to the needy (21b). With wisdom, God’s children work hard which leads to profit and wealth. Profit and wealth are kindnesses from God which we can use to show kindness to the poor and needy. This honors God and practically demonstrates how to love our neighbor as ourselves (31). God has blessed us with wealth – material, spiritual, love, time, opportunities, etc. Let us honor God with our wealth!

Yet, wealth cannot provide lasting refuge and security. Only the LORD is an eternally secure fortress for us and for our children (26). No amount of material wealth can save a person from death. But fearing the LORD is a fountain of life and can turn a person from the snares of death (27). The wicked are brought down when calamity strikes. But the LORD our God, even in death, is a refuge and strength for the righteous (32, Ps 46:1). Will you fully trust God to be your fortress and refuge?

Prayer: Father, thank you for being my true security and for being a refuge in times of trouble. Help me use what you’ve given to me to bless those who are in need.

One Word: God is my refuge and fortress