Pro 12:12 | KingComments | STEP | “The wicked man” has desires ( ). Those desires form a safety net [“booty” is literally “net”] in which evil is caught and held. By the wicked man is meant especially the antichrist, for he is the embodiment of evil. Everything he desires is evil. There is nothing good in that man. He is a prisoner of evil, he cannot get away from it, and he himself holds evil captive, he does not want to let it go. Everyone who follows him exhibits the same characteristic. Evil is practiced and the victims or the looted goods are enclosed by him in his ‘safety net’. Death and destruction are the results of his work, both as to his victims and as to him personally, for he will perish in the evil in which he is imprisoned. In opposition to the evil desires of the wicked, “the root of the righteous yields” corresponding fruit. Producing fruit is not an activity, but the result of the root being in good soil and receiving good nourishment. The righteous have their root in Christ ( ). The Lord Jesus says that those who have their abode in Him and in whom He is bear much fruit ( ). It is about having a living connection with Christ. “The transgression of his lips” happens when rash statements are made and certainly when there is deliberate lying ( ). Then the evil man is ensnared in what has been said. He who transgresses in what passes his lips is in danger of being judged for it. Sometimes a politician tries to nuance his statements through a whole verbiage. It may happen that this does not convince and then he has to step down. An Amalekite’s lie to David about Saul’s death became his death, when he thought he would receive a reward ( ). “The righteous” will not get into trouble because of what he says. He knows what to say and what not to say. As a result, he “will escape from trouble”. He does not have to talk his way out of anything or justify himself. What he says is consistent with the truth. The language of the righteous is compared to “the fruit of his words” ( ). He who speaks the truth in love in his language “will be satisfied with good”. Good words give great satisfaction. God gave man a mouth that out of it might come forth fruit for Him, that is, praise, “the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” ( ). God responds and gives satisfaction in the heart that has produced that fruit. Similarly, in general, there will be blessing or good for one who is wise and sensible in conversation while honoring God. Good advice, sound teaching passed on, is a fruit of words. The words are compared here to a tree that produces fruit. Fruit presupposes growth, beauty and the ability to give satisfaction to others. Fruit demands to be eaten. Words can be eaten ( ). Timothy was nourished on “the words of the faith and the sound doctrine” which he had been following ( ). This allowed him to pass them on as the fruit of his words. Joshua and Caleb spoke good words about the land and were “satisfied with good”.

‏ Proverbs 12:12

Fruit and Escape

“The wicked man” has desires (Pro 12:12). Those desires form a safety net [“booty” is literally “net”] in which evil is caught and held. By the wicked man is meant especially the antichrist, for he is the embodiment of evil. Everything he desires is evil. There is nothing good in that man. He is a prisoner of evil, he cannot get away from it, and he himself holds evil captive, he does not want to let it go. Everyone who follows him exhibits the same characteristic.

Evil is practiced and the victims or the looted goods are enclosed by him in his ‘safety net’. Death and destruction are the results of his work, both as to his victims and as to him personally, for he will perish in the evil in which he is imprisoned.

In opposition to the evil desires of the wicked, “the root of the righteous yields” corresponding fruit. Producing fruit is not an activity, but the result of the root being in good soil and receiving good nourishment. The righteous have their root in Christ (Col 2:6-7). The Lord Jesus says that those who have their abode in Him and in whom He is bear much fruit (Jn 15:5). It is about having a living connection with Christ.

“The transgression of his lips” happens when rash statements are made and certainly when there is deliberate lying (Pro 12:13). Then the evil man is ensnared in what has been said. He who transgresses in what passes his lips is in danger of being judged for it. Sometimes a politician tries to nuance his statements through a whole verbiage. It may happen that this does not convince and then he has to step down. An Amalekite’s lie to David about Saul’s death became his death, when he thought he would receive a reward (2Sam 4:9-12).

“The righteous” will not get into trouble because of what he says. He knows what to say and what not to say. As a result, he “will escape from trouble”. He does not have to talk his way out of anything or justify himself. What he says is consistent with the truth.

The language of the righteous is compared to “the fruit of his words” (Pro 12:14). He who speaks the truth in love in his language “will be satisfied with good”. Good words give great satisfaction. God gave man a mouth that out of it might come forth fruit for Him, that is, praise, “the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). God responds and gives satisfaction in the heart that has produced that fruit.

Similarly, in general, there will be blessing or good for one who is wise and sensible in conversation while honoring God. Good advice, sound teaching passed on, is a fruit of words. The words are compared here to a tree that produces fruit. Fruit presupposes growth, beauty and the ability to give satisfaction to others. Fruit demands to be eaten. Words can be eaten (Jer 15:16).

Timothy was nourished on “the words of the faith and the sound doctrine” which he had been following (1Tim 4:6b). This allowed him to pass them on as the fruit of his words. Joshua and Caleb spoke good words about the land and were “satisfied with good”.