Proverbs 20:29 Commentary and Bible Study

It is not necessary for Solomon to remind us that the strength of youth can be perverted and put to evil use, nor that old age without wisdom is a cause of shame. Both of these are found in Scripture (2 Samuel 14:25-26; Ecclesiastes 4:13). We do not need some heavy qualification to his words as if he needs correcting to prevent serious misunderstanding. These truncated expressions of wisdom must not be treated as comprehensive and verbose legal statements. The proverb is deliberately shortened, but we should not miss its meaning because of this, since sufficient clues are given to the reader to avoid ambiguity. It is similar to the thought of 1 John 2:14: ‘I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.’Solomon is talking of young men at their best, and of old men who have not wasted their lives. The young man in mind is one who has found the Lord early in life and applies all his strength and resolve and energy to serve God and do great things for God. The old man in view is one who has remained faithful to God all his days and come to the end of life without falling into great sin. He is one like Abraham who ‘gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people’ (Genesis 25:8). The picture then is of a life which was not dissipated but spent in the service of God and which followed the guidance of God all its days. This is the life which all should aim at, and one which keeps clear from the deceitful influences which Satan sets as traps all along the way for the unwary. The proverb gives us this encouraging picture to fortify us against all evil, to remind us that faithfulness to the Lord is possible and that with God’s help we can be overcomers at every stage of life.