Proverbs 10:7 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Proverbs 10:7

Comments

The subject of this verse is the reputation of men, but what Solomon has in mind is not our reputation from man’s point of view, but from God’s. The world remembers its own with honour, but the world’s verdict is not final for there is a day coming when every human verdict will be set aside if it does not agree with the perspective of heaven. We must not think of the just who have departed this world as no longer living; the memory of them spoken of here is that memory which treats them as still alive, for as our Saviour has taught us, ‘he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him’ (Luke 20:38). The memory of the just is blessed because future blessing awaits them in eternity, and their past lives in this world will be rewarded. But the opposite is true of the wicked, and their reputation is worthless. Though the world builds monuments to lift up the honour of its own, God will judge them to be workers of iniquity and will dismiss them from his presence. Their names will rot, and they will face eternal destruction in the presence of the Lord. Let all therefore live as those whose lives will be evaluated by the Lord and let them set no value on the transient praise that they receive from men, for the only reputation that will be recognised in the eternal state is the reputation we have with the Lord.But although this proverb may be used as a text for funeral sermons, it is probably not what Solomon had in mind. He is talking about our memory in life, not in death. We have not yet got to the subject of death in these proverbs. This is all about life. So although it can quite fittingly be applied to death, it more applies to life. How do people remember you now? Even now, how do they remember that encounter they had with you yesterday?

Application

The testimony of the people of God should be such that so far as it lies within us, people are warmed at the thought of us because of our helpfulness and our cooperativeness and our patience. It is all part of our testimony. What do people think of us? Now I know that people are very often against us because of our faith and sometimes what we represent enflames them and antagonises them, but as far as it lies within us and our conduct, it is the will of God that people should be warmed by the very recollection of us. The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. It is not to do with the wicked rolling in hell; it is to do with this life. The recollection of the just warms people, but the mention of the name of the wicked brings a bad smell and, as it were, a shudder. Well, then, how do people look at us? It is a sobering thought for us as we go forward in the name of the Lord in the coming week. This is our witness, the way in which people regard us. Are we peevish? Are we awkward? Are we impatient? Are we ill-mannered? All these things - we have got to bring them into the reckoning. Your reputation is your witness and we have to watch that and pray for grace and be challenged by that constantly.

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Proverbs 10:7 Commentary and Bible Study