Proverbs 13:6 Commentary and Bible Study

This proverb has much encouragement for God’s people, for it tells us that God gives us help along the way, and that help comes from our commitment to integrity. We know that we are called to be holy and that we must mortify sin as we walk the walk of faith. We can feel overwhelmed by the hardship of the way, and the unceasing effort we must put into the Christian life. The dangers that surround us are so great that it can seem as if we are at risk of falling every step of the way, and the whole Christian life collapse. But the one who has committed himself to God’s righteous standards, finds a certain stability within himself from which he can derive strength. It is not that he has to battle every inch of the way. The soul forms habits, and the habit of integrity makes it hard for us to turn aside. Solomon therefore says that righteousness acts like a guard or watchman to warn him who is committed to integrity. It is alert to every turning aside from the way and detects even small deviations from the path of truth. The one who has integrity will pay close attention to its whispered warnings in the soul and immediately take corrective action. But wickedness soon destroys the sinner who aims only at the pleasure of sin. It comes upon him and violently overturns him when he least expects it.