Pro 3:34 | KingComments | STEP | The next evil the father warns his son about is to “envy a man of violence” ( ; cf. ). The man of violence is the man who is violent, who makes an unlawful use of power. In Proverbs 1, the man of violence approaches the son. Here the son sees all that the man of violence can afford, for example, buying expensive things and the easy life he seems to lead. The man of violence exerts influence on others, both his friends and people who see him, such as the son. Then it is important not to come under his influence. The father tells his son to “not envy” that man and not to choose “any of his ways”. To underscore this prohibition, the father presents his son with the consequences of following this man in his way of life and the consequences if he stays far away from it. This is done in the form of contrasts. The son should not envy the man of violence, “for such a man is an abomination to the LORD” ( ). He must realize this well if he is attracted by that man’s life and wants to live that way too. An abomination, something disgusting, should be kept as far away from you as possible. Opposite is being as close to the LORD as possible. That is the part of the upright with whom He is “intimate” ( ). The intimate dealings are evident in the communications He makes. For example, He dealt intimately with Abraham and made known to him what He was going to do ( ). He also deals intimately with His servants, the prophets ( ). In we see, on the one hand, the portion of the righteous ( ), the afflicted ( ) and the wise ( ) and, on the other hand, that of the wicked ( ), the scoffers ( ) and the fools ( ). The wicked do not care about God, the scoffers despise God, the fools reject God. The latter should not be envied, for they are under the curse ( ), the scoff ( ) and the dishonor ( ). The upright, with whom God is intimate, receive blessing ( ), grace ( ) and honor ( ). Whoever deviates from the LORD ( ) proves to be “wicked” ( ). On such a person’s house is “the curse of the LORD” ( ). We see here that deviation has consequences not only for ourselves, but also for all who belong to our house. The reverse is true for the upright. Their house is blessed by the LORD ( ). As a result of the attitude of the principal dweller, the children of the wicked suffer and those of the upright rejoice. We are channels of blessing or of curse for our family. The curse that rests on the house of the wicked is not so much the deprivation of all kinds of things that make life pleasant. Nor is the blessing so much the possession of everything the heart desires. The central point of the curse is in a constant restlessness of conscience, a constant sense of insecurity, with the end result that the house will collapse. The central point of blessing is in the constant awareness that God is with us, in the rest and peace of the heart that is assured of the grace and goodness of God. That house will stand firm. Scoffers will face the scoffing of God ( ). Scoffers are people for whom nothing is holy. They scoff at God and His truth, laughing at Him and ridiculing His truth ( ). The sacrifice of Christ they dishonor. They exalt themselves and despise and demean others and especially God and His Christ. Such people sin in an abominable way. There will come a time when the roles will be reversed. Then He will scoff at them and humiliate them ( ). Opposed to the scoffers are the “the afflicted” or “the meek”. They are the humble ones; they have humbled themselves and taken their proper place before God. They acknowledge Him in everything He says about them, whether in judgment or in blessing. With them He does not scoff, but to them He gives grace. That gives them the strength to remain meek under the scoffers’ mockery and to not resist. Meekness is a characteristic of the Lord Jesus that characterized Him in His life on earth. He gives that characteristic to all who take on His yoke of obedience and want to learn from Him ( ). They have humbled themselves under the powerful hand of God ( ; ), while sinners will be forced to humble themselves when Christ comes to reign. When Christ comes, the wise will receive honor ( ). The wise are the same persons as the righteous and afflicted or meek of the previous verses. This indicates that these are not the wise of the world, but those who are in God’s sight. The honor they receive is not temporary and not that of the world, but an everlasting honor given by God. That honor is that they will share in the reign of the Lord Jesus. Fools, on the contrary, get nothing but what they themselves have done. They “display dishonor”. They have never cared about God’s commandments and even mocked Him. As a result, they have gained the laughs and received the honor of people who are just like them. At the same time, they have placed themselves outside of blessing and under disgrace and that forever. Their folly will be visible to all; they will be “to disgrace and everlasting contempt” ( ).

‏ Proverbs 3:34

Do Not Envy the Wicked

The next evil the father warns his son about is to “envy a man of violence” (Pro 3:31; cf. Psa 73:3-5). The man of violence is the man who is violent, who makes an unlawful use of power. In Proverbs 1, the man of violence approaches the son. Here the son sees all that the man of violence can afford, for example, buying expensive things and the easy life he seems to lead. The man of violence exerts influence on others, both his friends and people who see him, such as the son. Then it is important not to come under his influence. The father tells his son to “not envy” that man and not to choose “any of his ways”.

To underscore this prohibition, the father presents his son with the consequences of following this man in his way of life and the consequences if he stays far away from it. This is done in the form of contrasts. The son should not envy the man of violence, “for such a man is an abomination to the LORD” (Pro 3:32). He must realize this well if he is attracted by that man’s life and wants to live that way too.

An abomination, something disgusting, should be kept as far away from you as possible. Opposite is being as close to the LORD as possible. That is the part of the upright with whom He is “intimate” (Psa 25:14). The intimate dealings are evident in the communications He makes. For example, He dealt intimately with Abraham and made known to him what He was going to do (Gen 18:17-19). He also deals intimately with His servants, the prophets (Amos 3:7).

In Pro 3:33-35 we see, on the one hand, the portion of the righteous (Pro 3:33b), the afflicted (Pro 3:34b) and the wise (Pro 3:35a) and, on the other hand, that of the wicked (Pro 3:33a), the scoffers (Pro 3:34a) and the fools (Pro 3:35b). The wicked do not care about God, the scoffers despise God, the fools reject God. The latter should not be envied, for they are under the curse (Pro 3:33a), the scoff (Pro 3:34a) and the dishonor (Pro 3:35b). The upright, with whom God is intimate, receive blessing (Pro 3:33b), grace (Pro 3:34b) and honor (Pro 3:35a).

Whoever deviates from the LORD (Pro 3:32) proves to be “wicked” (Pro 3:33). On such a person’s house is “the curse of the LORD” (Mal 2:2). We see here that deviation has consequences not only for ourselves, but also for all who belong to our house. The reverse is true for the upright. Their house is blessed by the LORD (2Sam 6:11). As a result of the attitude of the principal dweller, the children of the wicked suffer and those of the upright rejoice. We are channels of blessing or of curse for our family.

The curse that rests on the house of the wicked is not so much the deprivation of all kinds of things that make life pleasant. Nor is the blessing so much the possession of everything the heart desires. The central point of the curse is in a constant restlessness of conscience, a constant sense of insecurity, with the end result that the house will collapse. The central point of blessing is in the constant awareness that God is with us, in the rest and peace of the heart that is assured of the grace and goodness of God. That house will stand firm.

Scoffers will face the scoffing of God (Pro 3:34). Scoffers are people for whom nothing is holy. They scoff at God and His truth, laughing at Him and ridiculing His truth (2Pet 3:3-4). The sacrifice of Christ they dishonor. They exalt themselves and despise and demean others and especially God and His Christ. Such people sin in an abominable way. There will come a time when the roles will be reversed. Then He will scoff at them and humiliate them (Psa 2:4 ; Psa 59:8).

Opposed to the scoffers are the “the afflicted” or “the meek”. They are the humble ones; they have humbled themselves and taken their proper place before God. They acknowledge Him in everything He says about them, whether in judgment or in blessing. With them He does not scoff, but to them He gives grace. That gives them the strength to remain meek under the scoffers’ mockery and to not resist.

Meekness is a characteristic of the Lord Jesus that characterized Him in His life on earth. He gives that characteristic to all who take on His yoke of obedience and want to learn from Him (Mt 11:29). They have humbled themselves under the powerful hand of God (Jam 4:6; 1Pet 5:5), while sinners will be forced to humble themselves when Christ comes to reign.

When Christ comes, the wise will receive honor (Pro 3:35). The wise are the same persons as the righteous and afflicted or meek of the previous verses. This indicates that these are not the wise of the world, but those who are in God’s sight. The honor they receive is not temporary and not that of the world, but an everlasting honor given by God. That honor is that they will share in the reign of the Lord Jesus.

Fools, on the contrary, get nothing but what they themselves have done. They “display dishonor”. They have never cared about God’s commandments and even mocked Him. As a result, they have gained the laughs and received the honor of people who are just like them. At the same time, they have placed themselves outside of blessing and under disgrace and that forever. Their folly will be visible to all; they will be “to disgrace and everlasting contempt” (Dan 12:2).