Proverbs 29:12 Commentary and Bible Study

Evil is uncomfortable having good near to it, and good is well aware that evil does not want it to be there. The proverb is about the corrupting influence of evil especially when it is in a position of power and authority. It is about the tendency of evil to spread, to propagate itself because it cannot interact with those around it without wanting them to become like it. So strong is the antagonism between evil and good that there can be nothing less than all-out war between them. If good is not in a position to overcome evil it is forced to withdraw, and evil overwhelms the vicinity around it to spread its influence in that immediate area. How does this work? Well, the example given is that of a ruler who listens to lies. This seems a strange thing for any ruler to do, because one would have thought that a ruler wants to know what is really going on, and would be concerned that what they were told was factual. How can they make even self-protective evaluations of situations if they are not given accurate information about, say, the strength of their enemies, about hostile movements against their kingdom, about the contentedness of their citizens and their willingness to defend his kingdom? The problem is that there is something even more important to a corrupt ruler, and that is his own image, and his own ego. This creates a bias in him that distorts his judgment and makes him welcome lies to his own ultimate destruction. Besides, he loses the ability to distinguish between true and false, and the world that he lives in becomes increasingly dystopian. Lies also spread, even for him, and when he is ready to hear lies in one area, it is not easy for his counsellors to see where to stop, and where to start telling him the truth. He loves flattery and it is a lie, and so the sycophants around him prepare all manner of subtle lies to stroke his ego. The reception they get to this is so encouraging that they manufacture more of the same. But truth tellers withdraw because they see they are unwelcome (1 Kings 22:7-8) and all the servants of the king become wicked. They may even risk losing their lives if they speak truth to this power.