Proverbs 15:15 Commentary and Bible Study

Every believer has a private inner sanctuary within which is sealed off from the gaze of all others. Here he or she has fellowship with the Lord and his consolations make up for all that buffets from outside. Here God’s promises are relished, and hopes for a bright eternal future sustain the soul in the face of strong winds of opposition that resist forward progress. He pushes on past all hindrance to the goal that beckons, and rejoices in the grace of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The word translated ‘merry’ or ‘cheerful’ means good or pleasant, but since it is contrasted with ‘afflicted’ must mean untroubled and at peace and therefore happy or cheerful. This happiness is true even of those who face extreme trials, for the truth of salvation and acceptance with the Lord is worth more than all the sufferings of this present age. It is like a fire within the cottage to warm the room on a cold night. The heart is insulated by having favour with God. The outward man may perish but the inward man is renewed day by day. In the world there are troubles but the heart is able to be of good cheer because of the Lord who can easily dismiss these temporary external troubles.But all the days of the afflicted are evil. Solomon is ready to categories the life of the unbelieving in this way, because, even though they take strong measures to insulate themselves from the trials of life and have the resources to do so, these alleviations do not reach the heart but only the outward man. The soul still remains cut off from God and starved of his loving kindness. They are on their own facing titanic forces ranged against them. The battle is hopeless and the fictions they tell themselves cannot keep at bay the incoming darkness that threatens to overwhelm them eternally. Stoicism cannot protect the soul, but is simply a shutting of the eyes to reality. A man would be blind or stupid to continue to have hope in the face of all these things.