Pro 18:17 | KingComments | STEP | The first line of confirms the general experience that he who is allowed to be the first to explain his lawsuit seems to be right. But before we declare him “righteous”, his neighbor must be heard and allowed to give his view of the dispute. This proverb reminds us that there are two parties in a dispute – about something professional, domestic or religious, for example – and that both parties to a dispute must be heard. This is another warning against premature judgment ( ). First, all the facts must be known. We can only find that out by hearing both sides. There must be a hearing. Only when both sides have been heard can righteous judgment follow ( ). Each must be able to present the case from his point of view. The first may tell his story very convincingly, but when the second tells his story, it may turn out that the matter is nevertheless more nuanced than we thought after the first speaker. That should be the attitude in all cases where there is a difference of opinion. This could be, for example, in a family between children, between spouses and between brothers and sisters of a local church. could involve a case where both parties of have spoken, but where there has been no clarity as to who is right. It is a dispute “between the mighty ones”, people who hold important positions. They can both defend their lawsuit with fervor. That leaves the lot to separate between these mighty ones in the sense of resolving the dispute, with one being in the right. If both parties acknowledge that God through the lot brings the dispute to an end ( ) and accept the outcome, the dispute is out of the world. That is better than when it comes to a power struggle, of which others are always the victims. Today we have God’s Word and God’s Spirit and spiritually minded believers who can make a judgment in a court of law ( ). However, there are also disputes where even the lot has no chance to provide a solution. This is in the case where a brother has been “offended” ( ). That injustice was done to the brother during an argument. Then he was treated in a way that hurt him so deeply that he withdrew and closed himself off from all contact. He “[is harder to be won] than a strong city”, meaning that a strong city is easier to capture than to approach him to undo the injustice. The city in which he has enclosed himself is a fortress. The contentions underlying the injustice “are like the bars of a citadel”. That means he has barricaded the entrance to his heart. This proverb is an observation without comment. For us, it is an exhortation not to offend a brother, which would cause him to fall into such a state of mind. If a brother, or a sister, does fall into such a state of mind, then it should not remain a mere observation. Love will do everything possible to win and restore the offended brother in his relationship with the Lord and with his fellow brothers and sisters.

‏ Proverbs 18:17

A Case, Strife and Contentions

The first line of Pro 18:17 confirms the general experience that he who is allowed to be the first to explain his lawsuit seems to be right. But before we declare him “righteous”, his neighbor must be heard and allowed to give his view of the dispute. This proverb reminds us that there are two parties in a dispute – about something professional, domestic or religious, for example – and that both parties to a dispute must be heard.

This is another warning against premature judgment (Pro 18:13). First, all the facts must be known. We can only find that out by hearing both sides. There must be a hearing. Only when both sides have been heard can righteous judgment follow (Deu 1:16). Each must be able to present the case from his point of view.

The first may tell his story very convincingly, but when the second tells his story, it may turn out that the matter is nevertheless more nuanced than we thought after the first speaker. That should be the attitude in all cases where there is a difference of opinion. This could be, for example, in a family between children, between spouses and between brothers and sisters of a local church.

Pro 18:18 could involve a case where both parties of Pro 18:17 have spoken, but where there has been no clarity as to who is right. It is a dispute “between the mighty ones”, people who hold important positions. They can both defend their lawsuit with fervor. That leaves the lot to separate between these mighty ones in the sense of resolving the dispute, with one being in the right.

If both parties acknowledge that God through the lot brings the dispute to an end (Pro 16:33) and accept the outcome, the dispute is out of the world. That is better than when it comes to a power struggle, of which others are always the victims. Today we have God’s Word and God’s Spirit and spiritually minded believers who can make a judgment in a court of law (1Cor 6:1-8).

However, there are also disputes where even the lot has no chance to provide a solution. This is in the case where a brother has been “offended” (Pro 18:19). That injustice was done to the brother during an argument. Then he was treated in a way that hurt him so deeply that he withdrew and closed himself off from all contact.

He “[is harder to be won] than a strong city”, meaning that a strong city is easier to capture than to approach him to undo the injustice. The city in which he has enclosed himself is a fortress. The contentions underlying the injustice “are like the bars of a citadel”. That means he has barricaded the entrance to his heart.

This proverb is an observation without comment. For us, it is an exhortation not to offend a brother, which would cause him to fall into such a state of mind. If a brother, or a sister, does fall into such a state of mind, then it should not remain a mere observation. Love will do everything possible to win and restore the offended brother in his relationship with the Lord and with his fellow brothers and sisters.