PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” (Proverbs 18:4).

I am told that folks that really like to fish have their own secret spot where they love to go because it seems they always have good fortune. Well, by the same standard, when we want good advice, we tend to go to those we trust—those that have given us good counsel in the past. Only a foolish person will go to another fool for advice, unless it is bad advice that they seek. When a person is bent toward foolishness, it is always good for them to have someone else they can blame— “Well, he told me to do it!”

Before us today are two places where a wise man will go to find sound instruction, two similes, if you will.

The first is deep water: “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5).

“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters,” they are not casual or half-hearted. This man is contrasted with the wicked, foolish man of vss. 2-3—so we are free to view that the words of a wise man have a great depth to them. These kinds of words only come from a sea of experience, not a mere puddle of casual acquaintance with the truth. These are the words of a man that has been tried, as silver is tried, and been proven. Often, knowledge comes from learning from one’s mistakes while others have learned even more by learning from others’ mistakes. The Word of God is a repository of other men’s mistakes and how to avoid them in our own walk. The more that a man knows of his Bible and its depths of truth, is he worthy to direct others.

The second is a flowing brook: “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked” (Proverbs 10:11).

“. . . and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook,” it waters the whole countryside within its path. Wise words are a great blessing to all within their hearing—if, indeed, they have ears to hear. “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 13:14).

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Proverbs 22:17-21).

From whence do these deep waters and flowing brooks of wisdom come? In my experience there are two places.

The first is the fountain of heavenly treasures—the Word of God. Despite the opinions of some men, ours is a precious Book divinely preserved by the living God unto all generations. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalms 12:6).

The second is from godly men that have dedicated themselves to that Word of God. It could be a faithful, godly layman who, like Enoch, has walked with God for many years and through many miles, or it could be the man who is called of God to be the pastor of a local New Testament, Bible-believing church. Their lifetime of fruitful, spiritual reaping and sowing will set them apart for this purpose.

Truly, there are plenty of opinions that one can listen to, but “to the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).

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