Proverbs 15

Chapter 15 contrasts goodness and evil, and emphasizes the role of the tongue (verses 1-10) and then of the heart (verses 11-33) in how we experience and live out our lives.  The tongue, however, is not the originator of thoughts and behaviors.  It is the condition of the heart that influences how we will react to our circumstances in thought, word and deed.   The proverb of verse 15 illustrates this well.

“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

Our daily lives are never altogether one way or the other---never completely made up of happy circumstances nor of unhappy ones.  Normal human life contains both kinds of experiences.  Sometimes, it may seem that the trials we go through will never end or that the one we are currently going through has brought an end to ever being able to enjoy life again.  The wise King Solomon, even in his own privileged status in life, understood this to be the normal way of things in this fallen world.  But, as one who understood well the value of trusting in God, he also understood that what really matters when the hard times hit is the attitude we have about them.   If we assume that such experiences are completely intolerable, we will become defeated and “oppressed,” or depressed, in spirit.  Look at Naomi, who had lost not only her husband, but also both her sons while living in the land of Moab.  To her townspeople back in Bethlehem she said she had become bitter toward God because of her circumstances.  She said God took the fullness of life away from her (Ruth 1:20-21).  In effect, she was saying she had nothing left to live for. 

On the other hand, Solomon went on to tell us in this proverb that there is another way to look at life’s hard knocks.  We can see that life’s picture is much larger than those momentary afflictions, and there is also much to be thankful for in life, including God’s strengthening involvement with us as we go through those tough times.  The prophet Habakkuk, writing toward the beginning of the 6^th century BC, was perplexed that God had allowed so much wickedness, strife and oppression to exist in Israel, and he complained to God about it.  But, then, he looked at the bigger picture of God’s overall relationship with His people.  He confessed that, even if all the crops should fail, even if there were no livestock left, and there was thus no food for consumption, yet “I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).  With such an attitude, despite what hardships might befall, we can still feast on all the good that life does offer.