Proverbs 16:14

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. THE WRATH OF A KING IS AS MESSENGERS OF DEATH. The plural expresses manifold forms of death which are at the king's command. His wrath is fatal to him against whom he is incensed. It is all the same as if he denounced death against one. BUT A WISE MAN WILL PACIFY IT - whereas the fool only exasperates it....

While Proverbs 16:13 depicts the king as he ought to be, this verse reminds us of the terrible rapidity with which, in the despotic monarchies of the East, punishment, even death, follows royal displeasure....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 16:1 These are specially religions maxims, and they all contain the name Jehovah. PROVERBS 16:1 The Authorized Version makes one sentence of this verse without any contrast or antithesis. This is plainly wrong, there being intended a contrast between the thought of the heart and the well ordered speech. It is better translated, _The plans of the heart are man_'_s_:_ but the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. _Men make plans, arrange speeches, muster arguments, in the mind; but to put these into proper, persuasive words is a gift of God. "Our sufficiency is of God" (2 Corinthians 3:5). In the case of

THE WRATH OF A KING [IS AS] MESSENGERS OF DEATH,.... Or, "angels of death", as the Targum. As the wrath of Ahasuerus was to Haman; when it is either discovered in the countenance of a king, or expressed by his words, or signified by a messenger; it sometimes has been immediate death to a person, and often as terrible as if a messenger brought the sentence of death; yea, it is as if one messenger after another was sent on such an errand, and therefore the word is in the plural number. How terrible is the wrath of the King of kings; and even to kings themselves, who are represented as flying to rocks and mountains to hide them from it! Revelation 6:15; BUT A WISE MAN WILL PACIFY IT; by a proper acknowledgment of the offence committed; or by a prudent representation of his case, or the case of his friends; by soft answers and strong arguments, as Jonathan pacified the w

CHAPTER 16 IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD The name Jehovah (LORD) appears eleven times in this chapter of Proverbs. The Lord has the final word, for to man belong the preparations (or plans) of the heart; but from the LORD is the answer of the tongue. It is the same thought as in our English proverb--“Man proposes--God disposes.” Man loves to justify himself, his ways are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits; He is the judge of ways and motives. Our works are to be committed (literal: rolled upon) unto the LORD, then establishment and blessing will follow. It is strange that these three verses were omitted in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The LORD hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil Proverbs 16:4. Much error has been taught in connection with this verse. Some have taught that God made some wicked. It is not said

PROVERBS 16. The special feature is a group of aphorisms (Proverbs 16:10) relating to kings. The sentiments seem rather to reflect the picture of the ideal king than to indicate any particular period. The metaphors employed and the character depicted suggest a parallel with the ideal king of Psalms 72. PROVERBS 16:4. The lit. rendering of Proverbs 16:4 a is Yahweh has made every work for its answer_ i.e._ the nexus of cause and effect seen in the moral government of the world is His work, a kind of prearranged harmony. The supreme instance is the case of the wicked, their answer is the day of evil. We have an assertion of the righteousness of Yahweh's government rather than of their predestinati

MESSENGERS, &C. Illustrations: Benaiah (1 Kings 2:25); Haman (Esther 7:8). PACIFY IT. get it covered....

_messengers of death_ The reckless fury of the Eastern despot (1 Samuel 22:16-18; Esther 7:7-10; Daniel 2:5) is but the abuse of the awful justice of the Archetypal King (Matthew 22:7; Luke 19:27). _will pacify it_ See Psalms 2:10-12....

TEXT Proverbs 16:12-22 12. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness. 13. Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right. 14. The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it. 15. In the light of the king's countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. 16. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. 17. The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18. Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19. Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divid

1-9. God's control of human life....