Pro 12:6 | KingComments | STEP | There is an ascent in these verses with contrasts between the righteous and wicked. With the righteous, it goes from their just thoughts in through their delivering words in to their house standing firm in . With the wicked it goes from their deceitful counsels in through their bloodthirsty words in to their overthrow in . Of every man who lives apart from God, “every intent of the thoughts of his heart” is “only evil continually” ( ), but through repentance and new life a person becomes a righteous one. Of all the righteous, God has become the source of their thoughts. What they think of is governed by Him and His grace in the new life. As a result, it can be said that the thoughts of the righteous “are just” ( ). God wants us to direct our thoughts toward Him and Christ. Then our thoughts are just. This verse shows that the thoughts or purposes of good people are focused on what is just for God, for other people and for themselves. With wicked people, the opposite is true. Their “counsels ... are deceitful”. Their thoughts are only evil. Therefore, their counsels can only lead to evil. The cause is that they have no connection with God. They have a depraved heart and what else can come out of it but bitter water ( ; ). While the righteous set their senses on doing good to others, wicked set their senses on doing evil to others. Nehemiah was such a righteous one. It is said of him by his enemies that he had “had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel” ( ). Mordecai and Esther also sought good for their people. In contrast to this is what Haman came up with. Out of ‘patriotism’, he made the proposal to King Ahasuerus to kill the Jews ( ). The same spirit possessed Herod. He said he wanted to worship the Child, when in reality he wanted to kill Him ( ). Ahithophel gave Absalom “good counsel” ( ) on how to eliminate his father David and conquer the kingship (2 Samuel 16-17). Words are the natural means of making thoughts ( ) known ( ). “The words of the wicked” are like an ambush. The vivid picture of “lie in wait for blood” involves the wicked making false accusations as a trap for the upright. They act deliberately, not on a whim, and are children of their father, the devil, who is a murderer of men from the beginning ( ). Many wicked witnesses spoke words against the Lord Jesus to get Him condemned. They laid traps for Him and wanted to catch Him in His words ( ). “The upright” who have gained knowledge and experience through discipline and teaching are able to avoid traps of the wicked. They not only avoid words from which blood flows, but use the power of the word to rescue from them those who are trapped by the words of the wicked. Mordecai pleaded with Esther and Esther pleaded with the king to deliver the Jews from Haman’s ruse to exterminate the Jews ( ). The Lord Jesus, as the perfectly Upright One, always put His opponents to shame by His wise answers. They have lain in wait for His blood, but never have they been able to catch Him in anything He said. They were finally able to kill Him because He surrendered Himself into their hands according to the will of God. Only then could they do what they wanted with Him: shed His blood. The evil ones are out to harm others, while the upright are out to deliver others from evil. The latter are led by the Holy Spirit, Who works life. They speak from their new life, showing that Christ is their life. If they are killed because of their testimony, they will be delivered from eternal death by the testimony of their mouths. They will be justified by their words ( ). After the thoughts in and the words in , we see the end of the wicked and the righteous in . It is the contrast between what disappears and what remains. The wicked disappear because God overthrows them with power. They may have built an empire that is very powerful and give the impression that nothing and no one can threaten them, but they have built their entire existence on sand. From the picture of the fate of the wicked, that they are “overthrown”, shines power. It signifies complete extermination, reminiscent of what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah ( ). The wicked disappear from the world stage without leaving behind anything of lasting value. In contrast to this is “the house of the righteous”. The house means the family, as we read that Noah and his house were saved ( ). The house means the posterity. The house of the righteous will stand because its foundation is Christ, the Rock. As a result, it will stand in times of need, meaning it will always stand. It marks the enduring consequence of righteousness versus the momentary sojourn on earth of the wicked ( ). By “the house of the righteous” we can also think of the house of Israel in the future. That house will consist only of the righteous ( ), for it is formed by a faithful remnant from Israel. This remnant was formed and protected by God during the great tribulation. To those who are the new Israel, God fulfills His promises. Their house will remain standing during the millennial kingdom of peace. The wicked are the apostate mass of the Jews who, together with the antichrist, will be overthrown at the end of the great tribulation and disappear forever from the world stage.

‏ Proverbs 12:6

The Righteous Against the Wicked

There is an ascent in these verses with contrasts between the righteous and wicked. With the righteous, it goes from their just thoughts in Pro 12:5 through their delivering words in Pro 12:6 to their house standing firm in Pro 12:7. With the wicked it goes from their deceitful counsels in Pro 12:5 through their bloodthirsty words in Pro 12:6 to their overthrow in Pro 12:7.

Of every man who lives apart from God, “every intent of the thoughts of his heart” is “only evil continually” (Gen 6:5), but through repentance and new life a person becomes a righteous one. Of all the righteous, God has become the source of their thoughts. What they think of is governed by Him and His grace in the new life. As a result, it can be said that the thoughts of the righteous “are just” (Pro 12:5). God wants us to direct our thoughts toward Him and Christ. Then our thoughts are just. This verse shows that the thoughts or purposes of good people are focused on what is just for God, for other people and for themselves.

With wicked people, the opposite is true. Their “counsels ... are deceitful”. Their thoughts are only evil. Therefore, their counsels can only lead to evil. The cause is that they have no connection with God. They have a depraved heart and what else can come out of it but bitter water (Jer 17:9; Mt 15:19). While the righteous set their senses on doing good to others, wicked set their senses on doing evil to others.

Nehemiah was such a righteous one. It is said of him by his enemies that he had “had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel” (Neh 2:10). Mordecai and Esther also sought good for their people. In contrast to this is what Haman came up with. Out of ‘patriotism’, he made the proposal to King Ahasuerus to kill the Jews (Est 3:8-9). The same spirit possessed Herod. He said he wanted to worship the Child, when in reality he wanted to kill Him (Mt 2:8 ; 16). Ahithophel gave Absalom “good counsel” (2Sam 17:14) on how to eliminate his father David and conquer the kingship (2 Samuel 16-17).

Words are the natural means of making thoughts (Pro 12:5) known (Pro 12:6). “The words of the wicked” are like an ambush. The vivid picture of “lie in wait for blood” involves the wicked making false accusations as a trap for the upright. They act deliberately, not on a whim, and are children of their father, the devil, who is a murderer of men from the beginning (Jn 8:44). Many wicked witnesses spoke words against the Lord Jesus to get Him condemned. They laid traps for Him and wanted to catch Him in His words (Lk 20:20-21).

“The upright” who have gained knowledge and experience through discipline and teaching are able to avoid traps of the wicked. They not only avoid words from which blood flows, but use the power of the word to rescue from them those who are trapped by the words of the wicked. Mordecai pleaded with Esther and Esther pleaded with the king to deliver the Jews from Haman’s ruse to exterminate the Jews (Est 4:7-14 ; Est 7:4-6).

The Lord Jesus, as the perfectly Upright One, always put His opponents to shame by His wise answers. They have lain in wait for His blood, but never have they been able to catch Him in anything He said. They were finally able to kill Him because He surrendered Himself into their hands according to the will of God. Only then could they do what they wanted with Him: shed His blood.

The evil ones are out to harm others, while the upright are out to deliver others from evil. The latter are led by the Holy Spirit, Who works life. They speak from their new life, showing that Christ is their life. If they are killed because of their testimony, they will be delivered from eternal death by the testimony of their mouths. They will be justified by their words (Mt 12:37).

After the thoughts in Pro 12:5 and the words in Pro 12:6, we see the end of the wicked and the righteous in Pro 12:7. It is the contrast between what disappears and what remains. The wicked disappear because God overthrows them with power. They may have built an empire that is very powerful and give the impression that nothing and no one can threaten them, but they have built their entire existence on sand.

From the picture of the fate of the wicked, that they are “overthrown”, shines power. It signifies complete extermination, reminiscent of what God did to Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:25). The wicked disappear from the world stage without leaving behind anything of lasting value.

In contrast to this is “the house of the righteous”. The house means the family, as we read that Noah and his house were saved (Heb 11:7). The house means the posterity. The house of the righteous will stand because its foundation is Christ, the Rock. As a result, it will stand in times of need, meaning it will always stand. It marks the enduring consequence of righteousness versus the momentary sojourn on earth of the wicked (Mt 7:24-27).

By “the house of the righteous” we can also think of the house of Israel in the future. That house will consist only of the righteous (Isa 60:21), for it is formed by a faithful remnant from Israel. This remnant was formed and protected by God during the great tribulation. To those who are the new Israel, God fulfills His promises. Their house will remain standing during the millennial kingdom of peace. The wicked are the apostate mass of the Jews who, together with the antichrist, will be overthrown at the end of the great tribulation and disappear forever from the world stage.