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We enter the second major division in the Proverbs. After considering the longer poetic “units” of the chapters 1-9, we enter what is commonly referred to as “proverbs proper.” From chapters 10-22 we will encounter individual sayings that are often grouped together. Again, the lack of a discernable unity is intended to focus our attention on each individual section for its application in the circumstances of our life. Much like a highway that we travel down with different destinations, the experiences of living come successively at different moments. In each circumstance we have the Wisdom of God revealed through these Proverbs to keep us on the wise and narrow way.
Our first clue to this new section comes at the heading of Proverbs 10, The proverbs of Solomon. This same heading started chapter 1. In the first nine chapters of Proverbs, we had the wise sayings of a father to his son. Here, in Proverbs 10:1, what came before is summarized by saying, a wise son makes a glad father. Recall, the pathway of Wisdom is paved with the fear of the Lord. The first five verses of Proverbs 10 seem to have a central theme of trusting in God’s providence. Trusting in God means doing things his way. God’s ways are the way of righteousness. At the center of Proverbs 10:1-5 is verse 3, The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. (read vv.1-5)
The rest of Proverbs 10:6-32 contrast the wicked and the wise. The contrast seeks to make it clear that righteousness is the path for the wise son. Notice the reoccurring theme on the “mouth.” (vv.13-14; 18)
As we will see throughout the Proverbs, God is concerned with what comes out of our mouth. In our age of social media and instant posts, remember the Proverbs, what comes from your mouth, is an indicator of the path you walk. The Proverbs is asking us, would your speech reveal you are on Wisdom’s Path or Folly’s Way?
Proverbs 10:19-21 focus on the words that come from our mouth. What comes from our mouth demonstrates the posture of our heart (read 19-21, skip 22, read 23-25). At the center of verses, 12-32 is verse 22. Verse 22 adds an important qualification for our consideration by grounding success in the Lord. When God gives material blessings he gives freely and with joy.
The Proverb closes by looking at the mouth of the righteous and the wicked (vv.31-32). What does the mouth have to do with wisdom? Again, as the revealer of the secrets of the heart, the mouth of a wise person encouraged others to walk wisely both by speaking and restraining speech. On the contrary, the mouth of a fool can be used to derail and distract from Wisdom’s straight and narrow righteous path.
A song we learned in Children’s Church is an appropriate way to end Proverbs 10. Oh, be careful little mouth way you say. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Oh, be careful little mouth what you say. Our moths being careful with what we say extends to our fingers as we type on Social Media. God watches, the world watches. Prayerfully our speech will convey we are on Wisdom’s Way. Either way, our speech will portray the way we walk.