Proverbs 17:20 Commentary and Bible Study

We may turn this round and say, if we constantly fail to achieve the good we aim at and if we frequently fall into trouble, then perhaps the cause is that our hearts and our tongues are perverse, so that we are bringing ourselves under the Lord’s discipline. The words ‘falleth into mischief’ describe a sudden and unexpected calamity which comes on us because of the providence of God. If so, then we must start to practice self-examination, and this is what the proverb calls us to. God sends trials to his faithful people, but he also sends periods of joy and happiness, and if we only know trouble then we must ask serious questions about our conduct. If I am always in difficulty then it is about time I looked within and started blaming myself for uncorrected faults. If we find again and again that we are in difficulties in relationships, that everyone that we relate to seems to complain about us and turn against us, then it may be that others see that we have glaring faults which we are unwilling to admit. We come across as haughty and proud, and want our own way in everything; we can never adjust our views. We are all easily led by Satan to think this is the fault of others: of the church, of friends and associates; anything to stop us looking within and seeing the faults in ourselves.A perverse tongue is one which distorts and twists the truth. If it relates an account of an event, it adjusts the facts to reflect well on self. It exaggerates others’ faults and minimises its own, not being careful to be even handed. It is God who makes the connection between the froward heart and the absence of good, between the perverse tongue and the falling into trouble. The perverse tongue twists the truth and does not fear to make use of a lie to its own advantage. God’s judgments frequently bring on us what we seek to bring on others.