Proverbs (Part 157) - Pro 11:22-23

---

 

22. Pro 11:22 – "As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." A. As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, i. In the Old Testament, pigs were considered unclean animals (Lev 11:7; Isa 65:4; Isa 66:3, 17). ii. Pearls are not to be cast before swine who are undeserving of them (Mat 7:6). iii. A jewel of gold is unfitting for a pig. a. It would look ridiculous and out of place. b. It would make the person look foolish who put the jewel in the hog's nose. c. It would be a waste of something beautiful on a (relatively) ugly brute beast. d. It would even make the pig look stupid. B. so is a fair woman which is without discretion. i. Definitions a. So adv. – II. Placed at the beginning of a clause with continuative force, and freq. preceded by and. 9. Denoting similarity or parallelism in some respect between two facts, actions, etc. b. Fair adj. – 1. Beautiful to the eye; of pleasing form or appearance; good-looking. c. Woman n. – I. 1. a. An adult female human being. d. Female adj. – I. Belonging to the sex which bears offspring. e. Discretion n. – I. 1. The action of separating or distinguishing, or condition of being distinguished or disjunct; separation, disjunction, distinction. II. 2. The action of discerning or judging; judgement; decision, discrimination. III. 6. Ability to discern or distinguish what is right, befitting, or advisable, esp. as regards one's own conduct or action; the quality of being discreet; discernment; prudence, sagacity, circumspection, sound judgement. ii. A woman without discretion is a foolish woman. a. Foolish adj. – 1. Fool-like, wanting in sense or judgement. b. A foolish woman is clamorous (Pro 9:13). c. Such a woman is not attractive, but repulsive and repellant (Pro 21:9, 19; Pro 25:24). iii. A woman without discretion will often end up being a whore (Pro 7:10). a. Despite her physical allure, she is not truly attractive. b. She is loud, stubborn, and impudent (shameless) (Pro 7:11-13). iv. A pretty face on a woman who lacks discretion is as unbecoming as a jewel of gold in a swine's snout. a. In a similar way that a jewel of gold in a swine's snout is unfitting for a pig, looks ridiculous and out of place, and is a waste of something beautiful, so it is with a beautiful woman who lacks discernment, judgment, and good decision making with regards to what is right, befitting, and advisable concerning her own conduct. b. A pig with a nose ring might look attractive to a brute boar following his instinct when the sow is in heat, but she is not going to look attractive to a rational person. c. Just as a golden nose jewel in a pig's snout does not make the pig attractive, so a beautiful face does not make a foolish woman look attractive to a good man. v. It is good character and virtue, not just a beautiful face, which makes a woman truly attractive (Pro 31:30; 1Pe 3:3-4). vi. No amount of jewelry, makeup, or fine clothing will make an indiscrete woman attractive. 23. Pro 11:23 – "The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath." A. The desire of the righteous is only good: i. Definitions a. Desire n. – 1. The fact or condition of desiring; that feeling or emotion which is directed to the attainment or possession of some object from which pleasure or satisfaction is expected; longing, craving; a particular instance of this feeling, a wish. b. Righteous adj. – 1. a. Of persons: Just, upright, virtuous; guiltless, sinless; conforming to the standard of the divine or the moral law; acting rightly or justly. c. Good n. – II. The neuter adj. used absol., passing into sb.: That which is good. 2. a. In the widest sense: Whatever is good in itself, or beneficial in effect. d. Good adj. – A. adj. The most general adj. of commendation, implying the existence in a high, or at least satisfactory, degree of characteristic qualities which are either admirable in themselves or useful for some purpose. II. With reference to moral character, disposition, or conduct. 5. Morally excellent or commendable. e. In other words, a just, upright, and virtuous man who conforms himself to the standard of God's law longs, craves, and wishes for only what is admirable, morally excellent, and commendable. ii. The righteous desire good. a. The righteous desire God (Psa 73:25; Isa 26:9) who is good (Psa 107:1; Psa 119:68; Psa 135:3). b. The righteous desire to learn and practice the word of God (Psa 19:7-10; 1Pe 2:2; Mat 13:17; Act 13:7) which is good (Psa 119:39; Heb 6:5). c. The righteous desire for themselves and others to be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Pro 18:1; Col 1:9). d. The righteous desire righteousness (Mat 5:6). e. The righteous desire to be in the house of God (Psa 27:4). f. The righteous desire to eat the Lord's Supper (Luk 22:15). g. The righteous desire to be the saints and with good men (Rom 15:23; 1Th 2:17; 2Co 12:18). h. The righteous desire to be in heaven and on the new earth with God (Php 1:23; Heb 11:16). iii. The desire of the righteous shall be granted (Psa 37:4; Pro 10:24; Mat 5:6). B. but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. i. Definitions a. Expectation n. – The action of waiting; the action or state of waiting for or awaiting (something). Now only with mixture of sense 2: Expectant waiting. 2. The action of mentally looking for some one to come, forecasting something to happen, or anticipating something to be received; anticipation; a preconceived idea or opinion with regard to what will take place. b. Wicked adj. – 1. Bad in moral character, disposition, or conduct; inclined or addicted to wilful wrong-doing; practising or disposed to practise evil; morally depraved. (A term of wide application, but always of strong reprobation, implying a high degree of evil quality.) c. Wrath n. – Vehement or violent anger; intense exasperation or resentment; deep indignation. d. Righteous indignation on the part of the Deity. d. In other words, those who are bad in moral character and morally depraved should anticipate vehement, violent anger and deep indignation from God. ii. The wicked have many desires as well. iii. But unlike the righteous who shall have the desire of their hearts (Psa 37:4), the wicked should expect wrath, not good. iv. The hope and the expectation of the wicked shall perish when they die (Pro 10:28; Pro 11:7; Job 8:13-14). a. All of their hopes and dreams die with them. b. All the plans of the things they intended to accomplish and all their plans of traveling and vacations will never come to fruition once they die. c. Their plans of making lots of money and living forever will be dashed to pieces as death closes in on them and finally overtakes them. v. The desire (what they want) of the wicked shall perish (Psa 112:10). vi. On the day they die their thoughts shall perish (Psa 146:4). vii. The wicked only have an expectation of wrath in hell (Pro 11:23 c/w Rom 2:5-6, 8-9; Psa 73:18-20).