Pro 11:10-11 | KingComments | STEP | In it is not about persons, but about “a city”, a community of life. A community of life appreciates it goes well with the righteous, i.e. when they prosper ( ). The righteous owe their prosperity, their state of prosperity, to their honest dealings, and the city benefits. A city, that is, its citizens, even rejoice in exuberant joy over this (cf. ). There is also joyful shouting when the wicked perish ( ). Likewise, there will be rejoicing in heaven when wicked Babylon is destroyed ( ). In the first case, there is joy over the good influence of the righteous. In the second case, there is rejoicing over the elimination of the pernicious influence of the wicked. The good influence of the righteous and the bad influence of the wicked on the life of a city are emphasized in . “The upright” pronounce blessing on the city and wish it prosperity. It does not just stop at wishing blessing, but the upright also effect blessing. Thus the city “is exalted”. It acquires a good name; it is pleasant to live and be there. The city becomes attractive. In contrast to this is the ‘advertising’ that the wicked make for it. They tear down the city to the ground with their words. They do this by speaking negatively about the city, but also by their general language. Out of their mouths comes only curse and filth. Even with neat language, as many politicians usually use, their words conceal falsity and follow a hidden agenda. They present themselves as protectors, but their practice will show that they tear down the city. We can apply this to the local church of God as a city. If we are upright, we will say good things about the church as a local community and want to be a blessing to it. All who are part of the local church will rejoice in it. People who have no connection with it because they live outside of God will not allow a local church to exist at all. They will spread slander about it and do everything to make it impossible for them to live and meet together. Such people can also be found in the church and do their destructive work by spreading false teachings.

‏ Proverbs 11:10-11

The Joy and Exaltation of a City

In Pro 11:10-11 it is not about persons, but about “a city”, a community of life. A community of life appreciates it goes well with the righteous, i.e. when they prosper (Pro 11:10). The righteous owe their prosperity, their state of prosperity, to their honest dealings, and the city benefits. A city, that is, its citizens, even rejoice in exuberant joy over this (cf. Est 8:15).

There is also joyful shouting when the wicked perish (2Kgs 11:20). Likewise, there will be rejoicing in heaven when wicked Babylon is destroyed (Rev 18:20-21 ; Rev 19:1-2). In the first case, there is joy over the good influence of the righteous. In the second case, there is rejoicing over the elimination of the pernicious influence of the wicked.

The good influence of the righteous and the bad influence of the wicked on the life of a city are emphasized in Pro 11:11. “The upright” pronounce blessing on the city and wish it prosperity. It does not just stop at wishing blessing, but the upright also effect blessing. Thus the city “is exalted”. It acquires a good name; it is pleasant to live and be there. The city becomes attractive.

In contrast to this is the ‘advertising’ that the wicked make for it. They tear down the city to the ground with their words. They do this by speaking negatively about the city, but also by their general language. Out of their mouths comes only curse and filth. Even with neat language, as many politicians usually use, their words conceal falsity and follow a hidden agenda. They present themselves as protectors, but their practice will show that they tear down the city.

We can apply this to the local church of God as a city. If we are upright, we will say good things about the church as a local community and want to be a blessing to it. All who are part of the local church will rejoice in it. People who have no connection with it because they live outside of God will not allow a local church to exist at all. They will spread slander about it and do everything to make it impossible for them to live and meet together. Such people can also be found in the church and do their destructive work by spreading false teachings.